If you're in the Los Angeles area please join me for an informal Diversity Roundtable!

Where:
Frankie & Johnnie's NY Pizza,
534 Washington Boulevard, Marina del Rey, CA

When:
Wednesday December 12, 2012 @ 8:30PM

Click here for the National Association of State Boards of Education Official Letter supporting International Water Safety Day!

All 2012 Diversity Invitational photos taken by official USRowing/America Rows photographer, Ken Pamatat/Creative Images Photography, are posted on Shutterfly via the following links.

Site Name: 2012 US Rowing Diversity Races

Site URL: http://2012usrowingdiversityraces.shutterfly.com/

Site Email Address:…

In the wake of:

a recent Citiparks Aquatics Division audit by City Controller Michael Lamb, as well as

my participation with the PPS Athletic Reform Task Force, and

the merger of some PPS high school sports teams to the WPIAL, and

the 2012 arrival of additional, terrible, institutional roadblocks at PPS,

it is prudent push all involved to 'think again' about aquatics. An overhaul of aquatics with the city, PPS and others is past due, especially in…

From CNN.com, by Lan Trinh:

Wanda Butts dropped the phone and screamed when she heard the news that her son was dead.

Josh had drowned while rafting on a lake with friends. The 16-year-old didn't know how to swim, and he wasn't wearing a life jacket.

"I couldn't believe it, I didn't want to believe it: that just like that, my son had drowned and he was…

From TCDailyPlanet.net, by Sheila Regan:

One of the neat things about following the same story over a matter of years is that you get to find out what happens. I’ve been writing for the Daily Planet since 2008, and over that time, I’ve covered all sorts of different topics. Sometimes there will be an issue that I write a number of articles about, and then it will pop back up again a year or…

Measurable results.  Sustainable results.  Analysis.  Cost-benefit analysis.

These aren’t just buzzwords.  These are the criteria that all drowning prevention programs should be measured against.

I was thrilled to read the…

I’ve highlighted several initiatives in the past few months.  Time for an update.

1.  Petition to the United…

Good intentions. I try to keep up with all of my blogs and social media to share information about rowing. It takes away from actually doing the behind the scenes work to make it all happen. This is the latest news from USRowing:

Who could imagine today that before the Civil War, Blacks and Native Americans were universally regarded as the best swimmers in the world, while most Whites could not swim and drowned in appalling numbers? The history of Black swimming is one of the topics explored in detail at the International Aquatic History Symposium and Film Festival, May 9 – 12, at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, in Fort Lauderdale. From the first European encounter…

1) Novice Swimmers Coaching Clinic for Boston Parks & Rec with Miriam Lynch on Thursday, March 15, 2012

2) AAHPERD Convention -Council of Aquatic Professionals presentations and meetings (ongoing)



3) New England Swimming / AAHPERD -  water safety event Saturday,  March 17, 2012



-All AAHPERD  members attending this year's convention are welcome to come sit in at all…

In San Diego this week for the NDPA Symposium and presenting today with DAP Co-founder Jayson Jackson about the importance of dismissing stereotypes, role models and other social learning concepts.  A tribute to the many DAP members that influence their own local communities.  We might even reveal a few of DAP's future plans.  Won't give you the whole presentation, but here are two quick concepts....connect the dots and see the picture...…

Moved to Cairo. Bigger job. Enormous Swim America program at Wadi Degla Sporting Club. From 750 kids in the Bahamas, in a program nixed by the powers-that-be, I've stepped up to 4000 young Cairenes.

Facilities are out of this world. 2 50m pools, 2x25m specially designed shallow learn-to-swim pools. Major obstacles: the Arabic language, the video-game Cairo traffic, and the appalling violence centred upon Tahrir Square.

Loving the job and the chaos so far. More…

Come join us in D.C. for the 26th Annual Black History Invitational Swim Meet!  Teams from Michigan, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida will descend upon the nations capital for this historic swimming competition.  This…

Thank you for your support in 2011.  Whether you supported us by making a donation, buying a T-shirt, helping in your local community, or just being active in sharing information on our interactive website we appreciate all of your efforts.



This past year was an especially memorable one, as our program reached a number of important landmarks:

• Added to the United States Congressional Record
• Reached over 145…

From USASwimming.org, By Mike Gustafson:

As we wind down the year, we turn our attention toward others in the community who are bringing a positive and profound impact on our sport’s diversity and water safety efforts. There are a few in the swimming world who strive to bring the sport of swimming to all races and ethnicities across the country, and they need to be recognized.

If…

From ABCNews.com, By Christina Ng

A female landlord, Jamie Hein, had a sign that read, “Public Swimming Pool, White Only” hanging on a gate at her house and her private pool. (Photo credit: Ohio Civil Rights Commission)

An Ohio…

2011 USA Swimming Diversity Summit - Colorado Springs, CO NOV. 17-19

This year’s Diversity Summit will be held Nov. 17-19 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Held every other year since 2007, USA Swimming’s Diversity Summit brings together LSC representatives in an open and inclusive atmosphere to discuss creative ways to foster practical programs and solutions to impact diversity efforts at…

From USASwimming.org, by Mike Gustafson:

“This is the exact reason… you will never be an Olympic swimmer. Whether it’s a public pool or a private pool, if you can’t even get in the water, then you better believe that this is done before it even starts.” – Excerpt from “The John Carlos Story”

Mexico City, 1968. Two young, talented black men walk to the medal podium. It is after the final of the 200 meter dash. These men…