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