On Friday, October 11th, 2002, Pacific Masters reached a milestone by registering it 10,000th member for the year. Michele Heinz of the Santa Clara Swim Club was the 10,000 registered member this year.
Pacific Masters, the largest regional orgization of United States Mastes Swimming, became the first LMSC to hit the five digit number. Last year Pac Masters was within striking distance of the magic number at year end but finished with 9700 registered swimmers.
Pacific has enjoyed ten years of sustained growth, increasing the membership by about 500 swimmers a year.
"This is really a tribute to the coaches, meet directors and all the volunteers who have worked tirelessly for the athletes" said Chairman Michael Moore. "With the continued support of these volunteers and the emphasis now being placed on physical fitness, I am sure we will continue grow.
Michael has given good reasons for the success of Pacific. But as he points out, most of the things he outlined - organization, leadership, good weather, large population, dedicated volunteers, good coaches, are other places, also.
Of course, California is a little unique. The joke is that if you ask someone from the east coast "What do you do?" and the answer will be a lawyer, a teacher, a policeman, etc. But if you as someone from California, the answer is running, tennis, geneology, etc. They take their hobbies seriously! Physical fitness is important - while Americans are overweight everywhere, they are less overweight in California than most other places.
But the point I want to make is that masters swimming has reached, or is about to reach, a critical density out here. If Pacific is the center of masters swimmers (in contrast to the center of competitive masters swimming), where I live is the center of pacific masters swimming. Within fifteen rush hour minutes from where I live are at least 8 pools that have daily masters workouts. I would guess that at least 3 have memberships of more than 100 master swimmers, and most of these teams have top-ten swimmers. If it weren't for the rush hour restriction, the number of pools would be significantly larger.
In my sons seventh grade class (not grade) are at least three dads that swim on masters teams regularly. I picked up my daughter at a high school friend's house and found out that the adults there both swam (the clue was the drying suits by the front door.)
When swimming becomes as common as this, and not an oddity, then there are lots more reasons to swim than to keep in shape. In particular, it starts to become a social thing that ties communities together, and it will grow all by itself. Perhaps I say that a little too strongly, but only a little.
Michael has given good reasons for the success of Pacific. But as he points out, most of the things he outlined - organization, leadership, good weather, large population, dedicated volunteers, good coaches, are other places, also.
Of course, California is a little unique. The joke is that if you ask someone from the east coast "What do you do?" and the answer will be a lawyer, a teacher, a policeman, etc. But if you as someone from California, the answer is running, tennis, geneology, etc. They take their hobbies seriously! Physical fitness is important - while Americans are overweight everywhere, they are less overweight in California than most other places.
But the point I want to make is that masters swimming has reached, or is about to reach, a critical density out here. If Pacific is the center of masters swimmers (in contrast to the center of competitive masters swimming), where I live is the center of pacific masters swimming. Within fifteen rush hour minutes from where I live are at least 8 pools that have daily masters workouts. I would guess that at least 3 have memberships of more than 100 master swimmers, and most of these teams have top-ten swimmers. If it weren't for the rush hour restriction, the number of pools would be significantly larger.
In my sons seventh grade class (not grade) are at least three dads that swim on masters teams regularly. I picked up my daughter at a high school friend's house and found out that the adults there both swam (the clue was the drying suits by the front door.)
When swimming becomes as common as this, and not an oddity, then there are lots more reasons to swim than to keep in shape. In particular, it starts to become a social thing that ties communities together, and it will grow all by itself. Perhaps I say that a little too strongly, but only a little.
