I wish to commend our Executive Director and his staff for their efforts at growing recognition and support for our athletes, our Organization and our sport. Please join me in thanking Amy McClintock, Pat Kraft and Scott Metzler, and in offering them our assistance whenever helpful.

Unfortunately, the sponsorship landscape has not improved significantly over the past year, and may even have deteriorated some more. The past year has brought no significant improvement in our nation's economy. The sectors that have traditionally stepped forward to become cash sponsors of amateur sports are faced with stagnant sales, thin profit margins, and anemic stock values. This hit very close to home when USA Synchro lost one valued sponsor, United Airlines, as a direct result of their bankruptcy. Moreover, as an Olympic sport, we are affected by the very negative publicity being received by the USOC.

Fortunately, our relationships with our current sponsors have grown. Our staff has proven adept at "thinking outside the box" when approaching potential partners, evidenced by our ads during the ESPN broadcast of the World Championships in Barcelona, and by the newest AFLAC TV spot. Our 'new-look' website adds marketing value as well as member-friendliness. And most importantly, our staff has remained upbeat, energetic and tireless in their pursuit of opportunities. I look forward to being of whatever assistance I can as our plans for Team H2O and the many 2004 projects come to fruition. I know that I can trust you, as members, for your support as well.

During the past year, I have attended all Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings and conference calls. I have consulted with the staff as appropriate on sales and marketing issues, and helped review our event-host contracts prior to the season. I've attended four championship events: Collegiate, Senior, Junior and Opens. I've followed up on opportunities for improvement brought to our attention during 'debriefings' with meet managers. I've also been able to spend time with our sponsors, and feel that I have developed a relationship with most of them.

Looking ahead to the 2003 Convention and our new season, I encourage you to participate:

Learn and Share: "Club Marketing 101", first previewed during the 2002 US Age Groups, then presented at last year's Convention has been used successfully by several organizations. Pat Kraft will lead the "new and improved" 2003 version in San Diego, with the intention of helping you develop sponsorship support for your clubs and your events.

Learn and Share: Becoming a (much) larger organization will make USA Synchro more financially stable, more visible and more competitive. Ideas to recruit athletes to our existing clubs, and to reach out to create new clubs, collegiate and scholastic programs will be the focus of a companion seminar led by Scott Metzler.

We look ahead to the Olympic year with the understanding that our message remains constant: marketing is not simply the solicitation of sponsorships by the Staff. Marketing is the process of spreading our message to attract members, sponsors and friends. To be successful in marketing Synchro, we must constantly refine our message and the manner in which we deliver it. We must maximize the impact of our national events; and we must provide our clubs and associations with the tools-and assistance-they need to deliver our message at the local level. We must all agree that "everything we do is marketing".