“Conserve to Preserve.”
As we at CEPSA attempt to modify our lives to make them healthier and to stop Post-Polio Syndrome from damaging us any more than it already has, we need to re-visit some of the habits we have developed. For the past few years, various members of CEPSA volunteered to provide snacks and beverages for the meetings; unfortunately, the major burden fell on a small number of people. Organizing the “meal,” preparing it, bringing it to the meeting, cleaning up afterwards, and hauling both trash and leftovers away grew to be a true hardship.
Therefore, beginning with the October meeting, no snacks or beverages will be served. Each attendee will be responsible for his/her own food and drink. Rather than eat at the meeting, why not go out to a restaurant afterwards and share a meal? Then we visit with each other and let other people do the work!!
Speaker for the October 27th Meeting
Dr. Paul S. Bradley will discuss “Aging with Post-Polio.” He is a Savannah native and an internist who is the director of the St.Joseph’s/Candler Medical group. He obtained Bachelor of Science degrees in history and chemistry at Tulane University. He earned his medical degree at Emory University. Dr. Bradley currently serves as the chair of the SCAD Board of Trustees.
2008 Officer Candidates
The members of the Nominating Committee Janet DiClaudio (Chair), Lorraine Frew, Ruth Parham, and Adrienne Stallworth worked during the summer and came up with the following slate of candidates for 2008 CEPSA Officers:
President – – Sandra Bath Vice President – – Lorraine Frew
Secretary – – Adrienne Stallworth Treasurer – – Marty Foxx
We would like to thank those four individuals for their willingness to serve our organization. The election will take place at the October meeting. Please vote!
General Meeting Minutes, June 23, 2007
Secretary Janet DiClaudio called the meeting to order at 10:40am in the absence of
President Diane Davis, who was ill, and Vice-President Lorraine Frew, who was out of town. She welcomed nineteen members and the speaker.
Tom Newcomer presented the inspiration on “Heroes.” He said that there are heroes all around us. Tom commended the members for their courage to accept the challenge and start this group. He ended the inspiration by singing a very moving rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Richard Graham said a prayer.
Marty Foxx, Treasurer, introduced our speaker Dr. Janice Steirn, a professor at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and is a nationally certified personal trainer who counsels individuals in weight and life-style management. She does not prescribe diets. People need to work on their behavior about eating. Some individuals think going on a diet sounds easier than life-style changes. Dr. Steirn thinks it is easier to make small changes (e.g. lite mayo vs. regular; diet soda vs. regular, etc.). She said our weight goals should be small and realistic. She does not look at body mass index. We should follow a plan determined along with our doctor. The goals should be attainable. Goals should be stated in the positive (e.g. Make a shopping list and take only enough money to buy those items). Goals should be measurable (e.g. Take a walk three times this week). Goals should be meaningful for YOU. Dr. Steirn thinks short-term goals are more important than long-term goals. A time line should not run a goal; it should be adjustable. Change a goal to maintain motivation. Do not invite failure; make changes slowly (e.g. Switch from whole milk to 2% to 1% to fat-free gradually, not directly from whole to fat-free). Make only a few changes at the time. Reinforcement is important; reward yourself by watching a favorite t.v. program. Do not reward yourself with food! We self-medicate with food in this society. Do not reward children with food. Reward them by going to a movie or buying a favorite book. Dr. Steirn suggested cooking four healthy meals, even having leftovers for lunch. Then reward yourself by buying a new book. We should check the value of reinforcers and change them if not reinforcing enough. Dr. Steirn discussed self-reporting. She suggested we write down what we eat. She talked about the importance of exercise, but emphasized that polio survivors should do only the exercise they can. We should do anything we can do, if it is just stretching in our wheelchairs or scooters. Dr. Steirn went over the food guide pyramid and gave suggestions for decreasing calories at mealtime and in snacks.
Business Meeting: Marty gave the treasurer’s report on expenses and income. There was one correction in the May minutes, and the members voted unanimously to accept them.
Care Team Report: Ruth Parham reported that the husband of Idella Stephens is ill.
Announcements: Dan Shehan gave an update on our downtown map. He stated that many new curb cuts soon will be built in the downtown area. All CEPSA members were invited to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 24 at the College Students’ Building of the Bull Street Baptist Church 11:00a-2:00p. Ed Stallworth assisted in getting this building for the event. CEPSA is a co-sponsor of the celebration along with LIFE, Inc. and the Savannah-Chatham Council on Disabilities. Janet told us about a new book she received as a gift: Warm Springs: Traces of a Childhood at FDR’s Polio Haven by Susan Richards Shreve. She will review it for us later. Dan has added the power-point presentation on polio from South University to our website. We should go to “What is PPS?” and click on South University. Cheryl Brackin shared information from Sally Luck about a new self-help group starting at Sun City, Bluffton, S.C., for mobility-challenged adults.
Door Prizes: Ann Chance, Marty Foxx, Junie Parham, and Richard Graham won door prizes.
There was no further business. Jim Veccia made a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Richard Graham seconded. The group voted unanimously to adjourn at 12:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Brackin, Acting Secretary
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
General Meeting Minutes
September 22, 2007
- President Diane Davis called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM and welcomed all members and guests.
- Diane introduced Denise Howard of Living Independence For Everyone, Inc, who distributed a flyer and gave a brief description of a women’s health study and asked for volunteers for the study.
- Sher Blackwelder gave the inspiration.
- Marty Foxx gave the Treasurer’s Report. She stated that she still had copies of Managing Post-Polio Health by Dr. Lauro S. Halstead for sale. She told us that the newest revision of the Directory would be available to be picked up in the hall after the meeting.
- Ruth Parham was set up for the “Baby Fair” at the Brunswick Mall in Brunswick, GA on September 15, 2007. She said that she had a lot of people and it went very well.
- Sandra Bath attended the Immunize Georgia Conference in Atlanta, GA on September 20, 2007. She said she learned a lot. Most of the attendees were nurses and public health workers.
- The Senior Expo in Bloomingdale, Georgia was being held at the Bloomingdale Alliance Church from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM on of the day of our meeting.
- Diane Davis gave a brief report on the Post-Polio Health International “We’re Still Here” campaign during the week of October 14-20, 2007. The purpose is to educate about post-polio issues, remind the general public about our successes and contributions, find other survivors, recruit health professionals to treat us and initiate a comprehensive secure searchable database. She wrote a press release that is being distributed throughout the community. She also reported that she and Dan Shehan were guests discussing the curb cuts in the Historic District on Mid-Morning Live with Sonny and Jody on Wednesday, September 19, 2007.
- Jim Veccia, Chair, By-Laws Committee, reported that the committee is made up of Lavonne Calandra, Cheryl Brackin and Diane Davis. They revised the by-laws to make them clear and consistent. He said that the changes will be published in the October 2007 newsletter and voted on at the October general meeting. All members have the right to request or recommend changes at any time.
- Sandra Bath spoke on adult immunizations and distributed handouts from the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health.
- Marty Foxx gave a summary of her newsletter articles on nutrition and additional information to encourage us to adopt healthy eating habits.
- Sharing Our Strengths: The attendees chose to join one of three discussion groups
**Medications, Anesthesia and Surgery lead by Jim Veccia ** Help Devices lead by Betty Goff
**Care Givers lead by Gigi Veccia and Bob Parkhurst
Timekeeper Cheryl Brackin notified the leaders to change groups after fifteen minutes.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet DiClaudio, Secretary
Happy October Birthday to …
6 — Dan Shehan 7 — Hattie Evenson 11 — Ann Chance
17 — Lamar Jackson 23 — Beverly Jarvis
S.O.S.~ Spotlighting Our Sponsors
Members/supporters: Tony Tedona Kenneth Salter Betty & Gene Goff
Gloria Sullivan Betty Johnson Tom Schendorf
Memorial gift: Mary Tuten – in memory of her husband, Richard and their son, Ricky, Diane Davis’ brother, who also had polio.
Honorary gifts: Janet Goulding – honoring Jim Veccia.
Don Swain – honoring his sister, Marty Foxx.
Helping Hands: Thanks to our newsletter printer, Minuteman Press, for donating the folding and tabbing services for our newsletter. We appreciate their generosity and support.
The Minuteman Press
4517 Habersham Street
Savannah, GA 31405
Phone: (912) 356-3375
Letters of gratitude have been received from the families of Doris Phillips, Delphine Dean, and Rev. Doug Moser for CEPSA’s expressions of condolence in memory of them.
Polio Survivors of the world are declaring…
We’re Still Here!
Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association, Inc. is combining efforts with Post-Polio Health International and Polio Survivors world wide during the week of October 14 – 20, 2007 to declare, We’re Still Here.
We’re Still Here…
… working as executives, scholars, teachers, laborers, writers, health
professionals.
… attending schools and universities.
… retired but volunteering at schools, places of worship, non-profits.
… anchoring families as parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings.
… committed to enhancing the lives and independence of all survivors
of polio.
We’re Still Here…
… needing greater access to education, employment and transportation.
… needing improved access to medical care, including rehabilitation and re-
rehabilitation.
… asking for support of the worldwide poliovirus eradication effort, insisting
that the appropriate agencies and governments finish the job and maintain
appropriate vaccination rates.
The purpose of our “We’re Still Here” Campaign is to:
- Educate about post-polio issues.
- Remind the general public of our successes and contributions.
- Find other survivors, including the oft-forgotten younger ones.
- Recruit health professionals to treat us.
- Initiate a comprehensive secure searchable database.
We want to be clear about the needs of polio people world wide, however, we also desire to send the positive message of the
abilities and capabilities of people with disabilities.
For more information contact Diane Davis, President of Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association, Inc. at (912) 355-1221 or visit CEPSA’s website: www.coastalempirepoliosurvivors.org
The Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association, Inc.
112 Van Nuys Blvd.
Savannah, GA 31419
The Smithsonian exhibit
“Whatever Happened to Polio?” is now located in the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. It is housed in historic Roosevelt Hall and is open to the public weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. free of charge.
The exhibit will remain in Warm Springs for at least two years.