At the convention I kept hearing...
"Swimming is the number one choice of exercise in adults" and
"Ask anyone and they'll be able to tell you gow beneficial swimming is" and similar phrases...
Well, I can't dipute the facty that swimming is good for you, one of the best forms of exercise there is.
Now, having said that, I can't help it notice that even in this 'day and age' where so many people are close to obsessed with fitness and exercise - especially in California - the USMS membership of some 40,000 is only 0.15% of the population of the US.
This leads me to think that we (the USMS) has missed the boat somewhere!!!
Coming back from my fiorst convention, I see that thewre is a lot of focus on competetive swimming, and most of the delegates and BOD nad EC are either current or former competetive swimmers, and naturally the focus would be on competing.
That alone is wonderful... BUT...
It is my understanding that close to 80% of the USMS membership consists of fitness swimmers.
Also, I hear that :
- in the last 2-3 years the USMS membership has been stagnating.
- USMS does want to grow in membership.
And...
at the convention, I see 'fitness' as being an auxiliary, almost a stepchild focus to the competetive side.
Don't get me wrong, I love to compete myself, BUT...
Competetive adult swimmers are a very narrow demographic and if USMS wants to grow, they (we) need to find more attractive ways to "build-educate-service" our potential fitness swimmers.
I find it puzzling that many 'fitness swimmers' will readily enter open water swims, but when they hear of a swim meet, they don't think they're good enough for it... I've done both, and let me tewll you, swim meets are much easier, especially for a first timer, then an open water mile swim in an ocean or a lake.
I also see coaches right here in this forum that are having a hard time explaining to their fitness swimmers why (other then insurance that some clubs require) they should be members of USMS.
I think USMS is failing in it's core objectives when it comes to attracting membership, servicing them and educatiing them, which I strongly believe will mostly come from the fitness side.
Well, this is all that comes to mind at the moment. I'm hoping to eventually refine the thoughts.
Comments, thoughts anyone? I'd love to have some dialogue about this and hear what other people think.
Parents
Former Member
Membership in USMS is certainly a personal choice, "Do I want to swim with an organized group or do I want to have a go at it on my own?" I honestly believe, at least this seems to hold true for our group, that the majority of swimmers join the local USMS sponsored group for the social aspect as much as the fitness benefit that it provides. A very small percentage of our swimmers (and USMS members in general) compete regularly, if at all. Emphasizing the fitness and health benefits of swimming, having a great group of people to swim with, drink with, celebrate with, or provide support to is tantamount to having a successful local and national USMS organization.
Is $35 a year a large amount to pay for having the benefit of being around a great group of people...absolutely not...it is a real bargain! Anyone can pay $62 a month to compete for lane space at my local Y (I sheepishly admit that I do but I also admit that I only compete for lane space a couple of times a month) or they can join USMS for $35 a year and participate in organized workouts with great individuals, many who have similar goals; improving health and fitness and having fun during workouts.
I see the great potential USMS has to increase membership, but I feel that the effort must start at the local level with local effort to attract swimmers. If all USMS groups are as fun as ours is, and I suspect most are, a grassroots effort will greatly enhance the membership of USMS.
Membership in USMS is certainly a personal choice, "Do I want to swim with an organized group or do I want to have a go at it on my own?" I honestly believe, at least this seems to hold true for our group, that the majority of swimmers join the local USMS sponsored group for the social aspect as much as the fitness benefit that it provides. A very small percentage of our swimmers (and USMS members in general) compete regularly, if at all. Emphasizing the fitness and health benefits of swimming, having a great group of people to swim with, drink with, celebrate with, or provide support to is tantamount to having a successful local and national USMS organization.
Is $35 a year a large amount to pay for having the benefit of being around a great group of people...absolutely not...it is a real bargain! Anyone can pay $62 a month to compete for lane space at my local Y (I sheepishly admit that I do but I also admit that I only compete for lane space a couple of times a month) or they can join USMS for $35 a year and participate in organized workouts with great individuals, many who have similar goals; improving health and fitness and having fun during workouts.
I see the great potential USMS has to increase membership, but I feel that the effort must start at the local level with local effort to attract swimmers. If all USMS groups are as fun as ours is, and I suspect most are, a grassroots effort will greatly enhance the membership of USMS.
