I finally got my USMS Swimmer magazine today. Thought a poll might be in order.
My own first impressions, very well done. I was worried about lack of advertising space. I was surprised that so much space was sold. I count 5 full page adds, and many quarter page adds.
Hopefully this added potential income to USMS will allow us to better serve our members.
My overal all grade is an A-, why not a A or A+?
Well I actually liked the Freestyle Open Turns article. I have perfected my own freestyle turn where I can beat most flip turn people. Note I said most. Having a great flip turn is an awesome advantage to fast freestylers. But that leaves me out.
A good open turn allows me to get a good breathe, VERY important for someone with asthma. It also allows me to get in a perfect streamline and push off about 7 to 8 yards before the first stroke. I also have a bad wing, so taking less strokes per lap means I can sleep at night.
But now to be critical, looking at pages 18 and 19 there are several minor flaws in this "Competitive Butterfly Turn". My concern is that both new and older swimmers will think this is the "perfect" butterfly turn, and it is not. I will elaborate in another thread on this.
I am sure many people worked very hard on this issue, everyone deserves credit in making this first issue a proud new tool for our organization to spread the values of Masters swimming.
Parents
Former Member
I gave them an E because I too have yet to receive my first issue of the year, 2.5 months into 2005. I know there are start up issues, etc. etc. However, I think the folks that thought Swim magazine was eating up too much ad money in expenses may have underestimated the difficulty getting a new magazine off the ground.
I anticipate the product will improve, so it's not a big deal. But, I ask you, given USMS runs on volunteer labor, and we have only so much in the volunteer labor pool to draw on, is publishing our own magazine, instead of contracting out to Swim, the best use of our limited labor supply?
Matt
I gave them an E because I too have yet to receive my first issue of the year, 2.5 months into 2005. I know there are start up issues, etc. etc. However, I think the folks that thought Swim magazine was eating up too much ad money in expenses may have underestimated the difficulty getting a new magazine off the ground.
I anticipate the product will improve, so it's not a big deal. But, I ask you, given USMS runs on volunteer labor, and we have only so much in the volunteer labor pool to draw on, is publishing our own magazine, instead of contracting out to Swim, the best use of our limited labor supply?
Matt
