Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Hello, Let us introduce ourselves: we are Graduate Partners for Southeastern (GPS). Like you, we are alumni of Southeastern Guide Dogs. Our purpose is to share our stories for advancing recruitment, outreach to graduates and the public, marketing, and fundraising to help Southeastern furnish more dogs to those in need. We are also here to help you with any guide dog concerns you may have or to help celebrate and share your successes. We are a diverse group of people, and while we don’t pretend to have all the answers, it is likely that there are at least one or two of us who have encountered the same guide dog issues as you, or we have dealt with the same questions. We are glad to share with you what we have learned, and we look forward to hearing about some of your own experiences. GPS also provides support, encouragement and insight in the use of a guide dog to applicants who have been accepted into the Southeastern Guide Dogs program and potential applicants who are interested in obtaining a dog guide. With another focus on marketing and fundraising for our school, GPS works to promote the raising of money to help provide dogs for new and returning students. Our goal is to reach out to organizations, businesses, and individuals to demonstrate the value of independence that working with a dog brings to each person. We use our communication skills for making presentations through the SEGD Speakers Bureau to help accomplish these goals. Will you help us help others? We welcome articles from you on guide dogs, ADA, or other items that you believe your fellow grads would enjoy. Be sure to visit the Southeastern Guide dog blog to share your experiences with other graduates. Let’s try to stay upbeat and positive. We want to encourage each other to be successful. All GPS members are available by phone or e-mail. Our contact information is: Dulce Weisenborn, Chair, Miami, Florida and Portland, Oregon , dmw@lifedesigns-inc.com 305-829-9008, Kati Lear, Vice Chair , Port Orange, Florida, mailto:kati386@bellsouth.net%20 386-788-0463, Dolores Myers, Secretary , Port Orange, Florida, dmyers46@cfl.rr.com 386-756-1883, Alan Preston, prestonad542@comcast.net 561-358-5313, Kathy Champion, Gulfport, FL, Kathrynfchampion@Yahoo.com 813-447-0629, Shirley Tracy , Sun City Center, FL , mailto:stracy5@tampabay.rr.com%20 813-260-3081, Janet Deluca , North Fort Myers, Fl, janetsyear2010@gmail.com 239-995-6645, Bob Smallwood, Key West, FL , bskye@bellsouth.net 305-509-2184, and Christina Holtzclaw, Rome, GA, chclaw@disabilitylink.org 706-236-9906.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's exciting to see the blog up and running again.

Dolores Myers said...

I am proud to be a SEGD graduate and a GPS member. I look forward to communicating with and helping other graduates through this blog as we all work together helping each other and helping our school continue its mission.

Shirley Tracy said...

Hey Everyone, I'm excited about this blog. Let's pitch in and make it a great meeting place where we can all share ideas.