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Southeastern Guide Dogs invites puppy and dog lovers to a Holiday Open House Saturday, December 6th between 9:00 a.m. and noon at the school’s beautiful, 23-acre campus in Palmetto, Florida. The event is free and open to the public.           

The school has great holiday activities planned including a visit from Santa between 9:30-11:30.  There will also be a bake sale of homemade holiday goodies for people AND dogs, fresh grilled hot dogs and snacks provided by local Lions clubs.

With more than a mile of nature walkways, soothing ponds, and lush vegetation, the school is just minutes off I-75 at 4210 77th Street East, Palmetto.

Guests will have the opportunity to tour the Puppy and Training Kennels, hug puppies, take blindfolded walks with guide dogs in training and learn about the free services provided by the school to people with visual impairments.

With more than 125 puppies and dogs in training on the grounds, Southeastern Guide Dogs is accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation in Reading, England and is a member of the Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools.

Southeastern Guide Dogs currently has more than 1,400 dogs deployed throughout the United States, including more than 800 active guide dogs, 250 puppies in volunteer homes, and more than 150 Gifted Canines who perform therapy, arson detection, search and rescue and other specialized work.            

For more information, call 941.729.5665.

by Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D.

Special to Tropical Breeze

When many parents and other folks do things for children, they rarely expect a formal thank-you, even a "thanks" on the fly, although it would be appropriate and well-received indeed. Nevertheless, the attitude of thankfulness, aside from the hurry of our everyday is one which children need and parents need to cultivate in them!

Actually, being openly thankful for something, an act of kindness, gift, or a surprise helping hand is a sign of good character, a trait to be admired and desired. Research also shows us that slowing down to take stock of all we have or see and then showing appreciation of it, is a significant way to make more of our busy time. Just the words, "How kind of you," or "I really appreciate this, make for a smile and a boost in the comfort zone of all concerned. Practice here is potentially character building. People learn what they live, especially in recognizing others' kindness and efforts.

Students in my Character Education classes often express surprise at how much a younger person can do to help others and make others happy. In discussions about the possible effects of words, they often admit they hadn't realized the power of the simple words, "Thank you!" In role-playing, scripted trials, students were most pleased with the character's responses and reactions when someone showed appreciation with those simple, inexpensive famous easily-delivered words.

In giving thanks in words, parents sometimes also share how simple it is to model thankfulness while assisting their children in literally giving thanks — say in making a thank-you card or poster for grandma or a neighbor, showing and telling their thank-yous maybe with drawings as well as words! And then — giving the hand-crafted heart-felt item to the surprised, very pleased recipient. Parents report that the sincere conversations, while everyone's working on a kitchen table full of crayons and pretty colored paper, goes to the topic of appreciation in a big way — something that can never be purchased in running in and buying at a greeting card store.

No doubt, Grandma or Grandpa or the neighbor will frame this kind of very giving thanks to keep forever close to their hearts. I saw one framed on the wall of a kitchen, a crayon-scrawled,"Momma. Thank you for the VERY good pancakes." The thanksgiving child is now a man of 45!

One last suggestion when helping children give thanks. Discuss what the thanks given is for and how the givers really feel about what they've experienced and why they are responding nicely with this thanks. If they're not creating a card, instead, picking up the phone or Webcam, then all have an ear-to-ear or face-to-face, never-to-be-forgotten, hearty thanksgiving!

©2008 Rosemary Lee Potter. All Rights Reserved.

Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D., has been a teacher since 1960, including 21 years at Safety Harbor Middle School, and is now a reading teacher at Carwise Middle School, Palm Harbor. Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by mail in care of Tropical Breeze, P.O. Box 585, Safety Harbor, FL 34695.