If you registered with a PV club in 1999, your club representative has your 2000 renewal form. This form is pre-printed with your information and will be processed much more quickly than filling out a blank form. If you were registered "Unattached" your pre-printed renewal form was mailed to you during the middle of November.

When you receive your 2000 USMS registration card please make copies of it or keep it in a safe place. Replacements cost $2.50 (payable to "Potomac Valley LMSC").

If your household is receiving more than one copy of The Swimmer's Ear and you would prefer not to receive the extra copies, please contact Jeff Roddin (301-603-0528, or PVRegistrar@usms.org) and let him know which registered PV swimmers wish to be "unsubscribed." Please note this option is not available for SWIM magazine subscriptions since USMS has a contractual obligation with the SWIM publisher to purchase one subscription for each registrant.

Potomac Valley finished the 1999 registration year with 1756 swimmers (1538 last year). We are the smallest of the 53 LMSCs in the country from a geographic standpoint, however, we are the third largest in terms of registered swimmers (behind two of the California LMSCs). We are also the only LMSC out of the 53 to have grown each year since 1984 (nobody else has even done it since 1992).

USMS is holding a contest for a new promotional poster. Submissions should be eye-catching, fun and informative. Designs must include the phrase "United States Masters swimming," the USMS logo and provide a space for local masters information.

Finished posters will be 11" x 17" and designs should be submitted "to size." The winner will be awarded the satisfaction of his or her design being posted in pools around the country.

The new Colonies Zone Web Site has been launched and can be found at: www.colonieszone.org

The site features, among other things:

• Zone Championships information center (Results, Records, Entry Forms, Meet Hosting Bid Form)
• Pool meet and long distance calendar links
• Colonies Zone administration information (working calendar, officials, annual report)
• Colonies Zone newsletters

The dry land conditioning has been led by David Martin, founder of Performance Health and Fitness, Inc., and his trainers. David was an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach and the National Recruiting Coordinator for the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team. The training techniques David teaches can be used at home once learned, but the motivation he and his trainers provide generally make attending the sessions more productive than home workouts.

For information about the benefits of using a personal trainer independently, contact Performance Health and Fitness at (301) 527-1686.

The two weekly dryland sessions before Germantown Masters coached swimming workouts may be attended by any swimmer registered for at least one Germantown Masters workout per week at no extra cost. The schedule for the Jan. 9 - May 5 session will be: Sunday nights: 7-8:00; Monday mornings: 5:30-6:30; Tuesday nights: dryland 7:30-8:00, pool 8:00-9:00; Wednesday mornings: 6:00-7:00; Thursday nights: dryland 7:30-8:00, pool 8:00-9:00; Friday nights: 7-8:00; Saturday mornings: 8:30-10:00. Rates for the 16-week session will range from $135 to $250, depending upon how many times a week you swim.

Call (301) 540-1591 for Germantown Masters registration forms. The workouts are open to any USMS-registered swimmer.

Chinquapin Masters is seeking a new coach for practices on Sundays from 6-7:15 p.m. The Chinquapin Recreation Center is located on King Street in Alexandria, Virginia. For more information, contact Ralph Baird at 703-931-1127 or vabaird@erols.com.

Mike also will hold additional clinics January 29, February 20, March 5, April 15 and May 20. All sessions will be from 9a.m. to1 p.m and will include stroke technique theory, a video tape and review session with each participant, in-water stroke and drill sessions, and a short training session.