"Beyond History," RGHF paid member activities. Send us your story and it may be included in a future issue.

I was honored to be among the many inspiring speakers at the Zone 24, 32 Institute in Boston that opened with an earthquake and closed with a hurricane.  My talk centered on the personal perspective of a polio survivor and a veteran of 18 immunizing campaigns in regards to Rotary's PolioPlus efforts.

RGHF member PDG Ann Lee Hussey

How poignant that it was August and in Boston.  For it was late July/August of 1955 that Boston and surrounding areas experienced the last and the largest polio epidemic on the East Coast of the USA.  And a little girl 2 hours north of the city in southern Maine contracted polio.  That little girl was me. 

It was August of 1921 that Franklin Delano Roosevelt contracted polio in his travels through NY State and Campobello Island, Canada and as the US President 17 years later, was the impetus behind the March of Dimes.  This organization played a key role in the discovery of the first polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk in April 1955.   They also contributed to the rehabilitation and therapy of thousands of polio survivors, including myself.

I spoke of the polio that was, the polio of today - the hundreds of polio survivors living in the developing world with no hope of assistance with their mobility issues and the reality of post-polio syndrome.  The personal connection proved to be a vivid reminder to Rotarians of why we are eradicating polio and why we must reach our goal.   

RGHF member PDG Ann Lee Hussey

As Hurricane Irene blew up the East Coast my thoughts returned to the hurricane called polio that swept into the live of hundreds, changing them forever that fateful August of 1955.   In the aftermath, as we are all out picking up the broken branches and debris left in the wake of Irene, I will reflect on how those polio survivors picked themselves up, coped with their broken limbs, brushed aside the debris and moved on, living stronger lives because of their scars.  I know I did.

PDG Ann Lee Hussey, zone 32

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RGHF Member George Lewis

RGHF member George Lewis is the founder and president of Water Team International, a Rotary associated NGO which matches local Rotary clubs to provide safe and healthy drinking water to the less fortunate members of communities around the world, literally.