Maps for race courses are now available

NKF has posted the 5K road race course map on the Transplant Games website. The latest version includes the 1 and 2 mile splits. Maps for the 5K and 20K cycling events have also been posted. All the latest event information is available at this address:

http://www.kidney.org/news/tgames/usgames/sportsInfo.cfm

NKF Iowa office was evacuated in Cedar Rapids flooding

Our office is at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids. It was evacuated last Thursday and is still not accessible. We will try to work from home until we can return to the office. We are still able to access emails - thank goodness! It will be approximately two weeks before the hospital thinks we can return. But that is uncertain.

Yes, the building was flooded. This also effected the phones and phone mail system.

The good news is, uniforms and lapel pins have been ordered, registrations confirmed, and hotels reserved, so we are in good shape for the Games. If you need to reach us with questions regarding the Games, you may call Shelley at home 563-852-3782 or send an email. We will do our best to help you as time allows, but we beg your patience.

Any team members without housing or with any needs due to the widespread flooding across the state should please notify Bruce
Hoffmaster.

Please just pray for all of the people that have been displaced from their homes.

Diane and Shelley

Next Team Meeting Slated for June 28 in Amana; Uniforms; Waivers Etc.

Dear Team Iowa,

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY – We are two months away from the Games and I need each of you to be informed of what is going on.

1. NEXT TEAM MEETING – This will be on Saturday, June 28th at Holiday Inn (Wasserbahn Waterpark) at the Amama Exit # 225 off I-80. We will be in the upstairs meeting room. There is no elevator, so if this is a problem for somebody with mobility issues, please email me and we will make other arrangements. Meeting will begin at 10:00 and end at noon. Muffins, cinnamon rolls, and beverages will be served at the beginning of the meeting. Purpose of meeting: Hand out scholarship checks, hand out uniforms, finalize details for the Games. IT IS EXPECTED THAT EACH FAMILY WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE MEMBER IN ATTENDANCE!

2. MEDICAL WAIVERS – At this time, we are waiting on medical waivers from 13 athletes and have received 17 medical waivers. Last Friday, May 9th, I emailed those athletes we still needed waivers from. Reminder – Deadline is May 23rd to get turned into Bruce Hoffmaster. Don’t wait until the last minute in case there is a problem with your waiver that needs corrected.

3. UNIFORMS – Those of you who attended the last meeting got a preview of our uniforms. This year we will have sports-specific uniforms. Our colors this year are Kelly green (color of organ donation), white and black. The logo is the little organ people (each one has a different organ cut-out – heart, lung, pancreas, and kidney). This year, most of the uniforms choices are available in men’s, women’s, and youth sizes:

a. Swimmers – robe and beach towel; swim cap (these are all one-size fits all)
b. Golfers – White with black trim polo shirt and choice of hat or visor (all men so only men’s polo sizes)
c. Cyclers – custom shirt designed by Cheryl Rainford’s husband (Thanks Jon!) – these are already ordered
d. Track and Field – running shorts and tank top – men’s, womens, and youth sizes; choice of hat or visor – adult and child sizes
e. Bowlers – Green and white polo shirt – mens and womens sizes
f. Table Tennis – polo shirt – mens and womens sizes
g. Basketball – running shorts and tank top – all men so only men’s sizes
h. Volleyball – NO TEAM THIS YEAR – people signed up for volleyball have already been notified of this decision
i. Opening Ceremony – Athletes, donor families and living donors – warm up suit (Pants and jacket) and tee-shirt
j. Opening Ceremony – spectators – Tee-Shirt and warm up jacket; choice of hat or visor
k. Closing Ceremony – everybody will wear a tee-shirt and their warm up jacket from opening ceremony
l. Everybody – tee shirts to wear on Sat, Sun, Mon, and Tues (when not competing or attending above events)
m. Optional – For those people who have exceeded their fundraising requirements for a full scholarship, options will be discussed on an individual basis for uniform add-ons.
n. Optional – for those who have not exceeded their fundraising requirements for a full scholarship – you will have the option of purchasing additional uniform items – hat, visor, polo shirt, sweatshirt, long-sleeve tee shirt, etc. These options will be discussed on an individual basis for uniform add-ons.
o. NOTE: Tee shirts are available from infant up to men’s size 6xl; warm up jackets and pants are in youth (smallest is size 6/8); women’s and men’s up to 3xl.

4. UNIFORM ORDERS – Beginning on Wednesday May 21 through Friday May 23, Diane Hagarty, Shelley Knepper, and Laurie Fox will be contacting each family to discuss your uniform items and finalize our order. We want to be able to finalize the order over Memorial Day weekend.
Prior to May 21, please have this information determined and handy:

a. Names of everybody in your family attending the Games
b. Please know if attendees are living donors, athletes, donor family members, or just spectators
c. Please know what sports each athlete is participating in – remember you must have permission from your doctor for each sport you want to be in and have included it on your medical waiver
d. Please know your family member’s sizes – I would suggest that you actually measure each person’s chest, waist, and hips, (and inseams for athletes, living donors, and donor family members) and write these down so that we can best match sizes with measurements.
e. For those who will want to purchase additional items, costs are:
i. Hat or visor = $15
ii. Tee-shirt (white or grey) = $10
iii. Tee shirt (Kelly green) = $15
iv. Polo Shirt = $30
v. Jacket or pants (from warm up suit) = $40 each item
vi. Robe = $40
vii. Beach towel = $25
viii. Running Shorts = $20
ix. Tank tops = $20
x. Sweatshirts = $30
xi. Long sleeve tee shirts(white, grey) = $15
xii. Long sleeve tee shirts (Kelly green) = $20
xiii. PLEASE NOTE – advance payment will be required for any additional items purchased, THANK YOU.

5. TRANSPORTATION - When you are called about uniforms, you will be asked to make a final decision about transportation. We will need to know the names of your family members taking the bus and where they are getting on the bus – Des Moines, Grinnell, North Liberty (by Iowa City) or the Quad Cities. So, please have your travel plans finalized this week. Remember, the bus is free. If you choose not to take the bus and you plan to drive or fly – your scholarship will not cover your cost for either of these options. Parking at the hotel is going to cost approximately $20 each day.

6. HOTELS – we have now been able to reserve enough rooms that the entire team can be in one hotel. Individual room assignments have not been made for some people, but rest assured that we have enough rooms in the Team Iowa block to cover everybody. We will discuss this when we call next week.

OVERALL – We have two months left to get ready – this is where “the rubber hits the road”. You need to make final decisions about the Games – your travel plans, who is attending, what sports you are approved for, uniform sizes, etc. We really need you to be prepared so when we call you, you can have in mind the answers to our questions about uniforms and transportation.

If you have questions about your medical waivers, contact Bruce Hoffmaster. Email: bhoffmaster@mercydesmoines.org or phone 515-643-5288.
Any other questions? Email dhagarty@kidneyia.org.

Reminder: Shelley and Diane have a large fundraising event in Des Moines on May 18 and 19, we will be leaving the office on Friday, May 16 and will not return until Wednesday, May 21. We will not be dealing with Team Iowa issues during this time. Thanks for understanding.

GO TEAM IOWA,
Diane

Transplant Open slated for May 31 in Muscatine

The Iowa Transplant Open Golf Tournament is coming up. Slate for Saturday May 31, 2008 at the Geneva Golf and Country Club in Muscatine, Iowa, the event is one of Team Iowa's largest fundraisers. Gary Dolphin, "The Voice of the Hawkeyes" will be the emcee and honored guest. Registration starts at 11:00. The tournament begins with a shotgun start at 1:00. A dinner reception with silent and live auctions follows the event, at 6:30.

Learn how to participate as a golfer or sponsor:

2008 Transplant Open Flyer

2008 Transplant Open Registration Form

Informal Meeting April 19 at the Wasserbahn in Amana

Dear Team Iowa members:

If you have questions about the games, medical waivers, transportation, uniforms, housing, or other aspects of this year's trip to the US Transplant Games, THIS IS FOR YOU:

WHAT
an informal, NON-REQUIRED meeting for Team Iowa Members:

WHEN
Saturday, April 19
Beginning at 10am and lasting no longer than 2 hours.

WHERE
Wasserbahn Holiday Inn
Exit 225 off I-80 (Amana Exit)
In the upstairs meeting room.
(There is no elevator access to that room. If this poses a mobility problem for anyone, please call our office at 800-369-3619 to make other arrangements.)

WHAT TO EXPECT
We will serve cinnamon rolls, coffee, and juice at 10am.
We will have samples of some uniform items available in limited sizes for your review.
We will discuss the Team Bus schedule

WHAT TO BRING
YOUR QUESTIONS! This is an opportunity to have the conversations you need to make everything clear for the upcoming trip.

GO TEAM IOWA!

Program offers financial help for living donor expenses

If you know someone who is considering becoming a living organ donor (kidney, lung, liver) the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) may be able to pay for up to $6,000 of the living donor's (and his or her companions) travel and lodging expenses.

More information is available here on the website livingdonorassistance.org

Bruce Hoffmaster notes that interested people should contact their Transplant Center immediately because it is a prospective payment not a reimbursement payment for costs incurred.

"The timing of their application is critical. People should talk to their transplant center to make sure the center has registered for the program and ask the center about the means test that is applied to applicants to qualify," Hoffmaster says.

Action Alert! Law would extend Medicare drug coverage post transplant

Tell your Senator to support S.2320, extending immunosuppressive drug coverage

NKF is encouraging members of Team Iowa to help build support for legislation that would extend Medicare coverage for life-saving immunosuppressive drugs for the life of the kidney transplant. If passed, patients could continue to receive these drugs under Medicare Part B with the usual premium.

This is a big step forward to preserve the life of kidney transplants.Organ transplant recipients must take immunosuppressive drugs for the life of the transplant to prevent the body from rejecting the organ.

Currently, Medicare pays for most kidney transplants but covers drugs for only 36 months after the transplant as part of the Medicare ESRD benefit. After that, kidney recipients must pay for immunosuppressive drugs through private insurance, public or pharmaceutical programs or pay out-of-pocket (Medicare covers drugs without a time limit if the patient qualifies because of age or disability status).

Immunosuppressive drugs are expensive, but the alternative is even more costly. Medicare spends $17,300 per patient to maintain a transplant, but if the kidney transplant fails, the person returns to dialysis at a cost of over $68,600 per year to Medicare. And because dialysis is physically draining, quality of life often suffers too.

Similar legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives, and Take Action volunteers sent over 1100 letters of support in August and September. Now we need your help to build Senate support for this important legislation.

Read the full text of the proposed legislation here: S. 2320

NKF is encouraging you to write your Senators to ask them to co-sponsor S. 2320. Share your story, or the story of a loved one, about the experience with immunosuppressive drug coverage.

Athletes double check your chosen events!

Dear Team Iowa Athletes,

Thank you for getting registered before the Early Bird Registration deadline yesterday. I am going to list each sport (as a broad category) and those athletes signed up; please review this list and report any corrections you think need to be made. If you wish more specific information about the sports you have registered for, please email me dhagarty@kidneyia.org and let me know what it is you want know – I’ll be happy to furnish additional information.

If you have signed up for a team sport – specifically basketball or volleyball – and you change your mind and do NOT want to participate, it is extremely important that you let us know you are dropping off that team.

Basketball – Nick Titus, Chad Breen, Dan Fitzgerald, Jordan Terrell, Bill Klahn, and Travis Burke

Bowling – Howard Plante, Robby Delzell, Ardy Boucher, Kim Burdakin, Kin Gerlach, Jon Kiser, Autrey Marley, Kathy Miller, Jenni Schreurs, LaVonne Card,
Brandon Dunham, Barb Steele, Jim Steinberg, Angela Boone and Travis Burke.

Cycling – Howard Plante, Cheryl Rainford and John Wright.

Golf – Kelly Gay, David Gutz, Doug Steward, and Don Burman.

Swimming – Brandon Dunham, Cheryl Rainford, Bill Klahn, Kelly Gay, John Greller and John Wright.

Table Tennis – Don Burman, Midge Rollins, Doug Stewart and Paula Wood.

Volleyball – Travis Burke, Chad Breen, Dan Fitzgerald, Terrell Jordan, Bill Klahn, Autrey Marley and Kelly Van Dyke.

Track and Field – Kim Burdakin, David Gutz, Terrell Jordan, LaVonne Card, Linda McGhee, Brandon Dunham, Jim Steinberg, Ken Gerlach, Kathy Miller and Nick Titus.

5K Walk/Run for Organ Donation – Cheryl Rainford, Midge Rollins, Linda McGhee, LaVonne Card, Barb Steele, Kim Burdakin, Ardy Boucher, Jon Kiser,
Jim Steinberg, and John Wright.


GO TEAM IOWA!

Thanks, Diane

Early bird registration is over! Tips for medical waivers

Early Bird registration is over and we have a total of 31 athletes registered for Team Iowa at this time – a total of 101 people counting everybody that is currently registered.

At Bruce Hoffmaster’s request, we need to review the information for medical waivers:

At the time you registered, you should have received a medical waiver via email. If you didn’t get one, you can download one by going to our blog:
teamiowankf.blogspot.com
and scrolling down slightly – on the left you will see “forms and things to know” – the top item is the 2008 medical waiver. Just click on it and print.

(1) If you need help getting a medical waiver, please email us at dhagarty@kidneyia.org and tell us you need one printed and mailed to you.
(2) The form cannot be filled out before March 11, 2008.
(3) You must complete the form and return it to Bruce Hoffmaster before May 23rd. (On the form it says to return to team manager by June 11, 2008 – however, our team Iowa deadline is to return to Bruce by May 23rd.)

When completing the medical waiver, you MUST follow these rules and make sure these things are done correctly:

(1) Print in blue or black ink.
(2) Athlete completes the first portion of the form –
a. Last name
b. First name
c. Date of birth
d. Organ(s) transplanted
e. Date of last transplant
f. Donor type
g. Athlete’s address, city, state, zip
h. For country – all of us will put USA
i. Answer the question about allergies and bee sting allergies
j. You must furnish a contact name with related contact information – this needs to be somebody NOT attending the Games with you
k. List all prescription and non-prescription meds with dosages – I would suggest you type these on a separate sheet and attach to your waiver
l. List the athletic events you have registered to compete in
(3) The physician completes the next part of the form – (remember physician is a licensed medical doctor familiar with your medical situation – it does NOT have to be your transplant surgeon. It can NOT be a dentist, chiropractor, etc. It MUST be a medical doctor.)
a. Physician must mark (A), (B) or (C)
b. The physician must answer the question about your general health – either “Yes” or “No”
c. The physician must record your blood pressure and answer question about diabetic
d. Physician has the option to describe any other health issues and/or special needs
e. Physician MUST enter either Letter (A), (B), or (C) – the same letter that they marked previously (see #3a above)
f. Physician must enter date of your last physical exam
g. Physician must sign and date, enter pager and fax #
h. Physician must Print name, address, city, state and zip.
(4) Before leaving the physician’s office, please take a moment to sit in the waiting room and use this checklist to be sure that everything has been completed and that it is accurate
(5) Before mailing in your form, you MUST keep a copy of it for your own records. (Things get lost in the mail)
(6) Completed forms must be mailed to

Bruce Hoffmaster, Transplant Social Worker
Mercy Medical Center
1111 – 6th Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50314-2611

It would be a good idea to email Bruce at bhoffmaster@mercydesmoines.org or give Bruce a call at 515-643-5288 and tell him the date you are mailing the form – so he will be watching for it.

(7) Once Bruce receives the forms, he must check each item listed above to be sure that these items have been filled out and are accurate.
(8) As soon after May 23rd as he can, Bruce will bundle all Team Iowa medical waivers and send to NKF National certified mail. He will also keep a Xerox copy for his records.

PLEASE NOTE: Periodically, (Between now and May 23rd) I will send out a team email and update everybody on the status of their waivers.
Prior to May 23rd, you may receive an email from NKF National telling you that they have not received your medical waiver yet.
Do not let that bother you – Bruce will be submitting all waivers in one package after May 23rd and before June 11th.

Once national NKF receives the waivers, they also check every item mentioned above.
Failure to accurately and timely complete and submit your waiver can result in disqualification in the Games.
We don’t want that to happen to any of our athletes.

FINAL HINTS: Please, Please ask for help; double-check your waiver before you send it in; don’t wait until the last minute to send it to Bruce; keep a copy for your own records; and make sure that you use this as a check-list – both for the information you filled in and the information your physician filled in.

Bruce and I are here to help you,

GO TEAM IOWA!

Thanks, Diane

Update #23: PJ's transplant, Survey deadline March 12

Dear Team Iowa members,

Our computers/emails are back up and running again (I hope). I have several things to talk about today.

(1) PJ Wyatt – Many of you on this list know PJ. He has been an avid basketball player on our team for the past couple of Games. PJ lives in Cedar Rapids and is a schoolteacher. Recently, his kidney failed. On Monday, February 25, 2008 he received a new kidney at the U of I. If anybody would like to send him a card, he is staying at his mom’s at 514 – 15th Avenue N., Clinton, IA 52732. His mother has asked all of us to say a prayer for the donor family and their loss. From the whole team – “PJ, we wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you at the 2010 Games on the Basketball court.”

(2) Survey Monkey. If you are getting this email from me, you should have received a message from Shelley Knepper to complete a survey via survey monkey. The first question on this survey is “do you plan to attend the 2008 U. S. Transplant Games.” You need to answer “yes” or “no.” If you answer “no,” that is the end of your survey. If you answer “yes”, you need to complete the rest of the survey – letting us know your travel plans, # people coming with you to the Games, team sports you wish to participate in, uniform sizes, etc. WE NEED EVERYBODY TO ANSWER THIS SURVEY BY NEXT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12th.

We are trying to finalize plans for the bus, the hospitality suite, an opening party and a closing party for the team, uniforms, team sports, whether or not we need to try to add more rooms to our hotel block, etc. We can’t make plans that include you in our count if we don’t hear from you.

Beginning Monday, March 17th, we will only communicate with the people who are planning to go to the Games. If you want to continue to receive important updates, you must answer the survey and let us know your intentions.

(3) HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
(4) GO TEAM IOWA!

--Diane

Update #22: Computers down, 5K/Race Walk confusion

Please remember that our computers and emails at the NKF of Iowa office will be going down at 9:30 a.m. (Wednesday) and I don’t know when they will come back up – I will email you again when we are back in business.

Below is a message that I received Wednesday morning from National regarding the 5K event at the Games and the differentiation between athletes participating and non-athletes participating. Please read this – if you have questions, let me know after I have email again.

Managers:

The 5K at the Games is actually two events conducted concurrently. The first is a road race, which is one of the twelve sports that are being organized for transplant recipients ("Athletes") competing in the Games. The second is a run/walk for organ, eye and tissue donation awareness, which is open to all other Games participants ("Non-Athletes") and the general public.

Athletes register for the "5K Road Race" as one of the competition options in the Sports section of their registration. There is no additional charge to participate in this event and, as stated in the Upgrades section of the Athlete's registration, the public 5K Race t-shirt is not included. However, this t-shirt can be purchased as an upgrade for an additional $8.

Non-Athletes register for the "5K Race for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation Awareness" in the Upgrades section of the online registration and pay a fee of $15 thru June 5th (or $20 on race day). This fee includes a 5K t-shirt.

Update #21: NKF Iowa computers down, Notes about the Games, Golf Tournament Auction items needed

For Your Information – the NKF of Iowa office has been having some computer problems. We are having an IT consultant in our office today Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Our computer system will go down approximately 9:30 a.m. – and when it comes back up, nobody knows. So, I would suggest that you DO NOT email us until I send out another update and assure you that we are back up and running. If you send us emails before notification that we are back in business, you risk that we will never get the message. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

I want to commend most of you! Many of you have navigated the on-line registration system and successfully registered and made your hotel reservation within our Team Iowa block of rooms. Congratulations! Some of you have contacted the NKF of Iowa office and requested help with registration – we have already registered several of you this way. For the rest of you….. Please do not procrastinate. Early bird registration runs through the month of March – until March 31st. We need all of you to register by then to avoid extra registration fees and penalties. Please, please get on-line and attempt to register. If you need help, give us a call or email us to set up a time for us to take your registration over the phone. You do not need to come to the office to do this – we can easily handle this over the phone. We are here to help you in any way we can. If you have registration questions, please ask them – you know what they say, “the only dumb questions are the ones you don’t ask.”

Updates from National regarding the Games:

(1) CHILDREN'S COMPETITIONS AT THE GAMES

As a general rule, athletes will compete by gender in the following age
groups: 17-and-under, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and
70 and over. This means that children may participate in virtually every competition being contested at the Games. Due to the popularity of badminton, bowling, table tennis and certain events in swimming and track and field with children, we have subdivided the 17-and-under category into the following age groups for these events: 2-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17. In addition, we will conduct special competitions specifically for younger children (14-and-under), including the 1K in Cycling (rather than the 5K), 25m freestyle in Swimming (rather than the 50m) and 50m dash in Track and Field (rather than the 100m).

While actual event times are subject to change, every effort has been made to arrange a schedule that will allow children to participate in Kids' Time activities and youth competitions.

(2) SPORTS RULES & FORMATS: For additional details regarding 2008 Games sports rules and formats, please visit http://www.kidney.org/news/tgames/usgames/pdf/2008RulesDraft.pdf.

(3) 2008 MEDICAL WAIVER FORM
The 2008 Medical Form has been posted on the Team Managers' Resource Page. Please be sure that the form is filled out in its entirety for each athlete so that they can be accepted and approved. Most common reasons for returned medical waivers are:

* Physician's approval is more than four months prior to the event. (Prior to March 11th for this year's Games)

* Missing Blood Pressure
* Missing indication of athlete being/not being diabetic
* Missing indication by the Doctor of the athlete's level of clearance for in the Games (marking A, B, or C)
* Physician did not sign and/or date the form


(4) STAR SEARCH (AUDITION TAPES) - LAST CALL
It's not too late to submit tapes/cd's/performance materials to us!!! We have extended the deadline for all talent submissions to Friday, March 7, 2008.

We are currently 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 such as the Donor Recognition Ceremony and Living Donor Recognition Event being held as a part of the NKF 2008 U.S. Transplant Games. Please encourage your most talented team members and/or family members to send an audio or video audition tape
to:

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

Tell your team members "YOU CAN BE A STAR AT THE GAMES!!!!" Any questions can be directed to verenah@kidney.org.

(5) ATTENDEE PROFILES
It is important for us to receive interesting athlete, living donor and donor stories, which allow us to "put a face" on organ donation, transplantation and the Games. Please ask your team members to submit their profiles on the Games Web site. They could be selected to be featured in a Games media story and/or the program's home page. They can simply go to www.transplantgames.org
click on athlete, living donor or donor family profile form (above rotating photos).

That’s all that is new news from National.

FROM TEAM IOWA STAFF AND VOLUNTEER MANAGERS:

(1) SURVEYS
Shelley has reported that less than one-half of you have completed the survey sent to you via survey monkey. Please, within the next couple of days – meaning this week – get this survey completed. You know what they say, “we are only as strong as our weakest link.” We need each of you to do your small part so that we can take care of the big picture for the team. We are trying to form teams, match up bowling partners, acquire uniform size needs, organize the bus, etc. and we need your help to do all of this.

(2) ITO AUCTION ITEMS
Some of your fellow team members that live in and around Muscatine will be holding the second annual Iowa Transplant Open Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 31st. They are asking for your help. Can any of you secure auction items?

Some ideas: a team member living in Dubuque could get an overnight stay at the Dubuque Hotel with the indoor waterpark and a gift certificate from Pizza Hut. These two items could be packaged together and sold as a weekend getaway to Dubuque for a family.

A team Iowa member that lives in Des Moines could do the same sort of thing – think of places that a visitor might want to go – ask them to donate tickets – add a night or two at a hotel and some restaurant gift certificates.

Maybe you have something at home you could donate – an antique piece of furniture, a piece of jewelry?

Are you an artist? Do you make a special dish? Do you have a special craft or hobby? Do you know somebody that owns a business? Ask them to donate to this event.

This is a great way for some of you who still need to earn scholarship points to help out. You can do it at your own time, in your own community, and there is no limit to what you can secure for the live and silent auction. Items need to be identified by the first of May so if you are interested – you have two months to work on this.

If you have some ideas, or need some ideas, contact me and we’ll discuss it.

(3) REMEMBER – no computers or email at the NKF of Iowa office from 9:30 a.m. March 5 until further notice.

GO TEAM IOWA!

--Diane

Upcoming bake sale needs workers, bakers

Kathy Miller announces the last sale at the U of I Hospital & Clinics before the games is being held on Monday, March 17th 2008 in the Papajohn glassed in area just inside the West Entrance across from the information desk. The sale is running from 7:00 am until around 4:00 pm.

Kathy is still looking for one person to work during each shift, and she still needs three bakers.

The following people are scheduled to work/bake or both:
Shift 1 (7-11:00): Doug Stewart, Bill Klahn, Paula Wood, Kathy Miller
Shift 2 (11 - 2:00) Bill Klahn, Paula Wood, Kathy Miller, Midge Rollins (?)
Shift 3 (1:00 - 4) Bill Klahn, Paula Wood (co-coordinator), Kathy Miller (coordinator), Midge Rollins (?)

Bakers: Paula Wood, Bill Klahn, Ruth Gerlach, Midge Rollins, Natalie(Robbie), Ardy Boucher, Autry Marley

Interested in helping out? Please contact Kathy Miller: Kbowenmill@aol.com (319) 396-5329

Update #19: Survey #2, Living Donors

A couple of things:

(1) Please complete the survey sent to you by Shelley Knepper via survey monkey. We need this information as soon as possible so that we know if we have enough hotel rooms in our block to accommodate everybody, what size bus to rent, what types of items to consider for uniforms, and to match up athletes for doubles and team events.

(2) Living Donors. We have been asked about sending living donors to the Games at Team Iowa expense. Those of you who have gone in the past know that Team Iowa has sponsored non-related living donors as team members. If you know of somebody that should be considered for this, please email me and provide their name, phone, address, and describe the circumstances of the living donation – approximately when it took place, what transplant center, and how (or why) they became a donor.

NOTE: At this time, we will not consider sponsoring a living donor that we have sponsored for a previous Games OR a living donor that donated to a spouse, parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin, etc.

Any questions about this, feel free to contact Diane.

Update#18: Medical Waivers!

Diane sent you and email with the subject "Update #18" with the medical waiver form attached in pdf format. You should be able to open and print out. You can also print a copy by clicking the link in the left column of this site for 2008 Medical Waiver - if you should need an additional copy. The form is required by all participating athletes at the U. S. Transplant Games. An athlete is the organ recipient that is attending the Games and actually competing in the athletic events.

Important things to note about this form:

1. If attending the Games as An Athlete, you must have one of these forms – please, please try to open and print the one attached if you don’t already have one. Do NOT use the purple one we handed out at the last team meeting – that was just for illustration purposes.

2. This form CANNOT be completed prior to March 11, 2008 – you must wait until March 11th 2008 or later to complete this and get it signed by your doctor.

3. The athlete needs to fill out – by printing so that we can read it: your name and date of birth, organ(s) transplanted and date of last transplant, and indicate donor type. You fill out your address, city, state and zip code. Indicate if you are allergic to bee stings and if you have any other allergies. You need to list the name, relationship and phone # of an emergency contact – this must be somebody that will NOT be at the Games with you. You will all list your Team Name as: Team Iowa. You will all list your Team Manager as Bruce Hoffmaster. You will then list all prescription and non-prescription medications AND THE DOSAGES on the form – or attach an additional sheet. I would suggest that you use an additional sheet of paper and type or neatly print this information and attach it.

4. You need to be registered for the Games before completing this form. Why? Because you have to indicate on the form what athletic events you have signed up for. You cannot cheat on this – because national NKF will compare what you are signed up for with your form to be sure you have permission to participate in that particular event(s).

5. Then, you take this form to your physician for them to mark either A, B, or C. They will need to show your blood pressure reading, indicate if you are diabetic, and comment on any other health issues. In the line that says, “I certify….”, the physican must write in the appropriate letter, “a”, “b” or “c” to match the box checked in the middle of the page. The physician needs to sign and date, plus print their name, phone, pager, fax and address. Your physician does NOT need to be your transplant surgeon. If by chance, you are going to be seeing your transplant surgeon anyway, by all means, take this form and have them fill it out. But, if you are not scheduled to see your transplant surgeon during the next couple of months, just make an appointment with your regular doctor. Who do you see if you have strep throat or a broken arm?

6. Bruce Hoffmaster needs this form – once completed – returned to him no later than Friday, May 23, 2008. On the form, it says June 11, 2008 – but that is the date that it has to be in our national NKF office. Bruce needs to collect these forms, review them to be sure that they are completely filled out and that they can actually be read. Then he mails them, in a bulk package, certified mail, to the national NKF office.

In 2006 we had many, many problems with the Medical Waivers – some were not completely filled out, some were not legible, some athletes did not mark the events on the form that they actually registered for, some doctors didn’t mark A, B, or C, some doctors didn’t sign and provide the necessary contact information, etc.

The NKF (National) will NOT allow an athlete to compete without this medical waiver. They are absolute sticklers on every item on this form. Failure to get this form filled out, signed by a physician and returned to Bruce Hoffmaster by May 23, 2008 will disqualify you from participating in the Games. We don’t want that to happen to anybody on Team Iowa.

If you are not an athlete, you do not need a medical waiver.

If anybody has questions, contact Bruce Hoffmaster or Diane Hagarty.

Don't forget the cookbooks!

As a fundraiser, we have more Team Iowa Cookbooks for sale. They are $10 each and contain recipes submitted by Team Iowa members and supporters. There is a special section in the cookbook for renal and diabetic patients.

Everybody should purchase one for their own home. Plus, these make great gifts – think Easter, Mother’s Day, Graduation, weddings and bridal showers, birthdays, etc. Also, think about who you might sell some to – coworkers, family members, church members, neighbors, fellow support group members, employees at your dialysis or transplant unit??

If you are interested in getting some of these cookbooks, please email Ardy Boucher at Ardyth.Boucher@fmc-na.com

If you have taken cookbooks to sell, please turn your money in as soon as possible. You can mail it to Diane, at the P. O. Box address below or email Ardy Boucher to make arrangements to get it to her.

GO TEAM IOWA!!


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

Update #16: 10 things to do in Pittsburgh

Shelley sent out a questionnaire to all of you via survey monkey this morning. Please complete it at your earliest convenience so that we can better serve you – the Team!

Since there's nothing new and official to report (so far), here's a list of the Top 10 Pittsburgh Must-Sees.

Also, please remember, we do expect everybody to be at Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the events that you are signed up to participate in. As time and interest allow, we hope that you will attend other U. S. Transplant Games events and activities and cheer on your team members. However, we also realize that for many of you this is a vacation – with that in mind, check this site often for some information about activities in Pittsburgh.

Top 10 Pittsburgh Must-Sees

Pittsburgh is a beautiful, dynamic city full of sights and attractions sure to please the avid sports fan, history enthusiast, culture maven, or outgoing child. Whether you're in town for a visit, or just looking for something new to try, these must-see Pittsburgh spots offer something for everyone.

1. Mt. Washington and the Inclines
No visit to Pittsburgh is complete without a ride on one of the restored 1800s inclines to the top of Mt. Washington - just across the river from downtown Pittsburgh. There are plenty of great restaurants to choose from on top of this former "Coal Hill," and the stunning view of downtown (especially beautiful at night) was ranked by USA Today as the second best beautiful place in America.

2. Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center
This former ice house has been reborn as a seven-story museum, with interactive exhibits that bring more than 250 years of Western Pennsylvania history to life. Discover how immigrants shaped the region, uncover the myths of the Underground Railroad or climb aboard a 1940s Pittsburgh trolley. Two floors are dedicated to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. After all, what's the history of Pittsburgh without Franco Harris, Mario Lemieux, Roberto Clemente, Arnold Palmer and the gang?

3. The National Aviary
Just across the Allegheny River from the History Center is the National Aviary, where over 600 of the world's most incredible birds are displayed in naturalistic exhibits and walk-through habitats. Marvel at hummingbirds the size of a thumb or Andean Condors with giant 10-foot wingspans at the nation's premiere bird zoo!

4. The Strip
Join locals for a Saturday tour in Pittsburgh's popular warehouse district. Grab a great cup of coffee and a fresh biscotti, before taking a stroll through this combination farmer's market/street fair. Vendors, shops and exotic grocery stores offer everything from kitchenware to costumes and Steelers merchandise to fresh flowers and fish.

5. Andy Warhol Museum
Campbells soup cans anyone? Continue your exploration of Pittsburgh at the Andy Warhol Museum, an ultramodern tribute to the founder of pop art. The most comprehensive single artist museum in the world houses more than 4,000 works of art, including paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, films, and videos, from this native Pittsburgh artist. While dedicated to Andy Warhol, the museum also hosts rotating exhibits by artists who push the boundaries of art, just as Warhol did.

6. Carnegie Museums of Art & Natural History
The Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History combine two world renowned museums in one unforgettable visit. Same day admission to both museums provides a wide variety of things to explore, and many sections include hands-on activities where children are encouraged to touch as well as look. Enjoy one of the best dinosaur exhibits in the world, breathtaking gems and minerals, an extensive Native American gallery, plus the museum ranked by Child Magazine among the "10 Best Art Museums for Kids."

7. Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Stroll through one of the largest Victorian "glass houses" in the country to see towering tropical plants that were the original seedlings at the 1890 Exposition, beautiful orchids, indoor and outdoor gardens, and a fabulous bonsai collection. Children will revel in the Discovery Garden, where they are invited to exercise their green thumbs and explore the world of plants and flowers, worms and all. Seasonal exhibits include a butterfly garden, flower shows, and a miniature railroad display.
8. Carnegie Science Center & UPMC Sportsworks

It's an "amusement park for the mind" at this large science museum, where more than 250 hands-on, interactive exhibits bring together science and fun for all ages. Tour a WWII submarine, marvel at a four-story Omnimax film, or tour Southwestern Pennsylvania via miniature railroad - all under one roof. Then, race against an Olympic sprinter, try out your fastball, or climb a rock wall, all at the place where science and sports comes together - UPMC SportsWorks next door!

9. The Mattress Factory
Get into art - literally! The beds are gone, and this former mattress factory is now home to a one of a kind arts experience. The Mattress Factory museum of contemporary art is the best facility for installation art in the United States, all created by in-residence artists. From floors made of green-apple candy to a frozen room full of Victorian furniture, the avant-garde art is sometimes a bit bewildering, but always fun.

10. Nationality Classrooms at the Cathedral of Learning
Located in the inspiring Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus, each of the 24 classrooms reflects the culture and heritage of one of the area's diverse ethnic groups, and represents that nationality's contribution to the fabric of Pittsburgh. Visit the classroom that represents your heritage and establish your own emotional bond with the peoples of Pittsburgh! An interesting attraction that defies description!

Update #15: Fun facts about Pittsburgh

I have bombarded you with “serious” information the past seven days – stuff you need to know about hotels, registration, medical waivers, transportation, etc. While that is all necessary information, it doesn’t make for the most delightful reading, does it?

I have decided to start sending out some Fun Facts about Pittsburgh. Today’s fun facts will be about one of my favorite topics - food. Below is some information about Pittsburgh’s Famous Foods.


Pittsburgh Famous Food - Ask for it By Name

Pittsburghers love their food and with our rich cultural and ethnic background we have quite a variety from which to choose. Here are some of the foods you will see Pittsburghers asking for the most.

• The Big Mac, the world's most famous hamburger, was "invented" in Pittsburgh by McDonald's franchise owner Jim Delligatti in 1968.
  
  
• Pierogies, found at restaurants all over Pittsburgh, reflect Pittsburgh's Polish heritage. Cooked in butter, these delicious dumplings are stuffed with potato and other flavorings, depending upon the creativity and tradition of the cook. You'd be hard pressed to find a fair or festival around this area without a pierogie stand!
  
  
• Chipped Ham is one of Pittsburgh's most famous foods. It is a spicy lunch meat that made its debut in 1933 at Isaly's, a locally based family chain of dairy stores. Former Pittsburghers have been known to have it trucked or flown across the country when they get a hankering for this hometown favorite.
  
  
• Klondikes, another Isaly's original, is a vanilla ice-cream bar dipped in pure chocolate and packaged in a familiar silver wrapper. When Sam Isaly invented them in 1929, they cost a nickel.
  
  
• Wedding Soup, that delectable Italian broth with tiny meatballs and rich egg pastina, is served throughout the city, even at area McDonald's
  
  
• Fried Zucchini Strips, thin, crisp and savory, are a hometown original and popular as an appetizer.

Watch for tomorrow’s fun facts. GO TEAM IOWA!! Diane

Update #14: Medical waivers. Please note May 23 deadline!

Dear Team Iowa members:

Two more things you need to be aware of:

(1) When you register, the “athlete” should receive a medical waiver form. This needs to be filled out by a physician that you see on a regular basis – it does NOT need to be filled out by your transplant surgeon. You can NOT have this filled out before March 11, 2008. YOU NEED TO RETURN IT TO BRUCE HOFFMASTER BY MAY 23, 2008. He has to compile them for the whole team and forward to national NKF by early June. THIS IS A NEW DEADLINE FOR YOU! Please check your calendar and make an appointment to get this signed after March 11th and before May 23rd. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE – You can’t participate in the Games without this.

(2) When you register as a non-athlete, if you receive a medical waiver form, please disregard it – there has been a glitch in the registration system and some people are reporting that they are receiving waivers when they are not athletes. The only people that need medical waivers are the athletes – the people that have received a life saving organ transplant and are planning to participate in the Games’ athletic events.

If you have any questions about this – let us know. GO TEAM IOWA!!

--Diane

Update #13: Lots of misc. business

Dear Team Iowa,

I have some additional information to pass on to you:

(1) For those who register and want to pay by check rather than credit card, you should make your check out for the total of registration, plus the cost of one night and one night’s tax for the hotel. If you have questions about this, you should contact the phone # shown on your confirmation that you receive via email when you register on-line. Bruce and I have no way of accessing your individual registration information.

(2) For those wanting to participate in the cycling events at the Games, you will need to furnish your own cycling equipment. There should be room on the Team Iowa bus to send bikes – especially if they come apart and go into a packing case of some sort. Per NKF National, there will NOT be a vendor available in Pittsburgh to rent cycling equipment, so you will need to furnish your own.

(3) For those needing some sort of adaptive equipment, scooters, wheelchairs, etc., these will be available to rent from SCOOTAROUND. The link below is a website specifically for Scootaround Rentals at the Games. http://www.scootaround.com/rentals/u/ustransplant/
It will be your own responsibility to contact Scootaround and make any necessary arrangements – this is not something that Bruce or I can do for you. I would suggest contacting them as soon as possible to make an initial inquiry about their equipment, dates you will need it, cost, whether or not they will deliver it to your hotel, etc.

(4) When you register as an athlete, the system will only let you register for one event taking place at a time. If you want to participate in two activities that overlap with time, you will have to choose one and participate in that one.

(5) For those wanting to be in team sports – bowling doubles, basketball, volleyball, swim team, golf team, etc. – you will need to indicate that on a survey that will be sent out later this week. We will use this information to match people up and form group teams. Please be thinking about whether or not you will want to participate in any of these “doubles”, or “team” events.

(6) Remember, all messages are going out to team members via email. If you think you may have missed something via email, you can always check the Team Iowa Blog. Thanks to Cheryl Rainford, this is being kept current. The blog website is: http://www.teamiowankf.blogspot.com/

I will try to keep numbering the messages to make it easier for you to find them. Again, please print them out and keep them in a notebook or folder in numerical order so that you can refer back to them as needed.

(7) If you have questions, feel free to contact me at the information below or Bruce Hoffmaster at phone #515-643-5288 or email bhoffmaster@mercydesmoines.org.
If you leave a message on the telephone, please be sure to provide your phone number for a return call. You MUST provide your area code as well. Thank you. We will get back to you with an answer as soon as we can.

(8) Room Block. Diane has updated list of people in the room block. If you think your name should be on it, please check that it is. Let me know if we are missing somebody or if something changes. If you notice somebody missing that you believe is planning to attend the Games, give them or call or email, and make sure they are receiving the communication messages.

Thanks, Diane

Update #12: Survey, Housing Reminder, Congratulations

Dear Team Iowa members,

#1 SURVEY. I plan to send out a survey to all of you later this week. I will be inquiring about uniform sizes and other information. If you have a question that you would like included in the survey, please email me and let me know what it is no later than Wednesday noon. For example, we have one team Iowa member that is trying to put together a golf team, so I will be asking if anybody is willing to participate in a golf team. If you have something like that, let me know and I’ll include the question. I will, of course, be inquiring about all of the team sports – basketball, volleyball, etc.

#2 HOUSING REMINDER. Your name has to be on the housing list in order for you to use our code to be part of the block of rooms. If your name is not shown in the list Diane emailed, and you want to be in our block, you must contact me first. Also, if you are going to stay fewer than five nights (Friday, Saturday, Sun, Mon, Tues), you must contact me before using our block. If you are going to stay longer than 5 nights, you can use our code and go through the on-line registration. Just add the dates you need and they will take care of it for you. I will show the names at the bottom of this message.

#3 CONGRATULATIONS. I am very proud of all of you! This past week has been a very hectic one… There has been a great deal of information to disseminate – some of it conflicting with prior information. All of you have conducted yourselves very professionally – waiting for me to get answers to your questions. You have all been very polite and patient. I really, really appreciate that. Mike Fox, Stuart Johnsrud, Bruce Hoffmaster and myself are all willing to help in any way that we can to make YOUR Team Iowa experience the best it can be. We will provide updates as soon as we are aware of new information or problems. By working together, we can all have the very best Transplant Games experience possible.

If you encounter problems with registration, let me know.

Update #11: Update from National, Medical Waivers, Housing List Additions?

Dear Team Iowa Members:

Three Things:

#1 – we just received the following message from the registration and housing department for the Games:

Dear Team Managers,

Thank you for your patience as we investigated the technical glitches you and/or your team members may have experienced during the Games registration launch this past Tuesday. You are important to us. We also know your time is important to you and all of the people that are depending on you to make this event successful.

As an update, all of the errors that occurred within the first 36 hours of the launch have been corrected and our programmers have spent the past 24 hours retesting all areas of the site to be certain that things sail smoothly moving forward. There have been no additional glitches reported. However, should you or your team members experience any additional difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact us at 866-TX-GAMES (866-894-2637) or transplantgames@housingregistration.com.

For your information, early next week, we will be contacting Games registrants who may have been affected by the glitch to clarify their registration information.

I would like to report since the opening of registration we have 1439 registrations.

#2 MEDICAL WAIVERS – please note that all athletes (the transplant recipient participating in athletic events) will be required to get a signed medical waiver from their physician. It does not have to be your transplant doctor – but should be a primary care physician or your family doctor – somebody you see on a regular basis that is knowledgeable of your health. These waivers cannot be signed before March 11, 2008. At this time, Bruce Hoffmaster will need it returned to him by **May 23, 2008.*** Please notice that the due date to Bruce has changed. However, the March 11th date is carved in stone – again – DO NOT SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE MARCH 11, 2008.

#3 If somebody’s name is not on the housing list that was included with memo #10 that you think intends to go to the Games, feel free to contact them and ask them if they have gotten the messages. We all need to look out for and help each other through this process.

GO TEAM IOWA!

Thanks, Diane

Update #10: Block, Registration Fees, Website, The Bus, Hospitality

Dear Team Iowa members,

Please, please …. Read each update all of the way through to the bottom. I would suggest that you print each one out and keep all of them together in a three-ring notebook or some type of folder – this way you can easily refer back to them. After you have read the memo in its entirety and printed it, feel free to email me if something doesn’t make sense. I will respond to your questions as soon as possible. If I feel your question pertains to the whole group, I will send out another memo addressing that issue.

OK – on with the news.

#1 BLOCK OF ROOMS. Attached to memo #7 was a list of people who are on the block of rooms. It was brought to my attention that in some cases I listed a different family member than the actual athlete – such as the mother or spouse. As long as the person shown on my list is being registered and is staying in that room, there is no problem. Some of you couldn’t open the attachment, so I will show it at the bottom of this email – it has been updated this morning with additional names.

#2 REGISTRATION FEES. When you register on-line, you will have to pay your own registration fee for the athlete and anybody you are bringing with you – as it requires either credit card payment or the issuance of a check within two weeks. The cost of the athlete’s registration will be reimbursed to you, in your scholarship in June – prior to going to the Games. If this is a financial burden for anybody, please email me and we will discuss other options.

#3 WEBSITE. The website to register is:

http://www.kidney.org/news/tgames/usgames/register.cfm

#4 THE BUS. The team bus will travel along I-80 across Iowa. At this time, we have requests to make stops in Des Moines, Grinnell, Iowa City and the Quad Cities. The Iowa City stop may end up being in North Liberty at the Iowa Donor Network Office – this is just 4 miles North of I-80. The bus will travel on Friday July 11, 2008. The actual driving time is 11 hours. The bus is air conditioned; has bathrooms; has very nice seats that recline; and has a tv/dvd. We have not established an actual schedule for the bus, so I can’t say what time the bus will pick up in each community. The bus will arrive in Pittsburgh late in the evening. You will check into your room, get a good night’s rest, do on-site check in for the Games on Saturday, have time to visit the educational booths, eat lunch, get into your opening ceremony clothes and have plenty of time to get to the Convention Center – where we will host a team dinner and meeting prior to line-up for the Opening Ceremony. The bus will return home on Wednesday July 16th. Again, the driving time is 11 hours. You can bring a cooler and eat and drink on the bus. The seats are larger and nicer than airplane seats.

Some of you have stated that you can’t travel for 11 hours. Keep in mind that travel by air is not a piece of cake these days. Last Saturday, I spent 15 hours in airports or on airplanes trying to get to Cedar Rapids from San Antonio, TX with a stop in Dallas. I encountered delayed flights due to weather, mechanical problems, etc. The Dallas airport was actually shut down for two hours – no flights allowed in or out – due to weather. I missed a connecting flight from Dallas to Cedar Rapids. So, don’t think that if you get an airline ticket, that you are actually going to arrive and depart at the scheduled times. Some flights were re-routed Saturday. I landed in Cedar Rapids sitting next to a woman trying to get to Des Moines – she ended up flying to CR and was going to rent a car and drive to Des Moines. When we got to the airport, the rental car counter was closed because it was 11:00 at night. I am just sharing this because some of you don’t fly very often and may think it will be shorter and easier than the bus – that may or may not be the case.

There is no cost to take the bus. You can bring your whole family on the bus and we are not going to charge you. This is the least-expensive mode of transportation for the team to use.

#5 HOSPITALITY ROOM. We have been able to secure the use of a room at “our” hotel – the Marriott City Center Pittsburgh Hotel – to use for a Team Iowa hospitality suite. Shelley Knepper, my new right-arm assistant, has graciously agreed to staff this during the Games. We will have a computer with internet access, we will be able to post new information and announcements. Team members will be able to stop in and get cold bottled water and snacks – free of charge. It will serve as the hub of our team. We are doing this because you – the team members – have requested it. More information to follow.

#6 Diane has emailed the list of people assigned to our room block for check in July 11 and check out July 16th. If you wish to stay longer, please note than on your registration form and they will add your extra nights for you. IF YOU WISH TO STAY A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU MUST TALK TO DIANE BEFORE YOU REGISTER.

Thanks to all of you – and let me know if I can answer any more questions. GO TEAM IOWA!
--Diane

Update #9: Meal plans, Schedules, and Star Search

Dear Team Iowa members,

As promised, as soon as information is received by NKF National – I will forward it on to you. These are items that I have been asked to share.

MEAL PLAN
As posted on the Games Web site, breakfast and/or dinner meal plans (Sunday, July 13th thru Tuesday, July 15th are being offered.
Breakfast will be served on the first floor of the David Lawrence Convention Center (with easy access to the Games shuttle hub and DLCC activities) from
6:30AM to 9:30AM and dinner from 4:30PM to 7:30PM.

Prices for these plans are as follows (Child: 4–12 years, Adult: 13 years and over):

Breakfast Only: Child-$44.25; Adult-$59.00
Dinner Only: Child-$75.00; Adult-$100.00
Breakfast & Dinner: Child-$119.25; Adult-$159.00



SCHEDULE UPDATE
The Team Manager Meeting on Friday, July 11, 2008 has been rescheduled for 12 Noon to 3:00PM

The cycling events during the Games have been rescheduled for Tuesday, July, 15, 2008 in North Park.



STAR SEARCH (AUDITION TAPES)
It's not too late to submit tapes/cd's/performance materials to us!!! We have extended the deadline for all talent submissions to Friday, March 7, 2008.

We are currently 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 such as the Donor Recognition Ceremony and Living Donor Recognition Event being held as a part of the NKF 2008 U.S. Transplant Games. Please encourage your most talented team members and/or family members to send an audio or video audition tape
to:

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

Tell your team members “YOU CAN BE A STAR AT THE GAMES!!!!” All entries must be received by Friday, March 7, 2008. Any questions can be directed to verenah@kidney.org.


That’s all for tonight, folks! GO TEAM IOWA!

--Diane

Update #8: About the rooms

Dear Team Iowa, (Please read all of the way to the bottom)

Now that you all know where we will be staying – the Marriott City Center Pittsburgh Hotel, I would like to give you some information about the hotels that are serving the Games, how the hotel selection process worked and specific information about our hotel and the venues we will be using at the Games.

(1) First, remember that there is free transportation that will run from all hotels to all of the Games venues. You do not need a car when you are at the Games. Everything is easily within walking distance or you can use the free transportation provided by nkf national. As long as you register and book your hotel through the on-line registration system, you will receive a free transportation pass. If you choose not to book through the registration site, you will need to pay for transportation passes for each person attending the Games in your room.

(2) According to information I have received from the NKF, National, There are a total of 8 official hotels for the Games.

we are very lucky to be in one of the closest hotels to the Convention Center!

(3) How were we assigned our particular hotel? Several months ago, each team was asked if they were interested in “blocking” rooms so their team could stay together. If we were interested in this, we were asked to estimate how many rooms we would need. Based upon these numbers, nkf National looked at the quantity of rooms available in each hotel and “assigned” each team to a hotel. However, this was all done at the national level and not shared with the affiliates or team managers. So, none of us had any idea which hotel our team might be assigned to. Then, the final step took place this week – in order to get a code # for our block of rooms, I was required to sign a contract with NKF National stating how many rooms we were blocking for Team Iowa. This is a binding contract and we will be responsible for filling our rooms or paying a penalty. That is why I needed to know, this week, how many people were actually willing to commit. I appreciate all of you responding in a timely manner. We have some flexibility in our block, but not much. That is why I need to know who is in the block, how many rooms they need, etc., etc.

(4) Website for our hotel is: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pitdt-pittsburgh-marriott-city-center/

(5) Finally, for those of you who have attended the past couple of Games, you know that being in a block of rooms was not allowed by NKF National. They have agreed to try it this year to see how it goes. So, if you, as Team Iowa members, want this option in the future, it is important that we all work together so that this is a successful trial year. NKF National is doing this because you, the athletes, have said you like staying together as a team. If you have questions, please let me know.

Thanks and GO TEAM IOWA!

--Diane

Update #7: Read this carefully!

Dear Team Iowa Members,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE THIS WEEK. I want to commend all of you for your understanding and patience this week as the glitches have been worked out. I now have all of the information you need to register and reserve your room. YEA!! J

I need to ask each of you to read this carefully – from beginning to end. Maybe print it out and refer to it as you move forward with registration.

Now…..

(1) I have attached a word document that lists those people who have contacted me and requested to be in the room block. Before registering, please check that list to be sure your name is on it. IF YOUR NAME IS NOT ON THE LIST, you need to email me before you can register. If your name is on the list, you are already authorized to register for the # of rooms beside your name. If you have changed your mind about the # of rooms you want, please email me before registering.

(2) If your name is on the list for being part of the room block, you will use this link to register:
http://www.kidney.org/news/tgames/usgames/register.cfm

(3) when you get to the above link, you will use either the athlete registration form or the non-athlete registration form. Remember, athletes are people who have received a life-saving organ at least six months prior to the Games and are going to compete in events. Everybody else is a non-athlete. Everybody age 3 and over must be registered to attend the games, use the games transportation, etc.

(4) For housing, your code # is NKFIOW0708. We are in the Marriott City Center Pittsburgh Hotel. At this time, our block is for the following dates: Arrive on Friday, July 11, 2008 and depart on Wednesday, July 16 – for a total of 5 overnights. If you wish to stay longer – by arriving earlier and/or staying longer – you just indicate that on the form and they will add the additional nights for you. If you wish to stay a shorter time – arrive after Friday July 11 or leave early (before Wednesday, July 16) – please email me before using our room block.

(5) If you are part of our room block, YOU DO NOT NEED TO PURCHASE A TRANSPORTATION PASS! That is included in your registration fee.

(6) If you are confused about any of this, the best way to communicate is via email – our office is dhagarty@kidneyia.org or sknepper@kidneyia.org or Bruce Hoffmaster is bhoffmaster@mercydesmoines.org

(7) BUS INFORMATION: For those interested in the bus for travel, it will pick up along I-80 on Friday July 11 – arrive late in the day at the hotel. You will get a good night’s rest, be able to register on Saturday – attend the business fair, acclimate yourself to the area, and be ready for a team dinner/meeting prior to the Opening Ceremonies.

(8) Opening Ceremonies: Line up for the ceremonies will be at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. We are planning to have a team meeting and complete evening meal prior to that – details to be arranged.

(9) On-site Check-in/Registration: Some of you may have found on the national website a time designated for Team Iowa to register – all that means is that you cannot register prior to that time. You can register whenever you want to as long as it is after Friday at 4:00p.m.

(10) TEAM PHOTOS: You may also have noticed on the national website something about team photos – please disregard that as well. This year, national has decided to take team photos during check-in instead of at the opening ceremonies. TEAM IOWA has opted out of this. We will work with our own photographer to take photos during our team meeting/dinner prior to opening ceremonies. More information to follow.

(11) Overall – If you read something on-line that is different than what we are telling you – please follow the information you receive from NKF of Iowa and Bruce Hoffmaster before believing what you see on-line. If in doubt, ask us. If we don’t have the answer, we will get the answer!! If we can’t get the answer, we will make one up! (Just checking to see if you really read to the bottom of the memo – ha, ha).

Again, you can all be proud to be part of Team Iowa – you have all responded very professionally this week as this has been sorted out. Thank you and Go TEAM IOWA!!

--Diane

Wednesday: About the bus route

Hello all,

Some of you had inquired about the bus route. I am being told by the bus company that we can stop anywhere along I-80. Right now, I have stops scheduled for Des Moines, Grinnell, Iowa City/Coralville and the Quad Cities. We can easily add any other cities that work for you – as long as they are on I-80.

If you want to take the bus, but don’t live along I-80, what should you do? You will be asked to drive to a designated town along I-80. I will work with you to locate a place that you can leave a car while you are at the Games.

Keep checking the blog for any updates.

http://www.teamiowankf.blogspot.com/

Thanks and go team iowa!!

Diane

5:00 Tuesday: Last update for the day

Dear Team members,

Thanks to all of you for your patience and understanding………

This will be my last message for today, Tuesday. Please continue to check our blog if you think you might have missed anything – and be sure to thank Cheryl Rainford when you see her for keeping up with all of the postings. Thanks, Cheryl! Blog address is:

http://www.teamiowankf.blogspot.com/

If you haven’t replied yet about the # of rooms you want, please do so asap.

The registration site is continuing to have many problems – so please wait for our instructions before registering. They don’t hand out prizes for registering on the first day – so we aren’t missing out on anything, I promise! Some of the problems today have included inability to accept mastercard for housing, getting partly though the system and getting kicked out, unable to register an entire family, unable to find a team name by zip code, etc. etc.

Watch for more info tomorrow…..

GO TEAM IOWA!

3:00 Tuesday: Email Diane or Bruce with needed info!

Dear Team Iowa Members,

This email will require a reply from each of you…..Please read it all of the way through and respond.

At the last team meeting, we talked about the option of blocking rooms. We stated that you, individually, would be responsible for one night’s stay if you cancelled and we couldn’t fill your room. We have decided to change that to $100 instead of one night’s stay – depending upon which hotel you stayed in could run $104 to $134 plus tax.

The reason for this change is because: If you register and opt out of the block AND then you have to cancel your reservation you are going to be charged $100 by the national office. Again, to clarify:

If you register for the Games and make your own housing reservation – and then for some reason you have to cancel your room reservation after March 31, 2008 – you will be charged $100 by the national organization as a penalty for cancelling.

So, there is no incentive to “doing your own thing” vs. “being a part of the team”. Either way, if you register and cancel, you are going to be out $100 for the hotel room. Therefore, we want to encourage everybody to stay in a block – this will make managing the team much easier, improve communication, provide more opportunities for socializing with each other and allow for some group activities. The opportunity to “block rooms” is due in part to the request from the team members to be able to stay together at the Games.

In order for us to get a Code # for you to enter for the room block, we need to give national an estimate of the # of rooms we want to block.

Keeping in mind that no more than 4 people can share a room, please reply with the # of rooms you would like.

Thanks for your prompt attention to this.

--Diane and Bruce

2:00 pm Tuesday: About the 4-to-a-room limit

Diane has already received an inquiry about her last update – stating that no more than four people can be in one hotel room. I am just repeating what I am being told by national. I have copied, below, a question submitted to the housing authority by another affiliate and the response that was given to them.

While I don’t necessarily agree with all of the “rules” – it is my responsibility to pass this information on to Team Iowa members as it becomes available to me. I am more than willing to ask questions on behalf of our team members, but remember, Affiliate staff and local team managers do not make the rules – nor do we have the ability to influence the answers – but we will do our best to get answers to your questions.

I hope this clears up any questions some of you may have about the # of people able to register for one hotel room.

>>> Paula Huffman 2/17/2008 11:37 AM >>>
I noticed on the housing form that each individual in a room is asked
to complete a registration form. Yet it appears there is no
opportunity for a family of "five" to do that. The form indicates only
four people per room. I have two transplanted children who have both
parents and 2 siblings who want to accompany them. How should such
families register in compliance with the instructions?

Thanks,
Paula Huffman
Virginia

Hi Paula,

Unfortunately the hotel reservations only allows 4 people per room. This person would need to make 2 reservations and request connecting rooms. Everyone 3 and over will need to be added to the reservation.

Thanks,
Susie

Susie Brenner
Housing & Registration Account Manager

1:00 pm Tuesday: More registration info emailed

Diane H. has just sent an email with several items for you to review attached to it:

1. Athlete Registration form
2. Non-athlete registration form
3. Housing Form
4. Medical Waiver

You are probably wondering, why is she sending these out?

So you can look at the forms for athlete registration and non-athlete registration and make sure that you are able to fill them out. These are the same questions that will have to be answered on-line for the actual registration. She suggests you print these out and fill them in prior to going to the computer so that you are prepared to register.

Housing Form – just fyi – the registration is limiting the number of people per hotel room to four. Somebody has already asked national staff today if more than four people can stay in a room and the answer is no.

AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT GO ON-LINE AND TRY TO REGISTER YET! WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION AND PATIENCE TODAY.

Thanks, Diane

Noon Tuesday: Registration overload! Please wait to register

Dear Team Iowa Members,

I am back from my conference and vacation that took me out of the office the past two weeks. With that said, Bruce and I are trying to wade through the Registration information for the U. S. Transplant Games that we are getting from our national office.

The following message was just received about an hour ago.


Dear Managers,

The registration website went live this morning at 10:00 EST. Since then the site has been flooded with attempts to register. Unfortunately, the site was overloaded and could not handle all of the participants at once. The overload caused some glitches to the website and several people received various error messages. Our website programmers were made aware of the problems and have worked to correct them. At the time that I am writing this email the site is now functioning properly and we already have several participants registered! If you or your team members should experience any additional challenges while registering please direct them to call 866.TX.GAMES. We send our heartfelt apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Warm regards,

The Transplant Games Department


PLEASE, PLEASE wait to register until you receive further information from Bruce Hoffmaster and myself. We are trying to get the code # for the blocking of rooms. We will be sending out additional information today as it becomes available. There is no need to try to register right now – the site is overloaded and there are a multitude of problems. Since the above message was sent out by national, I have seen at least three emails from other affiliates outlining registration glitches.

I NEED TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP!

PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO REGISTER UNTIL YOU RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM US! We appreciate your cooperation.

PLEASE wait for our directions.

Thanks, Diane

Official word: Registration opens February 19!

"We are happy to announce that registration for the NKF 2008 U.S. Transplant Games will be opening Tuesday, February 19th," Dawn Townsend, U.S. Transplant Games Program Director, wrote in an email today.

You will be able to register online or download the registration and housing/upgrades forms at www.transplantgames.org anytime on or after this date to secure your spot this year in Pittsburgh, PA.

"Though we accept paper registration forms, registering online will prove to be the quickest way to continue your journey to the 2008 Games and is the only way to avoid the $10 paper registration fee," she said.

"New to this year's registration is the option for teams to block hotel rooms," she said. "If your Team Manager has decided to block a minimum of 10 rooms, he/she will contact you with a team code. Upon registering, you will be able to enter the code into the registration system, which will allow you to gain access to your team's housing block," she said. "If you decide to register by paper, please write your team's code next to the "Check-In" and "Check-Out" boxes. However, the only way to gain direct access into your team's block is through the online registration system."

The Housing Connection will once again serve as the official Registration and Housing Bureau. Once the site goes live, if you experience any challenges while registering, please contact THC at:

The Housing Connection
175 South West Temple, Suite 140
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
transplantgames@housingregistration.com
800.TX.GAMES (800-894-2637)
801-355-0250 FAX

For any general questions concerning registration, please contact your Team Manager, she said.

Still time to share your talents

You can still be a star at the Games. It's not too late to submit your tapes/cds/performance materials to National Kidney Foundation for consideration as a performer at the Transplant Games. They have extended the deadline for all talent submissions to Friday, March 7, 2008.

We are currently 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 such as the Donor Recognition Ceremony and Living Donor Recognition Event being held as a part of the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games. Please encourage your most talented team members and/or family members to 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 Friday, March 7, 2008. Questions? Contact verenah@kidney.org

Team Update: Things you need to know!

First, it's good you're looking at the site. Please, get into the habit of checking this site at least once or twice each week for new information. The blog is the least costly and most efficient way for a large group of people to communicate and get the same information.

Please note: Diane and her new assistant, Shelley will both be out of the office Monday, February 4, 2008 through Monday, February 18, 2008 for required training. If information about registration becomes available while they are away, Bruce Hoffmaster will make sure the information gets posted here, on the blog.

Following is a list of very important information from Diane.

"Please, please think about all of these items. When Shelley and I get back – in two weeks – Shelley will be sending out another survey via survey monkey – we will be inquiring about your transportation wishes, uniform wishes, team sports, et cetera," Diane says.


Registration: As of 3:30 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2008, Team Iowa's leaders have no new information from the NKF (National) about when registration for the U. S. Transplant Games will open. We also have no new information about reserving a block of rooms for the team members interested in doing so.

If Games registration opens during the two weeks Diane and Shelley are out of the office – DO NOT PANIC! You do not have to register the first day that registration opens – registration will be open for approximately two months. Everybody will have a chance to register. Again, DO NOT PANIC if registration opens during the next two weeks. Mike Fox, Bruce Hoffmaster, Shelley and Diane will work with all of you to be sure that everybody gets registered.

Next meeeting: At this time, we have NOT set a date for the next Team Iowa meeting. We have been waiting to receive more information from NKF (National) before we hold a meeting. When we are ready to set a date for the next meeting, we will send the information via email and post it on the blog.

New Members: If any of you know of potential new Team Iowa members, please get their name, phone number, mailing address and email address to Diane or Bruce as soon as possible so that we know who they are and they can receive team information.

Take the Survey: Have you gone onto Survey Monkey and completed the survey so that we have all of your updated contact information? If not, please do so as soon as possible or you will risk being dropped from our email list. Your personalized link to the survey was included in an email from Shelley at NKF Iowa.

Donor Families: As a team, we're hoping to sponsor five (5) donor families to take to the Games in 2008. Our definition of “donor family” is a family that made the decision at the time of their loved ones’ death to donate all or part of their organs. As the NKF of Iowa, we do not have access to medical and donation records from hospitals – only Iowa Donor Network has that information. We are working with them to identify families to go to the Games with us this year. If any of you, as recipients, know of families living in Iowa that fit the definition of “donor family” that you think might be interested in going to the Games, please email Bruce or Diane their name, phone number, mailing address, and email address – if you have all of that - so they can reach them.

Uniforms: Team uniforms will be handled differently this year than they have been in the past. This year you will have the chance to choose your uniforms from a menu of options. You will be given a set number of points that you can spend in the uniform "store." You will be given several things to choose from and you will be able to spend your points however you choose. We are doing this at your request so that team funds can be spent on what you want.

Some of you don’t like hats – others love hats. Some of you hate yellow – others love yellow. Please think about what items you want for yourself and your family . What size range do you need - infants, toddlers, children, women's, extra large? What clothing items do you want? Think about how many clean shirts you will want or need while you are at the Games. Think about how many people you are bringing with you – will they all want official team apparel?

The Team Iowa logo is owned by the NKF of Iowa and can only be used by the NKF of Iowa on behalf of the team members. So, if you are bringing a family of six and they all want team apparel, think about those sizes and style preferences. The only way to get those items will be to purchase them in the Team Iowa apparel store with your points. If you want more items than your points cover, you will be able to purchase them with real money. You will be given an opportunity within the next month to provide Diane and Bruce with all of this information – they just wanted to be sure that you have had plenty of time to think about it ahead of time.

Transportation: We will again be taking a team bus that will pick up team members in locations across the state. Please think about whether or not you will want to take the bus (as opposed to driving yourself or flying); how many family members will you be bringing on the bus? Last time the bus made pickups in Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Davenport. Will that meet our needs this time or do you need pickups in other communities?

Team Sports: – Please consider whether or not you will want to compete in team sports such as basketball or volleyball.


Again, Shelley and Diane will be gone until Tuesday, February 19th. They will have limited access to email while they are gone so if you email them, you may not hear back until mid-February. Please do not leave voicemails on their answering machine while they are gone – either wait until after they get back, or call Bruce Hoffmaster at 515-643-5288.

You can also email Mike Fox at mikeyf52@aol.com or Bruce Hoffmaster at bhoffmaster@mercydesmoines.org.


GO TEAM IOWA!

The waiting line

Here are the most recent "Facts About Transplantation" with updated waiting list numbers as of January 25, 2008.

• 74,366 patients waiting for a kidney transplant.
  
  
• 16,580 patients waiting for a liver transplant.
  
  
• 1,606 patients waiting for a pancreas transplant.
  
  
• 223 patients waiting for a pancreas islet cell.
  
  
• 2,272 patients waiting for a kidney-pancreas transplant.
  
  
• 220 patients waiting for an intestine transplant.
  
  
• 2,667 patients waiting for a heart transplant.
  
  
• 103 patients waiting for a heart-lung transplant.
  
  
• 2,160 patients waiting for a lung transplant.
  
  
• 97,720 TOTAL PATIENTS

Complete the mandatory contact info survey

On Wednesday current Team members should have received an email from Shelley Knepper: sknepper@ kidneyia.org. This email includes a link to a survey on a Website called Survey Monkey. To continue receiving information about Team Iowa you must click the link to the Survey Monkey site and submit the requested information. This will let The National Kidney Foundation of Iowa update its contact list.

The email you received includes a link for you to get to the survey. Each link is unique - so please don't forward your link to others on the Team.

Didn't receive an email about the survey? Email Shelley at sknepper@kidneyia.org

Bakers, volunteers needed for Valentine's bake sale

The bake sale for Wednesday, Feb. 13th in the Papajohn west entrance from 7 - 4:00 is still on and we currently need some bakers and at least 2 workers. If you are interested, please contact Kathy Miller Kbowenmill@aol.com

This is a Valentine's Day Bake Sale. The following people are already signed up to work or bake or both:

Workers: Doug Stewart - 3 shifts, Noelle Cooper - 3 shifts, Bill Klahn - shift 2 and 3, Kathy Miller - 3 shifts. Bakers: Miller, Gerlachs, Boucher, Rollins, Cooper.

If you have any questions, please feel free to get ahold of me via the internet or home phone: 319-396-5329
Or if you can help out with baking/working also let me know asap. Thank you!

- Kathy Miller

Sign up to help with 2008 Iowa Transplant Open Golf Outing

This is your chance to help with a fun event and help promote organ and tissue donation. We are hosting the 2008 Iowa Tranplant Open golf outing in Muscatine, Iowa on Saturday, May 31, 2008 at Geneva Golf & Country Club. Our next meetings are January 24 and February 13. The meetings begin at 5:15 p.m. at the Eichelberger Law Firm located at 208 W Second Street, Suite 201 (in the Pearl Plaza).

If you can attend, please contact Kim Burdakin kdburd@machlink.com or Doug Stewart dystewart@gmail.com.

If you can't attend but would like to help, we'd love to hear from you too.

Go TEAM IOWA!

- Kim Burdakin

Two news items and two reminders

News item 1: Sad news for Diane Langton

It was announced in the Cedar Rapids Gazette that Jim Wilson, Jr. (age 25) of Oswego, NY died of a heart attack Monday evening. For those of you who have been involved with Team Iowa for the past two or more years, you probably recall that Diane Langton of Cedar Rapids flew to New York in 2004 to donate a kidney to Jim. Diane had no prior contact with Jim or his family. Through her employment at the Gazette, she learned that somebody from Cedar Rapids had promised the Wilsons a kidney for their son, Jim. At the last minute, they demanded money from the Wilsons. Diane thought this was so horrible that somebody from her hometown would do such a thing that she decided to help. She was tested and determined to be a match. Diane was honored at the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival that year for her unselfish and heroic gift of life. The NKF of Iowa was able to bring Jim and his father to Iowa in 2004 to participate in our Cadillac Invitational Golf Tournament held in Cedar Rapids – both Wilsons golfed with Diane’s husband, Rich and Diane rode on the golf cart to cheer them all on. Team Iowa was blessed with the Langton’s participation and presence with us in 2006 At the U. S. Transplant Games. Diane and Rich came to think of Jim as one of their own children.

Rich and Diane – on behalf of Team Iowa, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Read the complete Gazette article

News item 2: The new Team Iowa logo

At the Team Iowa meeting held in November 2007, members were given a chance to vote on keeping our old logo, or changing to a new logo. We presented four or five options for new logos. We have tallied the results of those in attendance and those that responded via email and the winner is…. the little organ people! The logo is owned by the NKF of Iowa as the sponsor of Team Iowa and can only be used on items approved by the NKF of Iowa. If you have any questions about this, please contact me.

Reminder 1: Games Registration: We still have not been given any new information about registration for the Games and how the NKF (National) will handle blocked hotel rooms. As this information becomes available, Bruce or I will forward it to you. We are still anticipating registration to open in early February. Stay tuned.

Reminder 2: Team Iowa contact survey This is a reminder that Shelley will be sending out an email with a survey attached. It is imperative that everybody complete this survey so that we have current contact information for all team members. Failure to complete the survey will result in your name being deleted from the team list.

GO TEAM IOWA!

- Diane L. Hagarty

Games registration slated to start in February

When we met in Cedar Rapids in November 2007, we said NKF (National) hoped to open registration for the 2008 U. S. Transplant Games the first week in January 2008. Diane Hagarty says she has received inquiries from several team mates about this.

As of January 2, 2008 NKF (National) now says registration is scheduled to open in early February 2008. Bruce Hoffmaster and Diane Hagarty will keep you posted as additional information becomes available.

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Kidney Day fly-in needs Iowa representative

NKF Iowa has an opportunity to select somebody from Tom Latham's congressional district to attend World Kidney Day (March 13, 2008) in Washington, D.C.

If you live in the 4th District of Iowa and would be willing to go to Washington DC (all expenses paid) to talk to Representative Latham, please contact Diane Hagarty asap. If you know of somebody else that meets this criteria, please forward their contact info to her so she can follow-up.

We are on a very tight timeline for this so Diane needs to hear back from you right away.

What is involved?

You would fly into Washington DC, attend some NKF training sessions (to learn how to talk to elected officials) and then actually meet with Tom Latham. Depending upon flight schedules, this might cover three days. There is no expense to participate - the National Kidney Foundation (National) covers all expenses.

How to reach Diane if you're interested:
Phone: 319/369-4474
Toll Free: 800/369-3619
dhagarty@kidneyia.org

Not sure if you live in Representative Latham's district? There's a list of towns/cities on his website: http://www.tomlatham.house.gov/PAGES/ia04.htm