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'~/3 WARM SPRINGS INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION
A publication of the Roosevelt Institute and the Roosevelt Worm Springs Development Fund Inc. for friends of the Roosevelt Institute Volume 16, Number 3 SUMMER 2002
New ReTech Complex Named

For James Blanchard

By Martin Harmon

On the 75th Anniversary of the day

Franklin Delano Roosevelt incorporated the

Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for

Rehabilitation, a new building on campus was

named for an area business leader.

FDR's milestone date was July 28, 1927,

and exactly three-quarters of a century later,

Blanchard Hall was

named in honor of

long-time Institute

supporter James H.

Blanchard, chairman

of the board and

chief executive offi-

cer for Columbus-

based Synovus, on

James H. Blm1clwrrl

July 28, 2002.

The 34,000-square-foot complex will bring

together RWSIR's Rehab Technology Program,

Diabetic Foot Center, Outpatient Services and

Seating and Wheeled Mobility Clinic under one

roof. This patient-friendly concept is designed

to foster increased interaction among the pro-

gra ms involved, leading to better care, expa nd-

ed medical and educational opportunities, and

international research.

"It's a true honor for me to be a part of

something so inspiring," Blanchard said . "The

spirit of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute

for Rehabilitation is one of determination,

vision and growth of the individual. It's every-

thing Synovus and others aspire to be."

The $5.6 million building is the latest in a

series of major construction projects funded

through public-private partnerships at the

Institute. In the last 12 years, these projects

have included the construction of Ca mp Dream and the Center for Therapeutic Recreation, and the renovation of Roosevelt Hall.
Upon learning of the announcement, state

multi-billion dollar, multi-financial services company, and he has fostered a culture at Synovus that places special emphasis on balancing work with the rest of life. As a result,

We're almost there ... help us finish the campaign by October. To make a pledge, call 706-655-5666.

leaders were W1animous in their support, including Governor Roy Barnes. "Few people have done as much for this region as Jim Blanchard has," Barnes said. "He is one of the state's best corporate citizens and I feel fortunate to be able to also call him a friend."
State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond added, 'The Georgia Department of Labor is excited about the addition of this state-of-the-art facility to the Institute. It is an outstanding example of the good that can come when government works together with the private sector to meet a clear and critical public need."
Blanchard's leadership has spanned the periods of greatest growth for Synovus, a

Fortune magazine has ranked Synovus among its "100 Best Companies To Work For In America" since 1998.
To be located on the Institute's main approach off of Roosevelt Highway, groundbreaking for Blanchard Hall will take place on October 17 as part of RWSIR's ongoing 75th Anniversa ry Celebration. Construction is expected to begin in early 2003.
Looking ahead to that construction, Roosevelt Institute Executive Director Frank Ruzycki said, "Blanchard Hall will showcase some of the most up-to-date technology available for persons with disabilities in the world today. It will epitomize our belief in continuous learning and improvement of services."

75th Anniversary Celebration Now Aims for Alumni Week

Over 800 people, including patients, students, staff and their fami lies were on hand for Barbecue, Bluegrass and Founders Fireworks at Camp Dream on Saturday, July 27. Another 200 participated in a special Jncorporntion Sunday Service July 28 at Roosevelt Hall as part of the ongoing, yearlong 75th Anniversary Celebration at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation (see centerspread).
RWSIR's 75th Anniversary Committee will now turn its attention toAlumi1i Week festivities in mid-October, including the groundbreaking for Blanchard Hall and the premier showing of "Letters to FDR," a theatrical tribute to hearts touched by the Roosevelt Institute, Thursday, Oct. 17. There will also be a Community Showing of the play on the evening of Friday, Oct. 18, and a special Alumni Showing following an Alumni Reception on Saturday, Oct. 19. For more information call 706-655-5668.

2

Goizueta Grant Awarded to RWSIR

Driver Education Program

By Martin Harmon

The Goizueta Foundation of Atlanta has announced plans to issue a grant of $298,989 to the Roosevelt Warm Springs Development Fund earmarked for the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation's Driver Education Program.
Recognizing the transportation needs of persons with disabilities and in keeping with its primary focus of assisting educationalbased programs, The Goizueta Foundation's gift will cover a three-year period beginning in January and will allow the Roosevelt Institute, to expand its certified driver education program to include more vocational rehabilitation students and outpatients.
In order to accomplish this expansion, plans call for the purchase of a training van featuring special adaptive equipment, another student driver training car, the hiring of an additional certified driving instructor to go with the one already on staff, the latest computer-based clinical testing equipment, power seat installation on the Institute's existing student driver car and continuing education money.
"We estimate the entire expansion will take about a year," stated Kathy Corpus, a certified driver rehabilitation specialist and director of the RWSIR program. "When you think about it, the transportation needs and concerns of persons with disabilities fits perfectly into our overall mission statement," she continued. "In other words, when it comes to 'empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve personal independence,' what could be more

important than giving them the ability and authority to transport themselves from place to place. This program is designed to end much of their dependence on others and to give them a better chance of re-entering the mainstream."
Keeping in mind the individual nature of the specific needs for each person evaluated and the special training involved, the program to this point has been limited to about four clients per day. Once the expansion is complete, Corpus estimates that figure will more than double to as many as 10 per day.

"We have people interested and in contact with us from all over the state of Georgia. The generous support of The Goizueta Foundation gives us the opportunity to better serve the entire state,"Corpus added.
The Goizueta Foundation honors the legacy of Roberto C. Goizueta, chairman of the board and chief executive officer at the Coca-Cola Company until his death in October of 1997. Due to his thoughtful and philanthropic vision, The Foundation aims to support educational programs that promote sustainable change and have a long-term impact in the community.

Vocational rehabilitation st11dents will benefit from The Goiz11eta grant for Driver Ed11cntion.

Center for Therapeutic Recreation Hosts Hall-of-Fame Inductions Bysybiloennis

Three new names have been added to the USA Wheelchair Sports Hall-of-Fame, following impressive induction ceremonies at the Roosevelt Institute's Center for Therapeutic Recreation this past May.
The new home of the USA Hall and already the host for several international wheelchair sports competitions, the CTR hosted the 2001 induction banquet on May 18 with more than 100 people in attendance, including many past USA Hall-of-Fame inductees. Added to their number were Martin Morse of Savoy, Ill., Randy Snow of Austin, Tex., and Barton Dodson of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The purpose of the Hall, according to organizers, is "to enshrine in the form of a permanent record the names of those individuals who have exerted a distinctive positive influence of unique dimension in wheelchair sports." Both competing athletes who have excelled over a period of time and noncompetitors who have, through their support, contributed to the growth and advancement of wheelchair sports are eligible for consideration. The induction event is expected to return to Warm Springs next year.
Morse earned his place in the Hall for his role in advancing the training techniques of both wheelchair athletes and their coaches. He is credited with guiding the careers of many of the country's top wheelchair athletes, including at least five Paralympic champions. Morse spent more than 20 years as a coach, writer, researcher and instructor for wheelchair sports following a spinal cord

injury. Most of that time, he was employed at the University of Illinois' University Rehabilitation Center.
Snow was a versatile triple winner, having won medals in three different sports in three separate Summer Paralympics. In 1992, he won Gold Medals in both singles and doubles tennis at Barcelona. In the early

Bart Dodson, meanwhile, has been described as "one of the most dominant track performers in United States history," having held every world record between 100 and 5,000 meters. He has an impressive collection of no less than 51 medals earned in 10 international competitions, including eight from the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona.

The purpose of the Hall is "to enshrine in the form of a permanent record the names of those individuals who have exerted a distinctive
positive influence of unique dimension in wheelchair sports."

1980s, he held national records in track for four distances and captured a Silver Medal in 1984 in that sport in Los Angeles. And in 1996, he helped the USA Wheelchair Basketball Team capture Bronze in Atlanta. Snow is also an accomplished journalist and author with three books to his credit and an award-winning video.

In addition to his many accomplishments in track, Dodson was a key player on the Tennessee Quad Crusher Rugby Team that captured the 1994 national championship.
The Hall-of-Fame display in Warm Springs is located on the upper hallway at the CTR and is always available for viewing during regular business hours.

Randy Snowlllld Bart Dodsonwere recently ind11ctedintuiheUSA WheelchaifSports Hall-of-Famein WarmSprings. Athird ind11ctee, Martin Morse, was 1111ab/eto attend.

4

5

Aspiring rock climbers scaled the climbing wall. The B11llsboro Bl11egmss Bm1d provided e11tertai11me11t.

Barbecue, Bluegrass and Fireworks Highlight Incorporation Weekend

Community Choir Also Stars At Incorporation Sunday Service

It tasted good, it sounded good and it looked good. "It" was Barbecue, Bluegrass and Founders Fireworks at Camp Dream on July 27, when over 800 Roosevelt Institute patients, students, staff and their families got together at Camp Dream to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Franklin Delano Roosevelt incorporating this wonderful place.
When it was done, 720 plates of Johnny Brown's Country Fixin's

Barbecue (Hogansville) had been consumed, the Bullsboro Bluegrass Band (Newnan) had provided more than three hours of down-home favorites, and Pyrotechnico (Phenix City, Montgomery and Atlanta) had fired off one of the best fireworks displays in these parts in a long, long time.
Fishing, volleyball, sand art, face painting, train rides, climbing walls and moon walks were among the "other"

things people did between dinner and Preliminary auditions for the play were

fireworks, and all seemed to have a

held August 10 and 11.

good time (see accompanying photos).

Three performances are scheduled.

The next day was Incorporation

They include a Premier Showing for

Sunday, the actual date (July 28) in

patients, students and special guests

1927 that FDR took two-thirds of his

I

personal worth and incorporated the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation

(became RWSIR in 1980), and a very

at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17; a Community Showing at 7:30pm on Friday, Oct. 18; and an Alumni Showing to follow a special 2 p.m. Alumni

inspiring Sunday service was held that Reception on Saturday, Oct. 19. All

afternoon in Roosevelt Hall in recogni- three will be in the newly-renovated

tion of that event. About 200 people

Roosevelt Hall Auditorium.

attended, including a community choir

In addition, the groundbreaking

of more than 60 from local church

for Blanchard Hall (see story on front)

Face painting bro11ght smiles to kids' faces.

choirs throughout Meriwether County. will take place at 2 p.m. on Oct. 17

The 16 staff members who compose with Georgia Governor Roy Barnes,

the Institute' s 75th Anniversary Planning State Labor Commissioner Michael

Committee will now turn their atten- Thurmond and other state dignitaries

tion to Alumni Week in October and

expected to take part.

special events on Oct. 17, 18 and 19,

For more information about the

including three showings of the origi- October festivities, call 706-655-5668.

nal theatrical production "Letters to

For information on local accommoda-

FDR" also slated for Roosevelt Hall.

tions, call 706-655-5231.

A crowd of over 800 e111oyed the fireworks .
, .
\

Fo1111ders Fireworks blazed over Lake Dream.

Camp Dream was abeehive ofactivity 011 July 27.

Tmin rides were one of several kids' activities.

'
The ex:C11tive director wjoyed the barbewe.

6

Worksite Partner of Quarter Established By Vocational Unit
As part of a new recognition program sponsored by the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation (RWSIR), Bill's Dollar Store of Greenville has been named Worksite Partner of the Quarter.
The first such award announced by RWSIR, the selection was based on the more than 50 vocational rehabilitation students who have worked at Bill's through the Worksite Partnership Program since 1999.
According to Jayne Bryan, one of several Roosevelt Institute vocational coordinators who place RWSIR students in over 100 area worksites, Gloria Bowen Sistrw1k, the manager at Bill's, is the reason the Greenville store is the perfect inaugural choice. "Gloria is always willing to work with students who are severely disabled to better assess their capabilities and that's key to the program," Bryan said. "She has used as many as six of our students at one time. Basically, she goes the extra mile to give them a chance."
Current RWSIR students involved in the Worksite Parternship Program at Bill's include Charles Smith of Dalton and Sara Sabiston of Savannah. When told of the honor, Sistrunk stated, "Really, all the glory should just be given to God for allowing us the opportunity to do this. "
State-Operated Rehab Centers Hold Warm Springs Meeting
Representatives of the nine stateoperated comprehensive rehabilitation centers (SOCRC) in the U.S. recently gathered in Warm Springs for a twoday planning session at Camp Dream's Callaway Lodge.

Hosted by RWSIR executive director Frank Ruzycki, the National Consortium of State Operated Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center representatives focused on a strategic plan to help lead the nation's rehabilitation programs.
The state centers represented included Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Michigan, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Georgia (RWSIR) in addition to George Washington University (District of Columbia).
To sharpen the focus of the national consortium's efforts, those in attendance identified and prioritized key goals for the next three to five years, created an action plan around those goals, and developed a joint definition of success and the administrative factors that will be necessary to achieve success.
Last year alone, the nine centers involved were responsible for the rehabilitation of over 70,000 people.
Fishing Rodeo Sets Record For Total Weight Caught
The ninth annual Roosevelt Institute Fishing Rodeo enjoyed a record-setting day May 25. Held at Camp Dream, this year' s rodeo attracted 247 competitors, ages 3 to 15, who combined to catch over 642 pounds of catfish in three age categories. That was over 200 pounds more than the previous record of 422 in 1999. A total of 286 fish were caught in the three hours of competition.

The conference will be held in Meadows Classroom in Georgia Hall and CEUs will be offered. Anyone seeking more information may call 706655-5231.
Nurse-of-the-Year Honors Go To Kerri Medders
The Roosevelt Institute Nursing Department awarded its 20th Nurse-ofthe-Year Award to Kerri Medders on May 9. A resident of Warm Springs, Medders is in her eighth year at the Institute.
Kerri Medders received Nurse-of-the-Year honors from Cathy Harbin.
Canada Sweeps Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge
Canada captured the men's and women's competitions at the second Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge earlier this summer. The back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weeks featured national wheelchair teams from USA, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Germany and The Netherlands.

Among those joining RWSJR's Carolyn McKinlei; (Ga.) for the rece11t SOCRC meetings i11 Wann Springs were Al Reynolds (Penn.), Dennis Hart (Mich.) and Michael Breedi11 (Md.)

This five-pound catfish was one of 286 caught at the ninth a1111ual fishing rodeo.
Ethics In The Workplace Conference Slated Sept. 27
The Roosevelt Institute's Conference and Continuing Education Center will be hosting a conference entitled "Ethics in the Workplace" on Sept. 27 from 9am to 3pm.

Despite th is USA layup, Canada beat the American wo111e11 i11 the championship.

7

New York Affiliations Now In Place

For Diabetic Foot Center

By Martin Harmon

The Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation's Diabetic Foot Center has entered exciting new territory with the announcement of working agreements with two New York City medical facilities.
Facilitated by Dr. Brent Bernstein, who was medical director of the Diabetic Foot Center the last three years, and Dr. Stanley Kalish of Jonesboro, who recently took Dr. Bernstein's place at the Roosevelt Institute, the agreements have been established with Staten Island University Hospital and Diabetes Treatment Center and Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y.
Dr. Bernstein, a native of Pennsylvania who recently moved his family back to the Middle Atlantic area (NewJersey) while assuming a new role with Staten Island University Hospital, has worked out a telemedicine agreement between the two facilities that will result in clinical consultation. The agreement should also lead to expanded researd1

on clinical issues, the enhancement of wound care protocols through pharmaceutical drug trials, collaboration in regard to post-polio cases, refinement of podiatry protocols related to wound care and diabetic limb salvage, and development of a national lower extremity conference in Warm Springs to be annually co-sponsored by both organizations.
At the same time, professional relationships between Dr. Kalish and doctors at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center have led to the inclusion of the Roosevelt Institute on the permanent rotation of podiatric residents from that facility in the areas of comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstructive foot surgery. Residents participating in the program and spending time in Warm Springs will be under the active tutelage of another new member of the RWSIR Diabetic Foot Center staff, Dr. Bhavin Mehta.
In announcing the agreements, Carolyn McKinley, executive administrator for

RWSIR programs and services, said, "Our ultimate goal is to be recognized as an international center of excellence for the management and treatment of diabetes by developing and expanding our diabetic limb reconstruction and limb salvage program. By taking advantage of this opportunity to solidify our professional collaboration with these two teaching hospitals, we will have access to a wide variety of medical specialists whose expertise can strengthen our program for the ultimate benefit of our patients. We want to accelerate our research in this specialized field of wound care and limb reconstruction, extend our rehabilitation education mission by bringing in the podiatry residency program and take advantage of the latest telemedicine technology to bridge the geographic gap between Georgia and New York."
The Diabetic Foot Center will be one of four specialty services moving into the new Blanchard Hall complex when it opens in 2004.

Dr. Bhavi11 Mehta and Dr. Stanley Kalish haveassumedleadership of RWSlR's Diabetic Foot Center.

The Spirit of Warm Springs
Editor Martin Harmon
Staff Writer Sybil Dennis
Art Direction Image By Design
The Spirit of Warm Springs is published three times a year by the
Public Relations Department of the Roosevelt WarmSprings Institute for Rehabilitation,
Post Office Box 1000, Warm Springs, Georgia 31830-1 000.
If you would like this publication in an alternative format, or ii you receive a duplicate copy, please contact the Public Rela tions Depa rtment at the "" above address or call 706/655-5668.

ROOSEVELT

The mission of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institutefor Rehabilitation is to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve personal independence.

WARM SPRINGS

INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION

Roosevelt Wnr111 Springs Dt'Velop111ent F1111d, /11c. Board of Directors

f. Br11ce Willin111s, fr. Chnir111nn

Step/ten A. Melton Vi ce Cftnir111nn

Leonard R. Meadows Clwirnwn E111erit11s

Edgar E. C/tQp111m1, fr. Treas11rer

Donna R. McNeilly Secretary

Daniel W. Brinks

The Georgia Department of Labor Rehabilitation Services administers and conducts all programs and activities in accordance with the U.S. Civil Rights Act, which provides that no person shall, on grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, be excluded from the benefits or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity.

Rep. Cnrl Von Epps David L. Foy, D.D.S. f. Harper Gaston, M.D. F. St11art G11/ley, l'ft.D.
/i111111yHill

Accred ited by: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hea lthcare Organizations CARF...The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission

Charles H. Hood D. Gaines /J111ier Senator Dm1iel W. Lee Andmo foe Morrow, D. V.M.

Senior f11dge fames W. Oxendine

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Rep. fi111111y Skipper
Erik Vonk
Frank C. R11zycki Executive Director

Post Office Box 1000 Warm Springs, Georgia 31830-1000 www.rooseve ltrehab .org

Tripp l'e1111 Director of Dt'Velop111ent

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