Limit Nationals to Within USMS Boundaries?

I don't think we need to legislate to limit bids to USMS boundaries, but I do wonder if a meet held in Puerto Rico (or other Federation territories) would have more of an international rather than national feel to the meet. At the four national meets I've attended, there has been tremendous turn out from the local LMSC clubs. Swimmers who may not normally travel to nationals enter the meet because it's in their own backyard. This is great for the meet hosts, and also for participants who may be new to competiton, or reluctant to travel for a meet for which they don't make qualifying times. It also helps the local clubs put together lots of relays and earn lots of points--hopefully garnering them a "win" for all the hard work put into the meet. If this helps to boost USMS membership in the area for a few years, that's even better. Holding the meet outside the boundaries of USMS LMSC territories implies that there is no "local" USMS host team. Currently, international entries in USMS national meets are pretty low, but my assumption is that hosting the meet in PR would significantly increase international participation at the meet (I'm guessing PR would have a shot at the title of USMS National Champion?), but would it do anything to help USMS participation--i.e. increase membership, encourage members to compete at a meet like nationals, etc.? I'm all for having nationals at first class facilities, and based on comments from one of my teammates who attended PanAms in PR, the facility is fantastic. That said, I would hate for nationals to take on the persona of an international meet like PanAms or Worlds. The debate over "local club" vs. "umbrella club" scoring has been hotly debated. How would having "Team Puerto Rico" win the coveted National Champion banner effect the scoring debate in 2011? I realize I'm arguing both sides here, but if the location for the national meet sounds intriguing it does make me more excited to attend (read, more likely to make attendance a priority). For that reason, traveling outside the natural USMS boarders could be fun. However, it's been my experience that there's little time to enjoy the local sights when swimming multiple events per day. My :2cents:.

I don't think we need to legislate to limit bids to USMS boundaries, but I do wonder if a meet held in Puerto Rico (or other Federation territories) would have more of an international rather than national feel to the meet. At the four national meets I've attended, there has been tremendous turn out from the local LMSC clubs. Swimmers who may not normally travel to nationals enter the meet because it's in their own backyard. This is great for the meet hosts, and also for participants who may be new to competiton, or reluctant to travel for a meet for which they don't make qualifying times. It also helps the local clubs put together lots of relays and earn lots of points--hopefully garnering them a "win" for all the hard work put into the meet. If this helps to boost USMS membership in the area for a few years, that's even better. Holding the meet outside the boundaries of USMS LMSC territories implies that there is no "local" USMS host team. Currently, international entries in USMS national meets are pretty low, but my assumption is that hosting the meet in PR would significantly increase international participation at the meet (I'm guessing PR would have a shot at the title of USMS National Champion?), but would it do anything to help USMS participation--i.e. increase membership, encourage members to compete at a meet like nationals, etc.? I'm all for having nationals at first class facilities, and based on comments from one of my teammates who attended PanAms in PR, the facility is fantastic. That said, I would hate for nationals to take on the persona of an international meet like PanAms or Worlds. The debate over "local club" vs. "umbrella club" scoring has been hotly debated. How would having "Team Puerto Rico" win the coveted National Champion banner effect the scoring debate in 2011? I realize I'm arguing both sides here, but if the location for the national meet sounds intriguing it does make me more excited to attend (read, more likely to make attendance a priority). For that reason, traveling outside the natural USMS boarders could be fun. However, it's been my experience that there's little time to enjoy the local sights when swimming multiple events per day. My :2cents:.