All,
I'm thinking about attending convention in three weeks. My reasons are several but most important is that I want to become more involved in USMS and I figure the best way to find out how/what/when/where is to attend convention.
Does this make sense? Would it be worthwhile?
Paul
I'll take that "stirs the pot" thing as a compliment!
Good, that’s how it was meant.
do something at the local level. Committees and inertia and handwringing = :bed: As the current chief handwringer, I believe that it takes people working at all levels to make this work. We need members to encourage (or in some cases brow beat) friends to participate, we need people to lead and to coach clubs, we need people working in the LMSC’s and we need people working at the national and international levels.
This started out and a Convention thread and for some strange reason has morphed somewhat. So to briefly get back to the convention… A number of threads have pointed out that there are many ways to reach swimmers. I see that great minds think alike; which is why this year’s convention theme is “Membership – It’s up to us.” By membership, I don’t just mean adding more members, mean providing our members with more products and services, giving our clubs tools to grow, and yes increasing our membership base. The “it’s up to us” reflects the fact that this can’t be done by 250 people meeting for 4 days at a convention, but takes everyone who is interested in supporting Masters Swimming; be it by encouraging friends to participate, or volunteering to help at a meet, within your club, at the LMSC or national level. It may be as simple as replying to a “Hi, I’m a new swimmer in Scranton” post, with information to help the newbie.
To Paul
I understand why you find some things at the convention frustrating. We all do at some point. I know many swimmers, other than you, who are involved but cannot tolerate the bureaucracy. However, I'd like to take advantage of your experience and observations. I headed a task force several years ago that reorganized the Ex Committee and the Board of Directors and that anticipated an Ex Director. Things are not working as they should yet, but we have made progress and we are still trying. I would appreciate any comments/suggestions from you or anyone else on how we (the administration of USMS) can work more efficiently. Obviously, a big part of progress is to allow the Ex Dir the freedom to lead and to take action. You (and others) can contact me privately at ColoniesDirector AT usms DOT org.
Betsy Durrant
Doug, I guess ultimately where you and I disagree is the notion that these choices are mutually exclusive, or that they have to be done sequentially. In other words, I think it is possible to serve your LMSC by representing them at convention, participating in the national decision-making process, while at the same time serving at the local level.
My choice is to focus on the LMSC almost exclusively because I see the ROI being much higher for our members and see the results sooner. From what I have seen and experienced, this is the better course of action for the LMSC that I represent and the members that comprise it. Trying to be active on both the National level and local level will mean neither will get the most/best effort. That is my take, others may disagree and I am OK with that.
I agree that if one's LMSC is "unhealthy" then there is lots of work to be done at the local level to fix that. Maybe USMS (as an organization) can even help with that... :)
USMS is helping our LMSC in several ways but making our LMSC strong and vibrant is our responsibility. We can't expect Mel, Tom, Mark, Rob, or anybody else to swoop in and fix our problems. Having some skilled mentors in our corner will help but ultimately, our LMSC needs to improve from within. Good things are happening, albeit at a slow pace. However, as many can testify, Arizona is heading in the right direction now.
If I was spending time on National committees, I doubt this would be the case...
Committees and administration and Robert's Rules are not for everyone.
I have only been to one convention, last year's. With that limited base of experience, but having dealt with similar organizational structures my entire professional life, I found last USMS convention pretty efficient while allowing people to be heard. The one committee I am on (Records & Tabulations) is very efficiently run.
I also enjoy working with my fellow LMSC officers at the local level and can see why some may view that as more rewarding.
Certainly there are "power hungry" people (for lack of a better word), longish debate about topics that some view as trivial (but others clearly do not), and other stumbling blocks, and patience is often required to get progress. That is inherent in any large organization that is not a dictatorship. If such things drive away most good-intentioned people, then who is left?
Bottom line, it takes a lot of work at the local and national level to run USMS smoothly and give value to its members. This is a sport I love and have participated in for most of my life, and I want to give back to it. I can understand why some people find participation at the national level frustrating or pointless, but it is not helpful to have a negative attitude about it. Constructive criticism is of course always welcome, though, and there can be a fine line between the two.
It is not necessary to be on a national committee or attend Convention to have an impact at the national level. Do you know who your delegates are? Have you looked over the convention agenda to see if there is something that particularly concerns or affects you? Talk to your delegates, and others from your LMSC who are on the national committees.
Personally, I only want two things from USMS - excellent meets and deals at online swimming stores. I can get hotel, rental car, insurance , airfare, etc deals from two alumni groups and two large companies that will beat anything USMS can put together.
Well, make it three things - a good discussion forum also.
Personally, I only want two things from USMS - excellent meets and deals at online swimming stores. I can get hotel, rental car, insurance , airfare, etc deals from two alumni groups and two large companies that will beat anything USMS can put together.
Well, make it three things - a good discussion forum also.
Geek hits one of the major challenges. making discount deals worthwhile. I have other ways to beat Hertz's USMS discount, usually by a pretty good margin.
I can get hotel, rental car, insurance , airfare, etc deals from two alumni groups and two large companies that will beat anything USMS can put together.
Great, you are blessed! How about those (most?) of us who don't have similar benefits? What is preventing USMS from offering a similar suite of discounts/benefits to what other associations provide?
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have to choose between multiple discounts who are fighting for your business? With 45,000 wealthy, educated members, I reckon USMS could round up a few dozen top-notch, national companies that would be willing to give our members discounts.
...but maybe I am wrong.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have to choose between multiple discounts who are fighting for your business? With 45,000 wealthy, educated members, I reckon USMS could round up a few dozen top-notch, national companies that would be willing to give our members discounts.
Doug--I think this would be great, but the discounts would have to be worthwhile for us to use them.
When I use a company discount for a hotel or rental car, I'll usually get asked by the clerk, "So you work for XXX. How do you like it there?" I think if they saw a USMS discount, they may strike up a similar conversation....and we may educate more people on who/what USMS is. Quite possibly, we may gain more membership from these clerks or other customers who overhear us.
The gridge beers that I will win at the GMUP meet next month will taste all the sweeter.
(Amazing how trash talk can even permeate pretty much any thread on this forum.)
To date, my main contribution is to provide food, beer and shelter to traveling swimmers. However, I have yet to buy a beer for a lost gridge.
I officiate, coach and help with my kids' races and meets. I'll do more when I grow up. I appreciate those who do what they do and provide quality meets.
