History:
Georgia Guide Dog Users (GGDU) was formed at the 2002 state Convention of the Georgia Council of the Blind which was held in Augusta, Georgia.
Our first meeting was held in the hotel room of founding member Alice Richhart.
The group adopted a constitution and bylaws, and developed a mission statement. The purpose of GGDU is to:
A. To promote the acceptance of blind people with guide dogs by all agencies, employers, educational institutions, those doing business with the general public, and by the general public.
B. To work for the standardizations and enforcement and expansion of the legal provisions governing the admission of guide dog users to public places, transportation facilities, hotels, apartments, restaurants, places of amusements and all places to which the general public is invited.
C. To work to improve the scope and quality of educational, cultural, rehabilitation and employment opportunities for guide dog users through cooperation and affiliation with Guide Dog Users, Inc, and the American Council of the Blind.
D. To advocate and promote legislation to protect guide dogs from abuse or attacks from other dogs.
Charter members of our first meeting were:
JulieAichroth, Tim Barrett, Marsha Farrow, Diane and Leo Healy, Sean Hogue, Judy Presley, Anne and John Sims, Alice Richhart and Carolyn Witcher.
The following officers were elected:
President, Alice Richhart
Vice-President, Judy Presley
Secretary, Diane Healy
Treasurer, Carolyn Witcher
We at the end of our second year have twenty-seven members. Unfortunately in the second year we lost one of our charter members to cancer. Julie Aichroth will be missed in the years to come, and an award has been named in her honor for all the contributions she gave to the work with guide dog handlers and this organization in its short time. The organization began by holding meetings in different locations around the state on a quarterly basis, but due to poor attendance the group voted to hold meetings twice a year, and then do phone conferences as needed.
Issues the organization has taken on in its first few years include helping to get stronger service dog protection laws to help keep service dogs safe from attack and interference of other dogs. Also we helped several guide dog handlers who were having access issues such as those involved in the Georgia Business Enterprise Program who were being denied the right to have their guide dogs accompany them while in training for food service jobs. Also we have had many training sessions on good health through good nutrition for our guides, dog massage therapy, and even a visit from a guide horse and its handler.
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