The State of Master Swimming.

While it is worth pondering, I don't know if these are good ideas even "in theory." 1. Making USMS free. So easy to say. How to make up the shortfall in revenue? According to this: www.usms.org/.../budget_proposal.pdf at the national level, the USMS fee (and I'm not talking about the additional LMSC fee) makes up over 75% of the revenue stream. I'm sure individual LMSCs also need their revenue to offer services like newsletters, registrars (many are paid), clinics (many operate at a loss), and other services."Free Registration" is an idea to consider and certainly could not happen overnight. USMS is asking for ideas. What is wrong with thinking outside of the box and offering an idea up? No one is asking that the idea be 100% accepted today or ever. I admire Rob Copeland for putting the question out for discussion. I've heard Mel Goldstein (Club & Coach Development) tell coaches in seminars many times to advertise anywhere, even the phone book, "ADULT SWIM LESSONS" and watch the people flow in. Who has ever done this? Coaches have to be creative about running clinics inexpensively and use them as selling tools for their own club and USMS. Promoted well, clinics/events can be profitable (percentage to LMSC & USMS)and generate membership which is profit for the club/coach. USMS Coaches should offer clinics/events for swimmers/triathletes. This is what we do. How many clubs offer regular clinics to the public as well as their club members? I'm not the financial person obviously, but why not take a serious look at the expenses of the LMSC. Who has done that lately outside of the LMSC's Executive Committee? Some points I wonder about: #1 - Does an LMSC still really need to pay hundreds/thousands of dollars each year for a printed newsletter? #2 - Does USA Triathlon pay registrars in regions all around the USA when they do all registration on-line? #3 - What did the LMSC gain by funding each of the individual LMSC delegates to convention? Or is convention a bit of an incentive award for a year of volunteer work offered to the LMSC? "Seriously, is the annual fee become such a barrier to entry? AARP model? I just checked, and they charge an annual fee of $16." Seriously? Yes. Ask any coach who tries to recruit swimmers if this issue doesn't come up for any one of a boatload of reasons. $16. vs. $44. is a big difference. But I still say we should make USMS free. The greatest asset USMS, it's clubs and coaches could have for revenue is direct leads to people who like or need to swim.

While it is worth pondering, I don't know if these are good ideas even "in theory." 1. Making USMS free. So easy to say. How to make up the shortfall in revenue? According to this: www.usms.org/.../budget_proposal.pdf at the national level, the USMS fee (and I'm not talking about the additional LMSC fee) makes up over 75% of the revenue stream. I'm sure individual LMSCs also need their revenue to offer services like newsletters, registrars (many are paid), clinics (many operate at a loss), and other services."Free Registration" is an idea to consider and certainly could not happen overnight. USMS is asking for ideas. What is wrong with thinking outside of the box and offering an idea up? No one is asking that the idea be 100% accepted today or ever. I admire Rob Copeland for putting the question out for discussion. I've heard Mel Goldstein (Club & Coach Development) tell coaches in seminars many times to advertise anywhere, even the phone book, "ADULT SWIM LESSONS" and watch the people flow in. Who has ever done this? Coaches have to be creative about running clinics inexpensively and use them as selling tools for their own club and USMS. Promoted well, clinics/events can be profitable (percentage to LMSC & USMS)and generate membership which is profit for the club/coach. USMS Coaches should offer clinics/events for swimmers/triathletes. This is what we do. How many clubs offer regular clinics to the public as well as their club members? I'm not the financial person obviously, but why not take a serious look at the expenses of the LMSC. Who has done that lately outside of the LMSC's Executive Committee? Some points I wonder about: #1 - Does an LMSC still really need to pay hundreds/thousands of dollars each year for a printed newsletter? #2 - Does USA Triathlon pay registrars in regions all around the USA when they do all registration on-line? #3 - What did the LMSC gain by funding each of the individual LMSC delegates to convention? Or is convention a bit of an incentive award for a year of volunteer work offered to the LMSC? "Seriously, is the annual fee become such a barrier to entry? AARP model? I just checked, and they charge an annual fee of $16." Seriously? Yes. Ask any coach who tries to recruit swimmers if this issue doesn't come up for any one of a boatload of reasons. $16. vs. $44. is a big difference. But I still say we should make USMS free. The greatest asset USMS, it's clubs and coaches could have for revenue is direct leads to people who like or need to swim.