After the furor over "the letter" I decided to look for a USMS charter or similar statement. I expected to find something that said something like USMS serves to promote adult swimming open to all (etc.).
Instead I found nothing. The FAQ is mostly about nuts and bolts of USMS and why join. The Administration pages on this site describe how USMS is run.
I could not find anywhere a general statement of USMS's purpose for being other than to give adult swimmers their own group. I couldn't find any language about non-discrimination or to promote adult swimming, etc.
Shouldn't USMS have something like that?
Parents
Former Member
We apparently need a charter or mission statement that precludes prejudice and pandering from being distributed by USMS...you mean we don't have one yet?
That Jan/Feb 2011 now-redacted letter published by USMS was horrible and shakes my respect...after all, last September, the team coach where USMS management swims sent out a caution against comments and jokes analogous to the Jan/Feb 2011 letter.
Contrasting with probably many other contributed letters rejected, why was this letter picked for publication?
A while back, wrongly attacked for a different stereotype, I too was slandered by a USMS member(s), the hurt deepened by a coach admonishment for no basis whatsoever. Although I was comforted by many apologies, it's hard to recover when wrongly accused of sin. I will never forget my discussion about this matter with our magazine's editor. I feel empathy for the target of the letter published by USMS. Will he take legal action against USMS?
The USMS apology (and destruction of remaining copies of the Jan/Feb magazine), while due, suggests that there may be some sort of explanation appended to such letters to the editor in the future....I hope not....demeaning commentary should never be permitted...living a valid and vibrant life is not a sin akin to thievery and adultery (virtually never attached to the group castigated in USMS's magazine) as the finally-discredited letter suggested.
Having just taken a 4 hour clinic for officiating at YMCA meets, augmenting my service as a USAS official, I was reminded of the Y's core values - Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility. Let's all adopt them.
We apparently need a charter or mission statement that precludes prejudice and pandering from being distributed by USMS...you mean we don't have one yet?
That Jan/Feb 2011 now-redacted letter published by USMS was horrible and shakes my respect...after all, last September, the team coach where USMS management swims sent out a caution against comments and jokes analogous to the Jan/Feb 2011 letter.
Contrasting with probably many other contributed letters rejected, why was this letter picked for publication?
A while back, wrongly attacked for a different stereotype, I too was slandered by a USMS member(s), the hurt deepened by a coach admonishment for no basis whatsoever. Although I was comforted by many apologies, it's hard to recover when wrongly accused of sin. I will never forget my discussion about this matter with our magazine's editor. I feel empathy for the target of the letter published by USMS. Will he take legal action against USMS?
The USMS apology (and destruction of remaining copies of the Jan/Feb magazine), while due, suggests that there may be some sort of explanation appended to such letters to the editor in the future....I hope not....demeaning commentary should never be permitted...living a valid and vibrant life is not a sin akin to thievery and adultery (virtually never attached to the group castigated in USMS's magazine) as the finally-discredited letter suggested.
Having just taken a 4 hour clinic for officiating at YMCA meets, augmenting my service as a USAS official, I was reminded of the Y's core values - Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility. Let's all adopt them.
