Hi Chapter:
Just a few ideas as we head in to the holidays.
I have two book recommendations, an idea for a monthly walk, a look at some of the events coming up, and a request.
At our meeting at the end of January, Lucy will visit us and discuss who is (and who may not be) a good candidate for a dog guide. How much vision is too much to need a dog; or when is the vision loss sufficient to justify a dog guide?
As a warm up act, we will discuss the book Hello Darkness My Old Friend (https://nlsbard.loc.gov/nlsbardprod/download/detail/srch/DB100264).
If anyone is interested in learning more about using Bard I’d be happy to help. There is no more valuable service that the government provides to us than Bard and I’m eager to share it with anyone who’s life will be significantly improved by becoming a fellow book addict.
Second, I strongly recommend the book Forward Together (https://nlsbard.loc.gov/nlsbardprod/download/detail/srch/DB100008). In fact, we are thinking about purchasing several print copies of this book for puppy clubs and guests to our chapters. If anyone would like to report on this book in our March meeting please let me know.
And along those lines, we are trying to support new handlers by sharing information about products that support best or most successful practice with our dogs. Too many products isn’t the answer, but the right product for a specific team really is. The only way I know to find the products that will best fit into my life is to get my hands on them and imagine whether they will work for my dog and I. Just because I like a specific piece of equipment doesn’t mean you will, it just means that unique teams need different solutions. Recommendations from GDB are terrific but so are recommendations from fellow teams. In that regard, if anyone has a particular product that they would like to recommend for new members please send me a link. If you do, we will assume that you are willing to discuss this product with other handlers.
One of the outings we are planning for late winter/early spring is a visit to a portion of the river trail that has been made accessible. Here is the link https://www.google.com/maps/place/Santa+Fe+Middle+School/@34.131321,-118.002852,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x80c2d976b844c4b9:0xfec6e1fc8c546cde!8m2!3d34.131321!4d-118.002852!16s%2Fm%2F07644pw?hl=en-US&entry=ttu.
Finally, Paulette and I occasionally take the OC bus 70 or 72 to Bolsa Chica Beach/Sunset Beach for a walk. Would anyone be interested in establishing a monthly walk?