Shark, I can see how you would be confused. I think what you should still do is talk to the LMSC officers and get a feel for what is being done in the LMSC. Take a look at the 2005 LMSC handbook which is in the front page of this website and read the section on registration which outlines what you need to do as a Club and as an Individual. Also in this section they have a list of clubs that were registered in 2004. I noticed 7 were registered in your LMSC last year so I know there is a system there to get your club registered for the 2005 year if you want to go that route. I know many years ago that the OHIO LMSC registered as GOST and that was the club they would compete as when they would go to Zone and National events. I really don't know what is going on now but someone should be able to fill you in.
In Michigan, since 1974 we have registered as one club and that is namely Michigan Masters. When we do any National event either pool, open water, postal, and FINA World we compete as the Michigan Masters team. When we have instate competitions such as our local sanctioned/recognized meets we compete as teams and workout groups. Our bylaws explain this in detail and if you want to know more about it you can see them on the Michigan Masters website which is linked to this national site.
There are differences in opinion around the country as to what is the right, fair, logical, economical, practical, and best way to do the registration and it has been debated on this fourm in the past. Every LMSC has different reasons for doing what they want to do. In Michigan, it has never been a problem because the majority of our registered competitive swimmers swim in the local competitions and always represent the workout group or team in competition. We have 14 santioned/recognized events including our State Championship which gets about 300 swimmers.
People that go to the National events like the opportunity to swim relays with others they meet in the local competitions and this makes enjoyable and fun. Also its a lot easier to put the ages together for the relays especially for the older age groups because sometimes you don't have enough people to fill a relay. This is just one opinion and I m sure there are many others.
Shark, I can see how you would be confused. I think what you should still do is talk to the LMSC officers and get a feel for what is being done in the LMSC. Take a look at the 2005 LMSC handbook which is in the front page of this website and read the section on registration which outlines what you need to do as a Club and as an Individual. Also in this section they have a list of clubs that were registered in 2004. I noticed 7 were registered in your LMSC last year so I know there is a system there to get your club registered for the 2005 year if you want to go that route. I know many years ago that the OHIO LMSC registered as GOST and that was the club they would compete as when they would go to Zone and National events. I really don't know what is going on now but someone should be able to fill you in.
In Michigan, since 1974 we have registered as one club and that is namely Michigan Masters. When we do any National event either pool, open water, postal, and FINA World we compete as the Michigan Masters team. When we have instate competitions such as our local sanctioned/recognized meets we compete as teams and workout groups. Our bylaws explain this in detail and if you want to know more about it you can see them on the Michigan Masters website which is linked to this national site.
There are differences in opinion around the country as to what is the right, fair, logical, economical, practical, and best way to do the registration and it has been debated on this fourm in the past. Every LMSC has different reasons for doing what they want to do. In Michigan, it has never been a problem because the majority of our registered competitive swimmers swim in the local competitions and always represent the workout group or team in competition. We have 14 santioned/recognized events including our State Championship which gets about 300 swimmers.
People that go to the National events like the opportunity to swim relays with others they meet in the local competitions and this makes enjoyable and fun. Also its a lot easier to put the ages together for the relays especially for the older age groups because sometimes you don't have enough people to fill a relay. This is just one opinion and I m sure there are many others.
