It's a girl!

Pictured here is Dixie Land GDU President, Nancy Moore with her new guide, Giza. Nancy and Giza were just matched on the Oregon campus of Guide Dogs for the Blind, this past Monday, February 15. Both are doing well, looking forward to coming home and exploring Charleston.

Newly-retired guide, Luna is learning to enjoy going for car rides, leisurely walks and just hanging out with her "Daddy", Dixie Land's "First Dude", Max.

Our congratulations, and best wishes for the "First Family"!

Top Dog Goes Whole Hog in Charleston!

On January 15, over one hundred guide dog users, cane users, sighted puppy raisers and other friends of the blindness community from across the United States and Canada gathered at the Best Western on Spring Street in Downtown Charleston for Top Dog, 2010. Dixie Land Guide Dog Users take great pride in having hosted this event, in partnership with Guide Dog Users of Florida, North Carolina Paws, and the Charleston, SC Association for the Blind. From beginning to end, this weekend was filled with fun, food, fellowship and furries (working guide dogs, future guides with their puppy raisers and retired guides with their forever people).



Thanks to a wonderful nightly rate provided by the Best Western, many people came in early, just to enjoy Charleston. We began registering folks on Thursday afternoon, January 14. All of our registered guests received a goodie bag, a program in either Braille, large print or electronic format and a commemorative Top Dog T-shirt and cap.



Opening Ceremonies began on Friday the 15th. The festivities were ushered in by The Presentation of the Colors, with descriptive narration provided by John Johnston. Three of our Lowcountry Blind Youth, Shelby, Taylor and Brianna led us in the singing of our National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance and an Opening Invocation, respectively. A zany but extremely heartfelt Awards Ceremony followed, as Top Dog Funvention Chairman Audrey Gunter joined Program Chairman Laurel Jean Walden in presenting plaques to over twenty friends of the blindness community. Recipients included some of our nations top guide dog schools, along with other individuals, businesses and organizations. We wrapped up the evening with a reception, heavy snacks and lively music!

Saturday morning began with a bagged hot breakfast. Our first session of the day, The Blessing of the Guides was officiated by Pastor Don ClenDaniel of Grace United Methodist Church here in Charleston. An alternate river walk was available to those who did not wish to participate in the Blessing. Three other sessions followed: “Maintaining Healthy Guides” by local veterinarian Dr. Ruth Roberts; “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, an interactive panel discussion between blind youth and seasoned cane and guide dog users; and “Protecting Your Identity” by representatives of Prepaid Legal Services.



After a bagged lunch, the day’s events were far from over! The line for our first descriptive narrated Charleston bus tour formed in the hotel lobby, while outside in the rain, the Charleston Fliers were busy with their tandem bikes. Seventy bus tour spaces were reserved in all, and thirty brave blind guests took a seat behind a sighted pilot on a tandem bike!



For those who chose not to venture out, there was plenty to see and do inside! Our Exhibit Hall featured eighteen vender booths. Guests visited with several of the nation’s top guide dog schools, learned about services available to the blindness community, did a little shopping among blind artisans and musicians, and even took a “hands-on” look at some interesting critters!



On Saturday evening, Top Dog truly went Whole Hog! Two dinner-theater style seatings featured a BBQ Buffet Roundup, complete with Live dinner music and special guest Michael Viljac (AKA Elvis)!



The evening was a tremendous success, thanks especially to our many sighted volunteers!

On Sunday, folks began heading home. A bagged continental breakfast and an optional non-denominational Worship Service of praise and song rounded out this amazing weekend!

Top Dog Charleston featured and honored at least 6 of the major guide dog schools; honored 24 various individuals and organizations for their continued support of the blindness community; provided outlets for 18 separate vendors, blind and sighted, at our Exhibit Hall; offered 70 folks their personal narrated tours of historic downtown Charleston on a nice, comfortable bus; afforded the opportunity for 4 pastors (2 of whom were blind) to bless at least 80 current and former guides; boosted the local economy by filling over 220 hotel rooms that would have normally remained empty, and eating at the many restaurants around the downtown area; allowed at least 30 of our blind guests the once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride on the back of a tandem bicycle through the streets of Charleston, (despite the rain); all the while employing and promoting a blind catering company, 2 blind musicians, 2 blind pastors, a blind masseuse, a blind woodworker, a blind jewelry maker and a blind public speaker. In addition to all of this, we included several of our local blind and sighted youth in all of our activities, recognizing the effect blindness has on a family. We transported at least 40 guests and their guides, current or future, from and to the airport at no charge, thereby reducing the already incredibly low costs for our attendees, allowing them a greater financial freedom to travel to our fair city. All of this and so much more would not have been possible without the devotion of our volunteers, the generosity of our sponsors, and the enthusiasm of our courageous guests! To everyone, and the dedicated workers of Dixie Land: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Sharing Christmas Joy!

Taylor stands at the altar of Grace Church, where shoeboxes full of goodies have been collected and blessed for Operation Christmas Child.

Last July, Dixie Land Guide Dog Users was honored to help sponsor the Camp Lakewood Vacation Bible School for Blind Youth, a production of Music By Laurel Jean. Youth attending had the opportunity to earn money toward a Walmart shopping trip to purchase items for their very own shoebox contributions to Samaritan’s Purse.

Saturday, November 14 marked a special Camp Lakewood reunion, held at Grace United Methodist Church. On this day, the Camp Lakewood Class of two youths was greeted by Miss Susan, another sighted angel volunteer, who led us in a time of sharing and fellowship as we decorated and stuffed a total of six shoeboxes!

On Sunday, November 22, Taylor represented Camp Lakewood at Grace UMC in the 11:00 AM service. During the Blessing of Shoeboxes, he was recognized and asked to come forward, placing one of his shoebox contributions on the altar with the others from Camp Lakewood and from the congregation (84 boxes in all).

Our thanks to all who have helped make Camp Lakewood Possible, as we continue to teach our blind youth the importance of giving back to our community and remembering those less fortunate around the world.

Celebrating White Cane Day

Our president, Nancy More, joins one of Charleston’s blind youth in taking a hands-on look at our country’s flag. October 15, 2009 marked the first time that many area blind and visually impaired folks had ever really “seen” the American Flag, one of many exhibits featured at a special celebration of White Cane Day, 2009 in Charleston, SC.

October 15th is recognized internationally as White Cane Safety Awareness Day. This day is set aside to recognize the white cane and to teach sighted people about the purpose and use of the white cane by the blind.

Dixie Land Guide Dog Users proudly assisted in hosting this White Cane Day celebration, with Laurel Jean serving as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. Blind folks of all ages met at the Visitor’s Center on Meeting Street Downtown. After a walk to Francis Marion Square, the program continued with a narrated presentation of The Colors. Elementary and secondary students were awarded for their participation in a story contest featuring the long, white cane. Congratulations to First Place Winner, Brianna Murray, who received a full scholarship to our Top Dog, 2010 as part of her prize package!

Following the Awards Ceremony, God’s “outa sight” kids of all ages offered a variety of musical selections.

After the program, folks were treated to snacks and several different exhibits, including the flag shown above, with raised stars and stripes which could be touched! This exhibit was inspired by Taylor, who took his first “hands-on” look at our country’s flag when last summer’s Camp Lakewood Vacation Bible School for blind youth toured Grace United Methodist Church.

The Color Guard honored the ministry of Music By Laurel Jean, producer of Camp Lakewood, presenting her with this White Cane Day Flag at the conclusion of the day’s festivities.

Our thanks to the Charleston Chapter of the American Council of the Blind for allowing Dixie Land Guide Dog Users to help sponsor White Cane Day, 2009. On this day, we celebrated God’s gifts: not only our independence as blind individuals, but also the freedom that we know as citizens of The United States of America.

Top Dog Goes Whole Hog, from the "Funvention" Director

Dixie Land Guide Dog Users, in partnership with Guide Dog Users of Florida, Carolina Paws and the Charleston Association for the Blind would like to invite you to our next Top Dog-Charleston Funvention, scheduled January 15-17,2010 at the Best Western Inn (250 Spring Street) in beautiful, historic downtown Charleston, SC. Our Dixie Landers have worked extremely hard to make this an action-packed, festive, fun-filled, culinary delightful and totally enjoyable weekend for everyone-blind or sighted, cane or guide dog user! We want to exemplify some of that good ol' southern hospitality you've heard so much about.

The kind folks at the Best Western are offering our guests the incredible low nightly room rate of only $64.99 (plus tax) for the entire week of January 11-18, 2010. They want everyone to come early and stay later. To get that low rate, though, you MUST CALL THE HOTEL DIRECTLY at 843-722-4000. Be sure to tell them you're coming to "Top Dog". The Spring Street Best Western was formerly the Howard Johnson, home of our very first Top Dog. While the building remains the same, the hotel has just undergone a major multi-million dollar renovation and is absolutely beautiful! Some of the helpful staff is still there and they are all anxiously awaiting our return. Most rooms (except Kings) are equipped with microwaves and all have refrigerators. For those who want to stay longer, there is a restaurant located in the hotel and 2 fast-food places (McDonald's & Arby's) in the same block!

The Hospitality Suites are located on the 8th floor and, as always, will offer complimentary snacks and beverages for our registered guests. Located adjacent to one of the Hospitality Suites will be Carla Campbell, who has graciously offered to pamper our furriest with one of her famous pet massages at a discounted price. In addition, the kind folks at Charleston Pet Resort will be available to trim your guide's nails and brush his teeth at no charge.

Dixie Land's President, Nancy Smith Moore, and her new hubby (our First Dude), will greet those of our guests flying into Charleston's airport, where complimentary ground transportation to and from the airport and train station will be available. One of our fantastic volunteers will be waiting at the Best Western to escort you to either the hotel registration desk or our Funvention registration room. If you'd like, someone can also escort you to your room to familiarize you with its layout.

Now, YOU CAN REGISTER ELECTRONICALLY by Email or telephone! Early registration (before 12/15/09) for our Top Dog Funvention is only $60 per person and includes our reception, featuring Mr. Duncan Holmes, and his guide dog, Lucky; the awards ceremony; legendary entertainment; bagged breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings; a delicious bagged lunch Saturday afternoon; an All You Can Eat Barbecue Roundup Saturday evening; written programs (Braille & large print); all scheduled "Play Times" on Saturday; River Walks; tandem bicycle and motorcycle rides; commemorative t-shirts and caps; and more! All registrations paid after 12/15/2009 will increase to $75 per person.

Our programs, or "Play Times" will begin Saturday morning with a Christian "Blessing" or, for those non-Christians, a River Walk along the Ashley River to Brittlebank Park. Afterwards, we hear from Dr. Ruth Roberts, a well-known local vet who specializes in hip displaysia and allergies. Next, we have an interactive panel discussion between some of our blind youth and various "seasoned" cane and guide dog users. We've named this session, "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" and encourage everyone to attend and participate in the discussions. Our last "Play Time" will touch on "Identity Theft", something very real to everyone!

Following this session we'll break for the delicious lunch prepared by our very own blind caterers, Derrick Middleton and Taffany Bolger.

Our Exhibit Hall will be opened from 2 pm until 5 pm, where you'll meet representatives from some of the nation's best guide dog schools; experience some of the latest access technology; and "see" an assortment of specially prepared jewelry by fellow guide dog user, Jenine Stanley.

Our first bus leaves at 2 pm for an extremely comfortable and informative, unbelievably descriptive tour of downtown Charleston, including a stroll through Battery Point. We invite you to touch the cannons used during the infamous Civil War. Listen and learn as your tour guide takes you through Charleston's colorful history from early settlement to pirates to slave owners to today! Ride through our cobblestone streets past such historic sights as Rainbow Row; the Old Slave Market; The Citadel Military Academy and much, much more. These optional tours are offered by Charleston Tours for only $15 each.

This year's theme is "Top Dog Goes Whole Hawg" and for good reason! Exercise your fork fingers! Loosen up your feeding digits! Lubricate your lips and strengthen your jaw bones! Bessinger's is planning a feast for all of us with an All You Can Eat Barbecue Roundup featuring their award-winning barbecue pork, beef, ribs and chicken. We planned lots for you to do so you can belly up to the trough good and hungry. Just wait until you wrap your lips around some of their mouth-watering meats; lip-smacking hash & rice; delicious baked beans; and cole slaw to die for! Sop up every last smidgen with one of their heavenly rolls; but save room for some of their "slap your mama" good nanner pudding!

Yes, we've anticipated that you'll want to take one of our many tours, so we've planned 2 dinner seatings: early and late to accommodate you.

If you have to leave us Sunday morning, be sure to grab your "to go" bagged breakfast, but, if you can, stick around for a special non-denominational church service.

To learn more about our infamous Top Dog Charleston, you can call us at: 843-608-6890 or shoot us an Email at: dixielandguides@gmail.com
Be sure to check out our new website, too at:
http://dixielandguides.blogspot.com

Y'all come! We'll be looking for you!

Blessings,

Audrey Gunter, Funvention Chairman
Dixie Land Guide Dog Users