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!