I am doing a survey of how the LMSCs keep their swim records. Basically, I am asking whether each LMSC allows "outsiders" to set and hold records, or whether they allow their records to be set only by members of their LMSC.
I wrote to all of the LMSC Top Ten Recorders and Registrars and received responses from most of them. There are still a few LMSCs that I haven't heard from.
Below is a list of the LMSCs I have not heard from. I am also listing the results from all of the LMSCs who responded. If you are a member of one of the LMSCs I have not heard from, and if you know how your LMSC keeps its records (if it maintains records), please let me know. (NOTE that I am not asking about Zone records - just LMSC records.)
LMSCS I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM:
Border
Iowa
Lake Erie
Montana
New Mexico
North Dakota
Snake River
South Carolina
South Dakota
Southeastern
Wyoming
LMSCs THAT ALLOW ONLY THEIR MEMBERS TO SET RECORDS:
Adirondack
Alaska
Arizona
Central
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida Gold Coast
Georgia
Hawaii
Indiana
Inland Northwest
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
Midwestern
Minnesota
Missouri Valley
New England
New Jersey
Niagara
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Ozark
Pacific
Pacific Northwest
San Diego-Imperial
Southern
Southern Pacific
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin
LMSCS THAT ALLOW ANYONE TO SET THEIR RECORDS:
Florida
LMSCS THAT KEEP TWO SETS OF RECORDS ("CITIZEN" AND "OPEN"):
Arkansas
Oklahoma
LMSCS THAT DO NOT KEEP RECORDS:
Delaware Valley
Gulf
Midwestern
North Texas
Potomac Valley
South Texas
Parents
Former Member
Virtually every one of the "members only" LMSCs said that their swimmers can set their LMSC records anywhere in the country. For example, a Missouri Valley swimmer can compete at Nationals in Florida, break a Missouri Valley record, and submit it to the Missouri Valley recordkeeper.
I initiated the survey to prove a point. Let's just leave it at that!
As for the value of records, I'd have to conclude that most people must like them. I didn't include the numbers in my original post, but based on the USMS 2003 registration numbers, here's how many people are represented in each category:
LMSCs THAT ALLOW ONLY THEIR MEMBERS TO SET RECORDS: 32,464 swimmers
LMSCS THAT ALLOW ANYONE TO SET THEIR RECORDS: 623 swimmers
LMSCS THAT KEEP TWO SETS OF RECORDS ("CITIZEN" AND "OPEN"): 169 swimmers
LMSCS THAT DO NOT KEEP RECORDS: 7,059 swimmers
PRECINCTS NOT REPORTING: 2,174 swimmers (sorry, I guess I read too many election news stories)
I wouldn't assume that the LMSCs that don't keep records don't value them. I received several comments that indicated that some of them just don't have anyone willing to put in the time and effort to maintain records.
Again, the "precincts not reporting" are: Border, Iowa, Lake Erie, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Snake River, South Carolina, South Dakota, Southeastern, and Wyoming. If any of you know whether these LMSCs keep records, please let me know.
Virtually every one of the "members only" LMSCs said that their swimmers can set their LMSC records anywhere in the country. For example, a Missouri Valley swimmer can compete at Nationals in Florida, break a Missouri Valley record, and submit it to the Missouri Valley recordkeeper.
I initiated the survey to prove a point. Let's just leave it at that!
As for the value of records, I'd have to conclude that most people must like them. I didn't include the numbers in my original post, but based on the USMS 2003 registration numbers, here's how many people are represented in each category:
LMSCs THAT ALLOW ONLY THEIR MEMBERS TO SET RECORDS: 32,464 swimmers
LMSCS THAT ALLOW ANYONE TO SET THEIR RECORDS: 623 swimmers
LMSCS THAT KEEP TWO SETS OF RECORDS ("CITIZEN" AND "OPEN"): 169 swimmers
LMSCS THAT DO NOT KEEP RECORDS: 7,059 swimmers
PRECINCTS NOT REPORTING: 2,174 swimmers (sorry, I guess I read too many election news stories)
I wouldn't assume that the LMSCs that don't keep records don't value them. I received several comments that indicated that some of them just don't have anyone willing to put in the time and effort to maintain records.
Again, the "precincts not reporting" are: Border, Iowa, Lake Erie, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Snake River, South Carolina, South Dakota, Southeastern, and Wyoming. If any of you know whether these LMSCs keep records, please let me know.
