Candidate Information

Name: Jerry Clark

LMSC: North Carolina

Nominated for: Vice President of Local Operations

Response to Questions

Why are you interested in this position and why do you believe you would be a good candidate?

I have been an at-large board member for four years and want to be part of the new team that will be shaping USMS in the coming years. Having worked closely with Rob Butcher in Charlotte since he became our Executive Director, I know we will work well together. I particularly want to expand our efforts to attract more coaches into Masters swimming so that workout groups now without regular coaching can have a chance to interview potential full time Masters coaching candidates. I want to work with Rob toward establishing our own high qualifying standards for Masters coachs.

What do you consider to be the major issues facing USMS now and in the future? As a person holding an elected position within USMS, how would you address these issues?

A primary issue is that, even with recently increased marketing, many adult fitness swimmers do not see a reason to join USMS. I think that high quality on-deck coaching is the best way to engage these people and change their opinions. I would work with our Executive Director and staff to establish coaching standards, develop a list of workout groups interested in meeting a potential coach while at the same time, work with our staff and ASCA to make contacts with swim coaches who might be interested in a Masters coaching position.

Another issue I expect to come up pertains to what USMS will do with our probable increasing revenues from an ever increasing membership. Should we endeavor to have: A USMS training center? A medical evaluation center just for USMS members? Seed money for new coaches? A short course meters national championship meet? We may have opportunities we've never dreamed of.

A third issue is that some of our LMSCs are weak. Direct assistance should be given to them. Improvements have been made as a result of Mel Goldstein's visits around the country, but I think more hands on follow up work would be helpful.

Please list USMS committees on which you have served. Include the dates you were on the committees and the names of the committee chairs under whom you served:

Rules, legislation, coaches and championship (9 years). Additionally, I have been on several Board committees, namely (a) a comprehensive study of expected costs affiliated with having an Executive Director, (b) a brief stint as our Liaison to United States Triathlon Association, (c) the Compensation and Benefits Committee, (d) two Grievance committees - one with no action and the other with protracted, but successful action, and (e) handling the lease agreements for the USMS headquarters space needs in both Charlotte and then Sarasota.

Please list any other experience that relates to your qualifications for the position.

I have participated in 29 national championship meets and three world championship meets. I have been the Chairman of the LMSC for NC two times (am currently the chairman) and the treasurer of our LMSC one time. I have been the meet host for a successful SCY meet in Charlotte for the past 10 years. I was the meet Liaison for the 2003 LCM national championship meet at Rutgers University.

Please list any other information you would like included.

I love team building when solving issues pertaining to USMS. I have grown more confident in my role as a board member during the past two years and feel ready and qualified to assume more responsibilities.