It's only been a month since the Board of Directors met in Sarasota, Fla., for the 2020 winter board meeting. Since then, the world has changed dramatically, as has the USMS landscape.
USMS CEO Dawson Hughes and I had plans to provide commentary in the days following the meeting beyond simply posting minutes. That communication stalled as USMS focused on adjusting to the impact of COVID-19. Despite new challenges, we both feel it is important to continue working on the topics discussed and communicate outcomes from the meeting. Stay tuned for that email update in the coming days.
In the interim, I want to thank our National Office for its quick management and adjustments in response to this crisis. The board has been kept informed as plans have been formulated. Relevant committees have been consulted on a wide range of decisions, and communication to various member groups has been timely and will continue to take place regularly.
In response to the impact COVID-19 is having on USMS and the long-term challenges most clubs and events are likely to experience, the National Office and Board of Directors will focus on the following two objectives. We encourage your LMSCs to share these objectives and measure every decision and action based on them.
- Support the effort of USMS members to stay healthy for a strong return to the water. This includes providing motivation to remain active during this time, dryland exercises and workout options, and resources, and to foster our swim community through social connections.
- Ensure USMS is prepared to resume normal club and event activities quickly when pools re-open and social distancing guidelines are removed.
Please contact any board member, including Dawson or myself, with questions, concerns, or suggestions.
Thank you,
Peter Guadagni
President, U.S. Masters Swimming
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Coaches Peer-to-Peer Call
Join tonight's call on how to stay engaged with your swimmers
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The Coaches and LMSC Development Committees have been collaborating with the National Office on a peer-to-peer call scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, March 31, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, to provide USMS coaches with a platform to share ideas on how to stay engaged with their swimmers.
If you have not already done so and would like to participate,
please RSVP. The presentation link and call instructions are provided.
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LMSC Minutes, Financials, and Tax Filings
Please submit this info by April 30
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LMSC Annual Meeting Minutes
Each LMSC shall hold an annual meeting and send a copy of their 2019 annual meeting minutes
to Volunteer Services
by
April 30.
LMSC Annual Financial Statements
In 2019 we introduced a new standard reporting format so that all LMSC financial information will be in a similar format. The new format helps us better understand the services provided through our LMSCs and develop strategies and programs to enhance membership value at the LMSC level.
We will once again ask LMSCs to submit their annual financial information using the standard chart of accounts and financial template. A unique and customized link specific only to your LMSC's financial reporting template has been sent to your treasurer to be filled out with your LMSC financial information.
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At-Large Director Nominations Open
Elections information for At-Large Directors
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U.S. Masters Swimming will hold elections for at-large directors this year. The nomination period lasts until
April 30
. Nomination packets are available on the 2020 Elections page of the USMS website or by contacting Elections Chair Erin Sullivan.
We're looking for energetic volunteers with a desire to help lead USMS. If you're interested in leadership and service at our highest level, or you know someone who would be willing to serve, please let us know.
To be eligible for nomination, candidates must:
- Be members in good standing of USMS for the year when the election is held;
- Have attended one or more USMS Annual Meetings of the House of Delegates in the preceding five years;
- Plan to attend the annual meeting of the National House of Delegates for the election year in which they are standing for election, and plan to attend all House of Delegates meetings during their tenure. Explanation of the duties of officers can be found in the 2018 USMS Code of Regulations and Rules of Competition (Article 506- Board of Directors) and on the Election Section of the USMS website, and
- Candidates for director shall be a member of the Zone from which they are seeking election (applicable in even years only).
If, after reading the materials, you have questions about the role of any USMS officer position or the nomination/election process, please
contact Elections Chair Erin Sullivan
.
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2020 Volunteer Service Awards
Nominate a deserving volunteer today
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USMS presents a number of awards annually to members who have excelled in various areas. The details and recipients of each type of award may be found on our
Awards page
.
Send in your nominations today for USMS Coach of the Year, Dorothy Donnelly Service Award, June Krauser Communications Award, and many others.
See all the award categories on the Awards page.
Nominations for all awards are due
July 1
(except the Capt. Ransom J. Arthur Award, which was due on March 15).
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Bids for ePostal/OW Champs Open
Want to host a national championship event in 2022?
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Want to host an ePostal or Open Water National Championship in 2022? The bidding process is now open through
July 1. Hosting a national championship provides lots of national exposure, which can help your event grow substantially. Bidding information
and detailed instructions are available on the
Open Water National Championships page and the
ePostal National Championships page.
Selection will be based on the overall suitability of the bid received and, in the case of open water, the committee will also be considering the area in which the event is to be held, safety, and the annual event schedule as a whole. Applications for both ePostal and open water events can be completed online.
Download the Bid Instructions document on how to fill out these forms.
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About U.S. Masters Swimming
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U.S. Masters Swimming
encourages adults to enjoy the health, fitness, and social benefits of swimming by providing more than 2,000 adult swimming programs and events across the country, including open water and pool competitions. USMS's nearly 60,000 members range from age 18 to 99 and include swimmers of all ability levels. USMS, a nonprofit, also trains and certifies coaches and provides online workouts, a bimonthly member magazine, monthly newsletters, and technique articles and videos at
usms.org
.
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About STREAMLINES for Volunteers
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A subscription to STREAMLINES for Volunteers is required for all LMSC and national-level USMS volunteers;
please do not click "SafeUnsubscribe," as that will remove you from all other USMS National Office mailings.
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