what percentage of active swimmers are members of USMS?

I have thought about joining, but can`t come up with a good reason why I should. My schedule conflicts with every team in my area and I really don`t have a strong desire to compete anyway. Already a member of the NRA and the discounts trump anything USMS can offer. Not a whole lot of equipment needed for swimming, so store discounts don`t really seem all that important. I wonder what percentage of active swimmers are members of the USMS? You're here, using the forum. It costs money, as noted by Gull in the existential angst thread in which several, if not many, wring their collective hands and gnash their collective teeth about Ande's blog thread being -- gasp -- moved to the blog section: No one's opinion has been excluded, but I was under the impression that our dues support this forum (among other services). The 2008 budget for USMS lists $42,015 for "web operations." I joined before I needed to because I was using the resources here, including the forum and workout section, and felt a need to give back. Sort of the public broadcasting model.

I have thought about joining, but can`t come up with a good reason why I should. My schedule conflicts with every team in my area and I really don`t have a strong desire to compete anyway. Already a member of the NRA and the discounts trump anything USMS can offer. Not a whole lot of equipment needed for swimming, so store discounts don`t really seem all that important. I wonder what percentage of active swimmers are members of the USMS? You're here, using the forum. It costs money, as noted by Gull in the existential angst thread in which several, if not many, wring their collective hands and gnash their collective teeth about Ande's blog thread being -- gasp -- moved to the blog section: No one's opinion has been excluded, but I was under the impression that our dues support this forum (among other services). The 2008 budget for USMS lists $42,015 for "web operations." I joined before I needed to because I was using the resources here, including the forum and workout section, and felt a need to give back. Sort of the public broadcasting model.