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