Dixie Zone Newsletter

October-December 1998

Zone Representative: June Krauser
Zone Meeting Minutes - Saturday, October 3, 1998 - submitted by Lisa Watson

Zone Specific Tasks | Zone Activities for 1999 | Coaches Mentor Program

Verify Election Process Database | Verify LMSC Address Database | Future Direction of Zones

Discussion of 'Hot' Convention Topics | New Business | LMSC News


ZONE SPECIFIC TASKS

Chairman June Krauser passed out the Financial Report. Ending balance was $1,369.70, compared with a 1997 ending balance of $860.66. Increased balance was due to lower convention expense payments by Zone for the Representative, additional money from USMS for newsletters, and the SCY Top Ten Times has not yet been submitted for distribution.

Four issues of the Dixie Zone News were sent to all 1997-1998 Dixie Zone delegates and convention participants, Dixie Zone Chairmen and Newsletter editors, USMS President, Executive Secretary, Zone Representatives, and all Dixie Zone Club representatives.

The Dixie Zone thanks Rocky Motter and her husband for publishing the last LCM and SCM Top Ten and Records. Steven Fair of Pensacola has volunteered to assume this position. His report for SCY Top Ten has not yet been received.

The three Dixie Zone Championship meets for 1998 were SCY-Atlanta GA, LCM-Greenville NC, and SCM-Anderson SC.

The Dixie Zone authorized the creation of a Dixie Zone web site address. This could provide a means of communication for the Dixie Zone newsletter, meet entry forms, and possibly Dixie Zone Top Ten times. George Simon, Carl House, and Scott Rabalais will form a subcommittee to look into this. George also discussed the possibility of having standardized meet entries; the North Carolina LMSC is already doing that.

June mentioned that having e-mail addresses of LMSC representatives was very helpful. It was noted that e-mail addresses were included last year in the convention packet, but not this year. Several members at the meeting provided their e-mail addresses to her. (Note: June would like anyone receiving the Newsletter who has an e-mail address to sent it to her.

ZONE ACTIVITIES FOR 1999

1999 Zone bids were awarded to the following sites: SCY-Raleigh NC April 17-18, LCM-Baton Rouge LA July 30-August 1, SCM-Coral Springs FL Dec. 3-5.

A tentative calendar was created for 1999 for meets and open water events.

COACHES MENTOR PROGRAM

Scott Rabalais, Chair of the Coaches Committee, announced several coaching programs that could be made available to LMSC's. This included the Coaches Mentor Clinics, Nike Olympic Clinics, Open Water clinics, and the Olympic Training Center Swim Camp. LMSC's should contact Scott if they are interested in pursuing one of these services for use in their area.

VERIFY ELECTION PROCESS DATABASE

June went over the election procedures which will be in effect for next year's elections. She also verified the process used by each LMSC and the date of their annual meetings.

VERIFY LMSC ADDRESS DATABASE

The committee decided to have all LMSC registrars in the Dixie Zone submit a copy of their database officers and chairmen to June. This is done each year by December 31. A discount is given to those LMSC's that register by November 30.

FUTURE DIRECTION OF ZONES

Future direction goals of the zone and the zone chair were discussed. These goals included maintaining zone policies, handling disputes within LMSC's and zones, educating LMSC's about the need to comply with USMS rules and LMSC By-laws, and serving as a source of communication for the LMSC's.

DISCUSSION OF 'HOT' CONVENTION TOPICS

There was some discussion of certain rule proposals being submitted to the House of Delegates. The committee was in favor of the proposal to adapt to the FINA policy of determining a swimmer's age as of December 31.

NEW BUSINESS

Lisa suggested having Dixie Zone Top Ten patches made available to all Top Ten finishers in each course who desire them for a nominal fee. The committee voted to create a design for a patch and have Top Ten patches made available to Top Ten finishers. Lisa will look into creating a design for the patch.

Scott Rabalais encouraged involvement of LMSC coaches in MACA. The committee nominated representatives from the different LMSC's in the Dixie Zone to serve as representatives. They include Pat Frank, Jonathan Coyle, Heather Hageman, Steven Fair, Dotty Whitcomb, and Scott Rabalais.

LMSC NEWS

Florida-- The Florida newsletter was voted to be the best in the nation this year! Congratulations to Jim Donnelly, the newsletter editor. Also, two of the largest clubs have great newsletters - St. Pete Masters and Orlando Masters. I have received three press releases from Team Orlando - TOM Swim Around Key West; The Beatties Take on the World, and Miltenberger Breaks World Record. And, did you know that Bud Seaman, ORLM, holds the longest standing female FINA World Record to date! She set the 25-29 200m fly in 1987 with a 1:03.91. WOW!

Florida Gold Coast-- Thanks to Stu Marvin and his staff at the Hall of Fame Pool; many fine comments have been heard about the 1998 LC Nationals. Gold Coast Masters won the Combined Large Team thanks to all those hunks. The women were second and the men were FIRST. The weather cooperated nicely. Our thanks to Debbie and Cav and Coach Nobu for those many relays. I think just about everyone on the team managed to receive a medal. Our web master, Carl House, is putting so much on the internet it is hard to keep up. FGC puts out a newsletter quarterly.

Georgia-- The Georgia Masters newsletter comes every month. The swimmers in Georgia go to many meets and they are all written up in the newsletter. Their annual meeting will be held on Sunday, October 25. The Dynamo Swim Club is hosting a pentathlon on Oct. 16-17 and they will have a Masters Division with the 13-14 and Senior age groups on the 17th. Georgia had a number of swimmers at LC Nationals and 25 at the first Peachtree City Meet. Four swimmers attended the Nike World Games in Portland. Eighty-nine swimmers participated in the Lake Lanier National 5k Open.

North Carolina-- Our congratulations to Chairman Don Gilchrist for becoming a father for the first time. His only desire was that she live a long and healthy life. But in the delivery room, when he saw her spring into the world, both arms stretched above her head, his first thought was, "Wow! What an excellent push off!" He goes on to say that over the years Masters swimming has become a shared family experience. Some children of Masters follow their parents into the sport, hopefully for the right reasons: enjoyment and health.

Southeastern-- The new editor, Eric Youngquist, needs HELP! He needs more information from the swimmers on meet results, achievements, training tips, and whatever in order to do a better job of reporting. Steve Fair, Dixie Zone Top Ten & Records, reported that SCY would be ready soon (10-6-98). If not available by the 14th of October, I will have to give him a deadline. It was noted that Rocky Motter might again be interested.

Southern-- A nice looking newsletter is edited by Chair Joie Stanley. The Crawfish Masters Swim Team in Baton Rouge LA has published a web page on the internet, complete with links to many other swim sources. Paul Hebert was inducted into the Southern Masters Swimming Hall of Fame on August 1. Paul has been a Masters swimmer for over 25 years and a supporter of swimming.