Michael and Rosell

I have the solemn obligation to inform you that my hero guide dog, Roselle, who was with me in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, passed away last evening, Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 8:52 PM.  I am sad, of course, because I will miss Roselle so very much, more than any of my other guide dogs.  I write with joy because Roselle is in a better place, no longer feeling pain, while I get to have so many fond memories of her. 

Roselle was born on March 12, 1998 at Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California.  I heard right from the start that she was quite a mischievous little puppy.  She went to Santa Barbara, California to be raised by several puppy raising families.  Kay and Ted Stern had the joy and pleasure of spending the longest amount of raiser time with her.  Kay and Ted introduced her to airplane flying, New York, snow, and even the theater.  I must say that I think the culture did rub off on her. 

After her time with puppy raisers she went back to Guide Dogs for the Blind for training.  I think I first met her on November 22, 1999.  It was obvious from the very beginning that we were a perfect match.  Roselle was my fifth guide dog.  I could tell that she would be an excellent guide from our very first walk together.  What took me a few days to discover was that Roselle was also quite a character; I constantly referred to her as a pixie.  Almost from the first night we spent together I found that Roselle was great at stealing socks.  She didn’t chew them up; she just carried them around and then hid them somewhere only to bring them out later just to taunt me.  She was always willing to give them up undamaged and ready-to-wear although a little bit damp.  Her tail wagged through the whole experience.  In fact, her tail hardly stop wagging during the almost 12 years I knew her.  During my first week with Roselle I also discovered that she was a loud snorer.  The Stearns told me later that she could snore with the best of them. 

We came home to New Jersey on December 2, 1999.  Later that evening she met my retired guide, Linnie.  Linnie and Roselle seemed a bit uncomfortable with each other that night and into the middle of the next day.  I decided that this awkwardness had gone on long enough and brought out a rope tug bone.  I made each of them take an end and I grabbed the middle of the rope.  They started off by teaming up and tugging against me.  After about 20 seconds of this with mouths inching up toward my fingers from both sides I release the bone and let them go at it alone.  From that moment on they were inseparable until Linnie died on July 4, 2002.

On September 11, 2001 Roselle and I were in our office on the 78th floor of Tower One of the

Roselle - Hero

World Trade Center when the tower was struck by American Airlines flight 11 which had been hijacked and was being controlled by terrorists.  Our escape from that tower as well as the collapse of Tower Two is well known and, in fact, is the subject of Thunder Dog, a book written by me and Susy Flory, which will be in bookstores soon as well as be available on my website.  All I want to say here is that Roselle did an incredible job.  She remained poised and calm through the entire day.  She gave kisses and love wherever she could and she worked when she needed to do so.  I would not be alive today if it weren’t for Roselle.  I cannot say enough about the incredible job she did.  What Roselle did on 9/11 is a testimony not only to the Stern’s and the others who raised her, but also to her trainer, Todd Jurek, the entire GDB training staff, and all the people who make up the wonderful organization of Guide Dogs for the Blind.  Most of all, what Roselle did that day and in fact every day she and I were together is nothing less than the strongest possible evidence I can provide of the value of teamwork and trust. 

After 9/11, in fact in mid-January 2002, after Roselle and I had spent countless hours speaking to the media, and at several events including GDB’s Holiday Luncheon, and even riding on a float in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, Roselle and I were offered a position at Guide Dogs for the Blind to serve as the National Public Affairs Director for the organization.  Over the next 6 1/2 years Roselle and I traveled hundreds of thousands of miles throughout the United States and the rest of the world speaking about trust and teamwork, guide dogs, and blindness in general in order to help people understand that the real handicap of blindness is not a lack of eyesight but a lack of proper education about blindness.  Roselle took every trip with poise and confidence whether it was to Kansas or Korea.  She was an incredible traveler and once even traveled from San Francisco to New Zealand, a 23.5 hour trip, without needing to go to the bathroom once.  I did not fare so well. 

In 2004, Roselle was diagnosed with immune mediated thrombocytopenia, a condition which caused her body to attack her blood platelets.  Through medications we were able to control the disease and Roselle was able to continue guiding.  As usual, she worked like a trooper and never once exhibited pain nor discomfort. 

When Linnie died in 2002 Roselle lost her major tug companion.  For the next four years I mainly had to take up the slack as it were.  We did care for some foster dogs from GDB, and in 2003 we adopted Panama, a 12 1/2-year-old career change dog from Guide Dogs.  Panama wasn’t a great tugging partner because she didn’t have the strength to keep up with Roselle.  In 2006, however, when Panama died at the age of 15 we decided to become a breeder keeper for GDB.  Fantasia came to live with us.  She was just two years old and was quite able to give as well as she got from Roselle.  Again, Roselle found an inseparable friend and made the most of it.  She still swiped the occasional pair of socks, but Fantasia was her main interest.  Roselle taught Fantasia how to bark every time the doorbell rang and how to beg for treats, although I must admit treat begging came natural to both dogs especially when 8:00 PM rolled around.

In February 2007 during a normal checkup we learned that some of Roselle’s kidney values were changing for the worse.  It was decided that the medication regimen on which Roselle had been placed as well as the stress of guiding were the causes for her kidney value changes.  Roselle retired from guide work in March of 2007.  It was a sad day for all of us, but Roselle took it in stride and soon made it very clear that retirement suited her well.  After retirement Roselle loved to take walks most of the time, she loved her meals, her treats, playing Battle of the Bone with Fantasia and later with my current guide dog Africa, and of course barking at the ringing of the doorbell.  Roselle was the loudest barker of the bunch.  I have fond memories of Roselle, Fantasia, and Africa all tugging on the same rope, all battling each other across our living room giving no care to whatever was in their way. 

In 2010, Roselle began exhibiting some chronic back pain.  In March of 2010, while attending and speaking at the annual convention of the American Animal Hospital Association Roselle met Doctor Robin Downing, an expert in dog pain management.  Robin noticed Roselle’s pain and while I gave three consecutive workshops she spent time with Roselle.  I think they got to know each other pretty well that day because right after the workshops Doctor Downing, right there on the floor in the front of the conference room, gave Roselle a back adjustment which clearly helped Roselle and made her back feel somewhat better.  We immediately upon our return home took Roselle to her vet and started her on a treatment of acupuncture, some other back adjustments, and herbs which altogether mostly eliminated her chronic back pain. 

Earlier this year we noticed that Roselle was beginning to have a harder time standing up on her own, although once she was standing she loved to continue her daily walks.  She stopped playing tug bone with Fantasia and Africa, but she still enjoyed lying in the sun, eating, kissing everybody in sight, and barking at the doorbell.  Her ability to stand on her own grew worse throughout the first half of this year. 

Last week she began exhibiting some other signs of distress and pain.  On Friday, June 24, 2011 she had to be taken to her vet as she had begun vomiting blood.  It is suspected that somehow she had developed a stomach ulcer.  Also, it was discovered that her red blood cell count had dropped significantly.  Friday evening she was taken to the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center where she was well known and would receive over night care. She had spent many hours with Doctor Harb and the other staff working through her IMT issues.  They had also helped her in January 2009 when she developed gastric torsion and had to undergo emergency surgery to untwist her stomach. 

Yesterday, Sunday, June 26, we visited her in the evening only to see her condition continuing to deteriorate.  She was in a lot of pain and discomfort.  There was no one cause for her discomfort, but Doctor Bowie of the PESC felt that some of her immune mediated related conditions had returned in addition to the possible stomach ulcer.  After much consultation and discussion we all came to agreement that the best thing we could do to help Roselle was to assist her in crossing the Rainbow Bridge and go to her friends Linnie and Panama.  At 8:52 last evening she crossed the bridge and, I am sure, is now more comfortable and has all the doorbells she wants to bark at. 

Roselle Love

How can I possibly say goodbye to a dog who is done all Roselle has done and who lived life to the fullest?  How can I ever do justice to her life, work, and memory?  Roselle has been one of the greatest blessings and gifts I have ever had the joy to let into my life.  God surely broke the mold when she came into the world.  Including Africa I have had seven guide dogs and also I have had the opportunity to see thousands of them at work.  Roselle is unique without a doubt.  She worked through the most trying time in our nation’s history, and she was right there unflinching for all of it.  Her spirit never diminished and, in fact, grew stronger through the years after 9-11 which helps me be a better person today. 

I thank God for the time Karen and I were allowed to have the wonderful creature which was Roselle with us.  She touched everyone whom she met and I’m sure everyone’s path she crossed is better for knowing her.  She kissed firefighters in the World Trade Center as we descended the stairs.  She gave unconditional love to so many people wherever she went.  She inspired us all and will continue to do so. 

We are about to form the Roselle’s Dream Foundation.  This has been in the works for several months.  The purposes of the foundation include educating people about blindness, and as donations permit we shall assist blind children and later blind adults in obtaining some of the technologies which will assist them in learning and working in the world.  Shortly the website http://www.rosellefoundation.org/ will be up and running.  I hope people will honor Roselle by making donations in her memory to the Roselle’s Dream Foundation to help us in our work. 

Roselle, your memory will always be with us and I know your spirit will continue to touch us all.  I know you’re watching and you’re nearby us.  Help us all to be better people and dogs, but most of all be yourself wherever you are.  I hope you’re feeling better now.  You have set a high bar of love for all of us.  Be at peace and know that we shall try to love each other as much as you loved each of us on this earth.

God bless you all,

Mike Hingson

My question in return is “what are the expectations of each of the team members?”  What I am asking is what each member of the team expects to get out of the team experience.

Forming a team is a process which is much like baking a cake.  You must assemble the ingredients, mix them properly and gently, then apply the heat or, (in the case of a team), encouragement to finally create the finished product.  Unlike a cake the team formation process continues so long as the team exists.

The most important factor in creating a good team is to get the team members to think as a unit rather than as individuals each out for their own ends.  At the same time the team leader needs to recognize that each member has their own drives, motivations, and desires.  The leader needs to be the baker and properly combine the human traits of all the team members into a unit which performs much better than the sum of the parts.

As a user of a guide dog for forty-seven years I must apply this principle every day.  My guide dog and I have adventures, misadventures, disagreements and successes because we have learned to work well as a team.  Every team leader and all team members need to recognize this rule if the team is to succeed.  Dogs want to be part of a team much more than most humans it would seem.  Their unconditional love leaves them open to trust and positive interactions.  We humans aren’t so easy to convince.

A team can truly begin to work together when we recognize that there is no “my” in team.  Phrases like “my team”, “my effort”, “my success” need to disappear from the team mentality.  It is “our team,” “we pulled together to make the effort,” etc.  One person may have made a significant contribution to the team’s success, but it is still “our success” because in a good team everyone made a contribution which lead to that success.  As soon as team members forget the “our principle” the inevitable process of team breakdown begins.

Recently, I saw a great example of the lack of a true team spirit during a TV interview with the U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner.  A reporter was talking with Speaker Boehner about the looming budget crisis.  The reporter asked whether Mr. Boehner was willing to make significant compromises with President Obama on remaining budget issues.  Speaker Boehner’s reply was that he was “going to get the best deal for my team.”  He did not say he wanted the best “deal for America” or that he wanted the best compromise for all Americans.

Speaker Boehner’s comment is not the only example in the recent political debate.  Other members of Congress have made comments like “I want… in order to show the folks back home that I am doing what they sent me to Washington to do.”  The rhetoric we have heard typifies a fractured team where no one seems to have an idea or possibly even a real desire to create a unified team approach to problem solving.

Teams discuss, argue, and even have extremely strong debate.  However, once the decision is made good teams know that they stick by the decision until it is truly proven wrong or until the next discussion and evaluation time comes about.  In the case of the recent budget crisis, the budget had already been approved.  Because the fractured team could not or would not create a complete funding bill once the budget was passed, we as Americans were stuck with needless debate and attempts on all sides to create new policy after the fact.

If we are looking for a role model for healthy team building and functioning we must look elsewhere than the political arena.  This is unfortunate since in a republic such as ours we need leaders to be out in front of a united presence promoting real teamwork.

I mentioned earlier the human-guide dog team as a good example of trust and teamwork in action.  Corporations and other organizations can have and sometimes do exhibit good examples of positive teamwork in action.  An example of a strong team I have personally witnessed involves Thomas Nelson Publishers, the publisher of my soon to be released book, “Thunder Dog.”  Last Month my colleague, Susy Flory, and I had the opportunity to visit Thomas Nelson and meet with the marketing and sales teams as well as some of the officers of the corporation.  I came away impressed with the enthusiasm, spirit, and teamwork I saw there, which greatly added to my own spirit of excitement and encouragement.

Even before going to Nashville to meet with the team face-to-face, I found them to have a strong desire to partner to make the book a success.  We had discussions and debates which always lead to improvements in “Thunder Dog.”  Collaborating with Thomas Nelson, Susy Flory, and my agent, Chip MacGregor on the book has not only contributed to a better final product but it has created a strong coast-to-coast collaboration which will survive long after this first book is published.

Everything in the team effort with Thomas Nelson and with any team for that matter goes back to eliminating “my” in the word “team.”  Of course, there is no “my” in “team.” So, why do we keep trying to add it where the word does not exist?  If you want to form a real team, one which is strong and one which will get the job done, first begin speaking of every project and every single step along the way in the team lexicon of “our” and not “my.”. The more you think collectively the more you will find ways to work together, creating a unified team approach to any challenge.

Michael Hingson.

As long as these phones last we are offering complete Reader systems including the phone of your choice, KnfbReader Mobile software and Talks or MobileSpeak for $1,395 plus $25 shipping and insurance. We are only selling these items as full systems.

If you wish to take advantage of these great prices please email me, info@michaelhingson.com, or call me at (415) 827-4084.

Since the release of the KnfbReader Mobile there has never been a better price for this wonderful product. Take advantage of now being able to read virtually any printed material. What you can read is limited only by your imagination.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Happy reading,

Mike Hingson

As mentioned in my precious post about the “Blind Driver Challenge” this is the car that the National Federation of the Blind is going to use and I hope to be driving!

Find out how to donate or participate here

Interview with Michael Hingson, Author of “Thunder Dog”

December 2010

Malia: Hello this is Malia McKinney and I’m here with Michael Hingson, international public speaker and author.  Congratulations on your upcoming book, “Thunder Dog, a Blind Man, His Guide Dog and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero.”  I understand it’s due out next summer to commemorate the 10^th anniversary of 9/11.

Michael: First of all Malia, thank you very much for meeting with me. Yes, the book is due to be out late next summer.  Amazon says it will be out August 2^nd, and our goal is to have it for the National Federation of the Blind Convention in Orlando. We are all very excited about the book and the opportunities it brings.

Malia: So Michael, 10 years later, what are the biggest changes that you see that have been ushered into this country by 9/11?

Michael: I think the biggest change is that people are allowing fear into their lives much more and not taking control of their lives. Also, the fact that we are so divided when there isn’t a need to be.  On the other hand, I see great opportunity for growth.  We’ve made such wonderful strides as challenges become more visible and we work together to create solutions to meet those challenges.

Malia: Michael it seems that there are factions in this country that would like to use the memory of the events of 9/11 to keep people polarized.  How is your message different?

Michael: I agree that there are people who have been playing on fear.  We’ve seen it in the recent political elections and in the media. What we aren’t hearing often enough is talk about how strong our unity was after 9/11. We could still have that unity today if we worked at it. I think that trust is still under attack in this country. It is up to us to reassert our leadership as individuals, first in our own lives and then in the form of collective leadership, getting those who have been tasked with serving us to work together instead of wrangling.

One of the lessons from 9/11 that I share is not to focus on the things that I can’t control but to focus on the things that I can. Despite the things we do not have direct control over,  there are many situations we can influence. Trust and teamwork are two things we can work together to achieve. We should be demanding that our politicians, our leaders, work together, regardless of party affiliation. We should be demanding unity and collaboration. If we don’t do that now we’re going to be in worse trouble later.

Malia: So Michael, your book contains lessons that can help unify, heal and empower. Can you give us a little bit more detail about that?

Michael: Besides not worrying about what we can’t control, at the end of the day, there’s nothing better then having a good dog bone and time to play, relax and move on. Roselle and every guide dog I’ve ever had does that very well. Another is that teamwork works. The fact is that on 9/11, my guide dog and I working together helping other people get out, as well as allowing other people to help us. Team work is critical for our very survival. Trust is the second critical factor. I trust my dog every day to do her job and she trusts me to do mine. It doesn’t get any better than this simple, strong message.

Malia: I can see now how trust and teamwork apply to nearly every aspect of life, to enrich it.  The title of the book, “Thunder Dogs” certainly arouses imagination. Tell us about the real life hero in this story.

Michael: The real hero is Roselle, of course. Roselle was my guide dog at the time, my fifth guide dog. The title, “Thunder Dog,” came from the fact that she’s afraid of thunder. On the morning of 9/11 we had a thunderstorm pass over our house about 12:30 a.m., so I had to go down into my basement with her and give her some space away from the lighting and the thunder as much as I could. So I turned up my stereo, I did some work. Even still, she could hear the thunder and was just shaking and quivering under my desk. 5 hours later we woke to go into my office in the World Trade Center.  Although we did not hear it at 8:45 and then later at 9:04, as the buildings collapsed it was thunder all around us. So “Thunder Dog” seemed like a naturally appropriate title and I think it’s being well received.

Malia: That’s very poignant to think this dog was afraid of thunder and yet under fire, in life-threatening conditions, she was brave, she did her job and she stayed calm. That’s truly something that is worth pondering.

Michael: And a great lesson: when the chips are down and when people need to work together we do. We should take that into our lives all the time and not wait for the chips to be down; but we can work together. Roselle and I did even in the most adversarial circumstances and the most horrific example possible we worked together and we survived.

Malia: That’s really, really touching. This book promises to inspire virtually everyone and make a perfect gift of encouragement. I understand it can be pre-ordered now on Amazon. How does pre-ordering work?

Michael: It can be pre-ordered my going to Amazon.com and searching on the words Thunder Dog or visit my website www.michaelhingson.com and you will be presented with a link to go straight into the Amazon ordering page. Again that’s www.michaelhingson.com. The way it works is you order the book, it’s $22.95 for the hard cover copy and when the book is out and your book is ready to be shipped you’ll receive confirmation and your credit card will be charged at that time and the book will be sent.

Malia: So by pre-ordering the book now on Amazon we can actually help make it a best seller and spread awareness about this important message of hope in the process.

Michael: Right

Malia: That sounds like a pretty simple way that we can make a difference and again how we find it on Amazon.

Michael: Go to www.michalhingson.com or www.amazon.com and at Amazon search for the word Thunder Dog and you’ll be taken to the place where the book is. The reason were asking people to pre-order it is that the more visibility it receives and the more orders it gets now the more interest is demonstrated to the major booksellers and to the publisher and the more marketing we can get. I think this is a book that virtually anyone will want to read and can read. Everywhere I speak I’ve been asked, “When are you going to write a book, book”. Literally I think I’ve had hundreds of thousands of people ask me that question. Well were finally able to get the book done. I’m really excited about the fact that I am and the lady who is working with me Suzy Flory are able to finally bring this to fruition and bring this out for people to actually be able to read. So I hope that they will pre-order it and I hope people will be excited about it as much as we are and make the best seller that we mentioned.

Malia: You know I have to say that although I’ve heard the story and you know obviously we think we know about 9/11 having lived through the collective experience, the idea about teamwork and overcoming our fears and also having that trust restored in one another and in our nation, that is a timeless message and I think that the legacy of that, the positive legacy of that will touch thousands of people and I’m very, very privileged to know you and to be part of this project. I just encourage everybody to get a copy of this book and also to be able to share it with the people that they love.

Michael: Well thank you. And I would say this is just not a book about 9/11. This is a book about life, about my life. It tells the story of growing up. I tells a lot of the lessons I learned about blindness, like the handicap isn’t blindness the handicap is our attitude, our misconceptions. And that’s true in some many different things in our lives. The lessons about teamwork, working together. The lessons of overcoming adversity not just on 9/11 but in so many other ways. So we’re going to talk about a lot of things in the book and I think that people will be able to relate to it and learn a lot from it that I hope they’ll be able to use and take to heart.

Malia: Thank you Michael. I can’t wait to get a copy of“Thunder Dog” and hope to get your autograph when it comes out.

Michael: I absolutely will autograph your copy and I’m always willing to autograph any copies. So we’re glad to do that. So again www.michaelhingson.com and while there you can sign up for our newsletter or you can go to www.amazon.com and actually order the book my searching the words Thunder Dog. So thank you very much.

Malia: Alright thank you Michael.

By Michael Hingson

I am a collector of classic radio shows from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.  If you are not familiar with the genre, it’s the entertainment that was in wide use before the invention of television.  Old-time radio is especially fun because it forces you to use your imagination unlike television which usually spells out everything.  I also enjoy old movies, especially at Christmas time.

Last week I listened to a radio dramatization of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” inspiring me to seek out the movie version which played on American Movie Classics.  In one scene, Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney cannot sleep and find themselves alone together in the middle of the night talking about their reasons why. Bing tells Rosemary that his way to fall asleep is to count his blessings instead of sheep, and then as happens in these movies he sings a song to her entitled “Count your Blessings.”

Whether or not you count blessings, sheep, or use some other method to fall asleep, this is a really good time of the year to look back at the accomplishments, challenges, good things, and not-so-good things which this year held, and consider how they may have helped us grow and move forward.  I prefer to think of these things as blessings and would like to share a few of my blessings from 2010.

Blessing 1 Roselle – As some of you may know, Roselle is the guide dog that was with me during my escape from Tower One of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  Roselle is now almost 13 years old.  She doesn’t move around as much as she used to and has had a lot of back pain this year.  In March, I had the honor of delivering the keynote speech at the American Animal Hospital Association Convention in Long Beach, California.  At the end of the speech, I introduced Roselle to the audience to a standing ovation.  While there, I met an incredibly kind woman, a veterinarian, who attended one of my three workshops and decided to sit with Roselle while I spoke.  She observed that Roselle had quite a bit of back pain and offer to do an adjustment for her.  Later, I found out that this doctor was one of the nation’s foremost experts on pain management for dogs.  After the adjustment, Roselle was indeed better, almost immediately returning to a more normal gait.

At the suggestion of this wonderful doctor, we took Roselle to her veterinarian who specializes in both Western and less traditional Eastern medical techniques such as acupuncture.  Over the next several months, she received acupuncture treatments as well as some herbal supplements for her diet.  She is not bouncing around like a puppy, but she once again is very engaging and clearly does not have the back pain anymore.  We are confident that she will be with us for some time to come.  Roselle constantly teaches me about perseverance and how strength ensues from a positive attitude.  That is a great blessing by any standard.

Blessing 2 Encouraging Others Through Speaking – Throughout the year, I have had the honor and pleasure of speaking before many different groups, companies and associations, some like the one mentioned above have been attended by over 1,000 people. One speaking engagement especially stands out in my mind – a speech that I gave only two weeks ago.

Early in December I was contacted by the Vice Principal of a nearby school who invited me to help motivate his staff.  It seemed that the school had its share of difficulties over the past several years including the murder of a student two and a half years ago and the recent death of another student caused by a drunk driver.  The staff, the principal said, was down in the dumps because of these events, the economy, and other school-related issues.

I cannot recall ever being asked to speak in such a challenging environment and agreed to do what I could.  The staff was not told in advance about me and my experiences concerning the World Trade Center.  Even during my introduction, the staff was not alerted to what was coming. I began the process of engaging the audience by using both humor and a discussion of blindness and the capabilities and challenges experienced by blind people.  This lead up to dropping the bombshell: that I was a survivor of the WTC terrorist attacks.  You could have heard a pin drop.  Clearly I was delivering a speech this audience had not expected.  For the next 50 minutes I shared about other life challenges I had faced, from being told many years ago that I could not purchase life insurance because I was blind, to how I used every skill I possessed to escape from the collapsing Tower on 9-11.

Afterwards, people stayed around for fifteen minutes just to talk and to meet Roselle who accompanied me as a special surprise. I was told that my story had made the desired impact of lifting the staff’s spirits.  It is a blessing to encourage others and share a message of hope.

Blessing 3 Race for Independence – In October of 2001, Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind challenged U. S. industry and America’s universities to participate in developing a vehicle that blind people could drive.  Two years ago Virginia Tech accepted the challenge.  In various ways I have been participating in the programs leading to the development of a car that can be driven by a blind person. On January 29, 2011, prior to the commencement of the race, history is being made at the Rolex 400 Race at the Daytona Raceway. The world will see a blind person independently drive a car around the race track for the first time, in public.  We are not ready to drive at nearly 200 MPH just yet, but to think that in my lifetime a blind person will drive a car is a tremendous blessing and an incredible leap forward for blind and sighted people alike.  The vehicle avoidance technology utilized in this revolutionary vehicle will benefit all drivers in the years to come.

Blessing 4   “Thunder Dog” - Earlier this year, I was contacted by Susy Flory, an author who was writing a book called “Dog Tales” which would tell stories about many unusual and heroic dogs including Roselle.  As we talked she expressed an interest in helping me write our story as its own book.  She introduced me to Chip MacGregor, the top literary agent in the country.  Together with Chip’s help, Susy and I have are pleased to inform you that our new book, “Thunder Dog,” will be available next summer.  Read about it and pre-order it on my web-site, www.michaelhingson.com.  By pre-ordering the book, you send a powerful message to the publisher, Thomas Nelson Publishers, that there is considerable interest in this story. Your support will also help the publisher gain distribution of the book to major book selling outlets.  You also can pre-order by visiting www.amazon.com and searching for the title “Thunder Dog.”  This book has to be the most incredible blessing for me in 2010.  I invite you all to share it with me.

Now you know my most memorable blessings of this past year.  What are yours?  I invite you to visit www.michaelhingson.com and share your blessings and thoughts, personally and specifically.  We all have much to be thankful for even through challenges and hardships and I am sure others would be interested in ways you have moved forward this year. If you do not wish your comments to be made public on the web site just say so and your preference will be respected.  Let’s take a moment to remember our blessings as we go into and through 2011.  Be positive and feel blessed.  Who knows, you may even sleep better.

No, this is not a futuristic dream.  This is a soon-possible reality.  This July, at the National Federation of the Blind Convention in Dallas, a blind driver will take to the road. Michael Hingson’s goal is to be that driver. Michael’s very life this far has defied all odds.  Surviving the 9/11 WTC Terrorist attacks with his guide dog Roselle was perhaps the most dramatic. But blind people are breaking barriers and stereotypes each and every day.

The 2010 Race for Independence – Blind Driver Challenge is an event guaranteed to change the very definition of being blind.  Advancements in technology combined with the spirit of innovation and the power of keeping an open mind are being brought together to turn our attitude about “abilities” and “disabilities” on its head!

Join Michael in making history by supporting him in forging a new “first” with your donation.  Select the “Support” button and help him reach his goal, while demonstrating that together we can make a difference and change history.

All of the money raised from this event will be returned to National Federation of the Blind state and local affiliates in the form of grants and direct funds to help in educating the public about blindness, provide scholarships for blind students, and to aid in the development of new technologies to help blind persons in all walks of life including an automobile which can be driven by a blind person.

It will also be used to support the NFB Jernigan Institute’s programs for children, youth, college students, adults, and seniors.

Together with the National Federation of the Blind, you and Michael will change what it means to be blind. Let’s rev up those engines!

Michael is a proud member of the National Federation of the Blind which raises funds to educate the general public about blindness.  This organization is of vital importance to Michael and countless others, as it has played a vital role in redefining what it means to be blind.

Michael’s fund raising team for this challenge is “NAGDU,” or the National Association of Guide Dog Users, of which Michael is Vice President.  Michael is an ardent advocate and teacher on the importance and value of the human-animal bond, and what it can show us about teamwork.  After all, it was his Guide Dog Roselle that led Michael and others down from the 78^th floor of Tower 1 of the WTC to safety on 9/11.

The NAGDU’s team goal is $30,000, which they must reach before the NFB Convention on July 1^st of this year.  Click on the support button now to be directed to the donation page.  Michael and his current Guide Dog Africa thank you in advance and will keep you informed of their progress.

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National public speaker, teamwork and assistive technology expert, Michael Hingson is Vice President, National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU) and President of the Michael Hingson Group, Inc. www.michaelhingson.com

Help Michael make history and by assisting him in his goal of raising $30,000!  Speed on over to the Race for Independence and donate today!