The Annual Meeting of the Association was held at the United Parish Church of Auburndale on October 21, 2000.
The following members were elected to the Board of Directors by unanimous vote: Betty Anderson, Fred Bowers, Elaine Burns, Nancy Chick, Linda Dobkin, Anne Harpin, Jack Memishian, Mary Ronayne and Doreen Smith.
The following officers were elected unanimously: President, Elaine Burns; Vice President, Betty Anderson; Treasurer, Doreen Smith; Secretary, Fred Bowers.
Our speaker was Dr. Richard Goldberg, a psychologist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital as well as Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. He gave a slide presentation on "The Rehabilitation of Franklin D. Roosevelt." His talk was based on 60 interviews with friends, political associates and healthcare personnel who treated FDR. There were many fascinating photos of Roosevelt and other polio patients of that period.
While FDR covered up his disability as much as possible in his public appearances, he was quite open about it in his private life, especially at Warm Springs, Georgia where he mixed easily with the other patients as well as the local residents. He was very interested in making Warm Springs into a spa for polio patients, and the place became his home away from home. It is hard to determine if Roosevelt had post-polio syndrome since there was little follow-up after the initial muscle testing chart.
The meeting was adjourned after questions and comments from the audience, and there was time for refreshments and further socializing. Many thanks to the volunteers who helped set up the meeting room and to put away the tables and chairs afterwards, especially Jack Memishian, Steve Anderson and Dick Iliff who handled the literature racks as well as the video and audio equipment. Thanks also to Newton Girl Scout Leader Noreen Francis for providing refreshments, including setup and cleanup.
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