I had polio when I was 6 years old.  It was 1949, and some 350,000 persons, most of them children like me, were also diagnosed with polio that year.  Many were hospitalized, many were paralyzed, some had to live in iron lungs...and some didn’t live at all.  I was lucky – I got to go home for hot baths and leg rubdowns by my mother until I could start school.

 

My greatest handicap – or so I thought – was being cross-

eyed and having double vision. But then, about 10 years ago, when I was 73, polio came back into my life as post-polio syndrome. 

I began to have drop foot and to fall, more and more often as the months passed.  I started wearing a brace (an AFO) to prevent falls, then I started using walking sticks occasionally.

 

Last week, I realized this is my life and it won’t change for the better.  I have had polio and I am crippled.

 

World Polio Day is October 24. You and I can help prevent polio from affecting the children of the world by making a special donation on World Polio Day to PolioPlus, Rotary’s special fund to help eradicate polio.  Please make a special donation at www.rotary.org/donate today!  I intend to...

 

Upcoming Weekly Programs – Don’t Miss ‘em!

Set aside your Wednesday noontimes for these upcoming club programs and presentations:

Oct. 14 –President George Case will lead a discussion of the BBQ survey results and future plans.  Bring your ideas and questions for this important discussion.

Oct. 21 – Brian Faber, Executive Director, and Grace Jubber, Membership Sales Coordinator, will tell us what the Lander Chamber of Commerce is up to these days.

Oct. 28 – Greta Maxfield, CEO of Make a Wish Wyoming.

Nov. 4 – Karen Morgan, District 5440 Governor Elect (2027-28), will be here for the District Governor’s annual visit.  Let’s have a good turnout for this official visit!!

Nov. 11 – Wyoming Department of Transportation (tentative).

Service Committee Commits $1,500 for Imagination Library Program; LCF Votes to Lead Effort to Revive Program

At its meeting last week, the Service Committee, chaired by Maria Kidner, voted to commit $1,500 a year for five years in support of the Imagination Library program in Lander.  The Imagination Library provides a book a month to enrolled children 1 to 5 years old. 

Breaking News: And earlier this week, the Lander Community Foundation’s Board voted to commit up to $15,000 per year for 3-5 years to revive and support the program, which ceased in Fremont County on September 1 because of a lack of funding.