Before begin on today’s topic, I apologize for not posting in nearly two weeks — as I mentioned in my comment to Joel, I have been frantically trying to catch up on things since returning from the convention followed by a business trip. When I first started this site, I made a commitment to myself that I would post at least once a week because I hate out-dated sites. Hopefully, I will not have reason to break that promise again!
O.K., onto the convention…
While 2008 was number 29 for the USAS Convention, it was my first. Before I went to Atlanta, this year’s host city, I knew a little about what to expect. Some convention “vets” in my area were kind enough to offer me key information and advice in advance, and I wisely used my plane time to read the entire USMS packet, familiarizing myself on committee year-recaps and pending business, rules, the proposed budget, procedures, and even office candidate profiles.
Also, based on attending the convention as a USMS delegate, I expected to learn certain things, such as how USMS is organized, which I did. And to have certain experiences, like meeting tons of other adults passionate swimming, which I did in spades.
But the best part of any new experience, for me at least, are the things you learn and experience that you never saw coming. Such as how vast USMS is. In particular, I learned that my competition-centric masters world view needs to broaden to include fitness swimmers, who are actually the majority of members.
I also came away impressed by how hard working every volunteer is, and how much effort is applied to everything under the USMS umbrella, including establishing teams, registering all members, offering a fitness challenge, printing a rule book, running an open water event, and much, much more. Best of all, I was able to see how much support USMS provides now (and plans to additionally provide in the near future) via printed and on-line materials and experts as resources to allow all of us in love with swimming to continue to pursue our passion.
As a life-long competitive swimmer, of course my final “perspective change” thought has to return to meets. Now that I’ve seen the Rules, Officials, Coaches, Records & Tabulations committes in action (and this is just the tip of the iceberg — don’t forget how a rule book must go from from “thought to print” and then into officials hands, the work of host teams and volunteers to do everything from obtain a sanction number to cleaning up after a meet), I will never attend a meet thoughtlessly. Rather, along with focusing on my events and having fun, I will take time to thank anyone and everyone invovled in running the event!
Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist