USMS is the only sports membership I pay for so I have nothing to compare against. For other activities I do, there is no fixed cost simply to participate, other than equipment needed to perform the activity. I do choose to subscribe to some sports-related magazines, such as Runner's World, but the cost is lower than the USMS magazine, and I always have a choice if I want to renew.
When I chat with swimmers at my gym pool who seem like they are faster than I am, and mention joining a USMS team, their primary concern is cost. Not only the ~$40/year to USMS, but also the monthly dues that teams charge. If USMS really wants to expand, cost/dues are factors that are limiting this expansion. When I was in grad school, I didn't join for that very reason.
You come to this forum, which is free, and then turn around and gripe constantly about the tiny cost of USMS. I've about had it with the whining. If it is that much of a problem, cancel your membership, it's that simple.
You state the other sports you participate in there is no fixed cost to participate. You bike and run so you can walk outside your front door and workout. If you joined a biking team or running team it is entirely possible they would have dues. Do you expect swimming to be free?
Further, fees for road races, both bike and run, are very expensive compared to swim and USMS membership. USAT dues are double USMS and the events are, at minimum, double as well. My wife does half-marathons and they are very expensive, much more than the cost of a USMS membership AND a single meet fee. I can swim an entire weekend for $40. You can't sniff a triathlon or serious running race for under $75. I swam in Atlanta for 4 days for $130 and that included two t-shirts and a parking pass, which doubled my cost. An Ironman is about $450 for a single one day event.
Every January when my wife and I renew our USAT membership and sign up in the mad rush for our yearly triathlons we always remark at just how affordable USMS is.
The magazine, let it go. It comes with the membership. All sports organizations do this. If you don't like it, don't read it. The USAT magazine is nothing more than a hundred pages of adds. I find value in the Swimmer mag I receive. If you are suggesting you have the option to be USMS member and get the magazine on line for a reduced USMS cost, that might be an idea.
I'm sorry you hang out with cheapskates. Here's the bottom line - pools are expensive to run, coaches aren't free and lane competition is significant. Do you have kids in USAS programs? If you did you'd realize what an incredible bargain USMS is. I suspect I pay 4-5X more per year for the kids' programs. I don't complain about that either, btw, because I know the value of what they receive. Most pool programs struggle to break even. I suspect if you really were charged a fee to stay even, it would be much more.
You also fail to recognize many other valuable aspects of this organization. A centralized authority for meet management, standards for regulations, facility information, coaching guides, workouts, etc. We all benefit from this.
You have to decide if the value of USMS is worth it to you. For me it's a total no-brainer. You also train with two of the best coaches around so it is shocking that you would complain about a relatively tiny amount of money to do your sport in a beautiful facility with awesome coaches. I think you are at Mesa, if not, then I'm wrong. But, you swim somewhere.
You obviously feel swimming should be free. Well, for all we get from USMS, it is about as close to free as you can get.
USMS is the only sports membership I pay for so I have nothing to compare against. For other activities I do, there is no fixed cost simply to participate, other than equipment needed to perform the activity. I do choose to subscribe to some sports-related magazines, such as Runner's World, but the cost is lower than the USMS magazine, and I always have a choice if I want to renew.
When I chat with swimmers at my gym pool who seem like they are faster than I am, and mention joining a USMS team, their primary concern is cost. Not only the ~$40/year to USMS, but also the monthly dues that teams charge. If USMS really wants to expand, cost/dues are factors that are limiting this expansion. When I was in grad school, I didn't join for that very reason.
You come to this forum, which is free, and then turn around and gripe constantly about the tiny cost of USMS. I've about had it with the whining. If it is that much of a problem, cancel your membership, it's that simple.
You state the other sports you participate in there is no fixed cost to participate. You bike and run so you can walk outside your front door and workout. If you joined a biking team or running team it is entirely possible they would have dues. Do you expect swimming to be free?
Further, fees for road races, both bike and run, are very expensive compared to swim and USMS membership. USAT dues are double USMS and the events are, at minimum, double as well. My wife does half-marathons and they are very expensive, much more than the cost of a USMS membership AND a single meet fee. I can swim an entire weekend for $40. You can't sniff a triathlon or serious running race for under $75. I swam in Atlanta for 4 days for $130 and that included two t-shirts and a parking pass, which doubled my cost. An Ironman is about $450 for a single one day event.
Every January when my wife and I renew our USAT membership and sign up in the mad rush for our yearly triathlons we always remark at just how affordable USMS is.
The magazine, let it go. It comes with the membership. All sports organizations do this. If you don't like it, don't read it. The USAT magazine is nothing more than a hundred pages of adds. I find value in the Swimmer mag I receive. If you are suggesting you have the option to be USMS member and get the magazine on line for a reduced USMS cost, that might be an idea.
I'm sorry you hang out with cheapskates. Here's the bottom line - pools are expensive to run, coaches aren't free and lane competition is significant. Do you have kids in USAS programs? If you did you'd realize what an incredible bargain USMS is. I suspect I pay 4-5X more per year for the kids' programs. I don't complain about that either, btw, because I know the value of what they receive. Most pool programs struggle to break even. I suspect if you really were charged a fee to stay even, it would be much more.
You also fail to recognize many other valuable aspects of this organization. A centralized authority for meet management, standards for regulations, facility information, coaching guides, workouts, etc. We all benefit from this.
You have to decide if the value of USMS is worth it to you. For me it's a total no-brainer. You also train with two of the best coaches around so it is shocking that you would complain about a relatively tiny amount of money to do your sport in a beautiful facility with awesome coaches. I think you are at Mesa, if not, then I'm wrong. But, you swim somewhere.
You obviously feel swimming should be free. Well, for all we get from USMS, it is about as close to free as you can get.
