St. Patrick predates the Roman Catholic Church, and was considered a "saint'' before the Roman church created its list of saints and included him in it.
 
Patrick's real name is believed to be Maewyn Succat. He adopted the name Patrick, or Patricus, after he became a priest.

Patrick was kidnapped by pirates at the age of 16 and sold into slavery in Ireland. During the 6 years he spent in captivity, he began to have religious visions, and found strength in his faith. He finally escaped and went to France, where he became a priest and later a bishop.

Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland -- that they all went into the sea and drowned. We know this isn't technically true. The basis of this legend probably lies in the origin of the snake as a pagan symbol. The legend tells the figurative tale of St. Patrick's driving paganism out of Ireland.

The phrase "Erin Go Braugh" means Ireland Forever!

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Guide Dogs of the Desert Receives Accreditation from International Federation

January 24, 2006 - Palm Springs, CA—Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI) received full accreditation of its programs from the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), the UK-based organization that establishes the guidelines and standards for the provision of guide dog services to the blind.

 The announcement was made today, January 24, 2006 by Ken Rosenthal, chairman of IGDF.  “The Accreditation Development Committee congratulates you and your entire team on the excellent service you provide and welcomes you to full membership in the International Guide Dog Federation”.

 There are more than 200 guide dog schools throughout the world; 73 are accredited by IGDF.   Out of 15 programs operating in the U.S. today, a dozen are accredited, including all three programs in California.  Each program remains independent and self-sustaining.

 Accreditation is granted if the institution meets the standards for membership established by the IGDF and after an onsite visit by an IGDF assessor.  The assessor evaluates every aspect of the guide dog school’s programs, as set forth in a comprehensive standards manual. 

 Guide Dogs of the Desert’s site visit took place from November 4 through 10, 2005.    “Being accredited by IGDF is an important benchmark for us,” said Dr. Brian Van Dusen, president of the Board of Directors of GDDI.  “Federation accreditation validates the hard work by everyone associated with GDDI—the Board, the staff, and the volunteers—during the past 18 months. 

“We’ve come a long way in the last two years (the school was briefly forced to close in February, 2004).  Federation accreditation is an endorsement of our efforts and signals the beginning of a new era for Guide Dogs of the Desert,” said Van Dusen.The IGDF was founded in the United Kingdom in 1989 to member guide dog schools around the world to collaborate and share information and best practices in serving the visually impaired.  IGDF accreditation is reviewed every five years to ensure that operational standards are maintained.  Members share information on breeding and training guide dogs and collaborate on improving instruction and applying the latest technological advances for the benefit of the blind.

  Guide Dogs of the Desert International was founded in Palm Springs in 1972 and has graduated more than 1,000 guide dog/student teams.  Since the beginning, GDDI has focused on the blind, the elderly blind, and the blind with special needs.  Its small size and reputation for personalized instruction have created a niche for the school.  During the past two years, the school’s waiting list has doubled.

 The next Guide Dogs of the Desert graduation is on Saturday, January 28, 2006, at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at 60-740 Dillon Road, Whitewater,  CA.  The public is invited.

    For further information, contact Alta Hester, at 251-4549 or altahst@aol.com.