USVIHTA Update | March 2021
Greetings Members,

Thank you for reading these and other important updates. Please remember to use the web link at the bottom to share with your teams.
Valerie Peters Selected as New Executive Director of Virgin Islands Conservation Society

The Virgin Islands Conservation Society (VICS) is please to announce its new Executive Director Valerie Peters. Peters is the foundation’s first female executive director, replacing Paul Chakroff, who has been the executive director since 2009. Chakroff was elected as a new board member and will continue to play an important role in supporting VICS.

Peters’ goal in this new position is to expand the society’s role from environmental education and advocacy to serving as community liaison by raising awareness, engaging, educating, informing and connecting the Virgin Islands community to find solutions to the many environmental challenges we face. She also aims to take positive action to protect and preserve the people and the natural resources of the Virgin Islands for a more resilient and sustainable future. To this end, VICS will soon launch a new website including a new eco-directory and eco-calendar. Read more.
U.S. Virgin Islands Reports Strong Tourism Performance During Pandemic
The U.S. Virgin Islands is crediting smart, sensible public health policies and tourism management efforts for the admirable performance of the territory’s bread-and-butter industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism, reported that in an environment of deep declines in regional and international tourism arrivals, the U.S. Virgin Islands has weathered the pandemic storm well, despite restricting leisure travel twice last year, from March through June, and then again in August and September. Read more.

More local and regional news:
Association Health Plans Available to Members
Click the graphic to the right to expand, or click here to view the PDF about available Association Health Plans. Business owners should contact Omar Andres Haedo directly at 305-905-7094 for more information about plan options.
Donate Today to the Great Mangrove Cleanup
Please click here to view a request for prize donations for the Annual Great Mangrove Cleanup. Email Howard Forbes at howard.forbes@uvi.edu with questions or donations.

More community outreach:
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) is pleased to invite the community to join us for a virtual showcase of Humanities projects on March 30 at 3 p.m. celebrating Virgin Islands history, heritage and culture. Register here.
Marketplace Informational Webinar TODAY
More from CHTA:
Our partner, STR, has launched Forward STAR in the Caribbean, and participation is FREE! The forward-looking benchmarking tool allows hoteliers to get ahead of recovery, strategize more effectively, and complete the overall performance picture. Read more.
Bryan Williams' Tip: Always be the Light
Some people don’t like where they work - at all. They may even despise who they report to. And since their work environment is so toxic, they choose to withhold their best quality of work. “THIS PLACE does not deserve the best I have to offer. I will come to work, only do what is expected of me, collect my paycheck and go home.” The problem with that line of thinking is that if I repeatedly CHOOSE to give the bare minimum, then eventually I will be comfortable GIVING the bare minimum. I would unknowingly form a habit (and a bad habit at that). Never be lulled into the fallacy that it’s ok to give the bare minimum. Savagely fight that fallacy with everything you’ve got. Don't allow any company, any team, any leader or any co-worker cause you to dim your light.
Save the Date
Click here to view upcoming events. And don't forget to share your special events with members today by emailing kaufmann.laurel@gmail.com.
Lisa Hamilton 
USVIHTA President 
340-774-6835