Calling all GDUI Members! This is a reminder to submit your nominations to the awards committee no later than June first, 2026
pres...@guidedogusersinc.org
Calling all GDUI Members! This is a reminder to submit your nominations to the awards committee no later than June first, 2026. Information about each award is below.
So far we have one nomination for the Ethel Bender award and one nomination for the Lieberg-Metz Media Award. Information about each award is below and the awards committee is looking forward to hearing from you and honoring the award recipients.
Do you know someone who has made significant contributions to the lives of guide dogs and their handlers? Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) would like to hear from you!
Each year during its annual convention, GDUI recognizes three outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the lives of guide dog teams through their dedication, work, advocacy, and support. Each award is given to honor the individuals for whom they are named, and to recognize the outstanding recipient of the year.
The Ethel Bender Award: This award is presented each year to honor a sighted person or organization who has provided significant service to the cause of enhancing the well-being of the guide dog and handler community.
The Moffitt-Gleitz Award: This Award is presented to a person who is blind and who has significantly contributed to the well-being of the guide dog handling community, and who by his or her contributions, has earned the gratitude and recognition of Guide Dog Users, Inc.
The Lieberg-Metz Media Award: This award may be presented to an organization, company, or individual, either sighted or blind, who has made a positive difference in the lives of guide dog teams through radio, podcasts, television, electronic media, magazines, newsletters, newspapers or books.
Each nomination should contain the name and contact information for the nominee, the name of the person nominating, the award for which the person is being nominated and a justification for why you think this person or organization should receive this award. Only members of GDUI may submit nominations.
Nominations must be received by midnight Central time, Monday, June First, 2026and should be submitted to Olivia Norman, GDUI awards chair, at awa...@guidedogusersinc.org <mailto:awa...@guidedogusersinc.org .
Questions may be directed to Olivia Norman, (202)360-7116 or awa...@guidedogusersinc.org <mailto:awa...@guidedogusersinc.org .
The GDUI Awards Committee
Olivia Norman
Lolly Lijewski
Becky Davidson
Sarah Calhoon
On May 13, 2026, at 2:15 PM, Becky Davidson <becky...@gmail.com wrote:
Hi, Olivia, thanks! I would suggest a couple minor changes:
Change All guide dog users to all GDUI members Just say that we have
one nominee for Bender and one for Leiberg awards rather than how many nominations we have for each.
Just my thoughts.
----- Original Message -----
From: Olivia Norman <olivia...@gmail.com
Date: 05/13/2026 01:39 PM
To: Sarah Calhoun <sc-...@att.net;lollyl...@comcast.net;Becky
Davidson <becky...@gmail.com
Subject: Draft of final awards announcement
Hi Team!
Let me know your thoughts! I added a sentence about the number of nominations we have for each award. I hope we will get some more.
Thanks!
Olivia
Calling all guide dog Handlers! This is a reminder to submit your nominations to the awards committee no later than June first, 2026. Information about each award is below. So far we have two nominations for one person for the Ethel Bender award, no nominations for The Moffitt-Gleitz Award, and one nomination for the Lieberg-Metz Media Award. Information about each award is below and the awards committee is looking forward to hearing from you and honoring the award recipients.
Do you know someone who has made significant contributions to the
lives of guide dogs and their handlers? Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) would like to hear from you!
Each year during its annual convention, GDUI recognizes three outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the lives of guide dog teams through their dedication, work, advocacy, and support. Each award is given to honor the individuals for whom they are named, and to recognize the outstanding recipient of the year.
The Ethel Bender Award: This award is presented each year to honor a
sighted person or organization who has provided significant service to the cause of enhancing the well-being of the guide dog and handler community.
The Moffitt-Gleitz Award: This Award is presented to a person who is
blind and who has significantly contributed to the well-being of the guide dog handling community, and who by his or her contributions, has earned the gratitude and recognition of Guide Dog Users, Inc.
The Lieberg-Metz Media Award: This award may be presented to an
organization, company, or individual, either sighted or blind, who has
made a positive difference in the lives of guide dog teams through radio, podcasts, television, electronic media, magazines, newsletters, newspapers or books.
Each nomination should contain the name and contact information for
the nominee, the name of the person nominating, the award for which
the person is being nominated and a justification for why you think
this person or organization should receive this award. Only members of GDUI may submit nominations.
Nominations must be received by midnight Central time, Monday, June
First, 2026and should be submitted to Olivia Norman, GDUI awards chair, at awa...@guidedogusersinc.org <mailto:awa...@guidedogusersinc.org .
Questions may be directed to Olivia Norman, (202)360-7116 or
awa...@guidedogusersinc.org <mailto:awa...@guidedogusersinc.org .
The GDUI Awards Committee
Olivia Norman
Lolly Lijewski
Becky Davidson
Sarah Calhoon