Kathy Szary and her husband Tom moved into a Harwich Terrace patio home at The Mayflower Community in August 2016. During the summer of 2016, Kathy, then recently retired from her position as Medical Staff Services Coordinator/Executive Assistant at UnityPoint Health–Grinnell, completed training to became a volunteer counselor for the Iowa Department of Insurance’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program—Senior Medicare Patrol (SHIIP-SMP).
Kathy’s interest in pursuing this volunteer position started when she took her mother Pauline McNabb, also a former Mayflower resident, to a SHIIP counselor many years ago to get a prescription drug plan. Her interest was piqued at this point and she stated that after she retired this was something she wanted to do.
Certification for this program is renewed annually with comprehensive update training. This provides Kathy with the tools to advise seniors getting ready to retire to understand the steps they need to take, reviewing their prescription drug plans during the annual Open Enrollment Period, understanding the differences between a Medicare supplement and prescription drug plan and a Medicare Advantage plan, and assisting with other Medicare related questions and issues.
To maintain certification, Kathy must counsel at least 60 clients a year. She is one of only two certified counselors in Grinnell, with a third one in training. Kathy has been trained as a program mentor and will serve in that role with the newest counselor.
UnityPoint Health–Grinnell is a sponsor site, where clients are seen in their public health facility. In addition, Kathy meets with Mayflower clients on the Mayflower campus.
Based on this herculean work, Kathy has been given the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award. See her notice below:
From: Rebecca Gernes
Subject: 2021 Governor’s Volunteer Award
June 4, 2021
Type of Award: Length of Service – Individual
Name for Certificate: Kathy Szary
Dear Kathy:
It is with great pleasure we are writing to inform you that you have been selected to receive a Governor’s Volunteer Award for outstanding commitment and service. Your nomination was submitted by Julie Rarick at Iowa SHIIP-SMP.
We cordially invite you to the Governor’s Volunteer Awards Virtual Ceremony at 10:30am on July 14th, 2021. Your award certificate will be delivered to you separately.
Link to view ceremony on Volunteer Iowa’s YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/user/VolunteerIowa.
We are pleased to honor those who have given the precious gift of their time to meet essential needs all across Iowa. Thank you for your dedication and for contributing your talent to enrich this state. We hope you will be able to attend.
2020-2021 awardees will be invited to have official photos with the Governor and Lt Governor at our next in-person recognition event, set for 2022.
Sincerely,
The 2021 Governor’s Volunteer Awards Organizing Committee
— Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director