Pictured are Fillmore Rotary Club President John Garnica and guest speaker Jim Lewis of the Moorpark Rotary Club. Photo credit Martha Richardson.

Our Rotary speaker was Jim Lewis, from Moorpark Rotary. He is a Polio Survivor. When he was young he and his brother would swim in a nearby stream. His brother got sick first and when both boys were in the hospital it was determined they had Polio. The stream carried the polio virus and swimming there they were exposed. Jim had to stay in the hospital, but his brother went home because he was only three.
Dr. Jonas Salk an American Virologist and Medical researcher developed the polio vaccine in the early 50’s. This was giving to children. Some of us remember lining up at school to receive the vaccine given in a sugar cube.
Back to Jim, he couldn’t walk, but he could swim and in High School he competed and was successful. Jim has been encouraging others for many years. In 1979 a Rotary Grant was given and many children in the Philippines were the first to receive the vaccine. Since then whenever there is a case in the world Rotarians are there going door to door to save the children. Sometimes the women of that country go door to door also. To keep track of who has received it they mark the little finger with ink. Polio survivors may need surgery, braces and may even be in an Iron Lung for years. Donations to Rotary’s Polio Plus can help many children.