Rotary Thanked for Support of Polio Survivors Conference

 
Click here to read the Thank You Letter to Rotarians from Allina and Courage Kenny Foundation
Twenty five District 5950 Rotarians from 19 clubs welcomed 300 participants at the "Life After Polio: Realities and Practicalities" conference held on October 2 at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest Hotel in Brooklyn Park.
Tim Mulcrone, pictured here with his wife Ginger, shared about Rotary's efforts to End Polio Now with people attending the conference.
Click Read more to learn more about this conference co-sponsored by Dist. 5950 and click on the Polio Survivors Conference Photo Album on the left to see other photos of Rotarians giving "Service Above Self"
 
 
District 5950 was a co-sponsor of the conference with Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute.  It was a day filled with advice from medical professionals on methods of dealing with post polio syndrome, displays of photographs, scrapbooks, and magazines containing information about polio treatments in the 1940's and 1950's, movies of Sister Kenny Institute and the early days of patient care, and a chance for polio survivors to share their common experiences. 
 
And it was a time to share Rotary's 30 year fight to eradicate the disease with those who lived it up close and personal.  The volunteers heard many comments during the day from participants who had no awareness of Rotary's efforts in the fight. We welcomed a very special polio survivor, District Governor Tim's father Ray who was a patient in 1945 at Sister Kenny Institute.  After spending time with Ray, we all know where Murph gets the Irish twinkle in his eyes.
 
It was a great day to share the Rotary story and focus in on our signature project.  One participant asked what Rotary would do when polio was eradicated.  She was told it wouldn't be a problem as we are also working on many other problems locally and across the globe.
 
Good work, Rotarians.  You are a gift to the world. 
Carol Parrish