March Newsletter

Executive Director Message

Sarah Clapp
Sarah Clapp
 

 

Special thanks to those who participated in the Box of Chocolates online campaign. I am pleased to report the chocolate Labs have gotten off to a healthy start, through your generous support, and are now getting acquainted in their new assigned homes with the puppy raisers. And congrats to Tristan Bluto, Boy Scout Troop #377, for satisfying his Eagle Rank requirements with a designated project at Guide Dogs of the Desert.

 

I would like to draw your attention to new features in this month's newsletter - Donor Spotlight and Meet Our Staff. Featured in the Donor Spotlight are Marianne and Steve Kneass, the newest members of The Maynard Society. Having included Guide Dogs of the Desert in their estate plan, will help ensure the future of the organization.

 

Meet staff member, Bob Wendler (Director of Canine Operations) who has been working with partner organizations, Custom Canine Service Dog Academy and Operation Freedom Paws, helping transition a few "career change" dogs, destined for partnership with veterans with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), as well as Medical Alert and Autism service.

 

Upcoming events include the Big Bear Plunge at the beginning of this month, a Chili Cook-off and Car Show on March 15, and The Gardens on El Paseo Furry Friends Fashion Show, March 21. And it's not too late to register and play in the Heroes Golf Tournament, sponsored by Milauskas Eye Institute, on April 6. Speaking of April, also mark your calendar for the next class Graduation - Sunday, April 13 - 1:00 PM at the Guide Dogs' campus.

 

Your ongoing interest and support is crucial to the delivery of the mission . . . providing custom trained guide dogs for safe mobility, loving companionship, and life-enhancing independence. Thank you for your partnership.

 

Best wishes,



Sarah    



Sarah Clapp 

Executive Director 


UPCOMING EVENTS
to benefit
gddweblogo

SAVE THESE DATES
____________________

Raging Bull Chili Cook-off
& Car Show

March 15, 2014
Spa Resort Casino
Downtown Palm Springs
_________________

Furry Friends Fashion Show

March 21, 2014
The Gardens in El Paseo
____________________

Milauskas Eye Institute
"Help a Puppy Become a Hero"
Golf Tournament
April 6, 2014
Terra Lago Golf Resort
____________________

A BUNCO AFTERNOON

April 6, 2014
Grand Terrace Lions Facility
______________________

April Graduation

April 13, 2014
Guide Dogs of the Desert
______________________

Calimesa Golf Tournament

May 10, 2014
Calimesa Country Club
______________________

Guide Dogs of the Desert
May Graduation

May 25, 2014
Guide Dogs of the Desert
______________________

Summer Fling!
August 16, 2014
Guide Dogs of the Desert

Visit our Event Page
or call 760-329-6257
for more event details
_________________________


VISIT OUR PHOTO GALLERY

Our Latest June Litters


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES


Receptionists: Wellness
Center/Kennel

Monday - Friday
Hours are flexible
!!
_______________________
Volunteers needed to  
help clean the kennels
daily from 8am-12pm
Please contact Jennifer at
760-329-7366 or email her at
_____________________

 

Guide Dogs of the Desert would
like to thank its sponsors
for their support

NaturalBalance

petco

Milauskas Logo

lionslogo
Guide Dogs of the Desert is a Lions California Multiple District Endorsed
project and an
approved Lions Club
International project.
Sam's Club Logo
Guide Dogs of the Desert
Partners with Custom
Canines Service Dog Academy

Custom Canines Service Dog Academy LogoFor PTSD, autism and medical alert training and placement.
 
Thank You for Donating to
A Box of Chocolates Campaign!

We Raised 

$1,610.00
Box of Chocolates

Thank you to everyone who supported us. We appreciate your kind donations and hope your Valentine's Day was very special!
Puppy Raiser Corner

puppy laughing
Do you have a great little story about your puppy-in-training? Did he or she do something just too cute for words? Write it down and e-mail it to Shean Pao at [email protected]. It might be selected for a future edition of the newsletter. Please include a photo as well.
Guide Dogs of the Desert
Sponsorship Opportunities


Sponsorship Opportunities
Would you like to know about our sponsorship opportunities? Please Click Here for more information!
 
Board of Directors
Bob Niez - Chair
Cynthia Woods - Vice Chair
Jim Klocek - Treasurer
Patricia Craine
Clark Hallren

Raymond McLean
Albert T. Milauskas, MD
Sha Newman
Leonard Sigdestad, DVM

Honorary Board Members
James Garner
Peter Marshall
Kit and Arnold Palmer
Dick Van Patten
Tom Sullivan
Betty White

Our Staff

Management Team
Sarah Clapp
Executive Director
Trina Began
Canine Development
Curt Bergeron
Finance, Facilities & Operations
Lori Miller
Breeding & Canine Development
Bob Wendler
Canine Operations

Administration
Debbie Sloss-Coyle
Database Manager
Marjorie Griffith

Part-Time Admin. Assistant
Shean Pao
Creative Manager
Linda Samulski
Student Services

Jennifer Pinder
Kennel Manager

Kennel Technicians
Angela Coleman
Cheri Duncan
Mike McCullough
Jacob Mosby

Licensed Guide Dog Mobility Instructors & Orientation 
& Mobility Instructors
Emily Goodland 
Michal Anna Padilla 

 

gddweblogo
P.O. Box 1692
Palm Springs, CA 92263

 

Guide Dogs of the Desert
Training Facility
60-735 Dillon Road
Whitewater, CA 92282
Monday - Friday 
8:30am - 4:30pm
Phone: 760-329-6257  
Fax: 760-329-2866
Toll free: 888-883-0022
www.gddca.org

Wellness Center
760-329-1282
Kennel
760-329-7366

Join Our Mailing List
Milauskas Eye Institute Golf Tournament

Milauskas Eye Institute Logo







Date: April 6, 2014

Time: 7:00 am - Check in and breakfast
8:00 am - Shotgun Start
1:00 pm - Lunch & Awards

Cost: $150 per player. (Entry fee includes breakfast, lunch and additional 18 hole round of golf to be used at a later date).

Registration is limited. Please respond no later than Friday,
March 29, 1014.

Location: Terra Lago Golf Resort
Call Barb Kovacs at (760) 340-3937 for more information

 

A Bunco Afternoon!
April 6, 2014
Bunco
Doors Open 1:30 pm
Begins 2:00 pm (Promptly)

Grand Terrace Lions Facility
22130 Barton Rd
Grand Terrace, CA 92313

$20.00 Before April 1st
$25.00 after April 2nd

Information and tickets: Call Jim at (909) 215-7321
Donor Spotlight
Marianne and Steve Kneass

Mr. and Mrs. Kneass
Mr. and Mrs. Kneass

Never underestimate the power of a Volunteer! Helen Morey, volunteer for Guide Dogs of the Desert, extended an invitation to Marianne and Steve Kneass to attend a Graduation and, as Steve exclaimed, "we were hooked."

 

"All my life I have had a fear of losing my sight," Steve stated. "After meeting Izzy (Helen's Ambassador dog), attending the graduation at Guide Dogs of the Desert, and hearing from the graduates how a guide dog restores their 'sight,' well, the logical next step was to find the best way to support Guide Dogs of the Desert."

 

Marianne added, "I have always had a soft spot in my heart for animals, especially dogs. Including Guide Dogs of the Desert in our trust was a natural fit." When Marianne and Steve formalized their trust, they included Guide Dogs of the Desert as a beneficiary.

 

The Kneass' - married for over 30 years and both retired - were also motivated through his family's history, dating back to the 1860's when Steve's great (x4) cousin, Napolean Bonaparte Kneass, Jr. (1843-1898 - blinded at age 7 due to a sun stroke), founded and successfully published the Philadelphia Magazine for the Blind (1867-1884). He also invented the "Combined System" - a tactile system of raised type, used in the magazine, his authored books and music.

 

By notifying the organization of their intent, the Kneass' are now the newest members of The Maynard Society - a legacy society that recognizes individuals who have included Guide Dogs of the Desert in their estate plans. Named for the organization's founder, Bud Maynard, this society is being revitalized to recognize donors on a plaque in the main entry to the Auditorium, and inviting members to an annual appreciation reception at the campus when a class is in session.

 

Thank you, Marianne and Steve Kneass, for your generous support of Guide Dogs of the Desert.

 

For more information about how you can be recognized as a member of The Legacy Society, please contact Sarah Clapp, Executive Director, at [email protected] or 760-329-6257.
Guide Dogs of the Desert assists a  
blind Iraq War veteran

Adam Rowland, a blind Iraq War veteran, is getting help from four non-profit organizations - Guide Dogs of the Desert, Team Veterans, Operation Freedom Paws and Horse Rhythm Foundation. Read Article Here. 

 

Guide Dogs of the Desert assists a blind Iraq War veteran
Guide Dogs of the Desert assists a blind Iraq War veteran
Guide Dog Graduate, Petra Janes
Blind retiree embraces independence -
with help from her 12th guide dog, McKeever.

Petra and McKeever
Petra and McKeever

A perfect match:
Meet McKeever, a 3-year-old German shepherd. She's new to Colorado but already fits in perfectly. She's a guide dog for Petra Janes.

Janes, 67, and her husband, Kirk, live in the wide-open spaces south of Pueblo. McKeever came to Janes through Guide Dogs of the Desert, a guide dog school based in California. Read the full article here.
Bob Wendler 
Director of Canine Operations
Guide Dogs of the Desert

Bob Wendler and Bo
Bob and Bo
Bob Wendler  Director of Canine Operations Guide Dogs of the Desert 

Bob Wendler began the career that would change the direction of his life while serving in Vietnam in the US Navy, Canine Handler, 1969-1970.  After returning from Vietnam, he continued to develop and expand his training skills by working with guard and police dogs until 1976, when he was California State Licensed and started training guide dogs.

 
In 1991, Bob became the co-director of training at Guide Dogs of the Desert, a position he held for two years.  In 1993, following a restructuring of staff at Guide Dogs of the Desert, Bob went to work for Guide Dogs of America where he was a senior instructor for 11 years.  


During his tenure at Guide Dogs of America, he was honored to receive the "Instructor of the Year" award presented by Guide Dog Users Inc. in Sacramento, CA.  In 2006, Bob returned to Guide Dogs of the Desert as Director of Canine Operations. He is very excited to be part of this program and he considers himself fortunate to be working with so many dedicated people, all with the same dream of providing quality service to those in need. 

Bob has taken an active leadership role in collaborating with other organizations, i.e. Custom Canines, Operation Freedom Paws, Horse Rhythm Foundation, and Saving the Warrior, to place dogs bred through Guide Dogs of the Desert that have been disqualified for guide service, into training for PTSD, Medical Alert, and Autism service.
Bob is married, and has 8 sons, one of whom is serving as a crew chief for a Marine Corp fighter jet squadron. 

His son has served three tours in the Middle East. 

Bob is an avid motorcycle rider and actively participates in charity rides, being a proud member of the "Patriot Guard Riders" who ride to honor our troops who have fallen, as well as those who return home from service. The PGR also provide escort and honor guard services throughout the country.
Santa Paws 5K Run/Walk A Huge Success!

Santa Paws Volunteers presenting a check to Guide Dogs of the Desert
Carl Blue, Lori, Carol Manners, Molly Thorpe,
Alan Franks and Sarah Clapp
On February10, 2014, Guide Dogs of the Desert received a donation from two local organizations in the amount of $17,700.00. 

The check was presented by Alan Franks from the Whitewater Guide Dogs of the Desert Lions Club, Molly Thorpe from the Palm Springs Marathon Runners Club and committee members Carol Manners and Carl Blue. 

Guide Dogs of the Desert, Executive Director, Sarah Clapp accepted the check at a staff meeting. The donation represented the proceeds from the 2nd Annual Santa Paws 5K Walk/Run/Stroll.

On December 21, 2013, Palm Springs had the largest group of Santa's in the Desert, and they all joined together for a morning of fun, and to support the great work of Guide Dogs of the Desert. 

Thank you to everyone that attended and supported the event.
The major sponsors of the Santa Paws event were Harold Matzner, General Air Conditioning and Running Wild.

Complimentary photos were taken by Racewire. The event media sponsor was KESQ with Jeff Stahl as the emcee of the event.
Over 600 registered for the 5K walk/run/stroll that started at the Mizell Senior Center and 35 registered "elves" participated in the Elf Dash (children 10 and under).

Please mark your calendar and join us for the 3rd Annual Santa Paws event that will take place on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Thank you to Sandy and Joey Esposito for their  
Colorado Guide Dogs for our Heroes Banquet

veteran's flag
Sandy and Joey Esposito may be 952 miles away, but that has not stopped them from going gang-busters when it comes to raising funds for what they are passionate about.

Sandy Esposito graduated from Guide Dogs of the Desert October, 2008. Since then she and her husband Joey have raised thousands of dollars for Guide Dogs of the Desert. Their latest endeavor, Guide Dogs for our Heroes Banquet was a huge success. Between tickets, donations and auction, Sandy raised $12,093.08!

Her next event to benefit Guide Dogs of the Desert is their annual Colorado Guide Dog Motorcycle Ride - coming up June 7, 2014.

Thank you from all of us at Guide Dogs of the Desert! 
Trina's Tips
Oswald  
Problem: My dog is jumping on visitors when they come to our house
 
Solution:  Anticipate the problem and place your dog on leash to greet guests at the door.  As you approach the door, ask the dog to sit. Make sure he/she is back far enough that allows you to open the door.  If the dog attempts to get up at this point correct with a leash correction for breaking the sit command.  Invite your guest inside. Ask them to ignore the dog as you are working on appropriate greetings.

* The rule is that all four paws must remain on the floor before praise is earned.

*Prior to this the dog should understand the sit command.
Trina Began
Trina Began, Director of Canine Development

 
Practice this exercise with family members prior to other guests coming over. The key is patience and persistence.  Let your guests know they should ignore the dog so that he learns that everyone does not come to the house to make a fuss over him/her.
 
Eventually the dog will accompany you to the door and know that there is nothing exciting going on for him.