May/June cover of USMS Swimmer

Craig, Lainey, Please just one more step in moving this conversation to some really new and productive territory. Lainey: what could USMS offer you, someone who does laps and water aerobics on her own, that would be worth your membership fee? Please, think big and really, really radical. We live in an IT enriched world where video clips and training manuals can be dispatched around the world at almost the speed of light. High quality, desk top publishing (i.e. one at a time as needed rather than a print run of hundreds or thousands at a time that then have to maintained on stock, or reprinted as necessary) is a reality, if not old hat. And that is just the IT side. Please, tell me why you love the water, what would make you love it more, what would get your friends jazzed about it enough to join you, and what could USMS do to make that happen? Here's why we competitive swimmers get what we want from USMS: we know what we want. We want organized workouts and fun, competitive swim meets. We're easy to plan for. We pretty much want things just the way they are and really only argue about what aspect of what USMS offers should be emphasized over the others. On the flip side, what we want does not have much appeal outside of our ranks. What spectator really wants to watch heat after indistinguishable heat of the 400 IM or the 200 free? What beginning swimmer really wants to sign up for a life-long career of getting dusted at USMS Nationals, swimming his/her heart out to finish 37th out of 41? Craig, you're the first to suggest something really outside of our box at USMS. Please do tell, what is it about the crew magazine that draws non-rowers to read it? That draws advertisers to sell non-rowing related merchandise? What are they doing to make their sport "interesting"? Craig and Lainey, I'm hoping that if I can toss the two of you into bed with each other (figuratively speaking) my hope is that we can get some new (other than a really disturbing visual image for your respective spouses). If there are any other enthusiasts out there with some insights, please do share what makes your sport "popular." The appeal of triathloning has always puzzled me, or at least the self-evident fact that triathloning is so much more popular than competitive swimming. In terms of buy-in cost and devotion required to be really good, triathloning makes swimming look like a trip to neighborhood brew-pub. So why do so many more people train for and compete in triathloning, and why are their races so much more compelling to watch than one of our meets, and why is the "pro" swimming circuit and opportunities for swimming so laughable compared to what "pro" triathletes already enjoy? Those who know me know that I am into historical miniatures (i.e. toy soldiers, ships and planes). I will think on our hobby and get back to you. Others, please do the same. Matt

Craig, Lainey, Please just one more step in moving this conversation to some really new and productive territory. Lainey: what could USMS offer you, someone who does laps and water aerobics on her own, that would be worth your membership fee? Please, think big and really, really radical. We live in an IT enriched world where video clips and training manuals can be dispatched around the world at almost the speed of light. High quality, desk top publishing (i.e. one at a time as needed rather than a print run of hundreds or thousands at a time that then have to maintained on stock, or reprinted as necessary) is a reality, if not old hat. And that is just the IT side. Please, tell me why you love the water, what would make you love it more, what would get your friends jazzed about it enough to join you, and what could USMS do to make that happen? Here's why we competitive swimmers get what we want from USMS: we know what we want. We want organized workouts and fun, competitive swim meets. We're easy to plan for. We pretty much want things just the way they are and really only argue about what aspect of what USMS offers should be emphasized over the others. On the flip side, what we want does not have much appeal outside of our ranks. What spectator really wants to watch heat after indistinguishable heat of the 400 IM or the 200 free? What beginning swimmer really wants to sign up for a life-long career of getting dusted at USMS Nationals, swimming his/her heart out to finish 37th out of 41? Craig, you're the first to suggest something really outside of our box at USMS. Please do tell, what is it about the crew magazine that draws non-rowers to read it? That draws advertisers to sell non-rowing related merchandise? What are they doing to make their sport "interesting"? Craig and Lainey, I'm hoping that if I can toss the two of you into bed with each other (figuratively speaking) my hope is that we can get some new (other than a really disturbing visual image for your respective spouses). If there are any other enthusiasts out there with some insights, please do share what makes your sport "popular." The appeal of triathloning has always puzzled me, or at least the self-evident fact that triathloning is so much more popular than competitive swimming. In terms of buy-in cost and devotion required to be really good, triathloning makes swimming look like a trip to neighborhood brew-pub. So why do so many more people train for and compete in triathloning, and why are their races so much more compelling to watch than one of our meets, and why is the "pro" swimming circuit and opportunities for swimming so laughable compared to what "pro" triathletes already enjoy? Those who know me know that I am into historical miniatures (i.e. toy soldiers, ships and planes). I will think on our hobby and get back to you. Others, please do the same. Matt