Paul Smith has started another thread which has migrated to what USMS might do to attract and keep more members. I thought, after trying unsuccessfully to find a thread on the subject, that I would hit the nail on the head.
There was a recent membership poll on the issues, which I participated in, but I thought it might not have emphasized strongly enough my own personal reasons:
I AM A MEMBER OF USMS SOLELY BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR COMPETITION.
There are other 'benefits' that accrue from your USMS membership but most of them are of no interest to me. Insurance is one that is often mentioned, but in my experience, this is not such an important factor.
Excluding city and county recreation centers and private athletic clubs, here is a list of all the teams I have trained with and their membership requirements:
Laramie Masters Swim Club: trained at the high school; USMS membership required.
University of Wyoming Masters Swim Group: trained at the University; USMS membership not required.
Ford Aquatics: trained at the University of Arizona; USMS membership required.
Northern Arizona Masters: trained at Northern Arizona University; USMS membership not required.
Snow Mountain Masters: trained at Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA; USMS membership not required.
University of Denver Masters: trained at DU; USMS membership not required.
So, of the six teams I have trained with only two have required USMS membership. Most of my training is solo at clubs and recreation centers, so the insurance problem is not an issue.
Also, now that I'm over 50, there are other competition avenues open to me (read Senior Games...) so I could continue to compete even if there were no USMS (In fairness, here, I should stress that USMS has worked VERY HARD to bring these games up to their standards of competition. I went to some of the earlier versions of these that were just a joke. I believe that we seniors owe a great debt to Scott Rabalais and others for carrying this out.)
What's your reason?
You are exactly correct. There is only one unique selling proposition, or USP in salesman's terms, that USMS has and that is providing the ability for a member to attend a USMS sponsored swim meet. That is the only reason that compels anyone to join USMS (unless they are forced to join by the workout group). Because of that, the target market is very limited (adults that want to attend swim meets). The vast market of fitness swimmers has to be addressed by a paradigm shift on the part of USMS. That shift can take place with the Go The Distance (GTD) event sponsored by the Washington State Masters. If this event is advertised on a broad scale by USMS to the fitness market place, USMS could have hundreds of thousands of members instead of tens of thousands.
Bob
NJ
When I turned 50 I decided I needed an exercise for the second half of my life. Volleyball, basketball and running had taken a big enough toll on my joints (knees and shoulders in particular) that I needed something lower impact. Since then I've kind of gotten into the postal swims (thanks to Marcia Cleveland) and now Go the Distance (thank you Mary Sweat). I don't think I will ever be classed as anything other than a fitness swimmer. I do like the practice aspect because I can just be in the moment. Have someone feed me a workout and not either think something up or brow beat my way through it. Show up. Swim.
Skip Montanaro
I join USMS to compete. Why do I compete? Probably unresolved childhood issues--no self-esteem, I deserve self-abuse, or possibly lack of job satisfaction. I am 40 years old and still find it necessary to pull on some over-priced fastskin and prove I'm still worth something three times a year.
As for updating USMS, I don't know if I would bother. I would be happy with a 15 dollar USMS fees to cover medical deductibles for say...oh I don't know, like if somebody has an MI at a state championship after setting the national record in the 200 Breaststroke for instance. I personally don't think the logo is that bad. I have a USMS sticker on my car and the only way to make it any sexier is to put a phallus on it.
We cannot compete with triathlon and we never will. Triathlon is sexy and people love to call themselves triathletes (even though all they do are 300m pool swims, 10 mile bike, and 3 mile runs). The image of Julie Moss crawling across the finish line soiled in ?stool/menstrual unmentionables at Hawaii ironman 30 years ago is etched into the consciousness of millions. People do a triathlon and they feel they have accomplished something. Swimming usually just boils down to endless boring laps in a stinky YMCA basement in Helena, Montana (where I learned to swim).
I think think the biggest improvement that can happen in masters swimming has already happened. Namely, the 60 plus crowd has moved from their 50 year-old lycra suits (with the disturbing image it creates) to snugger fastskin (however, I swear if another guy asks me to "zip me up" again, I might lose it).
I love to swim but I'm not sure I want to make others love it. So, in summary, my vote is to continue to keep it simple.
When I first joined USMS, I joined because it was required by our club in order to workout and compete.
Later on my USMS membership was a ticket to train with other adult swimmers as I traveled around the country with my job.
Today I travel less with my job, but I still train locally and compete. However tome my USMS membership is not just a ticket to compete. Masters Swimming is an integral part of my life, I owe my level of fitness (as meager as it may be), countless lifelong friends, and personal goals that drive.
I can’t imagine my life without Masters Swimming (well I can, but it isn’t a pretty picture). So you join USMS? I’m a member because I believe in the USMS mission and I want to support this organization for myself, all of my friends in the Masters and for my children who I hope to be Masters Swimmers, long after I’m gone.
I joined USMS to swim in my first meet unattached.
I joined a club team so I could swim at Worlds, which precluded unattached swimmers from competing. (Why? Who knows?) I ended up liking my team very much and wish I could practice with them more often.
I stay with USMS because I like to compete and I enjoy the friends I've made on the forum, at meets and at our dinner socials. They, more than others, "get" me. Paul Smith once said he'd rather have wine chats with a swimmer than a non-swimmer, and I understand that philosophy. This forum has also provided an abundance of information/encouragement that has helped me improve my swimming and training, and, as a mostly self-coached athlete, I'm grateful for that.
I was fit before. Swimming has not changed my life in that way. It just makes me happier -- except when I have a cranky shoulder day.
Like Rob, I hope my children may have masters swimming in their future. Or at least some masters sport.
I would be happy with a 15 dollar USMS fees to cover medical deductibles for say...oh I don't know, like if somebody has an MI at a state championship after setting the national record in the 200 Breaststroke for instance.
Kurt,
I hope you're there WHEN it happens to me, as you were for RonJon....
Swimming usually just boils down to endless boring laps in a stinky YMCA basement in Helena, Montana (where I learned to swim).
I'm from Missoula, although a few years younger than you. I went to meets at Caroll college pool and the outdoor 50m pool in Helena from 81-84. I bet we know some of the same people.
Anyway, I joined USMS because I had the background as a kid, and needed to lose weight. Competition is great to keep motivated and stay in a routine.
