USSSA Spring Workshop

SPRING WORKSHOP WRAP UP!

BY ANNE SWANSON UNITED STATES SWIM SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

The 2022 Spring Workshop theme was “Unleash the Possibilities” and did we ever! This year’s workshop in Mesa, Arizona was the largest we have ever had!

Those who joined us in March participated in a reimagined agenda that included more roundtables and inspiring sessions. Based on survey feedback, the new agenda was a huge success with the majority of attendees reported loving or liking the new format. Although we will continue to tweak the agenda based on feedback, it was a great start to a re-fresh of the Spring Workshop.

Attendees also had an opportunity to visit one of two local swim schools for in-water sessions. SWIMKids USA and Hubbard Family Swim School both hosted a full afternoon of in-water sessions with varying topics. Attendees were also treated to a reception at Aqua-Tots Headquarters where they were greeted with sunshine and smiles. A great time was had by all who were able to attend. A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and exhibitors who joined us there as well! With having sold out exhibitor space this year, attendees were able to visit with existing partners as well as meet some new ones!

If you weren’t able to attend the Spring Workshop, you can still access slides from the workshop in the USSSA portal.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

In case you missed it, it was announced that USSSA now has a new sponsor, SimplyInsured, that offers you a menu of medical, dental and vision insurance options. In just a few clicks, get an instant online quote for medical, dental and vision insurance with recommendations to help you select from the best plans available in your area. To get your free quote or for more information, please visit: http://simplyinsured.com/usssa

SAVE THE DATE!

Save the date for Spring Workshop 2023 at the Catamaran San Diego! It will take place February 21-22, 2023. We can’t wait to see you there!

FROM YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM SPRING WORKSHOP?

My biggest takeaways from Spring Workshop were really reminders of things I just have to get better at doing like; delegating more tasks so I’m able to focus on my business and spend less time working in my business and assume nothing and repeat important messages frequently. My new nugget is stealing Davina’s “Grab Kit.”

TRACY KOLEBER NITRO SWIMMING

My biggest takeaway from Spring Workshop is how incredibly awesome, caring and helpful our membership is. After 10 years of attending these, I still continue to learn and make new swim school friends.

BRAD GRZELKA

ATLANTA SWIM ACADEMY

My biggest takeaway from our Spring Workshop was to appreciate the amazing staff we have at this association that care so deeply about giving all of you the best experience possible. And we know we are lucky to work with all of you in such an important lifesaving and life changing industry. In the aftermath of two really tough years, swim schools are coming out stronger and more passionate than ever about making a positive impact for their students, staff and communities. It’s an exciting time with great possibilities to come!

LISA ZARDA

USSSA

I have a lot of little takeaways from the Spring Conference.

Listening to Davina and Karen talk about Emergency Action Plans gave me some more ideas of how to make our EAP even better than it is by adding some little things like a grab kit and having more in person trainings. In listening to Miren talk I want to add in finding out our employee’s purpose or helping them figure out their purpose if they don’t know it. In listening to David I had quite a few ideas, the main one being surveying staff to find out what they are looking to get into as a future career and seeing how that may help us as a swim school and how to possibly keep them working for us AND get into their future career. Overall this was a great conference with multiple take aways!

BUFFY FOLISE

CHICAGO SWIM SCHOOL

I AM CONSTANTLY REMINDED HOW IMPORTANT MY SWIM SCHOOL FRIENDS ARE.

They get me, support my crazy ideas, encourage me to grow, and celebrate my successes. United States Swim School Association is a very close, loving group of swim schools that have members that are working hard to make a difference, a world without drowning, one swim lesson at a time.

KAREN CLAY

SWIMWEST SWIM SCHOOL

Coming to spring conference always reminds me that the swim school friends ROCK, its always fun to catch up and spend time with people who are like minded, encouraging and give you amazing ideas. Some of the takeaways from the spring workshop was from David’s talk that we need to listen and ask our staff what they are looking for in a career and start to look at our jobs and careers we offer through the lens of the generation I’m hiring. Another major take away that I’m looking forward to implementing at my swim school is from Miren’s talk on how I can make my school more socially responsible and to make these decisions with my team, not just management. What I also liked about this conference is the vulnerability that Mary shared. It takes courage and strength for her to share her experience and I want to thank her and the conference organizers that gave us that opportunity to listen to Mary. Its important to learn from people and their experiences, good or bad and show empathy towards one another in the industry.

DAVINA LOPEZ

DAVINA’S SWIM HOUSE

I LOVED THE CONFERENCE AND SO MANY AMAZING SPEAKERS AND TOPICS.

My biggest take away was Miren’s talk on B corporations and her and her team’s journey to becoming a B corporation. Miren is a force for good and paves a pathway to contribution that we are all called to. Thank you Miren for you and your team’s actions and leadership!

DAVE TONNESEN

SWIMKIDS SWIM SCHOOL