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