Masters Swimming Ontario Editorial January 1999

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome two new members to the MSO board. Ralph Chown hails from Arnprior and Charlie Lane swims with Etobicoke. Barrie Malloch (ETOB) will be our new webmaster and Lesley Mason-Ward (SWYM) will be the statistician. Leaving the board are Don Hambley (UWO) and Chris Smith (MBLA), and Michael Stroud has retired from his many activities with the board. We are sorry to see them go, thank them for their many contributions and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

This is my first year as President of MSO, though it is my third year with the board.  I have swum with Nepean Masters Swim Club for ten years and served on the NMSC executive before joining the MSO board. I look forward to meeting many fellow swimmers as the year progresses.

We have a number of competitions that await us in 1999. Nepean Masters will be hosting nationals from May 14 to 17, 1999. Due to pool regulations, registration is limited to 850 participants, so register early. Be sure to check the minutes your club receives after each MSO board meeting for a list of upcoming meets.

A number of issues were resolved at the Annual General Meeting held in North York on December 14, 1998. A motion was passed that will see the age determination date being changed to the end of the year, as opposed to the date of the meet. This is in keeping with the policy of MSC and the other provinces and took effect January 1, 1999. A second motion was defeated in which MSC requested that the name, birth date, and gender of each swimmer be provided by MSO.

Ian Christie (ETOB) has suggested that a "Masters Swim Series" be implemented in order to:
 a) Promote masters swimming in Ontario
 b) Promote club marketing activity
 c) Provide clubs with additional fund raising opportunities
 d) Promote greater competition and social activity
 e) Support Ontario swimming championships.
A pilot project is planned for the Golden Horseshoe area and more information will be made available as the plans are solidified.

Grant Sinclair, chair of the fitness committee, has organized a wellness/fitness day to be held at the Etobicoke Olympium on April 17, 1999. An information sheet and registration form is attached.

Roy Smith (DAM) designed a pin with the MSO logo that will be available for $5.00. $0.50 from the sale of each pin will go to MSO.  The pin will be a wonderful marketing tool and will increase interest in MSO. You may place orders through MSO. Thanks to Roy for working on this.

Ian McDonald (EOMAC) will be forming a committee to coordinate and ensure that a provincial meet is run annually. Unfortunately at this point, no provincial meet is planned for the 98/99 season.  Hopefully Ian and his committee will be able to overcome this in the future.

On Wednesday January 6, 1999 MSO was served legal documents pertaining to a statement of claim from Laurie Barlow Cash and Robert Barlow Cash naming another registered MSO swimmer, the city of Hamilton, and MSO as defendants.  The matter has been referred to our insurance company.

Swimming registration has reached a total of 2218 swimmers including 32 unattached swimmers, and 80 clubs.  We expect registration to continue to grow as a result of the 1999 nationals being held in Ottawa.

Our medal return program remains in effect with $1.00 contributed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in your name for every medal return. Send or give your medals to our Treasurer, Darlene Brown.

We at the MSO board of directors continue to look forward to your input.  With the cooperation of each club and swimmer, we can continue to develop and serve our membership.

Sharon Cockerton
MSO President