U.S. Masters Swimming Dorothy Donnelly Service Award

Recipient:	Anita Cole
Year:	2018
LMSC:	Southern Pacific

Since 2012 Anita has served the Southern Pacific LMSC as the Marketing and Club Development Committee Chair, promoting Masters Swimming and encouraging development of new clubs and growth of existing clubs. She proactively attended the Southern California Public Pool Operators Association monthly meetings to stay abreast of what was happening at local pools with the intent of identifying opportunities for expanding Masters Swimming programs. She also attended health-related community events and distributed marketing materials, as well as SPMS newsletters, stickers, luggage tags, and USMS swim caps throughout the community. Additionally, Anita shared innumerable ideas to expand the LMSC by promotion of Masters Swimming via signage, promoting new membership by offering the first month free, encouraging meet participating by offering club reimbursement of entry fees for the first swim meet entered, and a buddy system to show new swimmers the ropes and making them feel comfortable. A member of the USMS Fitness Committee since 2016, she promoted fitness swimming locally, largely using social media, and also originating and rolling out an SPMS Swimmer of the Month Award, which recognizes swimmers for a wide array of accomplishments, boosting morale and encouraging participation.