Sylvia Bern opened the August meeting, welcoming 17 people and calling on Vera Moore to explain the handouts.

     The first was a follow up of the August newsletter from Helen Tidmore sharing ten cleaning hints from her September-October 2006 issue of Muscular Dystrophy Association “Quest” magazine. Number Four was pointed out as Helen’s favorite, Stain Stomper towels by Orange Glo. In addition to stomping the towel with your feet to pick up spots and stains from carpets, wheel chair users can roll over the towel to achieve the same results.

     The second was a request from a fellow polio survivor in Tallahassee, Woody Hassler, who asks us to join him in showing appreciation for military service personnel. Woody has a friend serving in the Middle East and has been communicating with him regarding the time this older than your average soldier boy is away from family, friends and home. Marshall is the leader of a twelve US Army Reservists team training Iraqi troops so our people can return home. When it was mentioned that during our eleventh year, we had never had a service project, Sylvia Bern commented, “Shame on us!” The group approved our involvement in the project. Some made immediate cash donations and others agreed to bring salty treats to the September meeting. If the Pensacola Group would like to join in this project, Clara and George Norsworthy will bring the items to be added to our collection.

     Patsy Adams reported that she had pamphlets for us, PREPARING FOR MEDICAL NEEDS IN AN EMERGENCY which had been distributed at the August Mobile Advisory Commission for the Disabled. We are grateful to Patsy for attending these meeting, representing us and reporting back to us timely topics discussed. As can be expected much of the discussion during this time of the year is hurricane preparedness and shelters for those with disabling conditions. She has been attending these meeting for more than four years. Patsy says the meetings are open to the public, visitors are welcomed.

     Sylvia encourage anyone interested to attend a joint meeting of two advocacy groups, Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services & People for People Thursday, September 7, 2006 – 2 p.m. at the Independent Living Center, 5304-B Overlook Rd. – Mobile. Contact for additional information is James H. Flora 251-460-0301.

     After Sylvia showed a resource, DISABLED DEALER magazine providing listings of new and used accessible vans. it was suggest the contact information be provided in the September newsletter. Subscriptions are $18 per year to be mailed to DISABLED DEALER OF THE SOUTH - 4880 S. AMHERST HWY - MADISON HEIGHTS VA 24572. There is also a web site at www.disableddealer.com and toll free phone – 866-213-0097

     MAPPSG had been contacted requesting that we write Governor Riley to urge his support for Money Follows the Person bill introduced in the 2005/2006 legislature. The bill will provide funds enabling people to live in their own homes and communities rather than institutions. It was agreed the letter should be sent in the name of the Mobile Area Post-Polio Support Group

     Sylvia called attention to Ed Roberts, known as the Father of Independent Living, a polio survivor and a person we would appreciate. Berkeley University hesitated to admit Ed as he was severely disabled from polio contracted as a teenager. He had virtually no functional movement and was dependent on a respirator to breath. "We've Tried Cripples Before and It Didn't Work", said the university. They reluctantly admitted Ed in 1962. His brother, also a student, served as an on campus PA, often pushing Ed from class to class in an old manual wheelchair. Ed was accustomed to rejection, a year earlier in 1961 the state vocational rehabilitation agency refused to serve him as he was considered too severely disabled and labeled unemployable. That decision was later overturned. One of the many ironies of Ed's life was that fourteen years later in 1975, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ed as state Director of the same agency that deemed him too severely disabled to ever work. Ed died at a far too young an age in March 1995. He was 55 years old. Source: http://www.ilusa.com/links/022301ed_roberts.htm

     It was reported after someone wondered how she would be able to obtain groceries when she was no longer able to go to the store that Sam’s Club would shop for you and deliver the items to your vehicle and receive payment there. Of course, we know at Sam’s Club everything comes in large quantities.

     Sylvia pointed out the importance in letting those around you know what help you need. She illustrated the point by telling of a person who neglected getting dialysis when they did not have transportation. Several commented churches and individuals, as well as family, are eager to help when they know the need. Medical alert devices were highly recommended for people living alone. Clara Norsworthy told of a person who has a specially trained dog who serves as a medical alert assistant to the owner.

     Julie and Russ Ford told of their recent 50th Anniversary Alaska cruise which was delightful in everyway. Their only disappointment was the failure of airlines and airports to provide assistance for those with disabling conditions. Beware those of you planning to fly!

     We had a great meeting for August. We had 13 people attending. It was a great surprise to see Jane Clark for the first time since her fall and broken bone. This is her third broken bone from a fall and her general doctor still says she doesn't need a wheelchair. Fortunately her ortho guy says she does. It is still amazing to hear of doctors who don't want to look into the total picture of what is going on with their patients.

     She has had to go back to wearing a button that can alert someone if she has fallen. She has already had to use it once because she couldn't get up from a fall. It's a great idea for someone who lives alone. A non profit group is going to build a ramp so she can get in and out of her house. There is lots of help out there if you know where to look.

     We heard from Angie Reece about her first visit with Dr. Peach. She said it was so much information to absorb that her head is spinning. I also told everyone about Pat Kaderly who is in the hospital again with a perforated ulcer. This has been a hard couple of years for the Kaderly's, who are a loving and giving couple and all of us wish her a speedy recovery. Also Jim Hazuga had some info and different things he has been experimenting with to help with his wheelchair in his van concerning power and replenishing battery power. He also gave us tips on shopping at Wal-Mart because they honor the sales from other stores. You just have to let them know when you check out. We all could us some tips on that department.

     Well, summer is almost over and we look forward to our next meeting in September. Hope to see everyone there.

      A Survivor who first began corresponding with Helen Tidmore and continues to read our online newsletter, sent the following need to support our military personnel:

     My buddy, in charge of his little Army Reserve unit (12 soldiers total) serving overseas, told me that what he and his troops want most of all is some salty snacks (like pretzels, chips, and maybe crackers and "trail mix"). That is mostly what I sent them yesterday. He said they most want any kind of mail from nice folks at home, Sunday comics from the newspaper, and salty snacks. No doubt they sweat an awful lot, then drink a lot of water, and then need salt.

     I sent some individual bags of snacks (the kind sold in large boxes for putting in kids' school lunches), but I sent some larger bags of pretzels, as well. Among the bags of snacks, I fitted in a dozen of the Little Debbie "oatmeal cream pies" -- loose, not in the box they came in. The name of the game is getting a lot of treats crammed into a box. Also, remember what Marshall said: "Cheap and simple are the watchwords." All these soldiers want is whatever some nice person back home wants to send them. Cheap, simple, salty snacks fill the bill. I also am sending some zipper lock plastic bags to store their treats in, too. Ziploc bags (sandwich size and quart size mostly) are used to keep other things in there, too, because of the blowing sand they often have to contend with.

     Thanks a lot for helping him and his little unit. My friend is a clean cut, clean living, polite young man who was raised right and taken to church on Sundays. You would like him.

     We are sharing this to see if anyone else would like to participate. You are welcome to send your own individual box or if you’ll bring items to the next Post-Polio Support Group meetings, we’ll pack as many boxes as we receive items to fill and provide the mailing fees.

     Suggested items are:
          Salty snacks
          Peanuts
          Pretzels
          Crackers
          Baked goodies

     Obviously we must to be considerate in our mailing, and cannot send anything derogatory of other faiths, the administration, the war, etc. No booze or bacon.

     If you’d like to personally send a greeting card, letter, or anything else up to one ounce goes for a standard 39 cent first class stamp. ANYTHING from home, a note, a cartoon, news clippings, pictures, etc. Contact us for additional information.

     Prayers are most important!