I kid you not; last week on the way to the airport, a friend asked me if the swimming convention I was about to attend would be held in a pool.

Was I really just in Chicago surrounded by hundreds of U.S. Masters Swimmers (USMS)? Those 3 ½ days are like a blur. Did I know * anything * about the USMS structure prior to attending that convention? Heck no! To be honest, I’m still trying to figure it out.

If I understand correctly – USMS is a non-profit organization run by a Board of Directors.

The new Board of Directors, who assumed their new roles on the final day of the convention, include:
President – Jeff Moxie 
VP of Administration – Michael Heather 
VP of Local Operations – Ed Tsuzuki
VP of Programs – Dave Diehl
VP of Community Services – Nadine Day
Secretary – C.J. Rushman
Treasurer – Ralph Davis
Past President – Rob Copeland (Rob was nice enough to share a table with me at the New House of Delegates lunch on the first day of the convention. He’s a nice guy with a great sense of humor.)

If you want to know what the folks on the BOD do, you’re swimming in the wrong lane <sorry!> if you think I know. They all seemed approachable, and if you really want to know – email them. Tell them I sent you ;^)

Prior to the convention, what I took notice of and cared about was that my Masters coach was on deck with killer workouts, and that there were timers and refs at swim meets. Of course it makes sense to have a staff and a host of volunteers to make a successful organization. However, the Big Picture wasn’t on my radar before the Chicago convention.

In the past year, the BOD hired a staff to run the daily operations located in new office space in Sarasota, Florida. That staff includes:
Executive Director – Rob Butcher (reason enough to join Masters Swimming!)
Director of Business Operations – Mark Gill
Editor-in-Chief – Laura Hamel
Membership Services – Tracy Grilli
Controller – Nick Florio
Account Executive – Kyle Deery
Webmaster/IT Director – Jim Matysek

Until recently, there was only one paid staff member, Tracy Grilli, dedicated full-time to USMS operations. Additionally, there has been a plethora of volunteers throughout the years assisting the organization and to help the sport grow.

USMS members and volunteers include former Olympians, almost-Olympians, rocket scientists, cowboys, computer programmers, house painters, school teachers, retirees, bankers, stay-at-home moms, recent college graduates just starting careers, etc., all with different body shapes and sizes, all of whom live for the sanctuary of a liquid meditation.

Tags: U.S. Masters Swimmer, USMS