Chinooks News – August 2021

First day indoors – Monday, August 23rd
Tuesday/Thursday MORNING practices END on Thursday, August 19th - All other practices move indoors

Trimester:    $130 (student rate $80)
Monthly:    $35 (student rate $20)

Credit card payment required for members choosing Monthly billing cycle. Credit card payment is optional for all others. Credit cards are charged automatically on the 1st of each month. If you need to suspend your billing, please contact mcm@gnorth.net prior to the beginning of the month.

Add a different payment method by logging into your Chinooks account on ClubAssistant (chinookswimming.org). Use the “Forgot Username or Password?” link if needed.

Permits to park in UI Lot #39 (Mem Gym/Swim Center) in the early mornings are required. The “Commuter/Overnight/Early AM” permit is $15 (or free with purchase of another annual parking permit). Your reason for needing this permit is “Masters Swimming.”
In person purchase – visit Parking & Transportation Services at the Moscow Intermodal Transit Center on Sweet Ave. 7:30-4:30PM Mon – Fri.
Online purchase + in person pickup – visit uidaho.edu/parking URL and follow the links for a “Vendor or Other Permits” to navigate to the “Commuter/Overnight/Early AM” permit.

We need your help to count laps at the pool portion of the Palouse Sprint Tri on Saturday, September 11th. This is an early morning job and you’ll be done in time to get to Farmers Market no problem! The PST shares a portion of its profit with the groups that help with staffing the course and our funds go to continue the Adult Learn-to-Swim program that Debbie and Sue are leading (see next item.) Plus it is a great way to promote our swim club to the greater community, especially the triathletes who are less comfortable in the water.

Please sign up soon at this SIGNUP GENIUS LINK: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4daca623a7f5ce9-palouse

Debbie Bell and Sue Kappmeyer are the certified Adult Learn-to-Swim instructors on our team. They have been sidelined by COVID for holding sessions but are set to restart in September. They need students and potentially volunteer instructors based on the number of people who sign up. Please promote this program to the non-swimmers in your circle of influence.

Adult Learn-to-Swim Lessons

Dates:   Session I:    September 21 – October 1
             Session II:    November 9 – 19
Days:    Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
Time:    8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Place:   University of Idaho Swim Center, 1030 S. Rayburn St.
Cost:    $25.00
There will be a maximum of three students per instructor.

To sign up, contact alts@gnorth.net (Debbie Bell & Sue Kappmeyer)

We had a really successful July with new members trying out our club during the “Try Masters Swimming” campaign. Five Chinooks returned after an extended hiatus: Caleb Courtney, Stephan Flores, Will Greene, Matthew Miller, and Chantelle Wilson. We gained 8 new members:  Dana Brolley, Josh Courtney, James Fields, Olivia Gordon, Cat Harner, Robert Joslyn, Yvonne Shea and Julie Schott. Please introduce yourself when you see a new face on deck or in your lane! We have about 63 active members.

Thanks to everyone who talked up the club to a new member! Paige has schwag for you!

Finish out the Tu/Th Morning swim season with an open water practice. We’ll set up the pool with no lane lines and OW “buoys” to have a practice focused on open water swimming strategies.

Last day to register is Wednesday August 9th. Cost is $70+fees for 2.4 mile point-to-point swim; $60+fees for 1.2 mile mid-lake to end-point swim.

Chinooks News - July 2022 – Part DEUX

All practices move outside on Monday

There are slight changes to practice times:

• MWF: 5:30 – 6:45 AM
• Tu/Th: 6:30 – 7:30 PM free entry during last hour of daily operation – bring ID
• Tu/Th morning practices continue at 5:45 – 6:45 AM

[Did you leave your swim stuff in the Memorial Gym locker rooms? No worries – only the swim center is closed but Mem Gym will be open during the days so you can launch your rescue mission when convenient.]

Jeanne Leffingwell is inviting all Chinooks to a potluck breakfast on her patio across the street from the HLAC right after practice. Address: 835 Mtn View Rd. Opportunities to break bread together have been few during the pandemic, so it will be nice to socialize in the fresh air. Yes Coffee, No Covid. Yes bring something to share, No sharing forks. Yes French toast, No French kissing.

Be sure to welcome Amy Hudson and Stacey Kingsbury to the Chinooks! They converted their trial membership into full-fledged Chinookiness. We have ~4 other people who have finished up their trial week and are considering joining.

The Try Masters Swimming Month campaign happens in July with special advertising paid for by USMS in the area around our participating club. Anyone is welcome to try Chinooks practices for a week at any time. Just have them visit usms.org/try

Anyone want to learn to swim in open water? Let Paige know and we’ll schedule a time to go practice where the Snake River is very shallow.

Saturday, August 6 – Long Bridge Swim – Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint, Idaho

Visit https://longbridgeswim.org/ for information and register to swim at the 27th annual event!

Sunday, August 14 – Coeur d’Alene Crossing – Lake Coeur d’Alene, CdA, Idaho

2.4 mile across the lake or 1.2 mile jump off a boat and swim back to shore. Check out https://cdacrossing.com/ for information and registration. Deadline to register is July 31st. Spectator tickets on the cruise boats are available beginning July 30th.

Roll-the-Bones Swim in the Snake River – Saturday, August 27 * meet at Staples to carpool at 6:50 AM

Let’s go swim from Granite Point to Wawaiwai Landing before the season is out. This is a 2.2 mile swim downriver. Wetsuits not needed. Donuts provided with a special Jelly Roll-the-Bones donut to the first finisher! Not a sanctioned practice or event – just for fun! Friends welcome.

Palouse Sprint Tri registration is open! Sign up for this 500 yd swim, 15 km bike, and 5 km run happening on Saturday, September 10th around Moscow at palousetri.com. If you are not participating/competing, then please help with counting competitors’ laps that morning at HLAC. We need about 15 Chinook volunteers. It’s a great way to meet other Chinooks who may swim in a different lane or on a different day. Mark your calendar for a September 10th morning of cheering and helping. We’re done by 10:15am.

Commuter Overnight/Early AM permits for parking in UI Lot #39 (Gold Lot) are available for the next academic year. If you are not employed by or attending UIdaho, the best plan is to purchase the permit in-person at UI Parking Services located in the Moscow Intermodal Transportation Center on Sweet Avenue (7:30a-4:30p M-F). The cost is $15 if you don’t have a regular annual permit; if so, the CO/E permit is Free. Gold permit holders don’t need to go to the effort of getting the CO/E as in years past.

Don’t put this off until all the UI students return beginning in mid-August!

Chinooks News – July 2022

Summer Practice Schedule Changes

MWF Practices move OUTSIDE to the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatic Center on Monday, JULY 25th 5:30 – 6:45 AM

Tu/Th Evening Practices move OUTSIDE on Tuesday, JULY 26th and the time shifts to 6:30-7:30 PM

Tu/Th Morning Practices stay the same at HLAC 5:45 – 6:45 AM 

All OUTSIDE practices at HLAC run through August 19th and then we return to UI Swim Center.

If you prefer a visual of when we move from indoor to outdoor check out - https://www.chinookswimming.org/calendar.cfm?pagetitle=Calendar#

You can print a nice calendar HERE: https://www.chinookswimming.org/calendar/print/

Coach Coverage in July

Coach Shelly is off for her summer break in July. Many of you met Coach Mia Goodwin as she covered morning indoor practices as well as the outdoor mornings. Be sure to introduce yourself. Paige and Jay will cover evenings and Wednesday mornings.

Events

Our friends to the north have revived the mid-July open water swim in Lake Coeur d’Alene. Grab (rent? buy?) a wetsuit and sign up for the Kroc Masters Open Water Swim (1 km & 2 km distances) to be held on Saturday, July 16th.

Get more info and sign up at https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=2594&;smid=15112

Deadline to enter is Tuesday, July 12th. Talk to Coach Mia or Paige if you are interested in carpooling to this event.

More Open Water Swimming in the Inland Northwest!

Saturday, August 6 – Long Bridge Swim – Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint, Idaho

Visit https://longbridgeswim.org/ for information and register to swim at the 27th annual event!

Sunday, August 14 – Coeur d’Alene Crossing – Lake Coeur d’Alene, CdA, Idaho

2.4-mile across-the-lake or 1.2-mile jump-off-a-boat-and-swim-to-shore swims available. Check out https://cdacrossing.com/ for information and registration. Deadline to register is July 31st. Spectator tickets on the cruise boats are available beginning July 30th.
 

Chinooks News – June 2022

Phase 1 - ADDING TUESDAY & THURSDAY MORNINGS! Starting Tuesday, June 14th 5:45-6:45 AM at the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatic Center (F St. & Mountain View Rd – remember the Mtn View closure at Sixth St. this summer) Coach Mia Goodwin will be leading practices on those mornings at least till the end of June.

UI Swim Center has its annual maintenance shut down from July 23 – August 22. Phase 2 of our outside practices will move MWF morning and Tu/Th evening practices to HLAC during those 4 weeks.

• JUNE 14 through September 8* - Tuesday/Thursday mornings (5:45-6:45am)
• JULY 25 through August 19 - MWF mornings (5:30-6:45am)
• JULY 26 through August 18 - Tu/Th evenings (6:00-7:00pm)

*pending available staff that long

Coach Shelly will have us take the 2K Fitness Challenge on Tuesday, June 8th and Wednesday, June 9th. If you want to sign up for the challenge which supports Adult Learn to Swim programs across the U.S. and get some cool swag, visit https://www.usms.org/events/fitness-events/fitness-series.

palousetri.com

Race – Individual entry is $50 + USAT one-day membership $15 if needed, or be the swim hero for a Team/Family @ $90 + USAT one-day membership ($15 if needed per team member).

Volunteer – This is the main Chinooks Masters community service event for the year. Many Chinooks help with organizing and registration activities. Other Chinooks help with race day pool logistics by counting for athletes during the morning. Please mark your calendar and set aside Sept. 10 morning to be part of this team event! Any event proceed sharing given to the Chinooks goes to support the Chinooks’ Adult Learn-to-Swim program.

August 23-September 2 - Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays 8:30-9:30 AM
October 25-November 4  - Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays 8:30-9:30 AM

Know someone who aspires to learn how to swim? Have them contact ALTS@gnorth.net to get answers to questions and to find out how to register. Each session (6 classes) is $25.00.

Heard about the lifeguard shortage nationwide? We're not immune here. The City of Moscow will pay for time spent taking lifeguard training in addition to hours worked. Break the generation barrier! Contact Ava Barker at avabarkerr@gmail.com by June 23rd if you are interested in outdoor summer work. Training dates are 

June 30, July 1, July 2 from 8am - 2pm and July 3 from 8am - Noon + 6-9pm

Plus up to 7 hours of online training to be completed prior to June 30th.

Chinooks News – April 2022

Wednesday, April 6 - Air Force ROTC - 5 lanes Deep Pool (plus one lane in Shallow Pool - MAYBE) 5:45 to 7:00 a.m.
Wednesday April 20 - Navy ROTC - one lane in the Shallow Pool from 5:30 to 7:00 a.m. and then three lanes in Deep Pool (lanes 6-8) 5:45 to 7:00 a.m.

April 9-10 – April Flowers Swim Meet (short-course meters 25M) – Kroc Center, Coeur d’Alene, ID

Deadline to enter: Friday NOON 4/8 at https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=2594&;smid=14328

Start off by fueling and socializing with swimmers from around the region at a free breakfast at the home of one of the CdA Kroc Masters. If you are an open water swimming aficionado, plan to go as many of the Krocs and some of the Big Sky Montana swimmers coming for the meet love to chat about their summer plans over fruit and pancakes.

Then enjoy 10% more racing for the same low price of $35! Short course meters is about 7 feet longer than our 25 yd pool and separate records are kept. Relay records!! Come swim with us!

Want to carpool? Contact Paige and/or Coach Shelly to get in on logistics planning.

May 20-22 – Fazzari’s Open Swim Meet (long-course meters 50M) – Orchards Pool, Lewiston, ID

Deadline to enter: paper entry via U.S. Mail must be RECEIVED by May 8th

Form available at: https://inlandnwmastersnew.org/ [under Fazzari’s section]

This is a dual-sanctioned swim meet with Inland Empire Swimming where Masters swimmers will compete in the 13&Over age group alongside the youth swimmers. The 1500 Free will be on Friday evening. The meet allows for more rest between events and is typically a fun weekend in the sun looking at the Palouse hills (or keeping tabs on tornado watches – one or the other!) Got a kid who swims? This is a wonderful family meet to cheer for each other and friends.

Have questions about swim meets? Ask Coach Shelly for tips and advice!

Chinooks News – March 2022

Practice Info

Spring Break (March 14-18) - We’ll have morning swim practices for sure, but evening practice will depend on staffing. Please stay tuned!

Mask/Facial Covering Update

As of Tuesday, March 1st the University of Idaho made wearing masks inside their facilities optional. Chinooks will follow that policy of optional face coverings on deck, especially with the CDC’s newest guidance. Going forward we ask that everyone support our teammates’ decisions to wear a mask or not wear a mask. Coach Shelly will continue to accommodate swimmers starting at both ends of the lanes – keep up the good communication on send offs with your lanemates.

Thank you to everyone for being good facility users at the UI Swim Center and helping us meet our commitments and facility use agreements by wearing masks on deck. We have a great working relationship with our swim center – thanks for keeping us in good standing! See more on this topic below.

Swim Meet Info – a meet each month!

MARCH

It’s Champs season and We Don’t Have To Host! For the first time in 13 years Chinooks get to just Attend the Inland NW Masters swim champs meet and Swim Fast without having to worry about hosting duties. The Spokane Club Masters will be hosting champs on March 19th (the back end of Spring Break). Plan the short trip to the Lilac City to swim and enjoy the social event after – it’s included in the fee!

March 19 - Inland NW SCY Champs in Spokane, WA @ Spokane Club [https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=1858&smid=14640]

APRIL

Kroc Masters wants to skip the showers and go right to the flowers on the podium when you race at their short course meters meet in April. Lots of relays offered at this two-day meet with the potential for getting USMS 2022 Top 10 times (as not too many meets are held in short course meters!)

April 9-10 - April Flowers SCM meet in Coeur d'Alene, ID @ Salvation Army Kroc Center [https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=2594&smid=14328]

MAY

There is a great opportunity for racing long course meters in Lewiston but the meet runs according to USA Swimming rules, so no butterfrog and no continuous warm-up lanes. Check the meet info to see how the schedule of events with breaks works for you!

May 20-22 - Fazzari's Open LCM meet (combined format dual-sanction) in Lewiston, ID @ Orchards Pool [Paper Entry Only - www.inlandnwmasters.org]

Chinooks Adult-Learn-to-Swim Program Receives 2nd Grant

Kudos to Sue Kappmeyer and Debbie Bell for putting together a really solid grant application for the Adult-Learn-to-Swim lessons the Chinooks are offering periodically. Their application was ranked 5th out of the 40 programs that were given grants. If you know of someone who would like to learn to swim or who is fearful of water and needs special support, please let Sue and Debbie know.

Facility Use Expectations

COVID has changed the landscape of society a bit and as we come out the other side it’s a good time to outline what that landscape looks like for our swim club’s operations at the UI Swim Center.

We rent the competition pool MWF mornings and Tu/Th evenings. Sharing with university groups and other renters as needed is a requirement of our facility use agreement (FUA). This happens in the fall when high school swim is in season and a few times each year with the ROTC groups when they need to conduct testing or hold practice sessions. We are allowed to use the shallow/warm/teaching pool when it is not otherwise scheduled.

Starting in Fall 2021 the swim center decided to open the warm pool to lap swimmers starting at 6:00 AM to accommodate user requests. Chinooks were asked to share lanes and Coach Shelly has been facilitating that with the regular lap swimmers and our regular warm pool swimmers.

Another way our landscape looks is that we are able to accommodate more swimmers in each lane with people starting sets at each end of the pool. This really helps on those days when lots of our registered members decide they need to swim.

Finally, we’ve been getting the opportunity to swim on university holidays more since the pandemic started. That’s truly a silver lining!

If you have questions about our facilities, please ask Coach Shelly or Paige.

Chinooks News - December 2021

MORNINGS: 

Monday, December 20 - 5:30 to 6:30 a.m.

Wednesday, December 22 - 5:30 to 6:30 a.m.

Monday, December 27 - 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. 

Wednesday, December 29 - 5:30 to 6:30 a.m.

Friday, December 31 - 5:30-6:30 a.m. * Last Swim of 2021!!

We roll right back into regular practices on Monday, January 3, 2022

EVENINGS:

No evening practices from now until Tuesday, January 4th

Join us for our annual White Elephant gift exchange this Monday at the 1912 Center Great Room (on 3rd Street). It’s a great time to have some fun and connect with Chinooks while their heads are above water. The gift exchange begins promptly at 7:00PM. Bring the following:

• Wrapped gift to exchange (a re-gift or gag gift or something that requires more care than it’s worth)
• Dessert or hearty hors d’oeuvre with serving utensil
• Beverage (“leaded” or “unleaded” - see the detailed message sent Dec. 11th)
• Guest(s) over 21 years old

Got questions? Email Shelley Pressley at shelley.pressley@gmail.com

Our program requires all participants to be members of USMS for us to obtain the liability insurance for renting the pool from UIdaho. Please make sure you are timely in renewing your membership. USMS has probably been sending you email with personalized links to renew - check your “Promotions” inbox or possibly spam folders if you haven’t seen them. Some of you who joined during the summer and fall may have chosen the Year+ option to be member all the way through 2022. Can’t remember if you already renewed or chose Year+? Check the list Paige will use to find who’s Naughty and who’s Nice after January 1st :-) 

NEW THIS YEAR! USMS PLUS!

For $199 you receive the following through the end of 2022: 

A standard USMS membership

Exclusive welcome package including:

• Premium USMS-branded item of your choosing

• USMS latex cap

• USMS stickers

• Plastic membership card

Free registration to all of these events

• Fitness Series challenges

• ePostal events

• Virtual events

Free USA Swimming Supporters Club membership which includes a donation to support Adults Learn-to Swim grants and:

• A Supporters Club merchandise item

• “Skip the line” access to autograph signings at major events

• Invitations to participate in USA Swimming fan surveys and polls

• Exclusive offers from USA Swimming and USA Swimming Foundation Partners

• Access to exclusive Olympian-featured webinars

Our club is great about offering opportunities to participate in the Fitness Series Challenges and Virtual events. And it would be great to support Adult Learn-to-Swim grants through this benefit and help programs like the one Sue and Debbie are running for new and fearful adult swimmers in our community. Please consider upgrading your membership this year and taking advantage of the extra schwag and status.

Our club trimester dues are $130  ($80 for students)

If paying by check, please make payable to “Moscow Chinooks Masters” or “MCM”

You can also pay monthly but you must pay using a credit card.

Anyone can update their Chinooks account with a credit card as follows:

• chinookswimming.org
• Member Login
• (if needed use the “Forgot your Username or  Password?” widget with the email address you receive newsletters at)
• Once logged in:
• Click on your Name with the down arrow
• Edit Payment Info
• Add New
• Enter info then click Add Card

Please do this before December 31st for the card to be used for January 1 payments.

If it isn’t working, contact Paige at paige@gnorth.net.

AROTC will be testing/training cadets and Chinooks will be in the warm pool on Jan. 21.

Chinooks News – October 2021

We will take on this challenge during regular practice time as follows:

• Evening: Tuesday, Oct. 5th 
• Morning: Wednesday, Oct. 6th 

Join the Pool Swim challenge on the Swim.com app. Click the link on your phone to go straight to the challenge. (Swim.com is not a website or PC application) Discounts and a free cap for joining in the app!

Is there a final sticker in the 2021 Fitness Challenge series JUST FOR CHINOOKS? Of course there is!

Chinooks will have access only to the Shallow Pool next Wednesday (not 1-mile Wednesday!) Coach Shelly will hold a turns clinic in the Shallow Pool while AROTC program uses the deep pool for cadet testing. Come refine your open turn and flip turn skills in the warm water.

Know someone who is a very novice swimmer or who is fearful of the water but wants to gain water safety skills? Recommend the USMS Adult Learn-to-Swim program to them!

Session II:    November 9 – 19
Days:   Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
Time:   8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Place:  University of Idaho Swim Center, 1030 S. Rayburn St.
Cost:    $25.00
To sign up, email ALTS@gnorth.net

Thanks to those who volunteered at the Palouse Sprint Triathlon! The PST is donating money to Chinooks to help sustain a regular ALTS program. Many thanks to Sue Kappmeyer and Debbie Bell for organizing and teaching the ALTS classes.

There are likely restrictions on Lot #39 due to EVENING activities in Memorial Gym. Plan ahead!

• Thursday, Oct. 7 – Volleyball
• Thursday, Oct. 14 – Volleyball
• Thursday, Oct. 28 – Volleyball

• chinookswimming.org
• Member Login
• (if needed use the “Forgot your Username or  Password?” widget with the email address you receive newsletters at)
• Once logged in:
  • Click on your Name with the down arrow
  • Edit Payment Info
  • Add New
  • Enter info then click Add Card

If it isn’t working, contact Paige at paige@gnorth.net.