Starting with this issue, Action will replace Orbit, which we were publishing since we became United Spinal Association. Those of you who have been around for a while know we are returning to the name we used for many years for our monthly publication.
As we get ready to celebrate our 60th year, it is fitting to return to something old but still relevant. It was in the spirit of taking action that in 1946 a small group of paralyzed veterans in New York saw the need for an organization to represent individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D).
When the organization was first founded, there was no expectation that it would be around this long, the life expectancy of someone with this disability being short at best. Luckily for us, many of those veterans defied the odds and stayed around, and their hard work, with very little resources, laid the groundwork for what the organization is today. The dedication of our founders has been passed down through several generations of leaders and has brought us to the pinnacle of what we are today: an organization devoted to the well-being of persons who live with the challenges of SCI/D; a leader in promoting the civil rights of all Americans with disabilities.
I have had the honor, during my tenure of 30+ years with the organization, to speak and work with some of our founders. Our 60th anniversary celebration will not only commemorate our organization’s triumphs and longevity, but pay just tribute to our original leaders for their foresight, their untiring efforts, and their example, all of which keeps us moving forward and branching out to meet the needs of individuals living with SCI/D today. Our founders’ legacy lives in every achievement, however small, that helps to make life a little easier for someone with SCI/D.
As we revive our Action magazine, we will be telling you about the kinds of action that produced lots of results over the past 60 years. We will also continue to report on action we are involved in, at present, to deal with the problems facing our members in this day and age.
I hope you will let us know what you think about Action and share your input on how to improve it and the organization.
Gerard M. Kelly
Executive Director
