Around the NELMSC - October 2019
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Chair's Welcome
Crystie McGrail, NELMSC Chair
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Happy Fall!
We are full-bore into the fall busy season as leaves change, pumpkin-everything invades, and mini meets abound. This fall we are also integrating new, and transitioning seasoned, board members onto the
New England LMSC Board of Directors
.
I am delighted to follow Douglas Sayles as the new chair of the board, and I look forward to maintaining and building upon the experience our highly engaged and proactive board has created in recent years.
As your representatives, we welcome any and all feedback on how to continue to support and promote Masters swimming in New England, so please feel free to
reach out!
See you on deck!
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2020 USMS Registration Opens Tomorrow
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Renew before December 31, 2019 to
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- Qualify for special USMS partner discounts
- Help your team qualify for USMS membership contest awards
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Right: Keene Swim Masters at the Leaf Peepers Meet
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Club and Workout Group Contacts:
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Jan 1-Dec 31 -- Go the Distance
Swim anywhere & track your distance --
Details
Ends Nov 15 -- USMS 3000/6000-yard ePostal National Championships (Sanctioned SCY, SCM)
Any 25-yard or 25-meter pool --
Details
Nov 1 -- 2020 Individual USMS Registration begins
Nov 2 -- 20th Annual George Erswell Meet (Recognized SCY)
Nov 10 -- Hartford Masters Winter Classic (Sanctioned SCY)
Nov 15-30 -- USMS SmartyPants Vitamins Fall Fitness Challenge (1 mi)
Dec 13-15 -- Colonies Zone & NELMSC Short Course Meters Championships (Sanctioned SCM)
Jan 1-Feb 29 -- USMS 1-hour ePostal National Championships (Sanctioned SCY, SCM)
Any pool 25 yards or longer --
Details
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Colonies Zone & New England LMSC Short Course Meters Championships
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December 13-15, 2019
Hosted at WPI in Worcester, MA
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Art by Joanna Florio-Jefferys
The Leafpeepers
The NELMSC SCM Championship
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Board Chair
Board Vice Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
Registrar
Top Ten Recorder
Communications Chair
Coaches Chair
Officials Chair
Pool Sanctions Chair
Open Water Sanctions Chair
Para-Athlete Chair
Awards & Recognition Chair
Hall of Fame Chair
At-Large Officer
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Crystie McGrail, GBM
Guy Davis, GBM
Al Prescott, NEM-MAMA
Mike Hurd, MESC
Douglas Sayles, NEM-SWMR
Jason Eaddy, NEM-CRM
Alana Aubin, NEM-CRM
Bob Ouellette, NEM-UNAT
Sue Jensen, NEM-CRM
Jason Weis, NEM-CRM
Jen Downing, NEM-CRM
Laura Dennison, NEM-CRM
Tara Mack, GBM
Tracy Grilli, NEM-GSP
Bill Meier, NEM-SRPM
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Coach's Corner
Bob Ouellette, NELMSC Coaches Chair
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Greetings fellow swimmers and coaches,
I’m excited and humbled to have been elected as the new NELMSC Coaches Chair. Admittedly, I have big shoes to fill as Coach Crystie has done an incredible job providing excellent opportunities for our coaches and swimmers!
I’ve had the good fortune of coaching swimming for more than 40 years as a summer league, age group, and triathlon coach and, for the past 20 years, as the Head Coach of our high school varsity swim team. I’m also the Chair of the NHIAA Swimming and Diving committee and the Section 1 representative to the NFHS Swimming Rules Committee. In addition I am a certified CPR/First Aid instructor and hold coaching certifications as an ASCA Level 2, US Masters Level 3, and Open Water coach.
Without question, our coaches are the backbone of Masters Swimming and my efforts will center on supporting them to enhance the experience of our swimmers. I plan to continue with Crystie’s initiatives and hope to facilitate training in the areas of open water/triathlon swim training, developing season long training plans, writing workouts, and developing open water workouts.
We are fortunate to be blessed with a number of highly talented coaches in our LMSC and by working with them I’m sure we can provide enriching and valuable clinics and workshops. To that end, I’d ask you to contact me with any ideas for trainings that you believe would be beneficial to our coaches and athletes.
I’m looking forward to working with all of you and can be reached via
email
.
All the best,
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What's New in New England
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Brynn and Fernald Honored with Frank Wuest Open Water Swimming Award
Alana Aubin, NELMSC Communications Chair
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WALTHAM, MA
—
The New England LMSC recently announced the
Frank Wuest Open Water Swimming Award
recipients for the 2019 season. The Frank Wuest Open Water Swimming Award was established in honor of Frank Wuest to recognize outstanding contributions to open water and Masters Swimming in New England. This year's recipients are
Charlotte Brynn
and
Bob Fernald
. In addition to being incredibly accomplished athletes, both are leaders in the New England open water community. Congratulations Charlotte and Bob, and thank you for all you do!
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Charlotte recently finished her term as NELMSC Open Water Chair, which culminated in hosting two USMS Open Water National Championships at Lake Willoughby, and previously served on the USMS Open Water Committee. As Executive Director of The Swimming Hole, Charlotte coaches local swimmers in the pool and open water, but her impact goes beyond Stowe Masters; she is an enthusiastic cheerleader and inspiring mentor to swimmers near and far. In addition to conquering several iconic marathon swims, Charlotte is a pioneer of local endurance swimming challenges such as the Lake Memphremagog crossing.
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After achieving the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimmer, Bob dedicated himself to working as a coach and mentor in the open water swimming and triathlon community in New Hampshire and Maine. A member of Great Bay Masters, he has crewed for many others in various open water events, served as referee for the Kingdom Swims in Vermont, and co-directs the popular Nubble Light Challenge. He is now widely known and hugely appreciated in the local triathlon community as a coach who takes a special interest in swimmers who are less familiar with the open water, helping them gain confidence and sharing his expertise generously.
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Peep, Eat, Swim!
Sue Jensen, NELMSC Officials Chair
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WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT
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Sixty-three Masters swimmers from seven states gathered at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in White River Junction, Vermont on the sunny
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and perfect for leaf-peeping
—morning of October 19
for a Saturday of short course meters swimming at the 11
th Annual Leaf Peepers Masters Meet.
In addition to being an exceptionally well-run meet by l
egendary meet director
Mary Gentry
(NEM-UVRA) and UVRay head coach
Barbara Hummel
, this meet is known for its creative dessert awards
—
particularly ones baked and beautifully wrapped by UVRay
Susan Reid
(pictured), who also happens to be a principal baker and writer at nearby baking giant King Arthur Flour.
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Sue Jensen, Alphonse Harris, Darby Middlebrook, and Michael Chin of NEM-CRM
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During the meet, master of ceremonies
Mary Gentry
announced winners, not only of events but also of baked goods in many creative categories. These categories included the first person to enter the meet, the three ladies who bravely swam the 200 fly, father/daughter team
James and Suzanne Towne
(NEM-PITY), husband/wife teams, any swimmer who had a family member that helped as a timer, all participants in the Icebreaker relay, the person who swam the most distance (1000 meters this year), and
John Chambers
(CHEL), who swam at the meet on his birthday.
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In addition to goodies, there was a lot of great swimming, including seventeen meet records. Special shoutouts go to:
- The four 75+ men who competed in this meet: Henry Southall (NEM-STOW), Thomas Kilroy (ADMS), James Towne (NEM-PITY), and 89-year-old Arnold Meardon (NEM-UVRA), who swam the 100m freestyle in 1:52.17
- John Radimer (NEM-BASS), who set three NELMSC records in men’s 70-74 age group: 100m free (1:07.07), 200m free (2:34.88), and 50m fly (34.83)
- Fritz Bedford (NEM-UVRA), who set two NELMSC records in men’s 55-59 age group: 50m free (25.49) and 50m back (28.01)
- The Fastest Woman in the Pool: 58-year-old Rebecca Hecox (NEM-SWS) swam 14.99 in the 25m free
- The Fastest Man in the Pool: 30-year-old Alphonse Harris (NEM-CRM) swam 12.54 in the 25m free
There were lots of happy faces and lots of fast swimming, both undoubtedly fueled by the delicious sweet treats.
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Henry Southall, Dennis Willmott (NEM), John Radimer, and Chris Long (Unattached)
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New England Volunteers Recognized Nationally
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ST. LOUIS, MO
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U.S. Masters Swimming held its 2019 annual meeting during the United States Aquatic Sports Convention in St. Louis from September 12-14. In addition to committee meetings, rules reviews, and officer elections, USMS honored many of its deserving volunteers with service awards. NELMSC volunteers
Crystie McGrail,
Alana Aubin, and
Bill Meier were each recognized.
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Crystie McGrail
was presented with the Dorothy Donnelly Service Award,
given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to
to the growth, improvement, or success of U.S. Masters Swimming
on the local, regional, and/or national level. Dorothy "Dot" Donnelly was a member of USMS at its inception and one of its first super-volunteers. Crystie, the 2019 NELMSC Contributor of the Year, was recently elected as NELMSC chair following an impactful tenure as Coaches Chair. Nationally, she serves on the LMSC Development Committee and was previously a member of the Coaches Committee.
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Alana Aubin
received the June Krauser Communications Award, presented annually to an individual or group whose communications efforts have contributed to the growth, improvement, or success of U.S. Masters Swimming. June Krauser was the author of USMS's first official rulebook and a prolific writer and editor of many newsletter and other publications in the Masters swimming world. Alana has been the NELMSC Communications Chair since 2015, developing this e-newsletter as well as the LMSC website and social media presence. She also created the current New England Masters club website and serves on the Long Distance Committee.
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Bill Meier
was awarded the U.S. Masters Swimming Fitness Award, presented annually by the Fitness Education Committee to an individual or organization demonstrating outstanding contribution to fitness activities benefitting USMS members. Bill started the Adult Learn-to-Swim Program that has now been adopted nationwide and served on the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation board. Currently an at-large NELMSC board member focused on fitness activities, Bill previously served as the NELMSC Chair and was a Dorothy Donnelly Award winner in 2014.
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The nominations were submitted to USMS by an NELMSC subcommittee including
Tracy Grilli
,
Doug Bosley
,
Douglas Sayles
, and
Guy Davis
and led by
Awards & Recognition Chair
Tara Mack
.
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USMS Annual Meeting & USAS Convention
Mike Hurd, NELMSC Secretary
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ST. LOUIS, MO
— A few months ago I was asked if I wanted to attend the U.S. Masters Swimming Annual Meeting and United States Aquatic Sports (USAS) Convention. I’ve seen pictures of our New England LMSC volunteers at Convention in the past and thought it would be a fun experience, so when I was asked to represent New England as a delegate this year in St Louis, I jumped at the opportunity!
Each day of the convention started early, finished late, and was jam-packed with activities. We had the option of starting our days with a swim workout. USMS bussed us to a nearby outdoor 50m pool where we could choose from several different coached workout before a quick shower and jumping right into the daily meetings and workshops.
One of the first workshops I attended was the New Delegate Orientation. I quickly learned that the delegates were there to listen, comment, participate in, and ultimately vote on issues like changes to Masters Swimming rules and legislation, Officer Elections, and the annual budget. I learned the New England LMSC is one of the largest and most active LMSCs in the country and that we are part of the Colonies Zone, one of the eight Zones that comprise USMS.
I chose to attend a variety of different committee meetings and workshops over the three days. There are many committees that represent different disciplines within Masters swimming. I attended several meetings including Open Water Committee, History & Archives Committee, and USMS Swimming Saves Lives Foundation, plus workshops titled "Developing Officials in Your LMSC" a
nd "The Ways We Differ--How to Include Others." Each was a treasure trove of information. Have you ever wondered how swimming records get posted and updated? You can thank the relentless research from the members of the History and Archives Committee.
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Mike Hurd, Michelle Toner (HOLY), Guy Davis, Homer Lane (NEM-CCM), Crystie McGrail, Leo Letendre (NEM-NMEG), Tracy Grilli, Douglas Sayles, Emily Cook (GBM), and Jason Weis at the USAS banquet
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Prior to the meeting I knew there were volunteers who worked hard behind the scenes to add value to U.S. Masters Swimming. But I really didn’t understand the scope of what went on until I saw it at Convention. It was amazing to see the hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers to make our Masters Swimming experience rewarding, welcoming, and fun. Many of the people at convention had been volunteering for decades, and there were a few dozen newbies like me as well. The rest fell somewhere in between. Although there was not agreement on all issues being discussed, such as reducing the waiting period required for switching clubs for competition, there was a common theme: everyone there was dedicated to making Masters Swimming a valuable and inclusive experience for all members.
The final night we enjoyed watching the USAS awards banquet. It was cool to see speakers and awards presented for USA Swimming, Diving, and Synchronized Swimming and to conclude with U.S. Masters Swimming. Our own LMSC was well represented with three of our very own delegates having earned an amazing three awards:
Bill Meier for Fitness Award,
Alana Aubin for June Krauser Communications Award, and
Crystie McGrail for Dorothy Donnelly Service Award. It was very exciting to be part of the fun awards evening.
I left convention excited to volunteer more with Masters Swimming and wanting to go back to another convention. It was really great to visit with and get to know the NELMSC volunteers who attended, as well as meet a lot of new friends around the country who are volunteering with their own LMSCs.
I’ve since become the Secretary of the NELMSC and have applied for volunteer positions in national committees as well. I look forward to serving the NELMSC and US Masters Swimming and to help make the Masters Swimming experience a fun and rewarding one for all.
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