NATIONAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION COMMITTEE - USA Swimming€¦ · March 24-25, 2017 – D&I Committee...

March 24-25, 2017 – D&I Committee In Person Meeting Notes

NATIONAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION COMMITTEE

MISSION STATEMENT: Educate, encourage and support the membership of USA Swimming to

achieve Diversity & Inclusion growth at all levels.

IN PERSON MEETING – NOTES

3/24-3/25/17

DAY 1 – MARCH 24, 2017

Introductions

o Kathy Mendez welcomed everyone and then thanked them for coming to the meeting.

She then turned the meeting over to Jane Grosser and Cherita Gentilucci. Jane Grosser

and Cherita Gentilucci introduced themselves and then asked the committee to then

introduce themselves and tell introduced Jane Grosser Kathy introduced Jane turned it

over to her,

Mike Switalski – Niagara Diversity & Inclusion Chair. Served on USA

Swimming’s original outreach committee

John Bitter – Vice President…Head Coach Santa Clara Swim Club

Kathy Mendez – Committee Chair….Swim mom. Does a lot of outreach work

through program for kids with incarcerated parents and outreach into the Native

American communities. Been involved in swimming for over 56 years

Alicia McConnell – Ex officio member of committee…..been on committee for

10 plus years

Thomas Luchsinger – Athlete Representative and newest member to committee,

Jennie Shamburger – Been involved in swimming for over 43 years……Has

been the Age Group Chair for Gulf Swimming for 4 years

Angela Monty – Wisconsin – 3 yrs. on committee, Wisconsin D& I Chair

Audrey Bell – Started swimming for Pirates Swim Club (Magna, UT) at young

age. Since 2007 has been the head coach.….Diversity Chair for Utah

Juan Caraveo – USA Swimming Diversity & Inclusion Consultant …athlete to

swim instructor to coach. April will mark his two year anniversary at USA

Swimming.

Mariejo Truex – USA Swimming Director of Programs & Services…..Has

worked for USA Swimming for over 12 years. Prior to working for club

development Mariejo Truex work for the National Team. She has 33 years of

experience.

Manuel Banks – USA Swimming Diversity & Inclusion Membership Specialist,

Staff Liaison to committee….Been at USA Swimming for over 10 years.


Years of Swimming Experience

o After everyone introduced themselves Jane Grosser asked everyone to stand up. She then

asked everyone if they think the committee has 200 or more combined years of

experience in swimming stand up. 300 or more continue standing. The committee has

429* years of combined swimming experience (counting only the committee members

that were present).

o Jane Grossers stated that the committee has to do the following for the committee to be a

success that each member wants it to be.

Work together for the benefit of USA Swimming membership

Understand that each committee member brings their own unique swimming

experience to the table.

Bring ideas to the committee and understand that the committee have 429 years

of swimming experience. Members need to take that into account when ideas are

being reviewed.

Ice Breaker – Personality/Shapes exercise

o After the experience exercise Jane Grosser showed the slide below and then asked the

committee members to go to different areas of the room. Squares in one corner,

squiggles in another and so on.

o Once everyone went to the shape that they preferred Jane Grosser showed the committee

members the slide below.


o Jane Grosser’s major takeaways from the exercise

Differences. Each committee member’s personality is different. For the

committee to succeed differences in personalities must be taken into account.

Assigning Roles. Task Forces should not be made up of the same personalities.

The difference in personalities should be looked at as a strength because

differences will bring different opinions and viewpoints that will make each task

force stronger.

4 Pillars of USA Swimming D&I Focus.

o Mariejo Truex talked about the Diversity & Inclusion Teams D&I focus. USA

Swimming’s Diversity & Inclusion team is/will focus on the four key pillars. They are as

follow.

New Membership

Community Swim Teams

Education

Coach Mentorship

Camps

National Diversity Select Camp

Zone Diversity Select Camp

LSC Diversity Select Camp

Let’s Play with Legos

o Following Mariejo Truex’s presentation the committee went through a Lego Exercise.

Committee members (along with two USA Swimming staff members) were split into two

groups, Apples and Oranges. The Apples were the instructors and the Oranges were the

builders. Standing back to back the Apples instructed the Oranges on how to put together

the Legos they had in their hand. The Oranges could show the other Oranges the shapes


they had built but could not show the Apples. At the conclusion of the exercise Jane

Grosser had everyone turn around and look at the shapes. Jane pointed out the following.

Taking the time to carefully explain an idea, object, etc. is important. Listening

to what a committee member is saying without bias is just as important. Strong

communication between committee members is vital to the growth of the

committee.

Diversity & Inclusion Committee Mission Statement.

o Jane Grosser showed USA Swimming’s mission statement and the USA Swimming

Diversity & Inclusion Committee Mission statement. (See slide below.)

o Jane Grosser pointed out to the committee that they needed to come up with a mission

statement that supports what USA Swimming is doing. She showed the mission

statements from two USA Swimming committees – Registration and Membership

Committee, Safe Sport Committee and the LSC Development Committee

o After rewrites the committee came up with the following mission statement.

USA Swimming National Diversity & Inclusion Mission Statements: Educate,

encourage and support the membership of USA Swimming to achieve Diversity

& Inclusion growth at all levels.


USA Swimming Goals

o D&I Team Goals & Membership Trends. During dinner Mariejo Truex talked about the

USA Swimming D&I Committee Goals (slide below) and USA Swimming membership

trends. She explained to the committee that the drop in the No Response and the rise in

the White and Non-White Responses could be attributed in members having to respond to

the ethnicity question when registering. In the past members could skip the ethnicity

question. Now members cannot skip the question. If they prefer not to answer the

question they have to click on the no response answer.


o Resources. Mariejo Truex also talked about the resources that USA Swimming has

available

Resources

D&I Consultants

Safe Sport

USOC D&I Team

USA Swimming Foundation

National D&I Committee

Zone Diversity Coordinators

Local level

Materials

Cultural Resource Guides

Swim Essentials in Spanish

Safe Sport Best Practices/Toolkit

Bi-lingual materials

D&I Newsletter

Research

Webinars

Training & Workshops

D&I Chairs 101 and Workshop

Convention Education

Regional Summits

USA Swimming Staff Training

National Diversity Select Camps – Coach Track

Swimposiums

Regional Coaches Clinics

Club/LSC Visits

D&I Organizational Chart

o Manuel Banks discussed how the committee fits into the big picture.

The D&I Committee is responsible for drafting policies and procedures that will

support the diversity of USA Swimming’s membership. At a basic level the

committee could/should come up with programs that support what USA

Swimming is doing. For funding the committee should put documents together

that request funding for the Vice President to take to the USA Swimming board

for approval. All entities (USA Swimming D&I Team, D&I National Team, and

the USA Swimming Board) should work together to support each other.


USA Swimming Diversity & Inclusion Committee Goals

o Mariejo Truex brought up the organizational chart slide and stated that USA Swimming

really needs help with the following

New Membership: Ideas beyond Community Swim Team

Education: Incorporating D&I into LSC Programming

Education: Funding of LSC D&I Programming

Education: LSC D&I Chair/Coordinator Activation

o She stated that the Community Swim Teams is the only avenue for USA Swimming to

create new clubs. If that was taken away then there would not be an avenue for USA

Swimming to create new clubs. (While Mariejo Truex was talking Jane Grosser put four

sheets of paper on the wall with the four categories.)

o Jane Grosser instructed the committee to go around the room and place ideas that will

impact each category on the paper. Mariejo Truex stated that the ideas that members

submitted to the committee prior to the meeting can be put in a category as long as they

fit the category.

o The ideas that the committee came up with are on the next four pages.


When everyone was done Jane Grosser told the committee that they did a great job and to remember that

they are in charge of “cultivating an environment of diversity & inclusion.” She thanked everyone for

their time. Before the committee wrapped up for the day Mike Switalski asked Jane Grosser if she

wouldn’t mind giving a LEAP update.

LEAP Update

Leap 1 update rolled out

Working on Leap 2 & 3

Leap 1 encouraging LSC’s to expand outreach membership categories.

DAY 2 – MARCH 25, 2017

I. Introductions

Kathy Mendez thank the committee for the great work they did on Friday.

II. Goals

Cherita Gentilucci moderated the goal session. She asked committee members to go to

each sheet and review the ideas. Thomas Luchsinger suggest the committee should

combine ideas that are similar. Committee members work together and consolidated the

ideas on each sheet.

i. Education Funding

1. Community local national foundation

2. Local diversity cultural organizations

a. CBO’s-Chamber, Business Organizations

3. Sororities & fraternities

4. Government agencies

5. Professional “out of box” possibilities public/private funding hospitals

6. Events/competitions

7. Website/social media presence

a. Donate button

8. Donations/VIK/Equip

9. LSC waivers/reimbursements

10. USA Swimming Staff collaborating partners

11. Grant writing/education

ii. New Membership

1. Reduced membership gap swimmer

2. GAP programming

3. Template successful programs

4. Implement coach education development

5. Specific social swim events new ideas

a. New Ideas “MLK”

6. Advertisement/social media

7. Targeting multi-cultural organizations diversity & LGBT

8. Accurate programming

9. Accessibility

iii. Education Infusing D&I into LSC Programs

1. D&I Award/Stamp of Approval


a. LEAP

2. Training/Mentorship/Education

a. Templates “Swimmers & Coaches”

3. Scholarships to D&I Workshops

4. D&I Athlete Ambassadors

5. Matching grants for make a splash

6. Increase D&I Committee involvement on other committees

iv. Education Activation LSC D&I Chairs/Coordinators

1. D&I Chair Engagement strategy

2. Events & Awards

3. Mentorship/Training/Education

4. Zone chair

a. Quarterly calls w/LSC Chairs

5. Voting member required on LSC BOD

6. Team D&I Coordinator

7. Financial strategies to fund D&I efforts

8. Communication tree from National to Local

9. D&I Chair Community Involvement

10. Activate USA Swimming Boardsource/nonprofit for excellence

11. Social Media Presence

12. Local recognition for D&I Chairs

After the committee consolidated the ideas Kathy Mendez then instructed the committee

go around the room and vote on the top 3 on each sheet. (The goals that received the

highest votes are in bold.)


1. Grant writing/education - 1111122

2. Community local national foundation local div cultural org - 333

3. Local diversity cultural organizations

a. CBO’s-Chamber, Business Organizations

4. Sororities & fraternities 2

5. Government agencies - 3

a. schools

6. Professional “out of box” possibilities public/private funding hospitals

7. Events/competitions

8. Website/social media presence 2233

a. Donate button

9. Donations/VIK/Equip

10. LSC waivers/reimbursements

11. USA Swimming Staff collaborating partners - 123

ii. New Membership

1. Reduced membership gap swimmer -111

2. GAP programming

3. Template successful programs -112223

4. Implement coach education development

5. Specific social swim events new ideas -33

a. New Ideas “MLK”

6. Advertisement/social media


7. Targeting multi-cultural organizations diversity & LGBT 11333

8. Accurate programming

9. Accessibility -2222


1. D&I Award/Stamp of Approval-111111

a. LEAP

2. Training/Mentorship/Education-222 33


3. Scholarships to D&I Workshops-2

4. D&I Athlete Ambassadors

5. Social Media/website tools & information – 333 22

6. Matching grants for make a splash

7. Increase D&I Committee involvement on other committees - 32


1. D&I Chair Engagement strategy-111223

2. Events & Awards

3. Mentorship/Training/Education - 12

a. D&I Presence

4. Zone chair

a. Quarterly calls w/LSC Chairs

5. Voting member required on LSC BOD-3112

6. Team D&I Coordinator

7. Financial strategies to fund D&I efforts

8. Communication tree from National to Local

9. D&I Chair Community Involvement

10. Activate USA Swimming Board Source/nonprofit for excellence

11. Social Media Presence

Top Picks

Top Ideas


1. Grant writing/education

2. Website/social media presence

a. Donate button

3. USA Swimming Staff collaboration/partnership

ii. New Membership

1. Template successful programs

2. Targeting multi-cultural organizations diversity & LGBT

3. Reduced membership gap swimmer

4. Accessibility


1. D&I Award/Stamp of Approval

a. LEAP

2. Training/Mentorship/Education


3. Social Media/website tools & information



1. D&I Chair Engagement strategy

2. Voting member required on LSC BOD

3. Mentorship/Training/Education

At the end of the votes Kathy Mendez asked/assigned committee members to the Task

Forces below.

Task Force Assignments

1. Grant Writing Education Task Force – Chair-Mike Switalski , Alicia

McConnell, Tom, Naomi

2. “Template” for successful programming – Chair-Angela Monty, Alicia,

Jennie, Naomi

3. D&I Award Stamp for Approval – Chair -Jennie, Stanley, Hannah Saiz,

Tom,

4. D&I Chair Engagement Strategies – Chair-Audrey, Co-Chair Emily,

Debbie Meyers

During lunch each of the task forces met and came up with different strategies.

i. Grant Writing Education Task Force AKA Show Me the Money Task Force

1. Show clubs the steps leading up to applying for grants

2. Proper ways to use games to raise money (Bingo, Six Types of Different

Color drinks)

3. Outside the box alternatives

ii. Template for a successful D&I Program

1. Establish steps/keys for successful programs

2. Identify programs that can be used as models

iii. D&I Chair Engagement

1. Generate a list of D&I Chairs

2. Welcome Packet

3. Encourage them to go to D&I events

4. Monthly email to chairs

iv. D&I Stamp of Approval

1. Target clubs

2. Club component

3. Action base. Clubs have to do something to earn stamp.

III. USAS Convention

Discussion on USAS Convention topics to fill two open spaces.

i. Following the discussion on goals the committee then talked about the USAS

Convention. The committee needed to fill two open slots. They decided to fill

the open slots with USAS two sessions that ties directly to the goals that were set.

The two topics that will be added are highlighted in bold.

1. D&I Chair Engagement Strategies

2. “Template” for successful programming

Timeline


i. The committee set the following timeline.

USAS CONVENTION D&I SESSIONS TIMELINE

TASK RESPONSIBILITY DEADLINE

DATE

Presentation Templates Task Forces (D&I Chair Engagement Strategies &

“Template for Successful Programming)

April 11, 2017

Presentation Outlines/ Task Forces (D&I Chair Engagement Strategies &


April 18, 2017

Convention Title and Blurb to

Gina Mensay (Please send to

Kathy & Manny)

Task Forces (D&I Chair Engagement Strategies &


April 18, 2017

USAS Convention Flyers Task Forces (D&I Chair Engagement Strategies &


June 13, 2017

PRESENTATIONS DONE

(POWERPOINTS, HANDOUTS,

OUTLINES, ETC.)

Task Forces (D&I Chair Engagement Strategies &


July 25, 2017

Dry Run of Presentations Task Forces (D&I Chair Engagement Strategies &


August 8, 2017

Flyers

i. Thomas Luchsinger will design the flyers for the new presentations.

IV. LSC Outreach Membership Criteria Task force Report

Kathy Mendez asked Audrey Bell to talk about the documents. Audrey Bell stated that

the documents were put together by the task force to send to LSC’s and clubs to

encourage them to use a different criteria for outreach rather than relying solely on

families qualifying for the Free or Reduced Cost Lunch program.

The committee then went through the documents.

Mariejo Truex suggested that the task force needs to explain to LSC’s and clubs why they

need to move away from the Free or Reduced Cost Lunch Program. She also suggested

that there should be 1 or 2 suggested qualifications that clubs can explore. This will make

it easier for them to expand the qualifications for outreach.

Mike Switalski told the committee that Medicaid and participation in the food stamps

program are the easiest ways for families to prove that they are in need.

Mariejo Truex on the Q&A document on the third page down… (My club is already

diverse why do we need to offer outreach membership)….look at broader answers than

the current answer.

Cherita Gentilucci ….on second page your register should be the primary contact. The

document needs to say contact your LSC Register.


Last two questions

i. Contact LSC General Chair

ii. Contact [email protected] USA Swimming D&I team

Cherita Gentilucci …get rid of Free and or Reduced Lunch questions.

Kathy Mendez asked everyone to send edits/suggestions to the members of the task force.

V. Diversity & Inclusion Award

Manuel Banks asked the committee to start thinking about the candidates for the

Diversity & Inclusion Award. Kathy Mendez asked Manuel Banks to tell the committee

how the award was voted on in the past. Manuel Banks stated that the committee voted

on the candidates the following ways.

i. At the in person meeting

ii. Submitted candidates via email. Then voted on the candidates during a

conference call.

iii. Sent nomination forms to LSC’s

In the past the committee has presented the award to a group and an individual. Past

Award winners included Cullen Jones, Chuck Wielgus, Atlanta Falcons Youth

Foundation, Sue Anderson, and Coach Tommy Jackson.

Kathy Mendez asked committee members if they had any candidates in mind. Below are

the names that committee members listed.

i. Cecil Gordon

ii. Metro Swimming

iii. Schuyler Bailar

iv. Peter Maloney

v. Simone Manuel

vi. DC Park & Recreation

vii. Jeff Commings

viii. Black History Invitational Swim Meet founders

ix. Lia Neal

VI. Individual Reports/Topics/Comments

National Diversity & Inclusion Camp – Juan Caraveo

i. Reported that the National Diversity & Inclusion Camp rosters have been

released.

ii. Pablo Morales will be one of the guest speakers.

iii. Coaches that weren’t selected for the National Diversity & Inclusion Camp will

be considered for the Zone Camps.

VII. VP Report

John Bitter talked about the change that over the next couple of months there will be a lot

of change at USA Swimming. A new President/CEO and National Team Head Director

will be chosen. A search firm will be used to select the next President/CEO

VIII. Other Business

Ex officio Members

i. Mariejo Truex asked the committee members what they thought about bringing

two new ex officio members onto the committee. These two members would

have expertise in diversity & inclusion and/or fundraising.

ii. Mike Switalski brought the motion forward. Three committee members

seconded the motion. The committee members voted unanimously to bring two

ex officio members.

mailto:[email protected]


iii. Mike Switalski stated that many colleges have centers of urban studies and that

the committee should look at someone from a center of urban studies.

iv. Alicia McConnell suggested a person from the Women in Sports Foundation.

v. Thomas Luchsinger suggested Jennifer Hobbs from the Pathfinders for Autism.

Jennifer Hobbs has raised over 1.5 million dollars for Pathfinders for Autism.

vi. Kathy Mendez asked the committee to email her and Manuel Banks candidates.

March Conference Call Minutes

i. Mike Switalski motioned for the approval of the minutes from the March 14,

2017 conference call. The motion was seconded. The committee approved the

minutes from the March 14, 2017 conference call.

ii. Mike Switalski requested that his title (in the minutes & notes) be changed from

Buffalo City Swim Racers to Niagara Diversity & Inclusion Chair.

IX. Adjournment

NATIONAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION COMMITTEE - USA Swimming€¦ · March 24-25, 2017 – D&I Committee...

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