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| AASC thanks these sponsors of 50 Years of Memories: 1956-2006 Consumers Energy |
The Next 50 Years: "Making the Best Better" By Liz Graziano, AASC Past President At fifty years young, Ann Arbor Swim Club remains the oldest swim club in the State of Michigan. It has been an honor to have the opportunity to celebrate that milestone over the past year.
Anniversary Year in ReviewResearch and planning for our 50th anniversary celebration began a full year before our Golden Anniversary kickoff. The celebration began with adoption of a new anniversary-year logo that was added to our marketing materials.
It was a proud, public statement of our Golden Anniversary to the swim community. Stepping off from the logo, Linda Hass and Heather Keeler of the Anniversary Committee took the lead developing professional-quality publications that will chronicle this event for years to come. Hass' Anniversary Book, 50 Years of Membories: 1956-2006, was marketed and sold to current members, alumni, and our supporters. The anniversary book contains articles chronicling our club's history, historical photos and news clippings, articles and photos of recent years, as well as personal messages of support from coaches, parents and former swimmers. The book was so popular a follow-up publication called the "Anniversary Supplement" was published and distributed to our membership at the annual spring banquet.
Keeler created the 50 Split journal, an online electronic magazine that features monthly anniversary-related articles published through our website. These monthly anniversary articles chronicle the very beginnings of the club and its founder RoseMary Dawson to the Ann Arbor Swim Club of today. The journal represents a tremendous donation of volunteer time throughout the year. We thank contributors Linda and Heather, as well as authors of the March issue, Head Coaches Josh Morgan and Dan Ohm. We invited all of our attendees at the December Holiday Invitational to "Celebrate with Us" by publicly kicking off our anniversary with a scoreboard anniversary presentation and complimentary anniversary pens to all our guests. We participated in the World Swim for Malaria global fundraiser with Speedo Corporation at this meet and raised $5000. Each swimmer enjoyed their anniversary gift bags received at the meet.
The Junior National swimmers held their own among the nation's best while posting a first-place finish for the women and a third place for the team overall. After our championships, we settled in for a fine meal at Weber's Inn during our annual spring banquet. This year's banquet, coordinated once again by Sharon Hubbard, had record attendance of approximately 280 guests. Each left the event with a full stomach and an anniversary logo engraved mug.
Besides our 50th, the club celebrated another noteworthy anniversary. Head Coach Dan Ohm was recognized for his own 10th year anniversary with the club. Ohm joined the club in 1996, and the Ann Arbor Swim Club has enjoyed tremendous club growth during his tenure. At the annual banquet, he was presented with a trophy honoring his contributions over the years. The motto of the trophy, "Success doesn't just happen," speaks volumes to Coach Ohm's contributions to the Ann Arbor Swim Club's success.
Any year in review would be remiss without recognition of the tragic loss of coach, athlete, mentor and friend Eric Namesnik to our swim community in early January. Namesnik's death gave us all a chance to pause and appreciate each and every moment. We mourned alongside our friends at Wolverine Aquatics who grieved his tragic loss. His legacy of Desire, Dedication, and Determination lives on in each of us and the entire area swim community.
2006 also brought the concept of a consolidated age group swim program in Ann Arbor to fruition. Coach Bob Bowman provided the vision, Eric Namesnik the impetus to act, and the swim community of Ann Arbor — particularly our own coaches — the foresight and commitment to bring the dream to life. The dream of one consolidated age group swim program in Ann Arbor is indeed taking shape.
Our anniversary book, its supplement, and hardcopies of 50 Split articles are all now available in the UM Bentley Historical Library in addition to being catalogued at the Ann Arbor Public Library. These resources will provide researchers an interesting look at the development of competitive swimming in Ann Arbor, and will leave a lasting legacy for the first 50 years of the Ann Arbor Swim Club.
Fifty years and still kicking. Where do we go from here? No look at the past is complete without a look to the future. The Ann Arbor Swim Club was given life by RoseMary Mann Dawson. It developed, in that day, to the University of Michigan's age group swim program. After 50 years, we find ourselves completing the circle back to those beginning days. We look to returning to our roots. The opportunity to expand our operation under the name of Club Wolverine gives unlimited opportunities to our swimmers. The full scope of age-group swimming will be realized as we and our CW partners focus on a community-based program that encompasses all aspects of swim training, from novice to Olympic-level competition. All will soon hopefully have the opportunity to wear the new crown of Ann Arbor Swim Club — that is, the Club Wolverine cap. It's what's best for the kids. It's what will expand opportunities for the swimmers. We have
operated what I believe is the finest age group swimming program
in the state of Michigan. How do you top that for the next 50 years?
You make the best better. You live the dream. Walt Disney said,
"If you can dream it, you can do it." We can dream it,
and we will do it. Please join me in ushering in the next 50 years
of success.
Last winter while working on alumni profiles for 50 Split, I was immersed in 50 years of AASC club pride. Yet I was also part of the team beginning to talk about club consolidation. I tried to make sense of what appeared to be two simultaneous but contradictory efforts. Then I attended the late-February Championship Party sock hop. From 8-year-olds to high schoolers, from b-ball players to conga line dancers, that night it all made sense.
These young athletes are not defined by the name on their swim caps, but by their spirit, dedication, humor, teamwork. Heather Keeler AASC President and 50 Split Editor |
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Anniversary Book Cover Design. AASC swimmers Lucas Allen, Jeffrey Krasnow, Anna Riegger and Willa Wang responded to the September call for creative entries for the cover design of the club's Anniversary Book, 50 Years of Memories: 1956-2006. Lucas' colorful winning design graces the cover of the Anniversary Book. Other finalists' creative entries are also showcased. Congratulations once again, Lucas, Jeffrey, Anna and Willa.
Swimmer Survey. During January and February, the online AASC Swimmer Survey drew 32 responses from the young men and women in the training lanes during Winter session. The April issue showcases those results in "AASC Swimmer Profile." Sincere thanks to all swimmers who participated in the online survey.
Memorable Moments. November and December calls for "memorable moments" brought many entries from members, coaches and alumni from around the country. Moments of pride, tears, laughter … all are gathered in the May issue.
AASC Alumni Contributions. We would be remiss if we did not thank the Ann Arbor Swim Club alumni who participated in the January and February 50 Split profiles. Your passion for the sport and your fond memories of AASC training days translate into sage and inspiring advice for today's young athletes.
And to those whose recollections and news clippings round out the history of our club and the profile of our founder in September and October issues, we sincerely thank you. |
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©
2005, Ann Arbor Swim Club |