The Southern Zone Athletes' Committee will be hosting a regular business meeting on Sunday, November 22 at 6PM ET / 5PM CT. This is an open meeting, but we ask that any non-SZAC members contact the Zone Athlete Representatives prior to the meeting so that we can expect their presence. An agenda, join info, and any other relevant materials will be posted and shared to all SZAC members in the near future. Please contact the Athlete Representatives if you will not be able to make it, this is a mandatory meeting for all SZAC members.
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We are excited to share some brief post-USAS Convention updates! We thank all of our Reps for their dedication and work during this last month, and hope that despite the virtual circumstance, Convention was still an engaging and positive experience!
New SZ Athlete Reps: We are excited to announce our new SZ Athlete Reps! Please welcome our new Zone Athlete Director (and co-chair of the Zone Directors' Council), Ryan Gibbons (FL) and our new Junior Athlete Representative, Lauren Hurt (SE). Their contact information can be found under our "contact" tab; please feel free to reach out to them! New AEC Members: We would also like to congratulate three new members of the USA Swimming Athletes' Executive Committee hailing from the Southern Zone! Our warmest wishes go out to Ellery Parish (AEC Chair), Annie Norris (AEC Programming & Events Chair), and Matthew Rigsbee (at-large). We look forward to working with them in the coming years to further develop the athlete voice throughout our sport. SZ Policies and Procedures: As a result of R-22 being passed by the USA Swimming House of Delegates, Zone Bylaws and Policies & Procedures will be consolidated into Administrative Procedures. The SZ expects few-to-no changes regarding the substance of athlete representation or the SZAC structure; minor wording changes and procedural clarifications will make up the bulk of these changes. Further information will be shared as the Zone Board of Directors decides upon it. Information is now available for our virtual convention! See our "Resources" tab for resources regarding Southern Zone Convention meetings, and visit usasathletes.org for official AEC updates and information.
Because Convention will be in a virtual format this year, required meetings will be spread throughout the month of September. Make sure that you plan to attend all of the required meetings throughout their duration, and that you let your Zone Reps know if you won't be able to make one. The following are ZONE-SPECIFIC meetings that you are required to attend; there are other non-Zone meetings that you are also required to participate in. Make sure you are checking with the AEC website to stay up-to-date with these external meetings. Southern Zone Convention Meetings: SZ General Meeting Part 1: Saturday Sept. 12, 3-5PM ET SZ Athletes' Meeting: Sunday, Sept. 13, 3-5PM ET SZ General Meeting Part 2: Sunday, Sept. 27, 7-8:30PM ET Also, make sure you register for Convention! You can register at this link; make sure you do so no later than September 11, 2020. If you do not register, you may not be able to participate in our meetings and events! We know the virtual format isn't what we expected at all, but we hope to make the most of it! Please keep in contact with us, and let us know of any difficulties, questions, or concerns you may have - we are here to help you and guide you through this! Final updates
Thanks for a great few months!!!USA Swimming’s Southern Zone Will Hold Its First Athlete Workshop Via Zoom This SummerThe Southern Zone will be hosting its first annual Athlete Workshop via Zoom on July 11, 2020 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT. The workshop will consist of more than 25 athletes from the various Local Swimming Committees (LSCs) spread throughout the Southeastern United States. In addition to including athletes from each LSC, the workshop will also include non- athletes to engage and work with their LSC athlete representatives. The focus of the workshop is on personal and professional development for our athletes. Through Zoom video conference calls, athletes will engage in various activities– learning about themselves, fellow athlete representatives, professional communication, professional behavior, long-term project planning, and legislation writing, as well as meeting with previous Olympians, National Team members, workplace professionals and their respective LSC General Chairs. Athletes will have the option to focus the majority of their time in either legislation writing and proposing or long-term athlete-based project planning. Annie Norris, the Southern Zone Senior Athlete Representative from the Gulf LSC, says that she hopes every athlete walks away with tangible skills and action item ideas to focus on within their LSCs in the future. “We hope that this workshop not only develops leadership skills to bolster our athlete representation within our organization, but also goes beyond our sport and helps our representatives into college and their professional lives,” Norris said. Norris is excited to use the virtual workshop as a template for what the Southern Zone can get done and achieve once the athletes are back together again. She says the Zone’s hope is to facilitate productive collaboration while fostering stronger relationships on the athlete level and non-athlete level. About the Southern ZoneThe mission of the Southern Zone’s Athletes’ Committee is to empower and support athlete representatives to utilize their voice in the governance of USA Swimming. The Southern Zone contains the Border, Florida Gold Coast, Florida, Georgia, Gulf, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Texas, South Carolina, South Texas, Southeastern, West Texas and West Virginia Local Swim Committees. Annie Norris, Zone Senior Athlete Rep., [email protected] Ryan Gibbons, Zone Junior Athlete Rep., [email protected] Matthew Rigsbee, Media + Engagement Rep., [email protected] Ellery Parish, Senior Athlete Mentor, [email protected] Also Seen In...To the Athletes of the Southern Zone of USA Swimming:Over the past three and a half months, your Southern Zone Athlete Representatives have worked very hard to support our membership during the COVID-19 crisis and to build a transition back into the water. We have met, and continue to meet, frequently with USA Swimming senior leadership, our Southern Zone Non-Athlete Directors, the Zone Directors’ Council, and the Athletes’ Executive Committee, among other groups, to take steps to sustain our membership during pool closures and to rebuild our sport in the wake of COVID-19. It is with those months of work in mind, and the challenges we are facing as we begin to reopen, that we strongly call on the members and families of the Southern Zone to practice social distancing, wear masks, and follow the health guidelines government agencies have provided. Cases across our Zone have been spiking in recent weeks as state and local governments begin to reopen, and, while we understand the reopening process and the desire to return to daily life, we need to acknowledge the trade-off this reopening has created. Within our sport, the bulk of this burden falls on us, the younger, generally healthier individuals that make up our teams and LSCs. We must act with selflessness and grace in upholding these guidelines for the sake of protecting more vulnerable populations and our fellow teammates and coaches. Wearing masks, keeping your distance, and following guidelines has not gone away simply as areas reopen: they are integral to allowing reopenings to continue, and to keeping you and those around you safe. Wearing a mask and following USA Swimming recommendations is a minor inconvenience compared to repercussions we will face for not adhering to these guidelines. Following such guidelines are essential in ensuring that our sport can continue to progress through a reopening process. Nearly all of our members suffered extensive and/or frequent pool closures, and many of our members still do not have water access. Rapid growth in viral cases will not only hinder the return-to-practice of the swimmers still waiting to return to the pool, it will threaten those who have already returned to practice with future pool closures. Such rapid growth will also slow our ability as a sport to hold the competitions, meets, and programs that are so fundamental to our swimming experience. It is crucial that ALL of our members are acting safely and appropriately in order for us to return to large-level LSC, Zone, and National competition in the foreseeable future. Taking these simple steps will make the difference in our ability to swim together once again. In the last few months, we have seen incredible persistence, confidence, and unity across the members of our Zone. Swimmers, coaches, and volunteers have stepped up for one another in order to support the vulnerable individuals in their communities. Such dedication has been truly inspiring, but it can’t end yet. We need your help, your selflessness, and your following of guidelines to get all of us there soon. Sincerely,Annie Norris Southern Zone Senior Athlete Representative Ryan Gibbons Southern Zone Senior Athlete Representative Also Seen in...FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @SZATHLETES
SUMMARYIn light of recent events. we wanted to put additional emphasis on creating both an inclusive and equitable sport. Below are some resources so you can ask for help or advice, educate yourself, and stay up to date on USA Swimming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives. Here is the link to the presentation outlining our Workshop Timeline, registration status, and the DEI content we covered. ATTENDEESAnnie Norris (SZ SR Rep), Ryan Gibbons (SZ JR Rep), Dave Smith (SZ Director), Kenneth Chung (USAS BOD), Noah Wilson (DEI Natl. Rep), Anisa Nelson (DEI Natl. Rep), Annika Ruehlicke (LSC Dev. Natl. Rep), Matthew Rigsbee (Rules & Regs Natl. Rep) LSC Athletes Reps [We forgot to take attendance, but thank you to all who came and added to discussion!] HIGHLIGHTS
ACTION ITEMS
DEI RESOURCES
Comment below if you've found any other resources helpful. summaryIn this week's meeting, we discussed the importance of the grassroots athlete base, upcoming legislation and education on topics you might be seeing in the next few weeks, along with our future plans for our SZ Athlete Workshop. We also wanted to make sure and address the political climate we're facing in the United States and to allow for open conversation. Whether you are directly or indirectly affected, please stay safe! highlights
summaryWe've been hitting some great strides in our Monday Meetings and we're really excited to keep them going. There have been a lot of developments and projects we are ready to get started on so make sure to look at the highlights for details and ways you can be involved. In this meeting specifically, we had Elizabeth Hahn, Director of Safe Sport, come talk about workshops they're putting on, Dave Smith and Jim Kelly gave some updates on voting for this year on the zone level and emphasized how important it is to have the athlete voice present, Kenneth Chung made a book recommendation and offered input from his BOD level status, and Ryan gave a rallying speech at the end that made us think of ways we can build a better future and work towards what "normal" we'll be like once COVID-19 gets behind us. attendeesAnnie Norris (SZ SR Rep), Ryan Gibbons (SZ JR Rep), Elizabeth Hahn (USAS Safe Sport), Dave Smith (SZ Non-Coach Director), Jim Kelly (SZ Coach Director), Kenneth Chung (BOD), Ellery Parish (AEC At-Large), Jack Swanson (AEC Leadership Chair), Anisa Nelson (D&I Natl. Rep), Annika Ruehlicke (LSC Dev. Natl. Rep), Matthew Rigsbee (Rules & Regs Natl. Rep) Amber Ewald (FL Jr Rep), Davis Shelton (FL Sr Rep), Davis Shelton (FL Sr Rep), Chloe Hernandez (FGC Sr Rep), Jibran Himsieh (North TX Sr Rep), Lauren Hurt (SE Sr Rep), Jacks Mitchel (SE Jr Rep), Thomas Pierce (SE Rep), Piper Burton (NC Sr Rep), Rani Greer (MS Sr Rep), Sarah Grace Thompson (GA Sr Rep). HIGHLIGHTS
THANKS & see you next week!Please comment below and share what you took away from the meeting!
SummaryIn this first of our weekly group meetings, we took a more “business-oriented” focus and discussed progress with ongoing COVID-19 related projects at the LSC, Zone, and National level, sought advice and information from our present non-athlete leaders, and conversed about local mitigation projects during this time. Our next major ongoing focus is providing as many resources for our clubs and athletes as possible to keep teams afloat, as well as developing resources and plans for athletes who may be displaced by club closures. attendeesAnnie Norris (SZ SR Rep), Ryan Gibbons (SZ JR Rep), Dave. Smith (SZ Non-Coach Director), Jim Kelly (SZ Coach Director), Kenneth Chung (BOD, TX), Kathleen Prindle (BOD, FGC), Ellery Parish (AEC, TX), Amber Ewald (FL Jr Rep), Davis Shelton (FL Sr Rep), Katie Shelburne (GU Jr Rep), Lauren Hurt (SE Sr Rep), Matthew Rigsbee (NC Natl. Athlete Rep), Noelle Marsh (GU At-Large Rep), Will Foggin (GA Jr Rep) HIGHLIGHTS
RESOURCES
next meetingToday!
Monday, April 13, 2020 @7:00 PM CT Check your email for the invitation. |
SOUTHERN ZONE UPDATESNews pertaining to the athletes of the Southern Zone. Archives
November 2020
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