Congratulations to Meg Smath, this year's Capt. Ransom J. Arthur, M.D. Award recipient. Volunteers are the lifeblood of USMS!

The Captain Ransom J. Arthur M.D. Award is U.S. Masters Swimming's highest honor, given to the volunteer who does the most to further the objectives of Masters Swimming. This year, the award went to Meg Smath of Swim Kentucky Masters for her many years of tireless behind-the-scenes efforts. Congratulations, Meg, and thank you for your service!

The United States Aquatic Sports Convention will be held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Kansas City, Missouri Sept. 30 - Oct. 4, 2015. Registration forms, travel, shuttle, and tourist information are all available on the  USAS website. 

USMS meetings begin on Wed., Sept. 30. The Convention page at usms.org contains the schedule. Other information will be posted soon.

Delegate Registration: Everyone attending or presenting at any meeting at convention MUST be registered for convention. Online registration is available for individuals who prefer to pay by credit card, and you can register up to four attendees. For those who prefer to register by mail/check, please use the delegate registration form and mail it along with your check. For LMSCs with five or more attendees, you can opt to fill out the group registration form (and pay with just one check).

Full Convention Registration:

Postmarked before midnight Sept. 8: $170

Postmarked after midnight on Sept. 8 or later: $200

Partial Convention Registration:

One Day: $75

Two Day: $140

Hotel Reservations: Hotel information can be found on the USAS website. You are responsible for making your hotel reservations. The convention room rate is $129/night plus tax. Please read the Hotel Reservation information before making your hotel reservation with Marriott. The system handles one room at a time. You can also call to make reservations (1-800-810-0850). The room block closes at 11:59 pm, Sept. 2, 2015.  Cancellations made within 72 hours of your stay may result in a penalty

Air Transportation: Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

Land Transportation: Super Shuttle (a shared ride transportation service) - $18 one way $36 round trip.

Driving Directions: Driving directions can be obtained by typing the following address into MapQuest or Google: 200 West 12th St, Kansas City, MO  64105

Parking: Self-park is $18/day, Valet parking is $24/day for delegates and volunteers.

Internet in sleeping rooms: No Charge

Certification Table: The certification table will be open on Wednesday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (vendor area), Thursday 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. (vendor area), Thursday 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. (House of Delegates Room), and Thursday afternoon through Saturday (come find Debbie Cavanaugh).

LMSC Chairs: Please submit the names and contact information for your delegates ASAP to Convention Coordinator Tracy Grilli.

Please send Delegate-At-Large requests to President Nadine Day and copy Tracy by July 15. Appointments will be made by the president on July 20.

Chairs of Finance, Legislation, Long Distance, and Rules Committees: Please contact your committee members and report to Convention Coordinator Tracy Grilli if there are any members from your committees who will not be attending Convention.

July 15: Committee chairs and special appointments send their annual reports to their vice presidents using the USMS Document Template. Those who will be having a meeting at Convention also send their agendas.

July 31: Vice presidents send their committees' annual reports and agendas to Convention Coordinator Tracy Grilli. Members of the Executive Committee also submit their annual reports.

August 1: All proposed rule or code changes from Rules, Long Distance, and Legislation due to Convention Coordinator Tracy Grilli from respective committee chairs, for inclusion in Convention packet.

August 1: Election Committee submits election information to Convention Coordinator Tracy Grilli for inclusion in Convention Packet.

August 31: Convention packets posted on the USMS website and emailed to all delegates.

In odd-numbered years, proposed changes to the Code of Regulations can be submitted to the Legislation Committee for Organizing Principles, Parts 2, 4, 5, and 6. This is an "emergency" year for Rules and Long Distance Rules. Changes to Part 1 and the Glossary can be submitted to the Rules Committee and changes to Part 3 can be submitted to the Long Distance Committee. Only proposed changes deemed emergency by those committees will be considered, and they will require a 90 percent vote to pass.  

See the convention section of the Guide to Operations for detailed instructions and the form for submitting proposed Legislation changes. Proposed Legislation changes are due July 10.

If your LMSC has elected any new officers, please remember to notify Membership Director Anna Lea Matysek of these changes. We need this information to be sure the right individuals are receiving information in a timely manner during their tenure. 

SCY Top 10 tabulations (both individual and relay swims) are due to Mary Beth Windrath, National Swims Administrator, by June 30. Late submissions will not be accepted. Instructions can be found in the USMS Records and Tabulation Document, located in the Guide to Operations.

Each year U.S. Masters Swimming recognizes the extraordinary efforts of our members beyond the water's edge. USMS's success is a result of the amazing contributions of our talented and dedicated volunteers. Help us identify initiative and performance by nominating people you know who fulfill the ideals of the following awards. The deadline for nominations is July 1; please review the submission instructions for each award and help recognize an amazing volunteer.

• Speedo/USMS Coach of the Year
• Dot Donnelly Service Award
• Kerry O'Brien Coaching Award
• Club of the Year Award
• June Krauser Communications Award
• Fitness Award
• Open Water Service Award

Let us know who deserves to be recognized!

• Make sure to have good checks and balances in place in your LMSC. One way to do this is to utilize online banking for the LMSC's bank account. Set up two people (besides the LMSC treasurer) to have online, view access for the bank account. These people can monitor the checks being written and the deposits being made. Remember that at least once a year someone other than the treasurer should review the LMSC's books.
• For check deposits, utilize bank-by-mail if the bank isn't located near the treasurer's house. Ask the bank for a stack of deposit slips; some banks may also have pre-addressed mailing envelopes. Then, once or twice a month it's a simple process for the treasurer to mail in the deposits.
• Each LMSC treasurer has online access to the accounting section of the USMS registration database. It's easy to download monthly accounting reports in Excel format that provide itemized payment information for every member and club in the LMSC.
• Accounting software such as Quicken or QuickBooks is useful for keeping detailed, itemized records. It also allows the treasurer to create the required USMS annual financial reports with a couple mouse clicks. For larger LMSCs, an online version of QuickBooks can be accessed by more than one person in the LMSC.
• Create an annual budget for the LMSC. It will help the LMSC officers determine the appropriate LMSC fee for the year as well as provide a record of ongoing LMSC expenses.