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“Why I am a Rotarian”
PDG Carrie Dao Allan
2003-2004 District 5330
After twenty some years of being a “RotaryAnne”, I joined the palm springs breakfast rotary club in 1987. I have been accused of having two rotary wheels instead of eyes in my head.
My most powerful rotary moment did not happen for me until I was attending my International Assembly at Anaheim at the end of my training to be a district governor.
As I was rushing around carrying my governor’s blazer and greeting so many familiar faces, I was stopped in my tracks. I stood there at the entrance to the Rotary Foundation hall. I stood there staring at the large green iron lung.
It brought back so many memories of my first year as a physical therapist. I can still see my patient Beverly in that iron lung and remember the loud siren, every time there was a power failure.
As tears poured down my face, my husband tried to assure me that it could not be that same iron lung.
We walked up to the iron lung and it had a label on it. it said Rancho los Amigos Hospital 1959-1964. Yes, that iron lung was Beverly’s.
What an impact Rotary has had in the world. It is hard for me to even visualize the 450,000 people per year that have been saved from polio. Polio has not yet been eradicated but more than 5 million cases have been prevented.
I know that moment at the international assembly will always be with me. It will always motivate me to continue working for our Rotary Foundation because our programs have changed the world. I also know that with our dedicated partners, polio will be eradicated in the near future.
PDG Carrie Dao Allan
2003-2004 District 5330
carobpt@dc.rr.com

This feature began in January of 2006

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