U.S. Masters Swimming Club of the Year Award

Recipient:	Palmetto Masters
Year:	2016
LMSC:	South Carolina

Palmetto Masters (PALM) set big goals for their team, and everyone was excited to work together to achieve those goals. Membership quickly grew from 50 to 200 swimmers. Their team motto was ‘In It to Win It’. Members came together and achieved goals that included attending National Championships and supporting one of their swimmers to set all the LMSC swim records in her age group.

New members received a team shirt and welcome package that consisted of a bumper sticker, several team business cards, and a couple of team flyers that they could share with others. Each graduating senior from the local swim club received a Palmetto Masters/USMS information packet in hope they would remember PALM when they were done with college and join. Finally, a survey was sent to members to determine if the team was meeting member’s needs.

PALM members were connected in many ways. Communication included a website, Facebook page, monthly eNewsletter, and occasional emails. A quarterly ‘Heart of Palm’ award was given to a member selected for their hard work, goals achieved, or team spirit. The team supported local charities and fundraisers, such as Polar Bear Plunge, Walk for Water, Buddy Walk, and LAPS (Lowcountry Aquatic Project Swimming), and they fundraised for ‘Build a Church in Kenya’ and ‘Swim for Nepal’. PALM members volunteered in their LMSC.

Several members had swimming articles published.  W.A. "Jay" Brzezinski M.D. was published in the Journal of Sport and Health, Maggie Ashley had fitness swimming articles in I’On Magazine, Janine Serell wrote for H2O Magazine, and David Rieder, Katie McLaughlin, and Michael Chadwick were published in Swimming World magazine.