[PacMasterUpdate] The Update 21 December 2008

[Update on Pacific Masters Swimming sent to members and friends.]

PACIFIC MASTERS MISSION STATEMENT:
As adopted by the Pacific Masters Committee the Mission of Pacific Masters is:

Pacific Masters Swimming welcomes anyone who would like to gain and 
maintain fitness through swimming and encourages programs to foster 
this mission.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY HANUKKAH
HAPPY NEW YEAR

On behalf of Nancy Ridout, PacMasters Registrar, the Pacific Masters 
Executive Committee and the Pacific Masters Board, we would like to 
wish you the merriest of Christmases, a joyous festival of lights and 
the great new year.

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END OF YEAR GIVING
I was asked by a couple of people, they said at the end of year, they 
have a few dollars and like to donate it to community activities and 
then asked if there were swimming related charitable organizations. 
There are two I would like to mention.

The first is the United States Masters Swimming Endowment fund. The 
Fund has made grants into health related studies. Joel Stager of 
Indiana Univeristy has done one study on swimmers. He was looking to 
see if swimming had effect upon aging markers (blood cholesterol, HDL 
and LDL; triglycerides and others). The study expected to find in 
elite athletes those markers would be for a younger person  (they 
have not aged as much as the general population). They were surprised 
to find that average swimmers did not age as much as the general 
population.

This year they are funding a study on shoulder blade motility and 
whether specific exercises could prevent injury (I am sure one of the 
results will be a warning about tripping when playing tennis).

You can contribute to the Endowment fund by either adding an amount 
when re-registering on your Pacific Masters application or by sending 
a check to
	United States Masters Swimming
	PO Box 185
  	Londonderry, NH   03053-0185

The second is the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The Hall of 
Fame is in Ft Lauderdale, Florida and houses artifacts of swimming 
and much of the history of swimming, they have a library devoted to 
swimming and its history.

You can go there and find out about the General Slocum disaster - the 
General Slocum was a steamship that caught fire in New York's East 
River. More than 1000 people died in the accident making it the worst 
loss of life disaster in New York until 9-11. Most people on the 
steamship did not know how to swim. From this disaster, came the 
realization that people needed to know how to swim and the start of 
swimming lessons for the general public.

One can see suits from the many eras of swimming from the wools suits 
that were used until the 1950's (talk about a drag suit). It has 
Donna De Varona's Olympic suit and already as some things from the 
2008 Olympics. It is the place where one can see the history of 
swimming and I strong ask you to join or make a contribution.
	http://www.ishof.org

or
	ISHOF
	One Hall of Fame Drive
  	Ft. Lauderdale  FL 33316

Of course when you are in the Miami Fort Lauderdale area, stop in.

Both are IRS 501 c 3 charities and deserving of our support.

The web site is in its holiday finery and I am going to take a couple 
of weeks off and try  not to gain to much weight.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

michael
-- 
michael w. moore
michael at pacificmasters.org