May/June cover of USMS Swimmer

FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE A rare opportunity exists to purchase this once off design. Aqua joggers usually come in yellow and pale blue only. This rare green unit....yes green unit can be purchased through the associated magazine...... Please place bids immediately. NB: I can thoroughly recommend it...don't be put off by immature, snide,sarcastic,bigoted & ill informed remarks by the core of USMS members. I no longer require it as I've lost weight swimming laps and it won’t fit anymore. ;)

Originally posted by Dobbie FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE A rare opportunity exists to purchase this once off design. Aqua joggers usually come in yellow and pale blue only. This rare green unit....yes green unit can be purchased through the associated magazine...... Please place bids immediately. NB: I can thoroughly recommend it...don't be put off by immature, snide,sarcastic,bigoted & ill informed remarks by the core of USMS members. I no longer require it as I've lost weight swimming laps and it won’t fit anymore. ;) I want that jogger like nothing I have ever wanted before. I bid $3,000.00. Don't laugh me out of here all of you high rollers. I know I am lowballing you but help a newbie aqua jogger out, huh? :D :p

Originally posted by courtney ....It appears the only meet is world's in CA. ...I will be swimming unattached. Any input? I’m curious where you got the idea that the only upcoming meet was “world’s in CA”. Have you tried checking at USMS? www.usms.org/.../calendar.htm Or checked at a Zone or LMSC calendar or web site? www.usms.org/.../lmscwebsites.php When I joined USMS around Y2K the only event schedule I could readily find was the one at USMS, and it seemed the pickings were pretty slim, even if I was willing to travel great distances. I did not think to look at a Zone schedule (I did not understand USMS structure at the time), and my LMSC was not “wired” then, so getting local meet info was like pulling teeth. Most Zone and LMSC webs are pretty thorough about posting meet info on the web these days however, so I’m betting if you scrounge around you’ll find plenty of local meets. If you can’t find the info on your own then try contacting various folks at your LMSC until someone replies. Here is a really easy page to jump to various LMSC info (like lists of officers, etc.): http://www.usms.org/lmsc/ Swimming unattached is no big deal at most meets. If you show up at a local meet unattached you will likely find folks introducing themselves and asking if you want to join their team. It is a good deal as they get your points and you get a chance to swim relays. It really does not matter if you are fast or slow, team trophies generally go to whatever team shows up with the most bodies (or has the most event entries), and relays can really add to cumulative team points in huge way. You can change your status to being a team member anytime, but you have to fill out a form and wait a few weeks for it to be processed (and you will get a new membership card). You have to be officially registered with a team before you can participate in relays in USMS. You can also just wait till the next time you re-register with USMS (next year) and send in your team affiliation then. Most teams will accept you onto their roster at no charge if you practice on your own, but it is best to ask (if you are not invited) before making an affiliation. Joining the local team that is most active at meets (and that "travels well" too) will assure you better chances at participating in relays. But you may prefer to support an underdog team, as it can make things more interesting.

Craig I just got mine today.

Has anyone gotten their copy of this mag yet? Western Illinois must be the last place on earth for the post office!

Mine wasn't in this morning mail. I'm really disappointed because I have to do laundry this afternoon and was hoping to be able to read it then.

I thought we got noodles from Golden Grain not Speedo. michael

Just to confirm, you MUST be affiliated with a club for Worlds. PS. Perhaps it's not too late to ask Michael Moore to consider getting Speedo to give out freebie Noodles in the goody bags at Worlds? I know! Put them in the $2,500 sponsor bags. That way I'll be sure to get one! LOL! ;)

I am taking a big breath here and jumping into the proverbial deep end of the pool. As a recent Masters Swimmer enthusiast and relatively new member, I am surprised to see such an animated discussion about a cover of a magazine that as Matt pointed out, is geared towards an entire Masters Swimming membership, not just an elite few who are successful at winning championships. Before I joined Masters Swimming, I learned how to swim laps at a very late age compared to a lot of swimmers and hesitated joining Masters because I thought membership was restricted to the champions, the competitors who excel and who I admire greatly and love to watch and learn from. I learned to enjoy swimming because of the incredibly patient and dear friend who IS a Masters swim champion and I was introduced into the wonderful world of Swim meets, open water swims and everything else that goes with being in the USMS family. I met amazing people of every age group who swam with all levels of fellow swimmers and thankfully, never ran into the attitudes of some of you who have posted here, or I would have run from the pool as fast as I can and never joined USMS. Now, when I meet other beginner swimmers who are hesitant to approach USMS, I tell them my story and how much I love Masters swimming. There has been a lot of fun poked at fitness swimmers and I got the impression that you'all think fitness swimmers are just not good enough to be included in your ranks, why else would you have such a hostile reaction over a cover dedicated to swimmers who are not included in your ranks of achievement. I am thrilled that I had the pleasure of meeting Jane Katz at an open water swim and Sarah Kwan, others who I bet could give you a run, or make that swim, for your money. They are an inspiration to me and turned my whole concept of what most masters swimmers are about totally around, and I am grateful for that because I realize that the small group who snub anyone who doesn't compete and win, is a minute portion of USMS. Hey, guys, who do you think roots for you in the stands, or volunteers to help with the meets you compete and win at? I LOVE going to meets, open water swims because I learn so much about technique and style from watching all you champions, you inspire me to keep growing as a swimmer and one day I hope to be in the pool/lake with you, don't think that we don't appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to compete and win, we do! Having some "ordinary" people on the cover of USMS occasionally makes us feel that Masters swimming is indeed for all of us, not just you. Just a thought from someone who has learned to love swimming, USMS and the new "family" who have made me feel so welcome -- Matt, I would never have had the courage to post here if it weren't for your thoughtful and insightful messages.

Roberta- I think you are misinterpreting much of what goes on in this forum. No one that I know of currently posting to this, or any other thread, holds the views that you evidently think they do. There is a broad brush of satire and sarcasm sometimes used, but I urge you not to take it it personally, but rather, consider that many of us are carrying on from previous threads and the context can sometimes be lost. As well, I must say that the internet promotes instant expression rather than considered measured argumentation and thus sometimes produces bruised feelings where none were intended.