I recently escorted an elderly swimmer whom over the course of her lifetime has received numerous honors from the International Swimming Hall of Fame and other organizations such as multiple awards from US Master Swimming and the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition Lifetime Achievement Award. As I was sitting at the most recent National Senior Games 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, the meet director was keeping up a regular chatter of information about who was swimming and records. As I looked about, there were several hundred swimmers, all registered USMS members as the meet was a sanctioned event. The news had just been published within the past week that she was being inducted into the Masters Swimming Hall of Fame at Fort Lauderdale this coming October 15th. Swimmers and friends that knew her were coming up and congratulating her on this honor. Knowing the cost of a ticket to the dinner cost several hundreds of dollars not to mention hotel and travel costs, I knew many of those in attendance would not be coming. Yet, looking about I realized these are the people that are her community, they are her people because everything she thing does is for and about swimming. I thought perhaps I should mention to the meet director she was in attendance and she could be introduced to those in attendance. Some may never meet those exemplary swimmers but it's because of them, meets are held for the enjoyment of all. I made sure someone at the meet directors table knew about the announcement and had looked it up on his smart phone, then I got the attention of the meet director during a break and asked him if he could introduce her. He check with his staff, look at the info on the phone and decline to make any introduction for her and gave no reason.
A bit later, Del Moon, Media Director of the National Senior Games who knew her because of the work she had done contributing to the NSG success had made a trip to the swimming venue to see her. He couldn't believe the slight.
So this highlights an opportunity for Masters to honor their own! Knowing not everyone wants to be illuminated for reasons of their own, those pending Masters Swimming Hall of Fame swimmers that so desire an announcement, can expect their request to be so honored. Now since there is a five month or so delay between the announcement and the bestowing of the honor, it could get rather tedious for swimmers whom have to endure multiple announcements, some regulation should be enforced; say, only at National events so as to encourage those nominated to attend Nationals with other exceptions, perhaps. And if it is made part of the sanctioning for an event (for an inquiry if there are any pending Masters Hall of Fame swimmers in attendance) it'll happen.
This is my suggestion. What do you think?