Alumni Connections: GDB Alumni Chapters

By: Melissa Hudson, Chapter Coordinator

One of the many ways Guide Dogs for the Blind sets itself apart, is our amazing Alumni Association! Within our Alumni Association, we have fabulous, unique and varied Alumni Chapters, just like all of our grads! Joining an Alumni Chapter is a great way to connect with fellow guide dog handlers, puppy raisers and your community at large. Yes, GDB Alumni Chapters are open to grads, puppy raisers, community members, friends and family too!

Here is a list of our geographically-based chapters:

Colorado Alumni Chapter of GDB
The Foggy Doggies (Northern California)
GDB Handlers of the Northeast
Great White North GDB Alumni Chapter (Canada)
Guide Dog Handlers of the Midwest (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana & Michigan)
Guide Dog Teams of Orange County (Southern California)
North State Guide Dog Handlers (Chico, CA)
Oklahoma City GDB Alumni Chapter
Reigning Canines (Portland, OR)
River City Guide Dog Users (Sacramento, CA)
San Diego Alumni Chapter (Southern California)
Sunshine Guide Dog Teams (Florida)
Big Star Dawgs (Texas)
The Greatest Paws on Earth (Utah)
Washington State GDB Alumni
Windy City Chapter (Chicago, IL)

Now, here's a list of our interest-based Alumni Chapters:

GDB Cruisers (people who love traveling via cruises)
GDB Tech Dogs (people interested in assistive technology)
Guide Dog Handlers All Ways (graduates with multiple disabilities)
Talking Dogs Alumni Chapter (people involved in the Speakers Bureau)

Here's a list of Alumni Chapters that are no longer active but, are seeking new members to help re-establish them (We need your help!):

GDB Los Angeles Guide Dogs Alumni Chapter
Greater Toronto GDB Alumni Chapter
Montana Guide Dog Handlers
Montreal Chapter

As you can tell, we have quite a fun and diverse group of Alumni Chapters! All of our Alumni Chapters are always looking for new members, so why not join one, help re-establish one or start a new one! If that sounds interesting to you, please email me directly at mhudson@guidedogs.com and I'll get you started on the path to being connected!

Each Alumni Chapter has its own meeting schedule and dynamics, whether the meetings are via conference call, in person or online. That's what's so great about our Alumni Chapters - their flexibility, love for each other and GDB! In future blog posts, we'll spotlight one of our amazing Alumni Chapters to give you a better insight, so keep checking in!