Kansas City Chapter of TRIO Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc.
514 Lake Forest Bonner Springs KS 66012
WWW.KCTRIO.ORG
INFO@KCTRIO.ORG
KCTRIO Chairman-Organizing Committee

Hello to all my fellow TRIO friends. Exciting things are happening in Kansas
City. We are scheduling our organizational meeting for sometime in June,
pending approval of the date by the OPO. Midwest Transplant Network has
graciously allowed us to use the meeting room, as long as there is no conflict
with other scheduled events. I have been drumming up interest and have verbal
commitments from several interested parties. The response has been very
positive, now we’ll just see if we can turn that enthusiasm into memberships.

Several donor families and recipients have been approached about sharing and
networking with KCTRIO and the response has been good.

I recently submitted a 5 minute online video entitled “Hearts Like Mine” to the
Donate Life Hollywood Film Festival. This is the first year of the festival and I
am excited to be one of many submissions in four different categories. To view
the movie online visit
http://web.mac.com/zuel/iWeb/MERLEJAM.COM/Hearts%20Like%20Mine.html

I will be going to Chicago this Thursday and Friday for Ambassador Speaker
Training for the Astellas Ride of a Lifetime program. They sponsor five riders
each year on the Donate Life Float at the Rose Parade. I was the winner last
year for the midwest.

I also recently completed the third annual MerleJam benefit concerts in Kansas
City and raised over $10,000 for heart transplant social services at the areas
only heart transplant facility-Saint Luke’s Hospital. Donor husband and KC
Star music critic Tim Finn wrote a great article about organ donation and my
event which was seen by a large number of people in KC. To read the story go
to http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/1168091.html

I look forward to helping increase awareness about organ donation through my
individual efforts and through developing the Kansas City Chapter of TRIO. I
have already begun building a website in anticipation of a positive response
from members and my initial authorization to organize a chapter. We will be
officially reporting the results of our first meeting after it’s conclusion.

Planned Activities for KCTRIO
1. Develop membership & meetings
2. Coordinate Professional Resources
3. Help with Campus Challenge
4. Promote upcoming transplant events

Merle Zuel
-Heart Transplant Recipient, Ambassador for Midwest Transpalnt Network, Ambassador for
Astellas Pharma US Transplant Experience Program,
Organizing Committee Chariman-KCTRIO