Got mine over the weekend and thumbed through it. Looks really, really sharp and professional. Great layout, colors, font choice and size, graphics, content(!) and organization. Bravo, Bill!
Loved the English Channel, Connecticut connection article and that authors are USMS members.
I can't wait to go through it more thoroughly later this week.
Rich
Originally posted by aquageek
Where is this elusive magazine? Maybe snail mail isn't working here in Charlotte.
I hear you, Geek! I'm still waiting in Florida.
Still waiting Maybe cuz my last name begins with a W. The end of the list almost. I am registered for 05 since last nov. so should come soon I hope. I got my Swimming world also. If it does not come by the end of March what should we do my friend Bill.
Originally posted by aquageek
Where is this elusive magazine? Maybe snail mail isn't working here in Charlotte.
Haven't received mine either. Of course, you know what they say about New Bern--it's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here.
I did receive my copy of Swimming World...
Hi All,
I just received my member copy in yesterday's mail -- so I know people are still waiting to receive their copies. In the meantime, please check out some of the materials from the first issue, along with bonus web content on our web site:
http://www.usmsswimmer.com
PLEASE NOTE: the magazine will be delivered to everyone who is currently registered for USMS. If you were registered in 2004 but haven't renewed yet, you will also receive a complimentary copy of the first issue (March/April). Please make sure your registration is current, and renew for 2005 if you haven't renewed yet. We want to make sure you don't miss a single issue of SWIMMER.
We hope you'll all feel it's worth the wait, and we encourage you to send feedback once you receive your magazine.
Best Wishes,
Bill
I received USMS Swimmer and will provide feedback on the first issue. Generally everyone that I have talked to that I coach and swim with liked the layout, content, articles, graphics, and pictures. Also a comment was made that this was truly a masters driven magazine because all of the content was written by masters swimmers and about masters swimmers. However there was concerns and questions about content that is usually included in the magazine.
I have had several people ask me about the workout card and why there was not one in the magazine. I realize that it is part of the bonus web content and if we get online we get a pool workout, long distance workout, and open water workout. This is the first time since 1991 that we have not gotten this feature in the printed magazine and a lot of peole used to take this to the pool and use it as a guide to there practices. I did however like the "my favorite set" addition that is part of the printed copy but not on the website.
Which brings me to my next question of why is the online version not consistent with the print mailed version and vice versa. For instance if I direct people to the magazine that have become new swimmers they only see select articles that are up on the website such as "Healthy Swimmer", "Athlete's Heart", and "Butterfly's Emergence", but not "Going The Distance", "Freestyle Open Turns", and "Life Leasons". A lot of new swimmers wanted to see the feature on Michigan Masters swimmer, Andrea Funk, and if they don't have the printed/mailed version they will not be able to read this feature.
Which brings me to my next question of why there is no newstand presence of our national publication. The local Borders and Barnes Noble used to carry Swim and Fitness Swimmer when they were in business and still carries Swimming World. I asked at both stores and they said they never heard of the magazine. I also went to the largest swim shop in Michigan (Different Strokes) and they did not carry the magazine and never heard of it either. I showed them the magazine and they liked what they saw and said it could have a potential newstand presence at the store with the other aquatic and triathlete magazines that they sell. In the past they carried both Fitness and Swim magazines and had on display Splash, Swimming World, Water Polo, and some triathlete magazines. I think if this has not been looked into it should be explored at least with the big swim shops around the country.
I used to go and buy several issues of the Swim Magazine and use them as promotional tools for new swimmers to join the organization and now currently that is not possible. I don't know if it is a cost issue but I remember reading something quoting a cost of $1.30 an issue for overruns of the magazine and if that is true it would be great if we could stock the shelves of the swim shops or the prefered dealers.
Also if someone buys a USMS membership shouldn't they be entilted to the full benefits of the magazine. For instance I have a lot of senior swimmers that don't have computers and they will never see the bonus section of the magazine and yet some non member will see that for free. What I would like to see is the paid members get all of the articles and features that appear on the web. If you want to put less on the web that is fine because all of people don't pay for the service.
