A lot of people use masters swim sessions to work on their swimming.  These are large, generally coached sessions.  The coaching is not going to be the same level of instruction as in lessons, but you're also going to do a lot more swimming.  Cost per session is generally pretty low (a few dollars), and is going to be substantially lower than lessons. 
Check out http://www.usms.org/placswim/placswimform.php?LMSCID=30
and
http://www.minnesotamasters.com/

If you're looking for more personal attention, a lot of the good local coaches seem to be grouping in with SCS multisport http://www.scsmultisport.com/index.html .  some very good folks there, but it costs quite a bit more

IF THE RIGHT FOLKS IN THE CLUB ARE WILLING TO COACH, and if we can generate enough interest, we may be able to get a club event going, as well.  We have a few really outstanding swimmers in the club who have run the swim sessions in our spring camp, and provided a lot of help to all of the attendees, regardless of their starting point.  There's a lot to coordinate to get something like that off the ground (in the water?), and I'm not sure I have the time to organize it right now.  If other members are interested & willing, though, I'd be happy to help them get started.  The more attendees there are, the lower the cost per person is, so it will take some promotional work, too.

Rich

anokajim@... wrote:

Does anyone have any suggestions about where to go for some inexpensive (read: no cost would be nice) swim lessons?  I live in the south west burbs in Minnetonka near Crosstown and Shady Oak Road.

I'm essentially starting at ground zero.  I've been reading and trying to do it on my own but a few things have come to my attention:

1.  No matter how much reading I do, my form is still off and will still be off until someone points out what Im doing wrong.

2.  Because my form is off I'm using WAY too much energy (a few laps in the pool and my heart rate is way out of control.  And I'm currently in shape to run marathons.  Unless this is just how it is in which case I've got a LONG way to go.

3.  Not having a tremendous amount of fat on my body doesn't help in the buoyancy department.  Got to get that one figured out too.

I figured this is the best time to jump in and tackle the swimming end of things since being outside in the winter doing anything is practically last on my list of things to do this season.

Thanks a million.

Oh, and if anyone knows where to pick up a Cervelo P3C, totally decked out with all top notch equipment and in mint condition for, oh, $100 or so, I'll take that bit of info too.

Thanks everyone,

Jim

It is not true that nice guys finish last; nice guys are winners before the game even starts.

-- Addison Walker