Ms. Melina:
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Melina has spent her whole life in and around the water. It was recently said, 'She is like a fish out of water when she is not near it. A real water baby.' This love of water goes way back. Melina was one of those children, drawn to the water, always near it, preferring a swimsuit to other clothing (things obviously don't change!) She however, nearly left this earthly world by drowning.
Melina and her brother
Melina & her brother David
This experience, when she was 6 years old, literally changed her life. During a family outing at Lake Dallas, she was unable to reach her family's drifting boat and began sinking. After many attempts to call for help, she was tired and sinking down, and she closed her eyes to rest. An awakening occurred, before crossing over to a heavenly side, a glowing face was before her offering comfort and without words, filled her with the understanding, 'she was to go back, it was not her time.'

After an episode like this, most would experience fear. The opposite energy filled Melina. She wanted to understand what happened and why it happened. Then even as a child, she wanted know how to help others not experience the sinking, helpless, feeling of drowning.

The YMCA swim program she was enrolled in following the ordeal, was structured like an assembly line. The teachers failed to see her confusion and insecurity and need for special guidance. On the last of class day, 'Show Day.' they required the students to perform a series of skills, leading up to a final jump off the diving board and then swim to the end of the pool. Though Melina,a small child who pleaded for assistance, was told 'if she did not take the test, she would fail. She failed, and went home in tears.'

At a neighbor's 'end of school swim party,' Melina was made to sit on the shallow end steps with some babies and toddlers because she did not know how to swim. Watching her classmates from this location filled her with pain and embarrassment. Adding to that, the hurt of being made fun of by her peers was something she never wanted to happen again. With that hurt, she mustered up enough energy to leave the party, fighting back yet another series of tears.

Charlotte Duke, back-right
Melina's brother Monty and David Eustice, front left.
Melina grew up in city that had vision and compassion for its youth activities. The Dallas Park Department's Summer Day camps provided opportunities in arts & crafts, swimming lessons in small concrete pools, and various playground sports. Everyday, Melina rode her bike to Casa View Park, and it is there she met a swim instructor named Charlotte Duke: A college student who saw the 'spirit of a child' and had the patience to rescue and teach a future teacher. Later in the summer, armed with a jar full of Red Cross Beginner and Advanced Beginner swimming pins, Melina was told there would not be any more pins awarded to her, she had enough, but if she wanted to help teach she could. And she did.

Brother Monty, cousin Cheryl and Melina
Junior high years involved busing, separation of friendships and loss of the neighborhood security. It was a difficult time for Melina, she was tall but extremely thin, 13 years old, and weighing a mere 68 pounds. Kids loved to call her names and pick on her, but swimming offered her the confidence to endure the teasing she often received. It was around this time she met a person who changed her life. Coach Audris Zidermanis. He was teaching pre-competitive swimming at White Rock Pool, (one of six pools the D.I.S.D. had built for the youth of Dallas) and Melina begged her mom to enroll her in this program, so she could train to be on a swim team, something she thought she'd be good at. Her mother knew she needed this and found the funds to make it happen.

Coach Audris Zidermanis
Coach Zidermanis was a firm, demanding coach who drilled into her and others the need to master the techniques he taught (He had swam for Doc Counsilman.) Melina loved all the new things she was learning. She was hungry to try anything he suggested. A swim meet was scheduled and Melina was entered into the 100 yd freestyle. As she reached the 75 yd distance and could not go on, she stopped, with tears in her eyes, climbed out. Coach told her she could quit or master the techniques, it was her choice. She wanted to prove to him she could do this, he had faith in her ability and questioned her determination. She respected him, wanted to show him she was tough enough and, she did.

Melina, first year Swim Team
Coach Zidermanis and Melina were meant to work together, when she showed up for high school swim team practice the first time, she had no idea he would be her coach. Thus began a strong aquatic relationship; a swimmer learning everything she could and a gifted coach who taught her to 'expect the best' by trying to be the best; which requires always learning and listening.

Melina @ White Rock Pool
Taking a job at White Rock Pool herself, she started as a life guard and assisting with swim classes. Melina met the next person to change her life. Letha Stephenson (Zepeda). The lead instructor, WSI Trainer for the American Red Cross, coach of synchronized swimming and later Director of Adaptive Aquatics for the DISD. But it was what she shared and taught that are her actual credentials. Letha; quiet, patient and determined to never give up. She insisted they hire Melina as a teacher and offered her a world of possibilities for growth. She taught the young teacher to always make a difference through change. She took Melina under her wing; teaching and sharing everything she knew.

Letha Stephenson (Zepeda)
From Charlotte Melina learned to never rush, to be a friend first, to guide them with confidence and to believe in the possibilities.

Coach Zidermanis , taught her to analysis every aspect of something she wanted to master, break it down & understand it- to own it. To expect the best from yourself and others, and know how to teach just enough to encourage the student to look deeper for new answers. That they have to want to learn to learn. and we have to teach them the 'want to' aspect.

Letha opened Melina's eyes, to not accept limitations, to be patient and constant, not to compromise, and that there are no limits except ones we accept.

Melina's first swim class, White Rock Pool circ. 1971
From these wonderful mentors, she added her own experiences, faith and beliefs: To create the most positive, fun learning environment, to never let go of our ability to have the 'vision of a child' and always to include the parent in the learning process.

Swimmerman & friend. circ.1978

DETAILS
Affiliation/Certifications:
----- Red Cross, YMCA. US Swim school
Volunteering:
-----
Participation:
-----Swim Team Synchronized Swimming, scuba diving, underwater rugby (Germany).
Teaching History:
-----DISD (Dallas Independent School District)
-----Cooper Clinic
-----Morale Backyard program

-----Texas A&M University,
-----Richland Junior College
-----Eastfield Junior College

Melina & niece Somlynn

Summary of Experiences:
As a military spouse, was hired to establish and develop many programs for the Military varying from drown proofing for soldiers to aquatic exercise classes and age group instruction for dependents, active duty military and retirees. Ran the Youth and family members classes at Ft. Bliss, Texas from 1985-1989 and again from 1996-1999.

Training:
-----Water Exercise @ Cooper's Clinic
-----Trained lifeguards, instructors and other aquatic personnel for job placement.
Established Programs:
(Created unique & popular swim programs.)

-----College Station, Texas
-----Dallas, Texas
-----Wildflecken, Germany
-----Bad Bruckenau, Germany
-----High Wycombe, UK
-----Ft. Bliss, Texas
-----Colorado Springs, Colorado
-----Leavenworth, Kansas
-----Jonesboro, Georgia; Swimmerman, LLC. was established in 1999.

Means of Advertising:
-----Referrals
-----Business Cards
-----Youth Supported Ads
-----US Swim School Association
-----World Aquatic Babies Congress
-----Clubswim
-----Magnetic Sign on automobile

Cliental:
-----Swimmers travel to us from 9 Georgian counties. (To include cities: Macon to Suwanee, & Luthersville to Conyers.)
-----Family and friends travel, from Texas, England and Colorado. to take their lessons. (They could easily take lessons in their own hometown and at a savings, after what they spent to travel, However they value our skills enough to make the trip.)

Awards:
-----In 2003, the US Swim School Association awarded us the 'Murray Callan Award, for Innovative Swim Teaching Techniques.
----- Additionally, two of our other instructors were recognized as Teachers of the Year' by the US Swim School Association.


Individuals who have had a bad aquatic experience can overcome their fears with proper care and instruction. You and your loved ones can learn to swim, learn to teach, heal the past at the same time; adding a wonderful new dimension to life.

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