Solo Swimmers

Suggestion: When you use my quotes, will you please differentiate them from your own statements by letting my quotes stand in my chosen font? You can do this by using the "Reply with quote" feature and inserting your statements within what I have written, or making your statements after my quote after erasing your previous statements.) It may be difficult for other readers to discern in your previous message what you and I have each written. I would prefer there be no confustion on that. (#2 was especially confusing to differentiate.) 1) Why did you quit going to meets? I've also volunteered to help do the lap counts for distance. Have you done that? Yes, I have. I also shoot photos for our state's newsletter, interview swimmers and write a "Swimmer Profile" each month, periodically write articles about meets I was at such as the Masters World Championships in Montreal, Georgia Games Open Water Meet, etc.; the articles I write for Swimspire are also for our newsletter; I was recently added to serve on our B.O.D; I have taught four people in our community how to swim at no charge (dozens and dozens of hours spent); volunteered at the USMS National Convention hospitality suite last September; shot video of teammates for stroke feedback; timed; and helped clean up after the Pentathlon meet and annual team meeting. You have the background of being in swimming. My only background in swimming before joining USMS was swimming for my high school swim team. Our "coach" was a P.E. teacher who got stuck with the swim team. She did not know how to swim-- a fact we learned when we threw her in the pool after beating our rival. She was in tears as she struggled to the edge of the pool with panic in her eyes. I learned how to swim somewhat properly by watching the only other breaststroker on the team. (I was the only other swimmer who liked breaststroke, so I became the other "breaststroker" on the squad.) All of my "background" was acquired by watching others, reading books, and later watching videos when I joined USMS. I also hired a part-time coach by the hour for swim lessons to learn the strokes properly. (I wish I could say my fly coaching stuck, but that's a subject for another thread...) If you promote solo swims, it kinda makes belonging to a club or USMS sort of not worth it." I don't "promote" solo swimming; I only started this thread as a place for all of us who are stuck in this situation to share ideas and commiserate. Julia approached me about writing a series of articles for Swimspire. It wasn't my idea, but I am happy to do so, because not all of us have easy access to clubs/teams. I'm betting that if you ask the USMS staff if they would rather have the $ they get from solo swimmers or let them drop out, they are happy to get our $. Besides, I ask every swimmer I meet everywhere I go if they are USMS members. If they aren't, I ask them why not, and I give them information about the organization. I always encourage people I meet to join, and I consider myself a good ambassador for the organization. Even if I didn't compete at meets (which I do; look me up under "Krugman"), I would still promote the organization the same way. I'm betting a lot of other solo swimmer members do the same, even if they don't compete but still find value in their membership. Why do you have to be part of a club if it's making you so unhappy, over and over again? I've not been with that club for months, so I'm not sure why you are focusing on this. Actually, if I remember correctly, it was you who has complained repetitively about that club on other threads as well, and I don't believe you mentioned that you had not been with them for "months". Why were you focusing on something that was in your past? Rather than dwell on the past, live in the moment and set goals for the future! Maybe it would have been more helpful to ask me for a timeline first? No, it was up to you to make that clear in your statements. Better yet, do not dwell on the past. Actually, I saw more negativity from the opposite side, more personal comments, than I did in asking me to explain my position and going thru all the examples I gave. You decided you didn't want to discuss a different conversation you started in PM. Same here. I had to put my foot down and that is when you wanted the conversation to stop. No different here. We have quite a disconnect in our communication styles. It happens. 67King and I seem to be able to understand each other more easily, as do King Frog and I. I come to the conclusion what we need to stop a conversation when it becomes apparent we will never come to an understanding. HB-2 (our PM conversation for those in the gallery) was a hot-button issue, and we will never agree. My facts came from USA Today, and I have a heart that I am proud will never change. What can I say? We are on different planets, and we just communicate differently. It is what it is.

Suggestion: When you use my quotes, will you please differentiate them from your own statements by letting my quotes stand in my chosen font? You can do this by using the "Reply with quote" feature and inserting your statements within what I have written, or making your statements after my quote after erasing your previous statements.) It may be difficult for other readers to discern in your previous message what you and I have each written. I would prefer there be no confustion on that. (#2 was especially confusing to differentiate.) 1) Why did you quit going to meets? I've also volunteered to help do the lap counts for distance. Have you done that? Yes, I have. I also shoot photos for our state's newsletter, interview swimmers and write a "Swimmer Profile" each month, periodically write articles about meets I was at such as the Masters World Championships in Montreal, Georgia Games Open Water Meet, etc.; the articles I write for Swimspire are also for our newsletter; I was recently added to serve on our B.O.D; I have taught four people in our community how to swim at no charge (dozens and dozens of hours spent); volunteered at the USMS National Convention hospitality suite last September; shot video of teammates for stroke feedback; timed; and helped clean up after the Pentathlon meet and annual team meeting. You have the background of being in swimming. My only background in swimming before joining USMS was swimming for my high school swim team. Our "coach" was a P.E. teacher who got stuck with the swim team. She did not know how to swim-- a fact we learned when we threw her in the pool after beating our rival. She was in tears as she struggled to the edge of the pool with panic in her eyes. I learned how to swim somewhat properly by watching the only other breaststroker on the team. (I was the only other swimmer who liked breaststroke, so I became the other "breaststroker" on the squad.) All of my "background" was acquired by watching others, reading books, and later watching videos when I joined USMS. I also hired a part-time coach by the hour for swim lessons to learn the strokes properly. (I wish I could say my fly coaching stuck, but that's a subject for another thread...) If you promote solo swims, it kinda makes belonging to a club or USMS sort of not worth it." I don't "promote" solo swimming; I only started this thread as a place for all of us who are stuck in this situation to share ideas and commiserate. Julia approached me about writing a series of articles for Swimspire. It wasn't my idea, but I am happy to do so, because not all of us have easy access to clubs/teams. I'm betting that if you ask the USMS staff if they would rather have the $ they get from solo swimmers or let them drop out, they are happy to get our $. Besides, I ask every swimmer I meet everywhere I go if they are USMS members. If they aren't, I ask them why not, and I give them information about the organization. I always encourage people I meet to join, and I consider myself a good ambassador for the organization. Even if I didn't compete at meets (which I do; look me up under "Krugman"), I would still promote the organization the same way. I'm betting a lot of other solo swimmer members do the same, even if they don't compete but still find value in their membership. Why do you have to be part of a club if it's making you so unhappy, over and over again? I've not been with that club for months, so I'm not sure why you are focusing on this. Actually, if I remember correctly, it was you who has complained repetitively about that club on other threads as well, and I don't believe you mentioned that you had not been with them for "months". Why were you focusing on something that was in your past? Rather than dwell on the past, live in the moment and set goals for the future! Maybe it would have been more helpful to ask me for a timeline first? No, it was up to you to make that clear in your statements. Better yet, do not dwell on the past. Actually, I saw more negativity from the opposite side, more personal comments, than I did in asking me to explain my position and going thru all the examples I gave. You decided you didn't want to discuss a different conversation you started in PM. Same here. I had to put my foot down and that is when you wanted the conversation to stop. No different here. We have quite a disconnect in our communication styles. It happens. 67King and I seem to be able to understand each other more easily, as do King Frog and I. I come to the conclusion what we need to stop a conversation when it becomes apparent we will never come to an understanding. HB-2 (our PM conversation for those in the gallery) was a hot-button issue, and we will never agree. My facts came from USA Today, and I have a heart that I am proud will never change. What can I say? We are on different planets, and we just communicate differently. It is what it is.