Received Rob Butcher's e-mail this morning on April named Adult Learn To Swim Month. Question as to why does USMS not partner up with "World's Largest Swimming Lesson Day" on June 10th.
www.worldslargestswimminglesson.org/
A large number of aquatic organizations partner up on this day. A little sad to not see USMS represented on the home page as a sponsor.
Any number of USMS teams/clubs are already utilizing city pools. It would be a natural partnership with a team/club, a city, and USMS.
While a beneficial program, the World's Largest Swim Lesson is focused on youth. Our initiative is for adults, 18-years of age and older, which the CDC estimates 37% of American adults can not swim the length of a pool. We have outreached to the organizers to offer our support if/when their mission expands to include adults.
Declaring the month of April Adult Learn-to-Swim month serves as a rallying opportunity for our clubs, workout groups, and SSL partners to teach adults (knowing that many of them do this on a year-round basis). Seeking proclamations provides public relations for the cause.
Rob Butcher
Executive Director
Yes, we will be active with social media messaging. Reuters news service which is a source for the majority of print publications published the release today; www.reuters.com/.../fl-swimmingsaveslives-idUSnPnPHzBmj5 168 PRN20140313
To provide an example of the support and publicity being generated for the initiative, on March 31st at 12:15PM, Purdue University President and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (a Masters Swimmer) has agreed to swim a couple lengths of the pool next to adults who are learning. Our USMS video and camera crew will be onsite capturing video and images that will be distributed to the national media. On April 1st, when most of the news is satire, we will issue a release with a message of "Don't be fooled. Swimming can save your life...."
Any USMS programs that are offering adult learn-to-swim lessons and would like SSL adult learn-to-swim banners or SSL caps, please e-mail Claudia Woods at cwoods@usms.org or phone 941-556-6281.
Rob Butcher
Executive Director
Rob, will you guys have something on FB soon (or starting in early April) that we can share and forward? Social media helps spread stuff like wildfire.
