Q4 2025 Membership Update
Holiday Greetings, friends and neighbors!
While December marks the end of the calendar year, the start of “high season” is officially upon us!
To kick off the festive celebrations, the Bohrs hosted their annual Tree Lighting Party on December 7th, replete with delicious snacks and refreshing drinks.
Doug and Amy over at Slow Mocean threw their second annual Water Island, USVI Anniversary Party on the 12th, celebrating the 29th year since WI went from federal to territorial governance as the Fourth Virgin in 1996. Slow Mocean conveniently overlooked the lighted boat parade taking place in the harbor below.
Let’s not forget — just last month — the wonderful feast that was shared at Rob and Chaun’s to celebrate Thanksgiving. Be sure to take a spin around their circular drive soon, which has a freshly updated Whoville, featuring several of WI’s own local characters, in addition to some of the familiar Seussian classics.
Thank you all for coming together to celebrate our unique community, and thanks to our hosts, especially, for sharing their lovely homes with such gracious hospitality, year after year!
For a great gift idea, remember that Chuck’s delightful Scavenger Hunt and Coloring Book is now available at the WI Ferry Shop in Crown Bay Marina, Rachael’s Rentals, The Crossing and the gift shop at the VI Campground. The recently published booklet is accompanied by a set of colored pencils and a sharpener for many hours of educational fun, all for $25.00; also included are some coupon savings at local businesses. All proceeds benefit WICA.
Although this year was not as rainy as last, WICA did eventually have to do some roadside trimming this fall to keep the most overgrown sections passable. The VI government road crews are currently doing their annual intensive clearing. Reminder: please keep an eye out for any critters in the roadways, and take your corners slowly, as golf carts can be tippy and tourists sometimes forget we drive on the left side of the road.
There has been a lot of activity on Honeymoon Beach lately! The Clean-up event on the 30th was a roaring success, with a hard-working crew of volunteers dismantling rotting picnic tables to make way for our two new, sturdy ones down at the community end of the beach. We have additionally rebuilt a palapa that was previously destroyed by storms. Bonus: when we trim the coconut trees, the fronds are subsequently up-cycled into organic roofing to refresh our cherished shady palapas. That is what I’d call truly “locally-sourced” building materials.
The Fort Segarra Restoration Project has really picked up steam since last quarter. The latest efforts include the removal of concrete doors that formed a massive cistern; the addition of solar lighting; and the creation of signage. Here are a few of the 22 new signs that will inform visitors of the history of our fort during their visit:
Lastly, all the Annual Meeting details will be sent out in the coming days, including the agenda, minutes from last year’s meeting, 2026 proposed budget and slate of officers, the proxy form, the by-laws update, financials and… if I’m forgetting something, I will have remembered it by then, I hope. We are pleased to offer the option of meeting up in person at the firehouse again this year for those who are on-island. For those who are elsewhere, you will be provided with a link to attend virtually. We do not have sophisticated equipment to conduct such a hybrid meeting, so please be patient with any sound issues or in the unlikely event of a close vote. A reminder that everyone is invited, but only dues paying members are allowed to vote, one per membership. Oh! It’s not too late to take the membership survey we emailed you on December 2nd if you haven’t already.
Save the dates:
Saturday morning, January 31st, 2026. Annual Meeting at the Firehouse (with virtual option)
Poker Run and Casino Night dates will be announced soon, as well
Thanks for making this another great year on Water Island! We appreciate your support, and look forward to an equally fun-filled and productive 2026.
Yours truly, Julia
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Julia Rhode
2025 President
Water Island Civic Association, Inc.