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Pacific Update
Week of September 27th, 2021
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Hello!
In this issue, you will find information on upcoming swimming events. Take note, there are only three days left to participate in our final ePostal challenge!
Please don’t forget there are also in-person events like the Pacific Masters Kerry O'Brien SCM Championships and the return of the Encore Games, a swim meet for those 50 and over.
The next issue of the Update will appear on Monday, October 11, 2021. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, October 6, 2021.
Stay fit,
The Pacific Masters Swimming Committee
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Pacific Masters Swimming: Kerry O'Brien SCM Championships
October 15 - 17
Hosted by Walnut Creek Masters, this three-day meet will take place at Clarke Swim Center. Swimmers can enter up to six events per day. Relay events are planned for the middle and end of each day.
Swimmers earn points depending on how they place in the event. Awards will be given to the top eight finishers, and high-point swimmers by age and gender categories. The top three teams in the small, medium, and large divisions will win team awards.
The meet will follow Contra Costa County and the city of Walnut Creek's Covid guidelines, including wearing masks in the locker rooms and other indoor spaces.
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Pacific Masters Swimming: September ePostal Pandemic Challenge
Ending: Thursday, September 30
Our Pandemic ePostal Challenge Series will come to an end on Thursday. For those who need a last reminder, this September Challenge is a 500 yard or a 400 meter free swim. Throughout the Challenge Series we have designated this event as your return-to-fitness benchmark. Swim it one last time, or swim it for the first time and benchmark your current fitness level. Information and Registration
For general information and current standings, check out the links below:
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Bay Area Encore Games Swimming Meet
November 21
The Bay Area Encore (Senior) Games are back for those of us 50 years or older. The meet will be held at the Rinconada Pool in Palo Alto on November 21.
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USMS Adult Learn to Swim (ALTS) Instructor Certification
Sunday, October 3, 2021, Davis, CA
THIS CLASS IS FULL AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
When: October 3, 2021, 9AM - 3PM
Where: Davis Civic Center Pool, 599 B St., Davis, CA. 95616 (Free parking)
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2021 USMS Long Course Championships
October 7-10, Geneva, Ohio
The 2021 USMS Long Course National Championship is planned for October 7-10 at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio. Unfortunately, registration for these LCM Champs is already closed. Good luck to those who will be attending.
This event, renamed from Summer Nationals just for this year, was postponed from August 5-8 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
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Nominations Open for Pacific Masters Awards
Due October 1
Do you know a Pacific Masters member who has gone above and beyond this past year? Nominations are open for our 2021 Service Awards.
Pacific Masters is a vibrant community with swimmers and non-swimmers who enjoy officiating, organizing, or supporting the community in many ways. At our annual meeting, we recognize those who participate or contribute in an exceptional way.
We convey:
- Personal Achievement Award
- Nancy Ridout Award for Distinguished Service
- Contributor of the Year Award
- Appreciation Award
- Peggy Lucchesi Award
See the Nomination Guide for details of each award. Past award winners are here. Whom do you know that is deserving? Please think about this and send nominations to our Chair by October 1st.
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Pacific Masters Annual Celebration and Meeting
November 14, 1-4:15 PM
Once again this meeting will take place virtually. Join us to hear Olympian Bowe Becker share his amazing story of going from alternate to gold medalist in the recent games. Plus, Olympian and Pacific Masters member Roque Santos, will tell us about his swimming experiences, pass down insights, and give us some technical tips on how to swim Roque Solid Breaststroke.
The Wheel of Names returns with prizes and cash awards to the teams with the most attendees. Pacific’s annual meeting will feature our 2021 Pacific Masters Service Award winners, and our bi-annual election. Registration opens October 1 and will close November 11.
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Elections for Pacific Masters
November 14
In odd-numbered years. Pacific Masters is required to hold elections for Pacific Masters officers at our annual meeting. This year we will hold our elections at our Annual Celebration and Meeting on November 14. Per our Bylaws, a nominating subcommittee is formed and presents a list (slate) of at least one nominee for each office at the Pacific Masters Committee meeting prior to the Annual Meeting. Our bylaws also allow for additional nominations.
The 2021 Pacific Masters nominating subcommittee has presented this years' slate of nominees. The candidate information can be found here.
Due to the virtual nature of our Annual Meeting, we have put some processes in place to ensure a smooth election. If a Pacific Masters member wishes to make an additional nomination for one of the elected positions, they may do so from September 27 to October 15 by following the guidelines listed in the Bylaws (reproduced below) and sending them to15 by following the guidelines listed below and sending them to the 2021 nominating subcommittee.
103.5.5D. Additional nominees shall be accepted at the Annual Meeting upon nomination by two (2) individual members of Pacific Masters Swimming and written consent of the nominee(s).
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Pacific Masters Seeking Diversity & Inclusion Volunteer
The D&I Sub Committee Chair for Pacific Masters is looking for an enthusiastic volunteer(s) to fulfill its new position. We are looking for compassionate volunteers that are able to promote Masters Swimming as an open activity at events like Pride Days, adaptive sports clinics, ethnic clinics, and more. Your focus will be to work with underserved populations and help make all swimmers feel welcome.
Duties include serving as an appointee to the Pacific Masters Swimming Committee, sending in monthly D&I status reports to be included on the agenda, as well as generating a safe line of communication for member concerns. Volunteer(s) must serve as a liaison between Pacific Masters and the National Committee. Anyone that is interested or has questions about this position is encouraged to send an email to coach_donita@yahoo.com.
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One Year Later: Conny's Ultra Alcatraz IM Swim
On September 10th, 2020, Conny Bleuh-Grohlke completed an Ultra Alcatraz IM swim in honor of her childhood coach and friend, Rudi Junicke. Her 5.2-mile swim consisted of four 1.3-mile laps: Aquatic Park to Alcatraz Island and back again, twice! She swam each lap a different stroke, in IM order (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and finally freestyle). Conny finished in two hours and 16 minutes. Read more about her swim here.
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Pacific Masters Monthly Meeting
October 20, Doors Open at 6:45, Meeting at 7 PM
Join us Wednesday, October 20th for our monthly meeting via the Zoom platform. If this is your first time Zooming, we suggest you sign on a little early to ask questions and address technical issues. Even if you are familiar with Zoom, sign on early to say "hi" to your fellow swimmers.
All members are encouraged to participate. Our monthly meeting reminder email will provide the Zoom link. If you are not on that list and would like to attend, please contact Chris Ottati, Administrator, for details.
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The Craft of Coaching with Teri McKeever
Wednesday, October 6, 7 PM
For coaches only. Join us for a talk with Teri McKeever, the 29-year head coach of the Cal swim team and one of the most successful coaches in the sport, about developing and refining the craft of coaching.
McKeever is known for coaching Cal and Olympic greats including Natalie Coughlin, Missy Franklin, and 2020 Olympians Abbey Weitzel and Katie McLaughlin. Her pedigree also includes the honor of being the first woman head coach for a US Olympic swim team as well as leading many national teams at the Olympics and World Championships.
McKeever's unique coaching techniques include dryland activities such as hip-hop dancing and rehabbing burnt-out swimmers. As she explained in a 2019 interview, the swimmers already have a Bachelor's degree in swimming; she's trying to help them earn their Master’s or Ph.D.
At the end of the talk, there will be a Q and A session. Click here to register for the event.
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Are you interested in becoming a USMS certified coach?
USMS has a 4-Level Coach Certification program, and Level 1 can now be taken online! The fee for the Level 1 class is $125 and Pacific Masters offers an 80% scholarship ($100) to USA swim coaches, lifeguards who work at a USAS or USMS club, and to those already coaching Masters swimmers at their club. You do not have to hold a coaching position to apply. Plans for 2022 are in order, and as Pacific Masters builds our base of coaches, we want you to be a part of our growth. Contact Chris Ottati with questions or to apply.
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Folsom Aquatic Center Resumes Masters Workouts
1200 Riley St., Folsom. CA 95763
The Folsom Aquatic Center is restarting their Masters Swimming workouts. Workouts are from 5:30 to 6:45 AM Monday through Friday, with Saturday practices from 8:15 to 9:30 (when the USA Sierra Marlins Swim Team is NOT hosting a swim meet).
There is on-deck coaching for all workouts. The cost is $65 per month. This location should be convenient for those living in the northern Sacramento suburbs as well as Roseville and the greater Folsom area.
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Temescal Masters Seeks Head and Assistant Coaches
Temescal Aquatic Masters in Oakland is seeking candidates for its Head Coach and Assistant Coach positions. A key leader of the team, the Head Coach should be an experienced coach and swimmer who motivates swimmers and other coaches through effective communication and reinforcement.
The Assistant Coach coaches a minimum of two practices weekly (currently weekday mornings). In this leadership role, the Assistant Coach should be an experienced coach and swimmer who loves the sport and enjoys helping adults become better swimmers and achieve their fitness goals. Check out the links for the complete job description for the Head Coach position and the Assistant Coach position.
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Editor's Note
Swimming Really Does Save Lives
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The June 2021 CNN headline read, "7-year-old boy rescues family after swimming for an hour to shore." Young Chase Poust battled the tricky currents of the St. Johns River near Jacksonville, Florida, and was able to get help for his father and sister who were being swept away. Read more of Chase's heroic swim here.
Although the incident occurred this past Memorial Day weekend, it is forever relevant, reminding us that knowing how to swim can avert tragedy. Success stories like the Poust's, spotlight the message of our USMS Adult Learn-To-Swim program (ALTS), also known as Swimming Saves Lives (SSL), now with many new programs beginning.
Of interest to USMS members, the locale of this story, Jacksonville, FL, has been the site of past Annual Conventions, where the USMS life-saving programs were conceived and approved.
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