Our Meeting was called to order by President Tara Lawson.

The attendees sang “Here Comes the Sun” led by Rtn. Aaron Schaefer.

 

Visiting Rotarians: Jim Peterson (Iowa City AM Club).

Visitors:  Kayla Forman and Marganne Reinboldt (guests of Rtn Steve Frantz) and Beau Lincoln (guest of Margaret Reese).

 

President Tara Lawson notified that the board elections were completed and thanks to all who voted! We are happy to announce that Kelley Krueger will be our President Elect Nominee. Christy Fehlberg will continue serving on the board and will be joined by new members Brent Carstensen and Robyn Hepker. They will join current members Bruce Guither, Ron Ettinger, John Culshaw, and Treasurer Aaron Schaefer and Secretary Sean McIntyre. Thanks to all board members for their continued work.

 

Rtn. Margaret Reese introduced our speaker Rtn. Steve Frantz. Steve is the partner relations coordinator with the Iowa Donor Network (IDN). Margaret reminded members that Rtn. Ashlee Hopkins, who was a member of our club up until a tragic accident took her life, was able to donate organs so that others could live. She encouraged members to make sure that we talk to our loved ones about our final wishes.

 

Steve was joined by his colleagues. He explained that Kayla coordinates many of the logistics of donating the organs while Morgan is the community engagement coordinator for the entire state of Iowa. She coordinates both public education and driver education and works with organizations that are raising funds for the Iowa Donor Network.

 

The IDN is a nonprofit organization, with two offices in Altoona and North Liberty). Their role is not only devoted to organ donation but they also are the tissue recovery center for the state and the Iowa Eye Bank. But, to clarify, they are not the UI Deeded Body Program. They are dealing with recovery gifts for transplant. If you are on the deeded body program, you can only donate your corneas.

 

Why Steve is inspired to participate in this organization: His good friend Mick Fletcher had a daughter, Maddie, who was gravely ill and put to the top of the liver donation list. She was given little time to live but was able to get a liver from a young boy who died in a tragic accident. Learning about the process and its positive impact was inspiring for Steve. When he relocated back to Iowa City to care for his mother, he saw the ad for a job with the Iowa Donor Network. He is deeply committed to the work and is happy to report that Maddie got married 2 years ago.

 

The organization’s role in the donation process is to honor the wishes of the donor by guiding and supporting the family. In addition, they advocate for their patients and families and their mission as well as educate and inspire others to join the registry.

There are four ways to register and three categories of gifts (organ donation, tissue donation, and cornea donation). You can register through their website, by signing up when you renew your driver’s license, complete a form in their brochure or participate via Logan’s Law. If you have signed up when renewing your license, the word DONOR appears on your license with a red heart beside that. This will remain on your license unless you take the steps to have it removed. Logan’s Law is an Iowa law that if you are going to buy a hunting, trapping, fishing license in Iowa and are not an organ donor, they will ask if you would like to be on the registry.

 

If on the registry, it is legally binding and your next of kin cannot change the decision. If people are under 18, the legal next of kin can make the decision to donate. There are 103,000 people on the national waiting list for organ transplant and over 600 of them are Iowans. In 2023, 23,000 donors had a positive impact on another patient.

 

Every 8 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list and 17 people die each day waiting for a transplant. An average of 128 organ transplants happen each day. There are specific requirements to determine if a donor is qualified at the time of passing. The process is logistically challenging as there are limits as to how long the organ can exist between donation and transplant. Tissue and cornea donation can be donated after the time of death. There is no upper age limit on skin donation. There have been many advances in bone marrow transplants and there are talks of establishing a bone marrow bank.

 

In 2023, they served 2469 families, 1,027 tissue donors, 123 organ donors, and 350 organs transplants. The IDN has a team that focuses on the care for the donor families. Information can be found on their website: Iowadonornetwork.org. Steve reiterated the importance of sharing your wishes with your family. He also described the Honor Walk, which happens in the hospital where health care workers and family members line the hallway as the donor is taken to the operating room in order to process the donation.

 

Next week, there will be no meeting as it is Thanksgiving. Our next meeting is Thursday, December 5 and we will hear from Cami Rasmussen, Solon City Administrator.  

 

Program: Rtn. Devin van Holsteijn; Attendance: Rtn. Nancy Droll

 

Please forward any newsworthy items and/or photos to Janice Baldes to include in the weekly slide decks emailed to members prior to each meeting and shown just before Rotary meetings at the Club. You can send information to: Rtn. Janice Baldes janicebaldes@gmail.com

For questions related to Club administration, please contact us at secretary@iowacitynoonrotary.org.