An Asset from the Start

After moving to Boise, Idaho in 1991 from her native California, Jill Wright began volunteering for USMS at the local and national level. She became chair of the Snake River LMSC and has also served as newsletter editor and meet director. In the last ten years she’s been serving as both LMSC Registrar and Sanctions Chair, and she serves on the USMS Long Distance Committee.

Wright’s time as registrar has allowed her to witness first hand how USMS has grown and the changes the organization has made in order to better serve its members. As a registrar, she’s watched the registration process transition from paper to electronic.

But Wright is quick to point out that volunteering is about more than work. “I've met a lot of great friends. I've enjoyed going to national and zone meets,” Wright says, adding that since moving to Boise, she’s began to really appreciate open water swims. Since she grew up around lakes, playing and water skiing, it seemed only natural. “I enjoy the open water so much more than a pool. Now I also compete in lakes and oceans.”

Wright’s volunteer work at the national level began in 1997 when Sally Dillon, who was the chair of the Long Distance Committee at the time, asked Wright if she could help out. “Jill was an asset right from the start, she has since matured and expanded her knowledge of the computer systems we use,” Dillon says.

Wright also served with Long Distance Committee chairs, Peter Crumbine and Marcia Cleveland. “Jill is wise beyond her years and extremely well rounded,” Cleveland says.

Serving with the Long Distance committee has allowed Wright to be an evaluator for open water and postal events. She has also helped with long distance and open water rules, and with the open water manual.

Wright has a B.A. in Music and another in English. She’s been a music teacher for nearly thirty years, working with students ranging in ages eight to adult. In the pool, she teaches “arthritis aquatics,” WSI, and safety training for swim coaches at the YMCA, where she has worked for the past nineteen years.

Jill enjoys being part of USMS at the local and national level because it gives her a better understanding of how things work. Now most of the swimmers in Boise come to her with questions. “Swimmers are great people,” Jill says. “They are loyal and dedicated and hard working. They have focus, but are still a lot of fun.”

Streamlines for Volunteers - Quarter 2 - 2010