American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)
Headquarters: Reston, Va.
Leadership: Founded in 1885 when William Gilbert Anderson, two years out of medical school and an instructor of physical training at Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn, N.Y., invited a group of people who were working in the gymnastics field to come together to discuss their profession. Today, Stephen L. Cone is president and Shirley-Holt-Hale is president-elect.
Noteworthy: With 26,000 members, AAHPERD is an alliance of six national associations: American Association for Health Education (AAHE), National Dance Association (NDA), American Association for Active Lifestyles and Fitness (AAALF), American Association for Leisure and Recreation (AALR), National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) and National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). AAHPERD includes six district associations.
American Red Cross (ARC)
Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
Leadership: Inspired by the International Red Cross Movement in Europe, Clara Barton and friends founded the American Red Cross in 1881. Today, Marsha J. Evans serves as president/CEO of the American Red Cross, David T. McLaughlin is chairman and Mike Espino is manager of Aquatics Technical Development.
Noteworthy: Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the ARC annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 67,000 disasters and trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills. An essential part of the ARC mission is to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Commodore Wilbert E. Longfellow brought this philosophy to aquatics in 1914 when he started the American Red Cross Life Saving Corps. Since then, the Red Cross has continued to expand on Longfellow's early innovations. Today’s American Red Cross swimming, water safety and lifeguarding programs consist of courses and modules that thoroughly train individuals to meet the mission of the Red Cross.
American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA)
Headquarters: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Leadership: Conceptualized by Walt Schlueter; founded in Chicago in 1958. Phil Hansel was the first president. Today, John Leonard is CEO and Ira Klein is president.
Noteworthy: More than 5,000 members — 400 internationally — form the largest swim coaches organization in the world. ASCA helped found USA Swimming in 1978, and conducts SwimAmerica, a national learn-to-swim program that serves a half-million children annually. Every U.S. Olympic swimming coach since 1956 has been a board member.
Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA)
Headquarters: Nokomis, Fla.
Leadership: Founded in 1985 as a nonprofit organization in Port Washington, Wis., by Ruth Sova, acting president until 1993. In 1993, AEA moved to Florida. Julie See is the current president and Angie Proctor is the executive director.
Noteworthy: The first International Aquatic Fitness Conference was held in 1988 and now delegates from more than 30 countries attend IAFC. The AEA offers intermediate level aquatic fitness instructor certification and numerous continuing education programs throughout the world. The certification currently is offered in eight languages. AEA publishes AKWA, a leading magazine specific to aquatic fitness professionals with a readership of more than 15,000.
Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute (ATRI)
Headquarters: Fort Mill, S.C.
Leadership: Founded in 1989 by Ruth Sova; incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1993. ATRI is under Sova’s direction. Anne Miller is executive director.
Noteworthy: ATRI is an educational organization dedicated to the professional development of health care providers in the area of aquatic therapy for those with injuries, those who have had surgery, those with chronic conditions and those with disabilities. ATRI offers educational courses, membership and certifications.
Boy Scouts of America (BSA)
Headquarters: Irving, Texas
Leadership: Sir Robert S.S. Baden-Powell is credited with founding the Scouting movement in England; soon his ideas were adopted in the United States. The Scouts were incorporated in America in 1910 and chartered by Congress in 1916. Pioneers of American Scouting include William Boyce, Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard and James West. Today, Roy L. Williams serves as the chief scout executive of the Boy Scouts of America.
Noteworthy: The Boy Scouts of America, which provides boys and young adults with educational opportunities in building character, citizenship and personal fitness, has been a longtime proponent of aquatic endeavors and water safety. From 1911 to 2001, the group has awarded approximately 5.3 million merit badges in swimming and 2.7 million in lifesaving.
College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA)
Headquarters: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Leadership: Founded in 1922. Executive director is Bob Boettner. Tim Powers is the president.
Noteworthy: Comprised of coaches in NCAA Divisions I, II and III; the NAIA; and community colleges that sponsor competitive swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming. Its stated main objective today is to protect college swimming programs, especially men’s, which have been “targeted in budget cuts.”
Commodore Longfellow Society
Leadership: Founded in 1950, the volunteer organization is dedicated to upholding the water safety mission of Commodore Wilbert E. Longfellow. Originally, it was composed of American Red Cross and National Aquatic School staff, but now is open to any interested members. Today, Earl Harbert serves as the group’s national commodore.
Noteworthy: The society publishes The Trident, a quarterly newsletter, and provides scholarships to aquatics schools each year. It also honors individuals who have lived up to the Commodore’s example with achievement awards: the Golden Whale award (water safety), the Golden Triangle award (first aid) and the Wally Van Claussen Award (small craft).
Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA)
Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
Leadership: Founded in 1908 at the London Olympics. The president is Mustapha Larfaoui of Algeria. Vice presidents are Gennady Aleshin (Russia), Hironoshin Furuhashi (Japan), Dale E. Neuburger (USA), Roger Smith (Australia) and Chief Olatokunbo Thomas (Nigeria).
Noteworthy: FINA unites the national governing bodies of swimming, open-water swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and Masters swimming of countries worldwide. The organization also oversees Olympic competitions, world championships and other major events. It has been charged with, among other things, promoting and encouraging the development of swimming in all possible manifestations throughout the world and increasing the number of swimming facilities worldwide.
Jeff Ellis & Associates
Headquarters: Kingwood, Texas
Leadership: Incorporated in Texas in 1983 with associates Jeff Ellis, Renick Marsh, Cindy Faris, Carol Fick, Elise Lawton, Kim Westergaard and Joe Minninger. Key personnel today are Vice Presidents Ron Rhinehart, Michael Oostman and Richard Carroll; Louise Priest and Lauren Burns are directors.
Noteworthy: The original mission was to provide aquatic safety and risk management services for the still-developing waterpark industry. The first clients were Six Flags WaterWorld and Atlantis. In 1985, Ellis & Associates developed the first lifeguard curriculum exclusively designed to train lifeguards for waterparks; developed and launched the “10/20 Second Swimmer Protection Rule” that became an industry standard for many of today’s U.S. aquatics facilities. Today, the firm reports sales exceeding $8 million annually.
International Academy of Aquatic Art (IAAA)
Headquarters: Voorhees, N.J.
Leadership: Founded in 1955 by Mary Derosier, Richard J. Dodson and Henry Gundling to develop the creative and artistic aspects of aquatics. Today, Fran Sweeny is president.
Noteworthy: Aquatic art is an outgrowth of synchronized swimming; water ballet; and ornamental, rhythmic and scientific swimming. The 50th annual IAAA Festival will be held in Chicago in May 2004.
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)
Headquarters: Alexandria, Va.
Leadership: Founded in 1918 as the National Outdoor Showman’s Association (NOSA), with R.M Harvey as president. Today, Clark Robinson is president.
Noteworthy: In 1920, NOSA gave way to the National Association of Amusement Parks, which in 1934 became the National Association of Amusement Parks, Pools & Beaches before IAAPA was formed in 1962. IAAPA currently represents 5,000-plus members in more than 85 nations, and publishes FUNWORLD magazine. This year, the organization will host its 85th annual conference; more than 30,000 are expected to attend.
International Life Saving Federation (ILSF)
Headquarters: Leuven, Belgium
Leadership: Founded in 1993, with the merger of World Life Saving and the Federation Internationale de Sauvetage Aquatique. Today, Alan Whelpton is ILS president, with Harald Vervaecke as secretary general. B. Chris Brewster is president for the Americas Region.
Noteworthy: The International Life Saving Federation dates to 1878 in France, with the first World Congress. FISA was founded in 1910 by representatives of Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Tunisia. WLS was founded in Australia in 1971 and initially included national surf lifesaving organizations from Australia, Britain, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States (USLA). Now, ILS is comprised of more than 120 national lifesaving federations, covering four regions: the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific.
International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF)
Headquarters: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Leadership: Originally an idea among swim coaches, ISHOF was founded in 1965 with 26 charter members. It was founded by Robert Hoffman to promote health benefits derived from swimming; to foster an appreciation of the past, present and future of aquatics; and to encourage construction of public and private pools that meet swimmers’ needs. William “Buck” Dawson was ISHOF’s first executive director. Today, Samuel J. Freas is president and Bob Duenkel is executive director/curator.
Noteworthy: ISHOF’s building and museum were officially completed in 1974 thanks to a grant from the city of Fort Lauderdale and two Canadian coaches, Howard Firby and Nick Thierry, who suggested an annual Swim-a-Thon to raise additional funding. It is still a yearly event today.
Jewish Community Center Association (JCCA)
Leadership: The JCC Movement started in 1854 with the first Young Men’s Hebrew Association in Baltimore, providing support for Jewish immigrants, helping to ensure Jewish continuity, and providing a place for celebration.
Noteworthy: The first JCC pool was built in 1891 at the Hebrew Educational Society of Philadelphia. HES was part of the YM-YWHA movement. YM-YWHAs became JCCs, though some New York centers still go by their original Y names. Today, JCCs serve more than 1 million people at 275 centers and camps around the country.
National Aquatic Coalition (NAC)
Leadership: Founded as a nonprofit corporation in 1998. Dale Petranech was its first chair. Recently, Dr. Arthur H. Mittelstaedt Jr. was elected chairman.
Noteworthy: The group was formed to replace the old Council for National Cooperation in Aquatics, hoping to unite not only the major aquatics organizations, but also the perceived smaller ones. It reaches out through its annual National Aquatic Summit and its Web site.
National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA)
Headquarters: Corvallis, Ore.
Leadership: Founded as the National Intramural Association in 1950 at Dillard University in New Orleans by 20 male and female intramural directors from 11 historically black colleges. Dr. William Wasson was its first president. Today, Sid Gonsoulin is president and Tamra Garstka is president-elect.
Noteworthy: The nonprofit organization has 4,000-plus members at more than 700 colleges, in public park and recreation departments and the like. After opening the NIRSA National Center in Corvallis in 1998, the 50th annual conference took place in Milwaukee in 1999, with a reunion at Dillard U.
National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA)
Leadership: Founded in 1934, though the all-volunteer organization traces its roots to 1904, when the University of Pennsylvania sponsored what is believed to be the first Interscholastic Swimming Championship. NISCA’s first president was Harry M. Boardman. Today, Dana Abbott is president and Mark P. Onstott is president-elect.
Noteworthy: The organization’s stated chief responsibility is to provide professional leadership and encouragement to its members, who coach the high school boys and girls of America: more than 260,000 competitive swimmers, divers and water polo players in approximately 12,600 high school programs (according to the National Federation of State High Schools Association).
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
Headquarters: Hoffman, Ill.
Leadership: Founded in 1965 from an amalgamation of organizations dating as far back as 1906 (the Playground Association of America, with Theodore Roosevelt as honorary president). Now, David O. Lose chairs the board and Jonathan Korfhage is president. NRPA’s National Aquatic Branch was founded in 1986 under the direction of Walter Johnson, who steered it to prominence for many years. Today, Johnson remains as executive secretary, with Lili McGovern as the manager of aquatic services, Greg Gordon as president and Tom Griffiths as president-elect.
Noteworthy: In 1988, the aquatic section had one member; today, the Aquatic Branch has more than 1,000. It runs the annual National Aquatic Conference, along with the National Aquatic Management School and the Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) course. Through the years, it has certified more than 7,000 AFOs, making it perhaps the largest training center in the United States for pool operators and aquatics managers.
National Spa & Pool Institute (NSPI)
Headquarters: Alexandria, Va.
Leadership: Originally started in Chicago as the National Swimming Pool Institute in 1956, this international trade association represented 109 pool companies. Robert Hoffman, who also founded ISHOF, was the first president of NSPI. Currently, John Romano is chairman; Jack Cergol is the chief staff executive.
Noteworthy: NSPI changed its name in 1980 to the National Spa & Pool Institute to include the spa/hot tub industry, and merged with the International Spa & Tub Institute in 1983. Canadians were included in 1993 with the merger of the Canadian Spa and Pool Association, which became NSPI of Canada. The organization now has more than 5,300 members.
National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF)
Headquarters: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Leadership: Founded in 1965 in Washington, D.C., as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster and support programs of education and research relating to safety and health in the swimming pool industry — independent of industry influence. Hank Mohr was the first president, followed by Leif Zars, and Les Kowalsky was chairman for more than decade. Today, Ray B. Essick is chief executive officer.
Noteworthy: In 1974, determining there was a need for trained operators to manage public and commercial pool facilities, NSPF developed the Certified Pool Operator (CPO) training course. The organization utilizes the services of more than 500 trained instructors and every year holds several instructor training courses in various locations nationwide.
National Swim School Association (NSSA)
Headquarters: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Leadership: Founded in 1988 by Steve Graves, a swim school owner in Florida, to provide a trade association for those who operate swimming school businesses in the United States. Today, the president is Johnny Johnson and the president-elect is John Kolbisen.
Noteworthy: Held its first conference in 1989. Among its Hall of Fame members are Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s founding fathers, and Francis Lieber, who established the first swim school in America in 1827.
Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS)
Leadership: Founded in 1891 in London as the “Swimmers’ Life Saving Society,” with champion swimmer William Henry named chief secretary. Two years later, His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, who later became George V, becomes the organization’s first president.
Noteworthy: The society expanded beyond Britain to Australia in 1894, to Canada in 1908 and to New Zealand in 1910.
Starfish Aquatics Institute
Headquarters: Savannah, Ga.
Leadership: Founded in 1999 by Jill White and soon after partnered with the American Safety & Health Institute. White remains president/CEO.
Noteworthy: Starfish Aquatics Institute serves as the national aquatics training center for ASHI and provides curriculum development, instructor development, administration and implementation of the aquatic safety training programs. Courses are developed by a committee comprised of professionals with a wide variety of backgrounds in the specific curriculum specialties.
Surf Life Saving Australia
Leadership: Founded as the New South Wales Surf Bathing Association in 1907, later changed to the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia and, in 1991, to Surf Life Saving Australia. Today, Ron Rankin is president
Noteworthy: The all-volunteer SLSA is responsible for ocean beaches in Australia, with the Royal Life Saving Society Australia for all other areas. One of its best-known lifesaving incidents: On Sunday, Feb. 6, 1938, now known as “Black Sunday,” a series of freak waves pounded Bondi Beach. Hundreds of swimmers were swept from the sandbank into a riptide and carried out to sea. Lifesavers eventually rescued 300, many of them unconscious.
USA Swimming
Headquarters: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Leadership: Founded as U.S. Swimming (USS) in 1978, with Bill Lippman as president. It was part of the Amateur Athletic Union until Congress enacted the Amateur Sports Act in 1978, after which it became the national governing body for swimming. Today, Ron Van Pool is president.
Noteworthy: Changed its name to USA Swimming in 1998. Also in that year, it became the first national governing body in the Olympic movement to conduct a championship meet for all categories of disabled athletes. In 2000, USA Swimming selected its Team of the Century. In 2001, USS, Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids joined forces to produce the 13-week-long “Splash TV.” Debuting on the Outdoor Life Network, it was the first TV show totally dedicated to the sport of swimming and featured athlete profiles, technique tips and unique swimming events. Swimming World is the “official magazine of USS.”
U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
Leadership: Founded in 1915 when President Woodrow Wilson signs into law the “Act to Create the Coast Guard.” Today, Adm. Thomas H. Collins is commandant of the USCG.
Noteworthy: The Coast Guard actually is an amalgamation of five formerly separate federal services, including the U.S. Lighthouse Service (founded 1789), the Revenue Cutter Service (1790), the Steamboat Inspection Service (1838), the U.S. Life-Saving Service (1878) and the Bureau of Navigation (1884). At various points, the USCG has been under control of the Navy and the Treasury Department, but in 2003 it was transferred to the newly created Dept. of Homeland Security. Among the USCG’s many missions are search and rescue, marine safety and recreational boating safety.
U.S. Diving
Headquarters: Indianapolis
Leadership: Founded in 1981. Todd Smith has been the executive director since 1981, making him the most veteran executive director at any national governing body in the United States today. Dave Burgering is president.
Noteworthy: U.S. Diving is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and FINA. It trains and selects the teams for competitions such as the Olympics, the World Championships and the Pan-American Games. The organization conducts the U.S. National Diving Championships and the Junior Diving Championships annually. Approximately 12,000 athletes, including 7,500 women, are members; another 1,200 nonathletes are members.
U.S Lifesaving Association (USLA)
Headquarters: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Leadership: Founded in 1963, as the Surf Life Saving Association of America, with Bob Burnside as president. Today, Don Rohrer is president.
Noteworthy: The nonprofit organization was formed by a group of Southern California lifeguards after Surf Life Saving Australia invited guards from various countries to visit — as long as they were members of their nation’s national lifeguard organization. In 1965, the name was changed to the National Surf Life Saving Association before becoming USLA in 1979. Today, there are more than 100 chapters nationwide. USLA’s stated primary goal is to “establish and maintain high standards of professional surf and open-water lifesaving for the maximizing of public safety.” In 1995, USLA published The United States Lifesaving Association Manual of Open Water Lifesaving, now used by lifeguards worldwide.
U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association
Headquarters: Nantucket, Mass.
Leadership: Founded in 1955 at the Cape Cod National Seashore by maritime historians, authors, museum directors, National Park Service professionals and others. Today, CDR Maurice E. Gibbs is president.
Noteworthy: Its stated goal is to preserve the stations, history, boats and equipment of the U.S. Life-Saving Service and U.S. Coast Guard. While many groups are striving to save lighthouses and ships, it is reportedly the only national organization dedicated to preserving America’s fast-vanishing lifesaving stations and early Coast Guard lifeboat stations.
U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS)
Headquarters: Londonderry, N.H.
Leadership: Founded in 1970. The first National Masters Swimming Championships were held at Club Pool Amarillo Aquatic Club by its owner, Navy Capt. Ransom J. Arthur, M.D., following his correspondence with John Spannuth, president of the Coaches Association. Today, Jim Miller is the president.
Noteworthy: USMS is a national organization that provides organized workouts, competitions, clinics and workshops for adults aged 18 and over. The nonprofit corporation is organized with 500 clubs in 53 regions throughout the United States. Membership totals more than 42,000, with individual members ranging in age from 18 to 100-plus.
U.S. Synchronized Swimming (USSS)
Headquarters: Indianapolis
Leadership: Founded in 1977, with Judith S. McGowen as president. Today, Betty Hazle is president.
Noteworthy: Also known as USA Synchro, it is the sport’s national governing body, recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee and FINA. It establishes the rules and governing practices for synchronized swimming, and selects and trains the national teams that represent the United States in international competitions such as the Olympics.
U.S. Water Fitness Association (USWFA)
Headquarters: Boynton Beach, Fla.
Leadership: Founded in 1988 by John Spannuth and Judge Robert Beach, the first CEO and president, respectively. Today, Spannuth is president/CEO.
Noteworthy: Formed to promote water fitness throughout the United States, now it also promotes numerous aquatics programming and administration. USWFA milestones incude: issuing National Water Fitness Program Awards, starting in 1990; National Certification for Aquatics Directors, 1996; and National Aquatic Program Awards, 1997. It began the annual Who’s Who in Aquatic Leadership program in 1995.
U.S. Water Polo
Headquarters: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Leadership: Was part of the Amateur Athletic Union until Congress enacted the Amateur Sports Act in 1978, after which it became the national governing body for water polo. Today, Richard Foster is president and Tom Seitz is the newly named executive director.
Noteworthy: The organization has grown exponentially in the past 15 years, spurred on by the success of the men’s team in the 1984 and ’88 Olympics (two silver medals). There were about 7,500 registered athletes in U.S. Water Polo in the late 1980s, but that doubled by 1995, doubled again by 2000, and today there are roughly 35,000 in the organization. One of the organization’s biggest accomplishments was getting women’s water polo added to the 2000 Games, ending a decade-long effort.
World Waterpark Association (WWA)
Headquarters: Overland Park, Kan.
Leadership: Founded as the American Waterslide Association in 1981 by Al Turner and Dave Bruschi. Today, Rick Root is president and Terry Turner is chairman.
Noteworthy: Changed its name to the American Waterpark Association in 1983 and a year later became the WWA. Beginning with just 16 members in its inaugural year, WWA now serves more than 1,000 member parks and suppliers in 40 countries worldwide. It has produced a number of member publications through the years, including News Splash, Splash and currently, World Waterpark magazine.
YMCA — National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America
Headquarters: Chicago
Leadership: George Williams founded the YMCA in 1844 in London. In 1851, Thomas Sullivan, a Boston sea captain, established the first American YMCA. Today, Kenneth L. Gladish, Ph.D., is the national executive director for YMCA of the USA, the organization’s national resource office. Collectively, America’s 2,493 YMCAs form the largest, not-for-profit community service organization, serving more than 18.3 million people.
Noteworthy: In the 1880s, swimming became integral to the YMCA’s mission of improving the physical and spiritual health of young men. The YMCA is known for its role in developing mass swimming lessons and more advanced filtration systems for pools, among other achievements. In 1984, the YMCA was reportedly the largest operator of pools in the world. Today, 1,599 YMCAs offer swim classes for children.
YWCA — Young Women’s Christian Association
(YWCA of the USA)
Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
Leadership: The “Ladies Christian Association” was formed in 1858 in New York. One year later, the YWCA name was first used in Boston. Currently, Patricia Ireland serves as CEO of the YWCA of the USA.
Noteworthy: Throughout its history, the YWCA has focused on the fitness and health issues affecting girls and women. In 1988, the YWCA was the first women’s organization invited to join the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Multi-Sport division. Today, the group represents more than 2 million girls, women and their families.
