2023 Outstanding Service Award Recipient

Congratulations to Art Dinkin, recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Service Award! Art Dinkin has been an invaluable member of Iowa Swimming, volunteering his expertise and time in many ways helping our LSC.

Art began his service to swimming in 2012, as a computer console operator for the Waukee Y swim team. Since 2013, he has been a certified YMCA official (Level 2), a USA swimming official (currently, N2 Chief Judge, Starter, Deck Referee, and Admin Referee, and N3 Stroke & Turn. Each year, Art officiates multiple sessions/meets, both in-state and out-of-state, and is one of the most active officials in the Iowa LSC. His wisdom, extensive experience, and cheerful demeanor make him an invaluable resource for other officials. Art truly has the “gift of hospitality” and makes the wet deck a welcoming, fun, and inclusive environment, while emphasizing professionalism as a duty of all officials, in all aspects of their on-deck performance. He treats everyone fairly and with respect, from the greenest Stroke & Turn apprentice to veteran coaches and officials. His flexibility and calm persona help any deck to run more smoothly. He reminds Iowa officials that we are members of the same team, and should help each other with officiating meets.

Art has also conducted training sessions for new officials since 2021 and is always on the lookout for good candidates. He regularly encourages current officials to advance to starter and referee positions and has mentored many through this process.

Additionally, Art is serving as the current Administrative Vice Chair of the IASI Board of Directors, leading the Sanctioning and Personell Committees. Under his leadership, the Sanctioning Committee developed a system that processes the LSC’s sanction requests within days while making sure that all swim meets sanctioned by Iowa Swimming are compliant with USA Swimming and Iowa Swimming rules. Art has used his business expertise to modernize the office by installing staff management systems which have increased the efficiency of daily operations while also saving the LSC money. As Personnell Committee Chair, he recruited a talented team of volunteers - including Human Resources professionals and other memebrs of the Iowa Swimming community - and worked with them to revise job-descriptions, handle HR concerns in a professional and timely manner, and developed a system for annual reviews for the LSC's professional staff.  Each Tuesday he reserves time to meet with the IASI Staff and General Chair, reviewing work in progress, assigning tasks, answering questions, and providing leadership and direction. 

Art has served on IASI's Finance Committee for three years, and the Officials Committee for four years. 

Thank you, Art, for your dedication, time, and leadership, and all that you have contributed to Iowa Swimming!