Got talent? Audition for Transplant Games

The National Kidney Foundation is scouting for transplant recipients, living donors and/or donor family members to sing or otherwise perform at the opening and closing ceremonies and other programs being held as a part of the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games.

If you and/or a family member have a talent, please send an audio or video audition tape to:

Verena Huetteneder
National Kidney Foundation
30 East 33rd St.
New York, NY 10016

All entries must be received by Tuesday, February 5, 2008.

Any questions can be directed to verenah@kidney.org.

2008 WINTER WORLD GAMES - FINLAND

Join Team USA and venture near the Arctic Circle ! From March 25-30, Team USA will be participating in the 2008 Winter World Games at one of the world's most prestigious winter athletics locations -- Rovaniemi , Finland ! The Winter World Games will also include The Nicholas Cup, which is open to all transplant children from 4 to 17 years of age and is held the last day of competition. For more information about The Nicholas Cup, please visit the Winter World Games site at http://www.rovaniemi2008.com/nicolascup.html. Register fast -- first 50 children are free!

If you are interested in becoming a part of Team USA , registration information is available at http://www.kidney.org/news/tgames/worldgames/teamUSA.cfm.

REGISTRATION & TEAM USA ENROLLMENT FORMS - Due by Wednesday, November 27, 2007
Registration for the Winter World Games, Nicholas Cup and Team USA 2008 is contingent upon receiving the corresponding registration forms. Sports registration changes will not be accepted after November 27, 2007. All participants (Competitors and Accompanying Persons) of Team USA 2008 must complete and sign the National Kidney Foundation's general waiver (Team USA Enrollment Form) for your registration to be officially accepted.

PAYMENT - Deposit due by December 10, 2007
To become an official member of Team USA , all registration forms and full payments must be submitted to Team USA Headquarters by the noted deadlines. Deadlines will be binding. A 20% deposit of your total registration fees is due by December 10, 2007. If you plan on using a credit card to make your payment, then the entire registration fee is due in full. The balance of your registration fee is due to Team USA Headquarters by no later than January, 28, 2008.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
· November 27, 2007 - Team USA Registration & Enrollment Forms Due

· December 10, 2007 - 20% Deposit Due (Must pay in full for credit card payment)

· January 28, 2008 - Balance Of Payment Due

· February 29, 2008 - Medical Certificates Due

PLEASE READ THE CONTENTS THOROUGHLY - Information and requirements change each Winter World Games year. Forms and/or correspondence sent directly to Finland will not be considered. Any and all inquiries sent to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) in Rovaniemi will be automatically forwarded to Team USA Management. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Team USA Headquarters at 800-622-9010 or via email - Nikki (nikkik@kidney.org) or Tiffany (tiffanyk@kidney.org). We will be happy to assist you.

Get ready for Finland !

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DATES TO REMEMBER:

March 25-30, 2008 Winter World Transplant Games
Rovaniemi , Finland
www.rovaniemi2008.com

July 11-16, 2008 NKF U.S. Transplant Games
Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania
www.transplantgames.org

Cutting edge gifts offered in latest fundraiser

Barb Steele is having a Team Iowa fundraiser with Rada Mfg, which includes kitchen knives, utensils, gift sets, stoneware, quick mixes. etc. The orders will be in before Christmas.

"These would make great Christmas gifts to go along with the Team Iowa Cookbooks," Barb says, adding, "Rada Mfg has been around for years and their cutlery has a lifetime guarantee so anyone that has ever heard of Rada, knows they are good quality."

If anyone is interested in looking at a catalog before the November 18 Team Iowa meeting in Cedar Falls please contact Barb at Anika3131@msn.com. Otherwise, make sure to visit with Barb at the meeting.

Fast facts about transplants in the US

New numbers show 97,707 people are waiting for organ transplants, as of November 2. Here's how the numbers break down:

73,989 patients waiting for a kidney transplant.
16,745 patients waiting for a liver transplant.
1,646 patients waiting for a pancreas transplant.
226 patients waiting for a pancreas islet cell.
2,323 patients waiting for a kidney-pancreas transplant.
221 patients waiting for an intestine transplant.
2,655 patients waiting for a heart transplant.
110 patients waiting for a heart-lung transplant.
2,303 patients waiting for a lung transplant.
97,707 TOTAL PATIENTS*

For a more detailed look at statistics having to do with transplantation, click here

Rate of kidney disease up dramatically

The estimated number of American adults living with chronic kidney disease has increased from 20 million to 26 million people. That means the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is up by 30%, from 10% of the US population (1988-1994) to 13.1% (1999-2004). The data from 1988-1994 was the source of the statistic that 20 million American adults have CKD. Most of the 26 million people affected are completely unaware of their condition, according to a new study published November 6, 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The National Kidney Foundation has an article available on their website that gives an overview of the findings. Below are some highlights:

“Our study demonstrates chronic kidney disease in the United States is more common than previously appreciated. However, less than 1 in 10 individuals with kidney disease is aware they have a problem,” said Josef Coresh, MD, PhD, lead author of the study and professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. “The medical community is starting to realize that chronic kidney disease is a serious concern, similar to the increased awareness of hypertension in the 1970s and diabetes in the 1990s.”

“We at the National Kidney Foundation interpret this increase in the rate of CKD as a call to action for doctors, people most at risk, and their families,” says Allan J. Collins, MD, FACP, President, National Kidney Foundation.

"The low level of awareness of CKD is challenging the National Kidney Foundation to reach out to individuals with diabetes and high blood pressure, who are at increased risk,” says Joseph A. Vassalotti, MD, Chief Medical Officer, National Kidney Foundation

“Americans and their physicians should be aware that chronic kidney disease is common, has treatable components, and its progression can be slowed substantially. Blood pressure control with agents that protect the kidney, blood sugar control, and avoiding medications toxic to the kidneys are the most important factors for patients with kidney disease to be educated about,” said study co-author Andrew S. Levey, MD, Chief of Nephrology at Tufts-New England Medical Center and Work Group Chair of the NKF's KDOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease: Evaluation, Classification, and Stratification.

Read the full news article on the National Kidney Foundation website.

For more information on kidney disease visit www.kidney.org/kidneyDisease

Transplant Athletics E-News, November 2007

In this issue:

1. 2008 Winter World Games - ROVANIEMI , FINLAND
2. Elite Athlete Program
3. 2008 Tackers Ski Camp!
4. TransScribe & TransWorld Journal

=========================================================
2008 WINTER WORLD GAMES - ROVANIEMI , FINLAND

Join Team USA and venture near the Arctic Circle ! From March 25-30, Team USA will be participating in the 2008 Winter World Games at one of the world's most prestigious winter athletics locations -- Rovaniemi , Finland !

The Winter World Games will also include The Nicholas Cup, which is open to all transplant children from 4 to 17 years of age and is held the last day of competition. For more information about The Nicholas Cup, please visit the Winter World Games site at http://www.rovaniemi2008.com/nicolascup.html. Register fast -- first 50 children are free!

If you are interested in becoming a part of Team USA , registration information is now available at www.transplantgames.org. For more detailed information about the 2008 Winter Games themselves, please visit www.rovaniemi2008.com. As a critical step to becoming a Team USA member, please read and complete the registration materials that are available to download on our website.

PLEASE READ THE CONTENTS THOROUGHLY - Information and requirements change each Winter World Games year. Forms and/or correspondence sent directly to Finland will not be considered. Any and all inquiries sent to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) in Rovaniemi will be automatically forwarded to Team USA Management. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Team USA Headquarters at 800-622-9010 or via email - Nikki (nikkik@kidney.org) or Tiffany (tiffanyk@kidney.org). We will be happy to assist you.

Get ready for Finland !

========================================================
ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAM (EAP) - AUSTRALIA 2009

Attention all athletes -- the 2009 World Transplant Games will creep up sooner than you realize! With much success at the 2007 World Transplant Games in Thailand , Team USA claimed a total of 81 medals, 6 world records and countless individual and collective achievements all throughout the event. EAP athletes captured 36 of the total USA medal count including 4 new World Games records!

PROGRAM OVERVIEW: The Elite Athlete Program (EAP) is an initiative of the National Kidney Foundation designed to provide an opportunity for extraordinary transplant athletes to earn direct financial assistance to compete in the World Transplant Games. The program also raises the standard of health and fitness in all transplant recipients, promotes organ and tissue donation awareness, and elevates the National Kidney Foundation's visibility in the media and in the transplant community, both locally and nationally.

Teams who elect to participate in the Elite Athlete Program will have the opportunity to select one outstanding male and female athlete from their team after the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games and guarantee their team's representation on Team USA at the 17th World Transplant Games. The 2009 World Transplant Games will be held on the Gold Coast of Australia from August 22-30. As a participant of the program, your team will provide direct financial assistance to cover all or a portion of the expenses related to the athletes' participation in the World Transplant Games. An equal commitment will be allocated to one female and one male athlete. The associated cost to attend the 2009 World Transplant Games is estimated at $2,500 or more per person (including airfare). Now is the time to speak with your Team Manager about participating in and budgeting for the Elite Athlete Program!

=======================================================
2008 TACKERS SKI CAMP!!

TACKERS is holding its eighth ski camp for young transplantees around the world, from January 5-12, 2008 in Anzère, Valais , Switzerland ! You don't have to be an experienced skier -- many who attend are absolute beginners and go for the fun and to try new activities! For any questions or registration information, call Liz Schick on +44 20 7871 0098 or e-mail at info@tackers.org.

=======================================================
TRANSSCRIBE -- OCTOBER 2007

TransScribe E-Newsletter and TransWorld Journal are publications circulated by the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF) providing updates for transplant athletics activities around the world, athlete highlights, team activities and successes, news and information for those in the transplant community.

TransScribe E-Newsletter information will be highlighted periodically in this Transplant Athletics E-Newsletter in the future. Read the latest information from the World Transplant Games Federation! Visit the following site to view the most up-to-date newsletter: http://www.kidney.org/news/tgames/worldgames/index.cfm

Limited hard copies of TransWorld Journal are available. If you wish to receive TransWorld Journal in the mail in lieu of email communication, please submit your first/last name, full mailing address and email address in the body of your email to transplant@kidney.org.


+++++++++++++++++++++
DATES TO REMEMBER:

March 25-30, 2008 Winter World Transplant Games
Rovaniemi , Finland
www.rovaniemi2008.com

July 11-16, 2008 NKF U.S. Transplant Games
Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania
www.transplantgames.org

Committees to Consider for 2008 Games

At the November 18, 2007 Team Iowa meeting, team members will have a chance to sign up for six different committees. This is something new for the 2008 Games. Following is a list of committees and their responsibilities. Please look them over and think about what you might be interested in doing. At the meeting, more details will be provided. You'll be able to begin the sign up process then.


Uniform Committee – this committee will be responsible for discussing the past uniforms provided for the team members; seeking alternatives; seeking pricing; and gathering samples by a specified date for Team Iowa to vote on.  Once a decision has been made regarding uniform needs for the Team, this committee will ensure that all team members are contacted for exact uniform sizes.  This committee will provide a link between the NKF of Iowa office and the individual team members for distribution of team uniforms.  Once uniforms are distributed to team members, this committee will no longer meet.
 
Team Sports Committee – this committee will be responsible for reviewing the Team Sports held during the U. S. Transplant Games; studying the requirements to participate in each Team Sport; talking to team members to determine interest in Team Sports; and being prepared to develop Team Sports rosters by a specified date for team members to sign.  Out of this committee, individual members will be assigned to a specific Team Sport, as a captain.  (As an alternative, this committee will appoint somebody to serve as each Team Sport’s team captain.)  The captain will be responsible for working with the Team to establish practice times and locations, attending their respective Team Sport during the Games to solve problems and determine which team members will play, knowing when and where their team members are to report at the Games for practice and competition.  Team Captains will be expected to review the rules of their assigned Team Sport and communicate that information to team members.  Once the Games take place, this committee will no longer meet.
 
Transportation Committee – this committee will be responsible for researching transportation alternatives for team members – such as the team bus; determining costs for each alternative; and being prepared to present these alternatives by a specified date for Team Iowa to vote on and/or sign up for.  This committee will take responsibility for determining pick up and drop off sites and the time schedule – to best meet the needs of the Team Iowa members as a whole.  This committee will serve as a link to those Team Iowa members using the group transportation and will disseminate all information needed.  Once the Games take place, this committee will no longer meet.
 
Registration Committee – this committee will be responsible for overseeing the Team Registration process.  Once deadlines are established by NKF (National) this committee will assist those Team Members needing registration assistance.  Members of this committee must be computer literate; have internet access; and be able to maintain confidential team member information.  Once registration has closed, this committee will no longer meet.

Membership Committee – This committee will be responsible for the recruitment of new team members.  Another responsibility will involve serving as, or finding someone else to serve as, mentors for first-time U. S. Transplant Games attendees.  Prior to the Games in 2008, this committee will work with the NKFI staff and Team Manager to develop recruitment materials and a recruitment strategy.  This committee will be responsible for implementing the recruitment strategy throughout the NKFI service area (all 99 counties in Iowa and 3 counties in Illinois).  The recruitment strategy will be presented to the entire Team for implementation.  This committee will work with the entire Team to identify potential new members and to follow up with all inquiries from potential new members.  As soon as Registration for the 2008 Games opens, recruitment of new members will temporarily cease.  At that time, this committee will identify all first-time Games attendees and assign them a mentor (somebody that has prior experience with U. S. Transplant Games).  Mentors will have a responsibility to assist first-time attendees prior to the Games and be willing to be a phone call away while at the Games.  This will be an on-going committee.  Once the 2008 Games are concluded, this committee will begin recruitment for the 2010 Games.  However, committee members will not be expected to serve indefinitely.
 
Marketing/PR Committee – this committee will be responsible for contacting the media and/or responding to requests from the media for information about the Team and the 2008 U. S. Transplant Games.  This committee will work with the NKFI Staff and Team Manager to develop factual information for publication that can be shared with the entire team for local publication.  This committee will also be responsible for identifying media outlets and presenting information for possible publication.  When the NKFI office is contacted by media outlets, a referral will be made to the members of this committee for individual comment.  This committee will continue until six months after the 2008 Games.  At that time, this committee will no longer meet.

Next week's bake sale cancelled

Next week's bake sale at the University of Iowa hospital in Iowa City has been cancelled. If you know somebody who was signed up to bake and/or to work, please help pass this message on to them.

November 18 Meeting in Cedar Rapids

The location for the Sunday, November 18, 2007 Team Iowa meeting has been finalized. This meeting is from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. It will be held in Cedar Rapids at the El Kahir Shrine Center. For those who attended a November meeting last year, it is the same location.

El Kahir Shrine Center
1400 Blairs Ferry Road N.E.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

If anybody has questions, concerns, comments, contact Diane Hagarty. We hope to see all of you at this meeting. GO TEAM IOWA!

Driving Directions:
From Waterloo, Take I-380 South towards Cedar Rapids. Take the Blairs Ferry Road exit #24 toward IA-100/Collins Road/42nd street. Turn left onto Blairs Ferrry Road. Go approximately one mile to the intersection of Blairs Ferry Rd. and Council Street. The Shrine Center is located on the northeast corner of this intersection.

From Des Moines, Take I-80 to I-380. Merge onto I-380 North toward Cedar Rapids. Take Exit 24B toward Blairs Ferry Road. Turn slight right onto Blairs Ferry Road. Go approximately one mile to the intersection of Blairs Ferry Rd. and Council Street. The Shrine Center is located on the northeast corner of this intersection.

From Dubuque, Take US-151 South. Turn Left onto US-151 South/IA-13 South. Go approx. 1 mile. Turn Right onto IA-100 W/Collins Road SE and go approx. 6 miles. Turn Right onto Council Street NE and go approx. 0.4 miles, turn right onto Blairs Ferry Road. The Shrine Center is located on the northeast corner of this intersection.

Team Iowa to Meet November 18

Get out your calendar and block off 1:00 to 4:00 pm Sunday November 18 for the next Team Iowa meeting. The location is still to be determined. Light refreshments - cookies, brownies, lemonade - will be served. You'll find more information on this Website once the location is finalized.

At the meeting, we'll discuss updated information about the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games. Your opinion on several issues matters - if you want to have a vote, please plan to be at the meeting.

On the Agenda:

• We'll watch a DVD of Pittsburgh highlights.
  
• Alesha Luxon from Astellas Pharmaceutical Company will be there to talk about trends in transplantation.
  
• New information about the 2008 Games. For example:
  
  
  • Lodging at the games
    
  • Team logo/uniforms
    
  • Transportation to the games
    
  • Committee sign up opportunities
    
  • Team sports
    
  • The medical waiver, which is required of all athletes participating in the games.
    
  • Scholarships

If you know of somebody who might want to attend, please invite them to come to the meeting. To participate as an athlete a person needs to have received their most recently transplanted organ at least 9 months before the Games (which means they need to have received it already in order to participate this coming July); The organ also needs to be working - if it is a kidney, the person can't be on dialysis. If you know of any living donors, please invite them to come. Also, if you are aware of any families that have donated a loved one's organs, please invite them as well.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please direct them to Diane Hagarty.

Save the Date: Next Meeting November 18

Bruce Hoffmaster has announced the date for the next Team Iowa meeting. It will be Sunday November 18 in Iowa City, with the location to be announced. Check back here, we'll post details about the time and location as they become available.

The cookbooks are in!

If you haven't heard, the "Life-from-Life, Team Iowa Cookbook" is done at the printer and ready for you. Our team mates are some fabulous cooks - and now you can enjoy fixing some of their favorite foods at your house. All proceeds benefit Team Iowa.

A big thanks to everyone who contributed recipes to this fundraising effort. Since February, Ardy, Jude and Cheryl have worked diligently gathering up recipes, editing them for the printer, finding sponsors and collecting donor tributes. The finished product is a treasure you'll want to keep handy in your kitchen. On its pages are some old standbys and some sensational new ideas to try.

The spiral-bound book includes 128 pages of recipes - more than 300 of them all together. You'll find go-to comfort foods like mac and cheese and hash brown casserole, delectable desserts, sumptuous slow-cooker meals, hearty stews and soups, irresistible appetizers, holiday party ideas, a section of renal diet- and diabetic friendly recipes, even a few crafts to make with your family ... the list of recipes you'll want to try goes on and on.

Sprinkled throughout the book are cooking and baking hints, menu suggestions, substitutions, and a few pearls of wisdom Ardy has collected through the years.

Reserve your copies today!

If you would like multiple copies to sell, contact Ardy at ardyth.Boucher@fmc-na.com

---

Order Form

Please include the following information with your order:

Name _____________________________________
Address _____________________________________
City _____________________________________
State _____________________________________
Zip _____________________________________

How many copies? _____________________________________

Price per book: $10
Shipping and handling: $5
Total per book: $15

Make checks payable to Team Iowa and mail, with the above information, to:

Jude Johnsrud
5924 Aspen Circle
Johnston, IA 50131

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Pampered Chef Fundraiser coming up

Midge Rollins is hosting a Pampered Chef Show to raise money for Team Iowa on October 18 at 7:00 pm. Enjoy a night of good food, good friends and great products all while benefiting Team Iowa.

"It is time to think about Christmas gifts and what would make a better Christmas gift than some great cooking products?" Midge asks. "We will all need great cookware to go along with our Team Iowa cookbooks, so come to the show, enjoy yourself and know that the money you spend on an item goes towards Team Iowa."

Or, order from home before 10/18

Can't make it but still want to place an order to benefit Team Iowa? Never fear! You can place an order online before October 18th. Here's how to place an online order that Team Iowa will get credit for:

• Visit the following website (you may need to copy and paste): http://www.pamperedchef.biz/shellyrollins?page=products-main
  
  
• At the top of the page, click the link that says "Our Products." 
  
  
• In the left column, click the purple button that says "HOW TO PURCHASE"
  
  
• You should now see a purple box that says "Order Pampered Chef Products"
  
  
• In the field where it says "Host's first name/organization" type "Team Iowa."
  
  
• Click the button that says "SEARCH FOR HOST"
  
  
• Click on the link to "Team Iowa Midge Rollins."
  
  
• Start shopping! On the left hand side of the page you'll find links to all items!

(For Team Iowa to get credit for your purchases, you need to sign in to the Pampered Chef site this way.)

"Pampered Chef products make wonderful gifts, and are just plain wonderful to have in your home," Midge says. "Team Iowa needs your support! What a great way to help the Team and get some great products to boot!"

Please RSVP or ask questions to Midge Rollins by October 13th. You can email Midge at jrollins43@msn.com .

Join the picnic August 18

The Cedar Rapids Transplant Support Group is having its annual picnic August 18. Dan extends an invitation to all Team Iowa Members.

"It would be nice if some Team Iowa members could attend. We miss you guys," he says. "We ask that everyone bring something," Dan says. Please let Dan or Noelle know what you are bringing.

The picnic will start at 4:00 at Thomas Park.

Directions: Thomas Park is in Marion, North East of Cedar Rapids. East of I-380. Take the Hwy 100, Collins Road NE exit, follow Collins Road East then 151 North. OR take the Blairs Ferry Rd. exit East toward the junction with 151, and turn right (South) on 151. The park address is 335 Marion Boulevard. Get a Yahoo Map to the Park.

Dan: (319)377-1674
Noelle: (319}202-5759

Kim's transplant story featured in UNOS newsletter

"My transplant story just made the UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) national newsletter," reports Kim Burdakin, liver transplant recipient, Muscatine, Iowa. The article recounts her story in her own words. Kim received her liver transplant on May 7, 2000 and has become an active donation advocate in the transplant community. She was recently appointed to the OPTN/UNOS Patient Affairs Committee. She also serves as an Iowa Donor Network volunteer and participates in the U.S. Transplant Games.

"Remember organ donation saves lives," she says.

Read Kim's story

Big news from Bill Klahn

Since nearly drowning trying to swim the 400 freestyle with everyone watching at the 2006 Games, Bill Klahn wanted to let people know that he swam in the Breadbasket Zone Championship swim meet at the end of April. Masters swimmers from nine states competed in the event.

"I won the 1650 yard freestyle (1 mile) plus took second place in the 50 breastroke, and third place in the 100 and 200 breastroke," he says. His winning mile time was 29:47.88, and he went a 37.99 in the 50 breaststroke, and a 1:30.30 in the 100 breast stroke.

But that's not his really big news.

"I had been writing back and forth to my donor's mother and I met her at the meet (Kathy was the one to finally talk me into having the courage to meet her). Neither of us really cried but it was an emotional experience just the same. She stayed there the whole event and talked to my dad and Dan while I was swimming.

"She was a really nice lady and I liked her a lot. She seems to have a lot of issues and I hope that I helped her heal some. It was not nearly as scary as I thought, and my fear of meeting her was unfounded," he said.

Bill and Dan handed out donor card pamphlets and quite a few people promised that they would send them in. "Plus we talked to a lot of people about organ donation, creating good will and helping them understand transplants," Bill adds.

"I just hope that they don't all think that recipients are all as nuts as Dan and I," he says.

The dynamic duo also attended the Senior Olympics the second week in June in West Des Moines, participating and handing out donor pamphlets. Next, Bill plans to swim in the Iowa Games in Ames, Iowa July 14 and 15. The swim meet will be held at Ames Municipal pool at 20th and Ridgewood. More information about the Iowa Games is available here: www.iowagames.org

If you would like to attend the Iowa Games to cheer Bill on, and help him hand out information about organ donation, you can email him at billybob2@mchsi.com or call 319/594-0469.

Fast facts about transplants in the US

Did you know that, as of June 1, 2007 96,285 people in the US were waiting for organ transplants? In 2006 28,934 transplants were performed. Of the transplants performed last year, more than 17,000 were kidney transplants.

More interesting facts about transplantation:

• 71,935 people are waiting for a kidney transplant
  
• 16,857 people are waiting for a liver transplant
  
• 1,677 people are waiting for a pancreas transplant
  
• 2,340 people are waiting for a kidney-pancreas transplant
  
• 2,751 people are waiting for a heart transplant
  
• 2,734 people are waiting for a lung transplant
  
• 119 people are waiting for a heart-lung transplant

Diane Hagarty has sent a full report from UNOS that includes more statistics about transplants in the US if you're interested in learning more. Click here for a pdf you can print, or use the link in the left column, under the "Things to Know" heading.

Your transplant story could win you a ride on a Rose Bowl Parade float

Astellas Pharma US, Inc. has once again partnered with Donate Life to participate in one of the most celebrated entertainment events in the world - the Tournament of Roses Parade. Astellas has launched its third annual Ride of a Lifetime contest, providing an opportunity for five transplant recipients to ride on the DonateLife float in the 2008 Rose Parade.

The contest asks that kidney, liver or heart transplant recipients share their inspirational stories, in an essay of 500 words or less. The essay should focus on how their life has been transformed by transplantation. An independent, third-party panel of judges, along with one Astellas representative, will select the five essay winners.

If selected, the transplant recipient who wrote the winning essay, plus one guest of their choice, will enjoy a five-night trip to California and have the opportunity to meet other recipients from around the country, work with the team to help build the float and attend special receptions. The transplant recipient will then ride on the Donate Life float in the Tournament of Roses Parade while their guest watches the Parade from a special viewing area for Donate Life friends and families.

Transplant recipients can submit their entry form and essay either online at www.TransplantExperience.com by 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 15, 2007 or via regular mail postmarked no later then June 15, 2007. The complete contest rules are available on the TransplantExperience.com website.

[Note from the Editor: This contest is only open to liver, kidney or heart transplant recipients who are currently taking Prograf® (tacrolimus) capsules, and who are legal U.S. residents and 13 years of age or older. You also must be
"physically able to stand for at least four hours," according to the rules. The essays will be judged based on: (1) readability; (2) the compelling nature of the story; and (3) the degree of transformation as a result of transplantation. One winner per geographical region (Northeast, Southeast, Mid-America, Great Lakes and Western) will be selected. ]

Iowa Transplant Open Golf Tournament set for June 2!

The Iowa Transplant Open Golf Tournament, tees off at 1:00 Saturday June 2, 2007 at the Geneva Golf and Country Club in Muscatine. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m., tee off is at 1:00 p.m. and a dinner reception follows at 6:30 p.m. Part of the funds will help Team Iowa members participate in the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games.

The event includes contests and prizes, sponsorship opportunities, silent and live auctions and special guests.

For complete information, please read the flyer. More information and a registration form are available in the Iowa Transplant Open brochure.

Managers Report:

I hope everyone is having a good spring and hard at work with fund-raising as well as fun-raising.

Some members have expressed an interest in a team meeting. After discussion with Diane and the Executive Committee it was decided to hold off on a meeting until we have more concrete direction to share with you from NKF nationally. Meantime, we wanted to find more than one way (besides meetings and emails) to keep you updated on WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH TEAM IOWA so Cheryl Rainford has been so kind as to set up this "BLOG" website.

If you have something you would like to share, send it to Diane or me and we will ask Cheryl to place it on the Blog. Once you have checked the Blog out remember to continue to check the site for new information or to review information that was previously submitted.

On another note Mike Fox has agreed to be Assistant Team Manger and Jim Rollins and Jon Dreibelbis (Cheryl Rainford's better half) have agreed to be Transplant Games Sports Venue Site Mangers for the next games. We're putting together a great team for '08 and even though we are all guys I think we can handle it. Please thank Mike, Jim and Jon for volunteering.

GO TEAM IOWA!
Bruce Hoffmaster, Team Manager

Welcome to the team's new Website!

If you take a look around here's what you'll find:

* Information about upcoming events

* Contact information for Bruce Hoffmaster (Team Manager), Mike Fox (Secretary), and Diane Hagarty (NKF Iowa)

* Forms you might need to use

* How to earn scholarship points

* Links to the NKF website and the Transplant Games website

* A link to the 2006 results and photos

* A link to the 2006 Transplant Games Highlights Video on You Tube

The goal of the site is to build a sense of team spirit and community, and to create a single place for
you to get all the information you need to feel "up to speed" on Team Iowa happenings 24/7.

We're hoping the website will also be a place to share joyful announcements about teammates, requests for
well wishes for teammates needing support, photos, fundraising success stories, requests for volunteers
to help with fundraisers, information about upcoming events and more.

If you have a message you'd like posted on the site, simply email it to Bruce Hoffmaster (bhoffmaster@mercydesmoines.org) or Diane Hagarty (dhagarty@kidneyia.org). They will screen messages before they are posted on the site.

As we get closer to the 2008 Games, make sure to check here often to stay up to date with the latest information about meetings, deadlines and registration.

Dave Luallin honored by Iowa Donor Network

Team Iowa's own Dave Luallin was honored Saturday night by the Iowa Donor Network (IDN), at a Gala Fundraiser in Coralville, Iowa. Many members of Team Iowa were present for the ceremony.

Dave has been an active supporter and volunteer for Iowa Donor Network since his wife Lillian received a kidney eight years ago. As a team, Dave and Lil would volunteer at every donor awareness event they could to show their appreciation for the gift of life Lil received from Holly Nelson, the teenage girl they have always called Lil's "special angel."

Over the past few years, Dave has taken the driver's education classes in Central Iowa by storm. Dave has shared Lil's illness and transplant story with thousands of highschool students each year. Over the last three years, Dave has logged in more than 350 hours of volunteering and traveling for Iowa Donor Network while working a full-time job with the U.S. Postal Service, and caring for his wife Lil as her health declined in recent months.

Sadly, Lil passed away the day before Thanksgiving last year, waiting for a second kidney transplant. Dave has recently been experiencing some serious health problems of his own.

Unable to attend the ceremony in his honor because he was in the hospital, his daughter Rachel accepted the award on Dave's behalf. She briefly relayed Dave's gratitude for the award. Paul Sodders, Public Affairs Manager for IDN, then praised Dave's committment to educating teenagers, and challenged each member of the audience to reach out to three people to ask them to consider becoming organ donors, something Dave has done in hundreds of driver's ed classes. Sodders also pointed out that in a typical year all of IDN's volunteers together log about 450 hours, so Dave has singlehandedly logged nearly a year's worth of work in just three years.

Also honored, for their contributions toward advancing organ donation policy, were former Governor Tom Vilsack and Sheldon Kurtz, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law.

Iowa Donor Network is a non-profit organization that operates as the primary contact for organ, tissue and eye donation services for the state of Iowa. Iowa Donor Network also serves as the tissue recovery agency for the state.

Iowans can consent to organ, tissue and eye donation prior to death by joining the Iowa Donor Registry (www.IowaDonorRegistry.org).

Plant a tree for strength and continued life 4/29 with the Gerlachs

Team Iowa members are invited to the 13th Annual Tree Planting Ceremony behind St. Patrick's Church rectory in Delmar, Ia on Sunday, April 29th, 2007 at 2pm.

The New Hope Support Group from Delmar has sponsored a tree planting for 13 years. This event dedicates the planting of a tree to families who make a decision to donate organs and tissue. The tree serves as a symbol of strength and continued life.

Ruth and Ken Gerlach are members of this support group and have donated the tree for this year's ceremony.

If you have any questions or directions to Delmar, please contact Ruth or Ken at 563-574-4304.

Be an advocate: Sign up to help NKF shape public policy

Dear team members,

You can make a difference in the lives of people with kidney disease!

The National Kidney Foundation is expanding its advocacy efforts to include an exciting new e-advocacy program aimed at helping you to shape public policy on behalf of kidney disease patients, transplant recipients and their families, and stay informed about legislative developments.

Sign-up today to receive email alerts about key legislative priorities of the NKF.

You can sign-up by clicking HERE ( http://capwiz.com/kidney/mlm/signup/?ignore_cookie=1 ).

Once you sign up, we will send you periodic alerts with background information on key issues, and also provide a sample letter that you can personalize and send to your Member of Congress with the click of a button.

Please help build our advocacy network by asking your friends and family to join you. They too can sign-up at the link above or by clicking here: http://capwiz.com/kidney/mlm/signup/?ignore_cookie=1. The more committed advocates we have, the louder and more effective our voices will be to influence decision makers.

We will be sending our first alert in the next two weeks as a culmination of our National Kidney Month activities, so sign up today.

Let your voice be heard! You can make a difference in the lives of millions of people with kidney disease with your actions!

If you have any questions, contact:
Jayne Mardock, Congressional Relations Director jaynem@kidney.org
Paul Jacxsens, National Advocacy Manager, paulj@kidney.org


Diane L. Hagarty, M.B.A.
Executive Director
National Kidney Foundation of Iowa
701 10th Street SE, Suite 3614
P.O. Box 1364
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-1364
Phone: 319/369-4474
Toll Free: 800/369-3619
Fax: 319/369-4419
dhagarty@kidneyia.org

2008 Team Iowa Scholarship Requirements

2008 Team Iowa Scholarship Requirements

Each U.S. Transplant Games, Team Iowa’s goal is to raise enough money to pay for the basic expenses of going to the Games. These basic expenses include travel, a hotel room and registration fees. In addition, the Team raises money to pay for uniforms which are required to be a part of Team Iowa along with trading pins. Team Iowa distributes the money to the athletes based on a point system which is described below.

The full scholarship check amount will be finalized when the National Kidney Foundation’s national office releases the costs for the Games. For the 2008 Games these amounts should be available late in the fall of 2007. The Teams ability to award scholarships is based solely on the amount of money raised. Scholarship checks will not cover all listed expenses if there is not enough money available from the fund raising.

Each athlete must earn 150 points to receive a full scholarship from the Team. Points are earned in each of the following categories: Meeting Team Deadlines, Attending Team Meetings and Fund Raising / Volunteer Work. You must earn the total possible points listed in EACH category to qualify for a full scholarship.

You can not use excess points in one category to make up for a shortage in another category.

Deadlines

Total Possible Points = 30. Athletes receive 10 points for meeting each of the following Team deadlines.
4/1/2008** – Deadline to be registered for the Games.
6/1/2008** – Deadline to turn in the original of your Medical Waiver to the Team Manager.
6/1/2008** – Deadline to turn in your uniform order, money for fund raising or money for any non-scholarship uniform items.
** These dates may be adjusted once the NKF national office releases their deadlines. Note that Team Iowa’s deadlines will be earlier than the US Transplant Games posted deadlines.

Meeting Attendance

Total Possible Points = 30. Athletes receive 10 points for each meeting attended. Be aware that the last meeting before the Games is required attendance for all athletes so no points are awarded for attending this meeting.

Fund Raising/Volunteer Work

Total Possible Points = 90. Athletes can meet this requirement by either raising money or volunteer work promoting organ and tissue donation. A combination of fund raising and volunteer work can be used to earn points in this category.

Donations - Athletes will receive 1 point for every $10 raised in donations and turned in to the Team by June 1, 2008. This applies to donations that are not associated with a Team Iowa fund raising event.

Organizing a Fund Raiser – Total Possible Points per Event = 10. Athletes who organize a fund raiser will receive 1 point for every $100 dollars raised by the event after any expenses. Organizers of an event will also earn points for time spent working the day of the event. All Team Iowa events must be approved by the National Kidney Foundation of Iowa at least 1 month prior to the scheduled date of the event.

2008 Team Iowa Scholarship Requirements (continued)

Organizing a Fund Raiser (continued) - Contact the Team Manager to get the required form to get your event approved. These events and the accompanying paperwork and money must be completed prior to June 1, 2008 to receive credit towards the 2008 US Transplant Games.

Athletes Volunteering at a Fund Raiser or Other Activity - Athletes who volunteer at another persons fund raiser will receive credit based on the number of hours spent working at the event. Any athlete who does volunteer work to promote organ and tissue donation or volunteer at an activity organized by some one else will receive 1 point for each hour of work. Activities outside of Team Iowa must promote organ and tissue donation such as volunteer work for the National Kidney Foundation, the Iowa Donor Network or speaking to driver’s education classes. If you’re not sure if your activity qualifies contact the Team Manager BEFORE arranging the activity. Some exceptions to this way to earn points are listed below. If other exceptions arise everyone will be notified prior to the event. Each Team Iowa event will have a sign in/out sheet to keep track of hours volunteered. You must complete this sheet to earn credit for the event. A Volunteer Credit form must be completed for all volunteer work done outside of Team Iowa. This sheet must be completed and turned in to the Team Manager by June 1, 2008 to receive credit.

Family or Friends Volunteering at Fund Raisers or Other Activity – Family or friends of athletes will earn points for the athlete only if the athlete isn’t able to be at the event themselves. Activities outside of Team Iowa must promote organ and tissue donation such as volunteer work for the National Kidney Foundation, the Iowa Donor Network or speaking to driver’s education classes. If you’re not sure if your activity qualifies contact the Team Manager BEFORE arranging the activity. Each Team Iowa event will have a sign in/out sheet to keep track of hours volunteered. You must complete this sheet to earn credit for the event. A Volunteer Credit form must be completed for all volunteer work done outside of Team Iowa. This sheet must be completed and turned in to the Team Manager by June 1, 2008 to receive credit.

Bake Sales – People who provide items to sell at a bake sale will receive 1 point for every $10 of goods provided. To receive this credit the items MUST be priced BEFORE bringing them to the sale and you MUST record the total dollars of the items provided on the Sign in/out sheet. Items also MUST be priced in accordance with the pricing guidelines provided by the bake sale organizer. You must follow all 3 of these requirements to receive credit for goods brought to the bake sale. Credit will also be given for people who volunteer at a bake sale according to the guidelines listed above.

Catalog Type Sales – Athletes will earn 1 point for every $10 of net sales. Net means the price of the items minus the cost of the items. For example, if an item is sold for $25 but our cost is $12 the athlete will get credit for $13 ($25-$12) not $25. You will get credit for items you order for yourself or people living in the same household after you have $50 of net sales to people outside your household.

Uniforms & Trading Pins – Uniforms are required to be a member of Team Iowa and must be ordered from the Team. The point system will be used to determine how much of the uniform cost will be covered by the Team. People who earn 150 points will have their uniforms provided at no cost. Any athlete who earns less than 150 points will have a percentage of the cost of the uniforms covered by the Team. For example, if an athlete has only earned 90 points by June 1, 2008 then 60% (90/150) of the cost will be covered by the Team and the balance will have to be paid by the athlete. Uniform costs will not be known until some time in 2008.
Dollars will not be rounded in determining how many points have been earned. For example, if you brought $26 worth of items to a bake sale you will be awarded 2 points not 3.

We realize this seems like a lot of details and rules. Our goal was to put in writing the requirements so everyone could clearly understand what they get credit for and what is required to earn that credit. If you have any questions please contact the Team Manger or anyone on the Team Iowa Committee.

Recipes needed for Team Iowa Cookbook

Anyone with a favorite recipe or a family secret recipe (or several) they would like to share, please email it to Ardy. She and her cohorts are compiling recipes for a Team Iowa cookbook that will be a fundraiser for the team. Ardy, Jude and Cheryl will be starting work on the cookbook on Monday, February 12, so please get your recipes to Ardy soon!

Ardy's email is Ardyth.Boucher@fmc-na.com

2006 U.S. Transplant Games photo prints & specialty gifts

Professional photos of the Games' events and activities are now available online to view, order prints and create specialty products and gifts. You can order prints in multiple sizes and finishes or memorabilia such as photo puzzles, mouse pads, refrigerator magnets, coasters and much more! Visit http://nkf.smugmug.com to get started.