You are invited to a special celebration!
Come to the April 26 CEPSA meeting and help all of us honor and celebrate the founding of CEPSA as well as showcasing its achievements of the past and its plans for the future.
Your Executive Council will supply food and beverage for the event, and some of our newer members will share their polio stories with us.
In addition, plans for the May and June meetings will be revealed.
Finally, in years past CEPSA has not met in July and August. We will NOT meet formally this July and August either, but we will be having two social gatherings, just to have fun, food, and fellowship with each other.
I hope to see all members on April 26 at 10:30.
Looking Ahead . . .
Because Memorial weekend is officially the weekend of May 24th, our CEPSA meeting will be on May 31st, a week later than usual. Please mark your calendars accordingly.
On the 31st, we will take a tour of the Savannah Historic District. Our guide will be Dorinda Duggan. Because we need to rent a tour bus for this event, each participant will need to pay $10.00 for the tour.
We will meet and leave our cars in the Bull Street Baptist Church parking lot. The church is on the corner of Bull Street and East Anderson Street.
After the tour, we will share a lunch in the Bull Street College Building. The lunch will cost $5.00 per person and will be catered by Adrienne Stallworth. We will take reservations at the April meeting. Please pay with cash or check; checks should be made out to CEPSA.
Monthly Meeting, March 29, 2008
Sandra Bath opened the meeting and welcomed the attendees. Kalee Cross, the Stallworth’s granddaughter, was recognized as a visitor. Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Cheryl Bracklin, for the inspiration, shared about Judge Frank Cheatham’s life. He was to be buried on this date. There was a moment of silence for Judge Cheatham’s memory.
Beverly Jarvis introduced Jerry Hewitt, whose wife is a new member, she could not attend today and she also introduced Angelo Foster. Sandra gave both a copy of the Post Polio Syndrome book. Miscellaneous notes: Marty is ordering copies of the Polio Paradox book for everyone that has an interest. Beverly Jarvis stated that the latest copy of the Warm Springs Newsletter said they are planning to reinstate the Polio Foundation.
Sandra asked Diane Davis to introduce our speakers for today, Sher Blackwelder, and Sharon Clark. The Program was titled “Comfort is More than Skin Deep.” They presented various Nikken products. Some of the members discussed the usefulness of some of the products.
After the break, Sandra called the business meeting to order. Dan Sheehan moved to accept
the minutes of the February meeting as printed in the newsletter. Sec Jim Veccia, approved.
Marty Foxx presented the Treasurer’s report. She mentioned that the books are being audited by Diane Falgiani. Diane will be setting up the books and doing the bookkeeping. Marty mentioned that if you have given a donation and have not received a receipt, please let her know. Janet DiClaudio moved to approve the Treasurer’s report as given. Sec. Lavonne Calandra. Approved.
Care Team reports. Cheryl mentioned that Harriet Merritt has received a new prosthesis; please keep her in your thoughts as she adjusts to the new leg. Velma Underwood is having knee replacement surgery. Please remember Tammy Hewitt, she is having a difficult time recovering from surgery.
Committee Reports. The third edition of the map has been printed and 3700 of them have been distributed. Dan Sheehan said that the accessible restaurants are on the map as well. We have a disk with the map on it so it can be put on the website.
This is a wonderful outreach to the community.
No old business.
Meeting adjourned at 12:35 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Adrienne Stallworth,
Via tape recorder
AS POLIO RETURNS TO THE US, POLIO “NIPP IT” WEEK ANNOUNCED — APRIL 19-26
International Post-Polio Task Force and Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Announce Polio Vaccination Campaign to “Nip” America’s Next Polio Epidemic in the Bud.
April 12, 2008: ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY USA — Today, the 52nd anniversary of the development of the injectable polio vaccine, the International Post-Polio Task Force (IPTF) announced National Immunization for Polio Prevention in Infants and Toddlers – or “NIPP IT” — WEEK, April 19-26.
“NIPP IT” WEEK, supported by Rotary International and Every Child by Two (ECBT.org), co-founded by former First Ladies Rosalynn Carter and Betty Bumpers to promote immunization of all children by age two, is intended to prompt parents, healthcare professionals and state health officials to ensure that all American children receive four doses of the injectable, inactivated poliovaccine.
Alarming Drops in Polio Vaccination in Border States and Ports of Entry.
Between 2005 to 2007, the Centers for Disease Control reported drops in polio vaccination in twenty states and in ten large US cities, along with importation of poliovirus across borders into the US that caused polio infections in Minnesota and Arizona.
“The return of polio to the US and drops in polio vaccination are very disturbing,” said Dr. Richard L. Bruno, Chairperson of the International Post-Polio Task Force. CDC estimates that more than one million US toddlers are unvaccinated. “While there was a small nationwide increase in polio vaccination of about 1%, twenty states had an average reduction of more than 2%, while in ten cities polio vaccination dropped by an average of nearly 3%,” added Bruno, who is also director of The Post-Polio Institute and International Centre for Post-Polio Education and Research at New Jersey’s Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.
Even more disturbing, states with the largest drops in polio vaccination are on the borders with Mexico and Canada. Arizona, Texas and New Mexico reported an average drop of one and one-half percent. Seventy percent of the states that border Canada reported average drops in polio vaccination of about 3%. Montana had a 6% decrease and Maine dropped 7%.
“Even Minnesota had a decrease, which is frightening,” said Dr. Bruno. Five Minnesota children caught polio in 2005 after coming in contact with someone importing poliovirus from outside the US.
Dr. Bruno is also concerned about cities that are major points of entry into the US — New York, Philadelphia, Houston and Seattle — where a nearly 4% average drop in polio vaccination was reported.
City Children Living in Poverty Have Lowest Polio Vaccination Rates.
Toddlers living in poverty have the lowest polio vaccination rates — below 87% in Boston, Indianapolis, Memphis and Phoenix, and below 85% in Detroit, Houston and Seattle — rates lower than in Western Pacific countries that include Cambodia, Mongolia and Vietnam.
“The children who had polio in Minnesota are canaries in the mine shaft,” said Dr. Bruno.
“Young parents don’t vaccinate because they don’t remember the terror that was polio or realize that the vaccine did not ‘cure’ polio.”
Polio has never come under control in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria. And, the poliovirus has been reintroduced to ten African and Asian nations that were polio free.
“With the ease of air travel,” asked Dr. Bruno, “What will happen when a polio-infected individual lands in one of America’s potential polio pockets, like New York City, and passes poliovirus to the estimated 24,000 infants and toddlers in that city who are not immunized?”
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter agreed, saying, “Our country has come so far to protect against polio through universal vaccination. We cannot afford to relax our efforts because polio is still a real problem in parts of the world and can easily be transported back to the US We cannot risk a single child to this terrible disease.”
“We need “NIPP IT WEEK” to raise awareness of the need for polio vaccination and hopefully ‘nip’ America’s next polio epidemic in the bud,” said Dr. Bruno.
Said Betty Bumpers, Former Arkansas First Lady, “I have seen the ravages of polio here in the U.S., prior to the development of the vaccine, and its current victims in Africa. It is imperative that we keep our polio vaccination rates high to make certain that not one person in the US suffers polio’s consequences.
Dr. Bruno agreed, saying, “The polio vaccine has been a victim of its own success. We must do more to vaccinate America’s children against this deadly and disabling disease. America’s next polio epidemic could be just a car or plane ride away.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
- Fred Davis – 2
- Tom Newcomer – 2
- Sissy Morel – 6
- Marty Foxx – 8
Welcome New Member
- Shirley Johns – Black Creek, GA
Another way to support the eradication of polio worldwide. Polio Awareness…
After reading CEPSA’s “We’re Still Here” article in the Savannah Morning News last year, featuring Diane Davis, Jody Lanier made a donation through the United Nations Foundation to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in honor of Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association, Inc. and Diane, and in memory of her brother, Ricky Tuten who contracted polio a few weeks before Diane in 1952 and only lived three years. In his card to Diane, Jody states that he made the donation through the United Nations Foundation because 100% of the amount donated goes to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Also, with his donation to the United Nations Foundation, Jody included an explanatory letter and copies of the “We’re Still Here” article, and the 2004 – Polio Awareness article featuring Diane, who was interviewed to tell her polio story to promote CEPSA’s 2004 – Polio Awareness Exhibit at Oglethorpe Mall. Jody also purchased the card he sent to Diane from UNICEF. This was stated on the back of the card… “The purchase of this card can help UNICEF provide one dose of vaccine to immunize a child against polio, helping in the global effort to eradicate this devastating disease.”
Dear Jody Lanier,
Diane Davis and the members of Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association want to thank you for setting such an exemplary example to show how one person can touch the lives of so many people across the world. We can tell that you gave a great deal of thought and consideration to your meaningful donation. We commend you for your insightfulness and thoughtfulness. The Global Polio Eradication Project is extremely important to CEPSA. It is heartbreaking for one more child to contract polio today when it could have been prevented by the polio vaccine.
We truly appreciate your part in helping us to get the message out there about polio, post-polio syndrome, the polio vaccine and the Global Polio Eradication Project.
Thank you again for showing how one person can make a difference in the world and have an impact on many lives along the way. Your thoughtfulness has been an encouragement and inspiration for our group and we hope it will inspire others.
Sincerely,
Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association, Inc.
Submitted by Diane Davis
Announcement
LIFE had a call 3/31/08 from a man who recently purchased a home with an electric stair lift. It appears to be in good condition, but he does not know how old it is. He wants to give it to someone who needs it. If anyone wants to inquire about it, his name is Bob Poltris. He lives in Savannah. His cell is 727-480-7457.
QUOTE of the MONTH
“It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out.”
In Memoriam
CEPSA and the Savannah community lost one of its finest members March 26, 2008. Judge Frank S. Cheatham, Jr. died at Candler Hospital surrounded by his family. We were proud to call him a member of our group. Frank Cheatham contracted polio at the age of 21 months in October 1925. His loving and devoted parents helped him recover and go on to greatness. This brilliant and accomplished man served seven years as a state representative in the Georgia General Assembly and more than three decades as a Chatham County Superior Court judge. He was instrumental in defeating a political boss and political machine, which ran Chatham County for 50 years. This honest and determined man ended that corruption in the community. Judge Cheatham helped create our current mayor-city manager form of government.
I had admired Judge Cheatham from afar, having moved to Savannah in the mid-1970’s. We shared the common bond of having had polio. Although we polio survivors do not want others to think of us as inspirational or special, I considered Frank Cheatham a hero in the finest sense of the word. He was fully committed to his family, his faith, his work, and his community. I knew his lovely wife Becky, to whom he was married 31 years. When we began CEPSA, I wrote him to tell him of our efforts and to invite him to speak to the group. Several of us attended the Warm Springs reunion in 2001. It was there that I finally had the privilege of meeting Judge Cheatham. Later he accepted our invitation and presented one of the finest programs we have had. We knew we were in the presence of a great man. However, he seemed very pleased to be there and put us at ease. We were enthralled with his stories about his experiences at Warm Springs, where he received rehabilitation. He proudly spoke of meeting President Franklin Roosevelt while the two were there for treatment. He showed us his father’s excellent drawing of Roosevelt, which was signed not only by the President but by Eleanor Roosevelt. Judge Cheatham told us how much President Roosevelt inspired him. He and Becky attended our annual holiday luncheons in 2006 and 2007. They made generous donations to our group.
We offer our sincere condolences to Becky and their daughters. What a beautiful difference one single life made. “Godspeed, Judge Cheatham.” Truly heaven is now a better place.
Submitted by Cheryl Brackin
Member Concerns
- Velma Underwood
- Tammy Hewitt
- Cheryl Brackin
- Sharon Underwood
- Eileen Boyle
- Dianne Falgiani
- Danny Jenkins
- Harriet Merritt
- Gloria Sullivan
- Beverley Polin
- Shirley Johns
Voluntary Dues of $15.00 may be paid at any time throughout the year to Marty Foxx; her mailing address is: 21 East 61st Street, Savannah, GA 31405.