Welcome to the Latest Edition of the Chlorine Chronicles, the newsletter of the Metropolitan LMSC. Questions, comments, complaints and/or compliments can be sent to Maria Drueckhammer at metroreg@hotmail.com.

I. Metro LMSC Swimmers Prepare to Rock 'n Roll in Cleveland at the Masters Long-Course Nationals. Best of luck to the following members of the LMSC:

Badger Masters (BDGR)
1 Newman, Steven; 2 Reino, Anthony

Columbia Masters (COLM)
1 Poiletman, Robert

Metro Masters Swim Club (METR)
1 Briesemeister, Richard; 2 Carson, Charles; 3 Drueckhammer, Maria D; 4 Einsidler, Jon; 5 Einsidler, Karen; 6 Fahey, Lisa; 7 Gaschke, Lida; 8 Goldbloom, Robert; 9 Guido, Dick; 10 Hummel, Barbara; 11 Love, Barbara

South Fork Masters (SOFM)
1 Monahan, Richard; 2 Woods, Albert

NOTE: If anyone from the area is planning on driving to Cleveland, Dick Guido is looking to share a ride. Please reply to this email if you are interested in sharing a ride and I will pass along the information to Dick. [Or call Maria Drueckhammer at 631-751-9103]

NOTE ON METRO ALL-STAR RELAYS: Robert Goldbloom has been selected to coordinate the relays for the meet in Cleveland. If you are interested in swimming in relays, please reply to this email and I will pass along the message to Robert. [Or call Maria Drueckhammer at 631-751-9103]

II. USMS Public relations and Marketing News Broadcast Two (Submitted by Tracy Grilli)

Ever been asked, "What's Masters swimming?" and then struggled to answer in less than the time it takes you to swim a 500? Help is here: key messages.

Using key messages is the fastest, easiest, and best path to recognition and understanding - and, ultimately, greater membership. But they only work if we all use them. Here's a quick synopsis, followed by the USMS messages.

WHAT THEY ARE
1. Simple, clean, "adjective-free" way to explain and discuss USMS
2. Define first, then differentiate
3. Most important points to communicate to all audiences in all situations
4. Progressive levels of detail for different individuals, groups
5. Way to leave people with a few main points they can remember

FOR WHOM
Every member

TO BE USED WITH WHOM
Anyone that has impact on or interest in USMS - friends, family, vendors,
suppliers, prospective members, sponsors, marketing materials, news media

HOW
In all conversation + documents - email, faxes, letters, memos, proposals, presentations, trade show listings, speaking engagements, press materials.

WHY
Consistency, repetitiveness, ease, efficiency

USMS Key Messages

1. Definition
a. United States Masters Swimming (USMS) is a national organization that provides organized workouts, competitions, clinics and workshops for adults aged 18 and over.
b. Open to all adult swimmers (fitness, triathlete, competitive, and non-competitive) who are dedicated to improving their fitness through swimming

2. Participation/activities
a. Structured workouts, often with a coach, at more than 500 designated local facilities throughout the United States
b. Structured training
c. Opportunities to compete (pool and open-water) and measure individual progress at the local, state, national and international levels
d. Stroke and technique clinics, workshops, and instruction
e. Social functions

3. Benefits
a. Opportunity to improved fitness and/or train for specific goals
b. Active support for a healthy lifestyle
c. Opportunity to compete (for members who wish to do so)
d. Friendship and camaraderie
4. Organizational structure
a. Organized into 500 clubs in 53 regions throughout the United States
b. Membership of more than 42,000, with individual members ranging in age from 18 to over 100
c. Non-profit corporation
d. Founded in 1970

COMING NEXT
Key messages in the form of standard-length paragraphs you can cut and paste to use easily

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS
Rich Burns: marketing@usms.org, 415-459-1380 (PDT)
Aimee Fitzgerald: aimeecolo@aol.com, 303-843-9840 (MDT)
Tracy Grilli, Executive Secretary
United States Masters Swimming
USMS National Office
P.O. Box 185
Londonderry, NH 03053-0185
1-800-550-SWIM (7946)
USMS@usms.org
www.usms.org

III. New Workout Location for TNYA (Submitted by Tom Malcolm) Team New York Aquatics invites members of USMS teams to join them at workouts at the Berkeley Carroll School, 762 President Street (near 6th Avenue), Park Slope, Brooklyn on Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Cost is $11 payable by check to TNYA or in cash, subject to availability. Subway: Q train to 7th Avenue; N or R to Union; #1 and #2 to Grand Army Plaza. For more information: www.tnya.org.

IV. Volunteers Needed for NYC Swim on 8/4/02 and 8/17/02 (Submitted by Kenn Lowy)

NYC Swim is in need of volunteers for the 2002 swim series in the Hudson River. The next event is on August 4. Volunteers will have an important role in these events. Work will include, but is not limited to, checking swimmers in, acting as a boat observer, cheering on the swimmers, helping swimmers exit the water, and handing out supplies/food. Additionally, you will receive the official swim shirt and the ultimate satisfaction of helping your fellow swimmers.

We would appreciate if volunteers commit helping throughout the event from the start to the finish on the 4th and additional swims in the series. Check-in time for volunteers is at 1:45 PM at North Cove Yacht Harbor. Transportation will be provided from the start to the finish. There will be a barbecue after the race for everyone involved.

Volunteers are also needed for the following races:
Sunday afternoon, August 4 -- Park to Park One-Miler

Saturday morning, August 17
NYC Tri Tune-up (1.5 km) AND Great Hudson Swim (2.7 miles)

To volunteer, send an e-mail to falfandary@nycswim, or fill out the volunteer form on the Manhattan Island Foundation website, http://www.nycswim.org.