Wednesday, June 22, 2016

GRMC Golf Outing Breaks Record with $25,000 for ER Renovations

GRMC’s emergency department renovations received a power drive as golfers from around the area raised $25,000 during the 2016 Grinnell Regional Medical Center Golf Outing. The sponsorships, contests, and golf registrations raised a record-breaking amount from the one-day event with morning and afternoon tee times. GRMC welcomed 140 golfers on 35 teams to the Grinnell College Golf Course on Friday, June 17, for the annual fundraiser and friend raiser to support GRMC’s Moving at the Speed of Life campaign.

“We’re tremendously thrilled with the support from sponsors, community members, and business partners for this event. The $25,000 was designated for the emergency department renovations, which leaves just $157,000 more to raise before we can start construction,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “I want to say thank you to all involved in this day to support an excellent cause. Based on the scores, we had a great day of golfing, socializing, and fundraising for GRMC.”

With this 9-hole course, par score of 70, GRMC’s outing offered four flights of three teams in each flight. All winning flight teams receive $100 in either cash or gift cards. This year’s top team was Wes Finch Auto Plaza, scoring 56, with members Jeff Finch, Alex Olson, Hugh German, and John German. The second team in the first flight was Dr. Nick Kuiper, Dr. Mathew Severidt, Dr. Scott Collings, and Shane Hart. They scored 11 under par with a 59. The third top flight team went to KGRN, which consisted of Kent Baarda, Brad Zegers, Ben Zylstra, and Tim Zylstra. They scored 60, which was a four way tie.

The second flight included three teams all with a score of 64, with card back determining the order. First in the flight is the Brown Medical Imaging with Tom Mellon, Sr., Tom Mellon, Jr., Matt Byrd, and Jon Osborn. Second in the second flight was the Priority Plastics team with Jesse Hopkins, Randy Masterson, Krystal Smith, and Jamie Wang. Third in the second flight went to Associated Computer Systems team with Andy Bice, Tony Foth, Heidi Thompson, and Jaime Ridgway.

The third flight teams all scored 68, two under par. First place went to the team of Great Western Bank and GRMC with Scott Herbers, Kevin Seney, Zach Weiderspon, and Tom Gallo. The second team in the flight was Duke/Vesely with James Duke, Mary Duke, Emily Vesely, and Jeremy Vesely. The third team in the third flight went to Ramsey Weeks, with Rick Ramsey, Kevin Kolbe, Mike Allen, and Alex Plate.

In the fourth flight, the first place team was Linden/Hatcher with Todd Linden, Dave Stoakes, and Ed Hatcher, with a 72 score. The second place team with a 73 was Duke/Sears, consisted of James Duke, Mary Duke, Kim Sears, and Derrick Sears. And the third place team in the fourth flight was the Double You Marketing team with Katy Wells, Julie West, Brent Isenberger, and Theresa Petersen. They had a 75.

GRMC held pin contests with prizes for men and women:
Hole 1/10: Closest to the pin in two strokes went to Jordan Sherwood and Tyler Beck, winning $50 gift cards from the HyVee in Grinnell.

Hole 2/11: Closest to the pin in one stroke went to Dodi Reilly and Andy Bice, winning $50 cash, sponsored by CI3.

Hole 3/12: Longest drive in the fairway went to Lisa Hart and John German, each winning $50 in cash sponsored by Double You Marketing, Inc.

Hole 4/13: Straightest drive/closest to the line went to Becky Froias and Jon Lacasse, winning a $50 gift certificate to Wine Styles and $50 gift certificate to Massage Heights.

Hole 5/14: Closest to the bedpan winners were Sue Vander Linden and Pete Boeke, each taking home $50 in cash sponsored by The 801 Group of Morgan Stanley.

Hole 6/15: Closest to the pin in one stroke went to Kay Cmelik and Tom Mellon, Sr., taking home $50 gift certificates to Michael’s Italian Restaurant.

Hole 7/16: Longest putt on the green went to Dodi Reilly and Tim Zylstra, each taking home a $50 gift certificate sponsored by Mary and James Duke.

Hole 8/17: Closest to the crutch winners were Jamie Wang and Mike Thorndike, each winning $50 in cash sponsored by Ramsey-Weeks, Inc.

Hole 9/18: Drawing for landing on the green went to Jeff Finch, who took home a YETI cooler, valued at $250.

A 50/50 raffle generated $410, which was split between the winner, John German, and GRMC.

The best dressed contest went to the Lang team who all dressed as a fan from different Iowa sports teams. Members were Sally Lang, Kay Cmelik, Sue Vander Linden, and Dodi Reilly.  

The most obnoxiously dressed award went to the Solera Wine team in their bib overall shorts and tiaras. Team members included Sam Cox, Sara Cox, Colleen Klainert, and Karen Richards.

 This event depends on sponsorships from business partners and community businesses. GRMC offered a Headliner sponsorship again. With a one-time donation, Ahrens Park Foundation, Grinnell College, and State Farm – Brent Nickel are recognized as a sponsor for the Golf Outing, the bike helmets, and for the auxiliary business membership.

The Eagle sponsors for 2016 were Associated Computer Services, Bernie Lowe & Associates, Inc., Brown’s Medical Imaging, Graham Construction Company, Grinnell Convention and Visitors Bureau, Grinnell State Bank, and Manatt’s, Inc.

Birdie sponsors were ASI Signage Innovations, Great Western Bank, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, Jeld-Wen Doors Division, Dr. Nicholas and Stacy Kuiper, Seim Johnson, LLP, and Wes Finch Auto Plaza.

The 19th Hole sponsors were Electronic Engineering, Exile Brewing Company, Family Dentistry– Dr. David Smith, Dr. David Cunningham, Dr. Chris Roudabush, Dr. Matthew Miller, Dr. Jeff Millet; Todd and Angela Linden–Massage Heights and Wine Styles; Jensen Optometrists, PLLC, Kevin White Design, Pagliai’s Pizza, Priority Plastics, Dr. Mathew Severidt, Steel Erectors of Iowa, LLC;  and The Straub Corporation/PAW Marketing.

Flight sponsors who made this event possible include: Dan and Jo Becker, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Dayton Meat Products, Inc., Dr. Gene Gessner, Grinnell Chamber of Commerce, Julin Printing Company, Malcom Lumber, Leila Maring, Poweshiek Publications, Premier Printing, S&F Underground Inc., and T.L. Baker and Co., LLP

Pin sponsors were CI3, Double You Marketing, Inc., Mary and James Duke, Grinnell HyVee, GRMC, Todd and Angela Linden – Wine Styles, Michael’s Italian Restaurant, Ramsey-Weeks, Inc., Rees Vinyl Signs, and The 801 Group at Morgan Stanley.

Raffle prizes were donated by 1854 Deli, Anna Kayte's by Arnold Motor Supply, LLC, Automatic Door Group, Awards Unlimited, Ballyhoo In Ink, Bill's Jewelry, Casa Margarita, Cirks Financial Services, Colonial Life, Cory Hall Photography, CuVerro - Olin Brass, Dayton Meat Products, Inc., Double You Marketing, Inc., Mary and James Duke, Edward Jones - Kolpin & Kolpin, Exile Brewing Co., GRMC, Todd and Angela Linden/Wine Styles, Linder Tire Service, Montgomery's Sandwich Shop, The 801 Group at Morgan Stanley, The Glass Gift Box, Total Choice Shipping & Printing, Van Meter, Inc., and Vonda's Flowers & Gifts.


The GRMC golf outing is a best shot, four-person team format planned by a committee of community members and staff from the GRMC Office of Communications and Development. They are Jeanette Budding, Dr. Scott Collings, Mary Duke, Becky Froias, Jen Hawkins, Dr. Nick Kuiper, Dodi Reilly, Derrick Sears, Jan Veach, Emily Vesely, and Katy Wells.

Monday, June 6, 2016

SHIP Awareness June 2016



Let’s face it - Medicare is confusing. It’s even more confusing when changes in the law occur. Sometimes those changes are easy to understand. Other times laws are so hard to interpret that everyday Iowans throw their hands up in disgust without getting the answers they need.

Luckily, the Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program – better known as SHIIP – is available to provide free, unbiased information about how changes may affect people on Medicare. Recently, SHIIP counselors have been getting many calls regarding a change in Medicare law that will take place in 2020 regarding Medicare Supplement plans C and F.

Medicare Supplement plans are sold by private insurance companies to fill the gaps in traditional Medicare plans (Parts A and B). Medicare plans help pay for things like coinsurance, copayments or deductibles on Medicare-covered services.

If you own a Medicare Supplement C or F plan before January 1, 2020, there will be no need to replace it. You will be able to keep it after 2020. In fact, as long as you were eligible for or enrolled in Medicare prior to 2020, you can continue to purchase Medicare Supplement Plans C or F even beyond 2020. The change in law simply will take these two plan options off the table for those newly eligible for or enrolled in Medicare after January 1, 2020.

At the 18 Iowa Fraud Fighter events the Iowa Insurance Division held around the state, it was discussed that whenever there is a change in law, there is a certain amount of fear of the unknown. Whenever those changes occur, some individuals try to exploit that fear and make a profit by encouraging people to make a switch that may not be the right choice for the consumer.

SHIIP has been seeing items claiming that once 2020 hits, Medicare Supplement Plans C and F will become unaffordable so people should switch now. That is simply not the case. Medicare supplement plans have come and gone over the years but the Iowa Insurance Division has not seen rate spirals in the Medicare supplement market.

Medicare is confusing. Changes to Medicare are confusing. Don’t try to understand all the changes yourself. SHIIP has over 350 volunteers all over Iowa to help you get answers and assistance with your Medicare questions. SHIIP counselors do such a great job that they helped save Iowans over $20 million last year.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center is a host for the SHIIP program. To speak with a local counselor, call 641-236-2588 or email ckenkel@grmc.us. Residents may also call the state SHIIP office at 800-351-4664 or visit www.therightcalliowa.gov. They can answer your questions and even review your policies to make sure you are getting the most from your Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans.