Dec. 15, 2008 — While the Virgin Islands lies in a blue Caribbean sea many miles from Washington, D.C., the spirit of the territory burns bright as a branch of bougainvillea in the V.I. Association's Washington quarters.
In 1980, a group of V.I. students in the D.C. area, happy for their academic opportunities but longing for the vibrant culture they had left behind, formed the V.I. Advocates.
"A lot of students back then, I would assume from Howard and George Washington Universities, got together," says current president Alvin Dalmida, who was a teenager at that time. Later that year the group became a full-fledged non-profit as the V.I. Association (VIA).
Dalmida is known to many Virgin Islanders as U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Alvin Dalmida, a St. Thomas native and the territory's USCG recruiter. He retired in 2007 after a 25-year career. (See "Lt. Alvin F. Dalmida, St. Thomas Native, Retires from U.S. Coast Guard.")
Dalmida now bristles with the energy he brought to his recruitment programs. VIA's current project is a pre-inaugural ball, the organization's first major fundraising event of this magnitude. The ball will take place Sunday, Jan. 18, two days before the historic inauguration ceremony for President-elect Barack Obama. (See "Pre-Inaugural Ball for Virgin Islanders Set for Jan. 18 in Washington.")
"Our response is tremendous," Dalmida says. "It is the biggest event since I've come aboard about two years ago. Our RSVPs have gone up another 15 percent to almost 500."
The basic aim of the organization, Dalmida says, "is to mentor and foster the V.I. community in the islands and in the D.C. area, as well as to raise money for scholarships."
He has been around VIA activities for a long time, but just became an official member of the organization about two years ago.
"We have a great team," he says, "and they tell me I'm doing quite well so far. I'm excited about a lot of things we are going to embark on. We have to discuss and figure out viable solutions for our goals"
The organization has provided hurricane relief in the past, and contributed equipment for hospitals and schools.
"The main thing for us right now is the scholarship program," Dalmida says. "We want to raise $20,000, and the ball will be a big fundraiser."
The organization has lots of fundraising activities; a tradition of annual picnics is high on the list.
"This year we had 950 at our picnic and boat ride," Dalmida says. "We have the picnics in a different park each year. Last year we picnicked on the Coast Guard facility in Alexandria, Va."
The organization wants to become more of a network for Virgin Islanders all over the States.
"We have members in Florida, Virginia, New York, Atlanta and even Seattle, Wash.," Dalmida says. "There are huge pockets of Virgin Islands communities across the U.S. We want to reach out to the different communities. A lot of folks have expressed an interest in developing a national foundation of different organizations across the nation."
He is enthusiastic about a revitalized scholarship program: "We brought Barbara Farrington on board. She is a former executive for a major non-profit, and she's made a big difference already."
The organization has a handsome professional website managed by Lybia Callwood, who lives on St. Thomas.
"She has done the lion's share of keeping it up for the past four or five years," Dalmida says.
The organization's founders hark back to familiar names of V.I. families, including Clarence (Beaver) Beverhoudt, current vice president, and the late Dana Orie, who will be remembered for his incisive, humorous columns in the V.I. Daily News in the 1990s.
Anyone interested in joining the organization will find a membership application (it costs $25 to join), as well as the VIA's history and current projects at the VIA website.
Right now, the VIA is looking for a volunteer for public relations and marketing development. Details for the job are on the website.
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