The President’s Message…
June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with a length of 30 days. The month is named after the Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter and equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera.
I hope everyone on the tour last month had as good a time as I did. We learned a lot about Savannah, and we enjoyed chatting with each other about the places we saw. Then the delicious chicken salad, fruit, and dessert — the fantastic dessert — were just what we needed. Thank you to Dorinda Duggan for her expertise in Savannah history, to Convention Consultants for arranging our transportation, and for Adrienne and her team for the great food. If you were not with us, you missed a rewarding and satisfying event.
We meet again on June 28th at the Candler Heart and Lung Building at 10:30 a.m. Our speaker will be James Abersom, the ADA coordinator for Chatham County. I’m sure he will enlighten us regarding the requirements businesses and employers must meet. I’m also sure that we will have lots of questions for him.
I have a couple of questions for you: How many motorized scooters has CEPSA acquired? How many scooters has CEPSA given away to members who have mobility problems?
Two of our members, Jim Veccia and Richard Graham, have teamed up to find, buy, repair, and give away scooters. So far, they have received seven (7) scooters; one was donated by Ed and Sally Luck and one was donated by the Lutheran Church of the Ascension. The others were purchased by CEPSA from the Thrift Center at Hilton Head, SC. Sometimes the scooters were not working, so spare parts had to be bought, and the chairs had to be worked on. In addition, CEPSA has assisted one member in the purchase of a lift for her car so that she can use her scooter.
Please make the opportunity to personally thank Richard and Jim for their generosity and commitment. They are carrying out CEPSA’s mission to help fellow polio survivors.
CEPSA always takes a break from both the newsletter and meetings during July and August; this summer is no different. We meet on June 28th, but we DO NOT MEET IN July or August.
However, I think our getting together informally might be fun, so I invite all who can to meet me at Johnny Harris Restaurant on Victory Drive for lunch July 26th at 11:00. We will order off the menu, and everyone is responsible for his/her own check. We can meet, eat, and talk! If this get-together works out, we should also plan one in August.
Submitted by:
Sandra Bath
In Memoriam
CHRIS PENN WILBURN
The glow of CEPSA’s light grew dimmer when we lost Chris on Sunday, May 18, 2008. He died of a heart attack at his home. Many of us heard his moving yet witty inspiration at our annual meeting April 26, when we celebrated our 11th year. Chris spoke easily and eloquently with no notes. That was one of his many gifts.
His brother Bill came down from South Carolina on Saturday, May 17 to check on Chris, who had experienced a mild heart attack on May 14. Blessedly the two spent that day together. Bill asked why Chris returned to CEPSA. He replied that the group was larger and there were people he liked in it. The feeling was mutual. I was one of the happiest people in the room last fall when Chris came back. He and I met in the late ‘70’s when I was involved in women’s rights activities with his former wife Judy. I recall saying “All the wonderful men I know are married to my friends in NOW (National Organization for Women).” Chris was one of those special men.
Our Vice-President Lorraine Frew knew Chris for 25 years. They worked together at Georgia Regional Hospital for 16 years. Lorraine said Chris always was there to console the nursing staff and uplift their spirits. She said “Chris was there for everyone.” He extended that care to clients by assisting them in getting ready for the worship services he provided each Sunday at Regional.
A “Celebration of the Life of Chris Wilburn” was held May 25 at Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church. CEPSA members Marty Foxx, Doyle Foxx, Lorraine Frew, Betty and Gene Goff, Beverly and Gene Jarvis, and I attended that beautiful memorial service. His pastor and friend the Reverend Billy Hester spoke eloquently about how much Chris cherished life and lived it to the fullest. He mentioned the many calls and visits in Chris’s last days, saying he knew he was cared for and loved. He shared some of his polio story with Billy when he visited him at the hospital on the Friday evening before he died. Billy talked about a book on grief written by the Reverend Ralph Bailey, who was a friend of Chris. There is a line about “God sneaking in through the back door.” And so He did, for some mysterious reason we do not understand. The Reverend Enoch Hendry, another friend, spoke of Chris’s strength, integrity, and patience. He said that he rooted for the underdog. Chris believed in justice, love, and peace and made everyone feel included. His beautiful daughter Jennie spoke lovingly of her dad, sharing funny and touching stories about him. Two of Chris’s quotes to her were “Remember who you are,” and “Life isn’t fair.” What a wise and wonderful father Jennie had.
CEPSA members extend our sincere condolences to Jennie and the Wilburn family. We will miss Chris and the many gifts he never had an opportunity to share with us. We will miss his wisdom and his wit. I was Chris’s care team leader, which meant that I made monthly calls to check on him and invite him to the upcoming meetings. During one of our talks Chris had agreed to my writing his polio story for the newsletter. I so regret that we did not get to accomplish that. Chris had volunteered to work on the publicity committee with Dan Shehan and me. We had not yet set a date to meet, but Chris had graciously offered to cook dinner and have us meet at his home. My last talk with him was on the Friday evening before he died. He assured me he was doing well and was anxious to go home the next day. He declined my offer of help, saying others would assist him in getting home. I will miss our conversations—the polio experiences and laughs we never will share again. Godspeed, Chris, my Dear Friend. Truly heaven is a better place with you there.
Submitted by Cheryl Brackin
Thank You: A Note from Beverly Polin
To all the members of CEPSA:
Words can’t express the love and appreciation that I have for each of you. I got my lift Thursday and it is a Godsend. I was able to go to the Mall Friday, the first time in years. It was so nice to be able to get out without being afraid of falling. Bob was so very nice and Jim has been a jewel in the help he gave. Thank you again and may God richly bless you all. In Christian love, Beverly Polin
Note: Richard did much of the leg work, coordinated for her to receive the lift and followed up with Mobility Concepts.
Happy Birthday!!!
Delores McIntyre —- 10
Ed Stallworth —- 12
Ruth Parham —- 14
Janet DiClaudio —- 17
Harvey Varnadoe —- 22
Joey Carroll ———–29
Member Concerns
Cheryl Brackin
Eunice Newcomer
Velma Underwood
QUOTE of the MONTH
“The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen, not touched, but are felt in the heart”. Helen Keller
Quick Éclairs (dessert we had at the outing)
- 1 box graham crackers
- 1 large box of vanilla instant pudding mix
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 1 12 oz container of Cool Whip (substitutes do not work well, they are not creamy enough)
- 1 container of chocolate frosting
Layer one layer of graham crackers in 9X13 pan.
Mix pudding mix and milk. Stir well. Add Cool whip, Blend well..
Place 1/2 mixture on top of graham crackers.
Put another layer of graham crackers on top of mixture.
Pour the rest of the pudding mixture on top of crackers.
Put another layer of graham crackers on top.
Heat the frosting mix in microwave for about 15-30 sec. (Remove all aluminum foil around the top)
Spread frosting on top of graham crackers. Keep in refrigerator.
Must make day before so all flavors are absorbed. Enjoy!!
Adrienne Stallworth
New polio Web site!
Rotary International News – 7 April 2008 Rotary has launched a new “mini” Web site to give the general public an opportunity to help end polio by contributing to Rotary’s US$100 Million Challenge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
View the three-page site at www.rotary.org/endpolio. The new site will be marketed throughout North America starting this month. All funds raised will go directly to The Rotary Foundation in support of polio eradication, helping Rotary fulfill its pledge to match the $100 million challenge grant received from the Gates Foundation in November 2007.
CONTRIBUTIONS
The Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association is a non-profit corporation which is tax exempt under IRS code 501c(3). We have no paid employees, only volunteers dedicated to helping all polio survivors.
Your financial support is appreciated at any level suggested below:
- CEPSA Member – $15.00 annual voluntary donation
- CEPSA Supporter – $25.00 $50.00 $100.00 $300.00
- CEPSA Memorial or Honor Gift – any amount
- CEPSA Sponsor – any amount
Your contributions are tax deductible and will be acknowledged appropriately.
Please complete this form and mail it along with your check to: CEPSA, Marty Foxx, 23 East 61st Street, Savannah, GA 31405.
Name ______________________________________
Address ____________________________________
City _______ State_____________ Zip _
Phone ___________ E-mail _____________________
Are you a relative or friend of a CEPSA member, if so, Name of member _____________________
Thank you for your support and encouragement.
CEPSA’s next meeting is on Saturday, June 28th, at 10:30 a.m. in the Candler Hospital Heart & Lung Building, second floor, conference room.
112 Van Nuys Blvd. Savannah, GA 31419
(912) 355-1221