Good afternoon. President Yvonne, fellow Rotarians, former Persons of the Year, their families and friends, as well as other distinguished guests, it is my distinct honor to make the 21st announcement and presentation of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas II's Person of the Year Award.
Ever since I began to assist Macon Berryman, my predecessor and founding chairman of the Person of the Year Committee, I have been impressed by two things: The first is the gravity of choosing and honoring one person who embodies the spirit of Rotary as well as the characteristics set forth by the creators of this award, and the second is the difficulty of selecting from among the many citizens of our fair community who clearly qualify.
This award is the oldest continuing award of this or any other Rotary Club in the Caribbean. When it was established by our charter members over 21 years ago, our patron Rotarians set extraordinarily high standards for recipients of this honor.
They sought to recognize someone who, through their words and deeds, has demonstrated their allegiance to the principle of service to others above service to self. By this recognition they hoped not just to honor such a person, but to hold them up to their fellow citizens as a beacon to light the way for us all in the ensuing years. The honor roll of recipients has fulfilled or exceeded our founders' hopes. In fact, we believe that the recognition of these distinguished individuals has inspired the minds and hearts of their fellow inhabitants to fight against the odds, to eliminate the concept of surrender from their philosophy, to stand up to opposition from any person or condition, to strive for excellence, and to work tirelessly to achieve a better society for us all.
To represent these noble goals, our founders chose an artistic rendering of Miguel Cervantes' 16th century fictional character Don Quixote, the legendary knight renowned for jousting at windmills in his quest for honor and truth — and, of course, for dreaming the impossible dream.
Year after year, our selection process reminds us of a little-noted but undeniable fact about our community: We are blessed by a wealth of qualifying individuals from which this difficult choice must be made. It is all too easy to allow the burdens of the moment to cause us to ignore the fact that there are so many walking among us who are unselfishly devoted to the progress and growth of our community.
Such a selection is also made more challenging by the importance of continuing the line of distinguished recipients upon whom this award has previously been bestowed, many of whom are either in this room today or are represented by deservedly proud members of their families.
Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta
Albert Aubain
Dr. Roy Schneider
Costas Coulianos
Calvin Wheatley
Dr. Alfred Heath
Alexander Farrelly
Irvin Brown
Ron de Lugo
Dilsa Capdeville
Athniel Ottley
Leona Bryant
Edward Thomas
Juel Molloy
"Vinnie" Mohanani
Sen. Lorraine Berry
Nick Pourzal
Randy Knight
And last year's honoree: John P. de Jongh Jr.
These men and women are distinguished in many respects. They all share an ability to laugh in the face of overwhelming odds, and to see only challenge where others see immovable obstacles. These individuals observe opportunity in adversity and perceive potential to perform service to others where ordinary people see only the needs of others. With unerring consistency, they demonstrate their willingness to dream the impossible dream, to reach the unreachable star.
They continue the fine traditions of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, whose life story was also remarkable for rising above the concerns of the moment to lead an existence marked by service above self. Harris asked, "What are we here for?" and in answer he taught us that the most important lesson we are here to learn in life is to wean ourselves from ourselves.
He believed that, sooner or later, we must inevitably be separated from self. The phenomenon might be reserved for our last day here on Earth, or it may come naturally, gradually and, yes, gratefully. Paul Harris knew that, at age 18, we are all 100 percent ego. We are not merely self-centered, we are self, through and through. Then comes business, and we make a surrender. Then comes marriage, and another capitulation for the forces of self. Eventually, if we work very hard at it through the course of life, there will be very little left of that 100 percent ego, and our separation from it will have come about so gradually, so naturally and so gratefully that we will have scarcely realized what was going on within. And when the final day comes, there is little left to surrender. If we are no more than 1 percent ego, that 1 percent will flicker and go out, but the 99 percent will continue to live on.
It is only through a lifetime of service to others that we may find some degree of immortality. This approach to life embodies the real spirit of Rotary and the Person of the Year Award.
Let me take a moment to speak about the element of surprise in awarding this honor. As the knowledge of and esteem for this award has grown over the decades, so has it become increasingly difficult to achieve the complete surprise which we believe to be an exciting and festive element of the award of this honor. This year has been no different. One need only refer to our past recipients, busy and perceptive men and women one and all (many of whom pride themselves on never being surprised by anything), for one to appreciate how difficult it is to devise a strategy which will result in their total astonishment. Past recipients can tell tales of the lengths to which we are willing to go to accomplish our aim.
Thanks to many co-conspirators, it is with pride that I announce that our record of success continues unblemished, as I believe we have, amazingly, once again succeeded in achieving this end. (There is, after all, a little Don Quixote in all of us.) Thus, we believe there is an individual in this room who is unaware that they are about to receive one of this community's most prestigious honors in recognition of their contributions to the Virgin Islands.
The woman we are here to honor today came to our island nearly 35 years ago on a vacation. Like so many before her, the beauty of the environment and the people who populate it caused an epiphany which resulted in her permanent relocation here. A writer by God-given talent, she was also trained in business management and public relations. After joining a local firm in her field as a senior account executive, she quickly became involved in community affairs. With the passage of time, her participation in the life of our islands only deepened. By now she had become a leader in such myriad organizations as the League of Women Voters, the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council, the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, the Ad Club of the Virgin Islands, and the Friends of Fort Christian, among others.
Finally, in one of those fateful twists of destiny, a certain revered and newly retired editor of an old-timey print newspaper, who had an idea about establishing a news organ to take advantage of the infant Internet, was sitting in a local restaurant. In walked our recipient, and the rest, as they say, is history. Despite a dearth of training or experience in journalism, our recipient jumped at the idea of establishing on online newspaper for our islands. And Penny Feuerzeig promptly immersed her in journalism 101-through-a-graduate-degree, delivered on her living room sofa. With this footing, our recipient founded the St. Thomas Source in January of 1999, the St. Croix Source in July of that year, and, finally, the St. John Source five months later.
All three newspapers reach local readers looking for accurate, complete and unbiased news and insightful commentary about their home. And because they are electronic, these newspapers also instantly reach thousands of people around the world who also have a vested interest in keepin
g up with the news we make here. They are read faithfully by the major decision-makers in government and the private sector — in the territory, in the nation's capital and beyond.
Producing a daily newspaper with a very small staff means that our recipient is on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day. When most of us are forced by nature or the system to take a break — when the power fails, when the rains flood our roads, when unions strike, when carnival is in full swing, when hurricanes loom and lay waste to our islands — our community expects and relies on our recipient to work harder than ever. And she does. We reap the benefits of this hard work on a daily basis.
Through these efforts, and countless other unheralded ones, she continues to uphold the standards of honesty, integrity, generosity of spirit and community commitment that we have come to expect.
She is supported in this endeavor by her husband, Wally Bostwick, who is here with us today, and her two sons, Aaron and Jason Reiff. Also present and hiding down on the lower tier of seats so as not to tip her off, are friends and members of her loyal staff.
I give you a proud Virgin Islander, a journalist, a truth teller, a leader, the founding publisher and owner of the Source online newspapers, a woman for all seasons — and the person of the year for the year 2001 — Shaun Pennington.

The Senate Health and Hospitals Committee meeting on Wednesday heard two sides to health care on St. Thomas-St. John. Vast improvements to the Roy L. Schneider Hospital and St. John's Myra Keating Smith Community Health Center were hailed, while an acute nursing shortage was lamented.
The meeting was a continuation of a hearing last week on St. Croix called by Committee Chairman Douglas Canton Jr. to inform the new committee on health issues from the perspective of health care providers.
Eugene Woods, Schneider Hospital chief executive officer, lauded the 1999 legislation that allows the hospital more autonomy, allowing it to manage its own finances, procurement and hiring processes.
"We no longer exist in a daily state of crisis," Woods said. "More importantly, we have begun in earnest our mission to restore confidence in our hospital, one patient at a time."
Canton said in a February interview that he favored more autonomy for the hospital. On his Web site, he has detailed information on his trip to Washington, D.C., in January where he met with several federal health officials on health matters affecting the Virgin Islands. His committee has also had meetings with the boards of both Schneider and Juan F. Luis hospitals to explore hospital concerns.
Delores Marshall, Schneider vice president for patient care, bemoaned the nursing shortage in the V.I., detailing the reasons. "The demand for and supply of qualified personnel fluctuates over time," she said, "and health care has been downsized." She said the territory is facing severe education cutbacks, an aging population with increasing health care needs, and aging nurses.
Erica McDonald, administrator of the health center on St. John, sounded another note. She agreed with Woods' assessment of greater autonomy. "We have increased revenues by 150 percent," she said, "with new equipment purchases, increased integration with the Roy L. Schneider Hospital in purchasing, pharmacy, radiology, medical staff and nurse recruitment." The clinic was moved from the Health Department and put under the aegis of Schneider Hospital shortly after the hospital was granted autonomy.
As part of the improvements at Schneider Hospital, a dedication ceremony for the newly refurbished reception area and an awards presentation to Health Department employees is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.
Committee members Sens. Lorraine Berry, Roosevelt David, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, David Jones and Vargrave Richards attended the hearing in addition to nonmembers Sens. Carlton Dowe, Donald "Ducks" Cole and Norma Pickard-Samuel.

The V.I. Senate payroll now totals slightly more than $7 million, according to information from Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd. The figure does not include senators' individual allotments.
Liburd has steadfastly avoided the release of information on each senators' total allotment, despite his assurances to the Source on Friday that he would release those documents Monday, three days ago.
On Wednesday, Liburd released copies of six contracts for professional services ranging from $7,000 for a 20-hour a week clerk typist for six months, to $55,000 annually for a 25-hour a week budget consultant.
Attorney Karl Percell has been hired to provide legal counsel, opinions, research and analysis for Sen. Carlton Dowe at $2,500 monthly, not to exceed $30,000. The contract stipulates work from Jan. 16 through Dec. 31, 2001, for not less than 25 hours per month.
According to the Virgin Islands Daily News, Attorney General Iver Stridiron had turned down a request from Liburd to provide legal help for the Legislature. The paper quoted Stridiron as saying for the Justice Department to represent the Legislature would be "in violation of the Doctrine of the Separation of Powers."
The newspaper quoted Liburd as saying the Legislature was "down to only two attorneys, who are already stretched to the limits. …" With the addition of Percell, the Legislature will now have five attorneys as legal counsel, according to the Central Staffing roster released by Liburd last week.
The St. Thomas office lists Yvonne Tharpe, assistant chief legal counsel and Trevor N. Friday, legal counsel. The St. Croix office lists Constance Krieger, chief legal counsel and Amelia Joseph, legal counsel.
None of the contract employees are eligible for annual leave and sick leave benefits, holiday pay, health insurance or retirement pay, according to the documents.
In addition to Percell, the contracts are for:
– Sonia Andrew: $7,000 for 20 hours a week for clerk-typist duties for Liburd for six months;
– Rudolph Krigger Jr.: $55,000 annually for not less than 40 hours a week as chief researcher for Liburd;
– Juan A. Garcia: $55,000 annually for the term of the 24th Legislature for not less than 25 hours a week to review, analyze and advise Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Finance Chairwoman, on budget matters;
– Leslie A. Howard Sr.: $25,000 annually for a minimum of 35 hours a week, to assist Sen. Celestino White Sr., chairman of the Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee, in public housing matters including liaison with White and the public Housing Tenant Councils;
– Alphonse Nibbs Sr.: $30,000 annually for a minimum of 35 hours a week to do research, serve as liaison with the public housing administration and represent White at community events and housing meetings.
The contracts now bring Liburd's payroll to $404,000, Dowe's to $270,000 and White's to $224,000. Garcia's $55,000 contract is paid from Post Audit's staff allotment, not from Hansen's personal staff payroll. This brings Post Audit's payroll to $714,500.

The Senate payroll now totals slightly more than $7 million, according to information from Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd. The figure does not include senators' individual allotments.
Liburd has steadfastly avoided the release of information on each senators' total allotment, despite his assurances to the Source on Friday that he would release those documents Monday, three days ago.
On Wednesday, Liburd released copies of six contracts for professional services ranging from $7,000 for a 20-hour a week clerk typist for six months, to $55,000 annually for a 25-hour a week budget consultant.
Attorney Karl Percell has been hired to provide legal counsel, opinions, research and analysis for Sen. Carlton Dowe at $2,500 monthly, not to exceed $30,000. The contract stipulates work from Jan. 16 through Dec. 31, 2001, for not less than 25 hours per month.
According to the Virgin Islands Daily News, Attorney General Iver Stridiron had turned down a request from Liburd to provide legal help for the Legislature. The paper quoted Stridiron as saying for the Justice Department to represent the Legislature would be "in violation of the Doctrine of the Separation of Powers."
The newspaper quoted Liburd as saying the Legislature was "down to only two attorneys, who are already stretched to the limits. …" With the addition of Percell, the Legislature will now have five attorneys as legal counsel, according to the Central Staffing roster released by Liburd last week.
The St. Thomas office lists Yvonne Tharpe, assistant chief legal counsel and Trevor N. Friday, legal counsel. The St. Croix office lists Constance Krieger, chief legal counsel and Amelia Joseph, legal counsel.
None of the contract employees are eligible for annual leave and sick leave benefits, holiday pay, health insurance or retirement pay, according to the documents.
In addition to Percell, the contracts are for:
– Sonia Andrew: $7,000 for 20 hours a week for clerk-typist duties for Liburd for six months;
– Rudolph Krigger Jr.: $55,000 annually for not less than 40 hours a week as chief researcher for Liburd;
– Juan A. Garcia: $55,000 annually for the term of the 24th Legislature for not less than 25 hours a week to review, analyze and advise Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Finance Chairwoman, on budget matters;
– Leslie A. Howard Sr.: $25,000 annually for a minimum of 35 hours a week, to assist Sen. Celestino White Sr., chairman of the Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee, in public housing matters including liaison with White and the public Housing Tenant Councils;
– Alphonse Nibbs Sr.: $30,000 annually for a minimum of 35 hours a week to do research, serve as liaison with the public housing administration and represent White at community events and housing meetings.
The contracts now bring Liburd's payroll to $404,000, Dowe's to $270,000 and White's to $224,000. Garcia's $55,000 contract is paid from Post Audit's staff allotment, not from Hansen's personal staff payroll. This brings Post Audit's payroll to $714,500.

The V.I. Senate payroll now totals slightly more than $7 million, according to information from Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd. The figure does not include senators' individual allotments.
Liburd has steadfastly avoided the release of information on each senators' total allotment, despite his assurances to the Source on Friday that he would release those documents Monday, three days ago.
On Wednesday, Liburd released copies of six contracts for professional services ranging from $7,000 for a 20-hour a week clerk typist for six months, to $55,000 annually for a 25-hour a week budget consultant.
Attorney Karl Percell has been hired to provide legal counsel, opinions, research and analysis for Sen. Carlton Dowe at $2,500 monthly, not to exceed $30,000. The contract stipulates work from Jan. 16 through Dec. 31, 2001, for not less than 25 hours per month.
According to the Virgin Islands Daily News, Attorney General Iver Stridiron had turned down a request from Liburd to provide legal help for the Legislature. The paper quoted Stridiron as saying for the Justice Department to represent the Legislature, it would be "in violation of the Doctrine of the Separation of Powers."
The newspaper quoted Liburd as saying the Legislature was "down to only two attorneys, who are already stretched to the limits. …" With the addition of Percell, the Legislature will now have five attorneys as legal counsel, according to the Central Staffing roster released by Liburd last week.
The St. Thomas office lists Yvonne Tharpe, assistant chief legal counsel and Trevor N. Friday, legal counsel. The St. Croix office lists Constance Krieger, chief legal counsel and Amelia Joseph, legal counsel.
None of the contract employees is eligible for annual leave and sick leave benefits, holiday pay, health insurance or retirement pay, according to the documents.
In addition to Percell, the contracts are for:
– Sonia Andrew: $7,000 for 20 hours a week for clerk-typist duties for Liburd for six months;
– Rudolph Krigger Jr.: $55,000 annually for not less than 40 hours a week as chief researcher for Liburd;
– Juan A. Garcia: $55,000 annually for the term of the 24th Legislature for not less than 25 hours a week to review, analyze and advise Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Finance Chairwoman, on budget matters;
– Leslie A. Howard Sr.: $25,000 annually for a minimum of 35 hours a week, to assist Sen. Celestino White Sr., chairman of the Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee, in public housing matters including liaison with White and the public Housing Tenant Councils;
– Alphonse Nibbs Sr.: $30,000 annually for a minimum of 35 hours a week to do research, serve as liaison with the public housing administration and represent White at community events and housing meetings.
The contracts now bring Liburd's payroll to $404,000, Dowe's to $270,000 and White's to $224,000. Garcia's $55,000 contract is paid from Post Audit's staff allotment, not from Hansen's personal staff payroll. This brings Post Audit's payroll to $714,500.

A clearly very surprised Shaun Pennington, founder, publisher and owner of the Virgin Islands Source online news publications, received the Person of the Year Award on Wednesday from Rotary Club II of St. Thomas.
Pennington said she was "pleased and thrilled" by the honor. The daily production of three interrelated news sites "totally is a group effort, and I accept this on behalf of all the 'Sourcers,' as we call them."
Rotarian Elliott "Mac" Davis made the presentation at a luncheon at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort. Davis, an attorney, said the club began giving the annual award 21 years ago "to recognize someone who, through their words and deeds, has demonstrated their allegiance to the principle of service to others above service to self."
He described Pennington as "a writer by God-given talent" who trained in business management and public relations. For many years she has lent her support to a number of organizations, including the League of Women Voters, the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council, the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, the Ad Club of the Virgin Islands and the Friends of Fort Christian.
On Jan. 15, 1999, Pennington launched the St. Thomas Source. It was followed in July of that year by the St. Croix Source and, five months later, by the St. John Source.
"All three newspapers reach local readers looking for accurate, complete and unbiased news and insightful commentary about their home," Davis said. "And because they are electronic, these newspapers also instantly reach thousands of people around the world who also have a vested interest in keeping up with the news we make here. They are read faithfully by the major decision-makers in government and the private sector, in the territory, in the nation's capital and beyond."
Producing a daily newspaper with a very small staff means Pennington is on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day, Davis said. "Through these efforts, and countless other unheralded ones, she continues to uphold the standards of honesty, integrity, generosity of spirit and community commitment that we have come to expect," he said.
As usual, Davis teased his audience by withholding as long as possible any identifying information about the recipient of the award. Some Source staff hid in the room until Davis made the announcement.
Pennington was lured to the luncheon by Davis and her husband, Wally Bostwick, on the pretext that she was to accompany the "real" recipient, Penny Feuerzeig, former executive editor of the Virgin Islands Daily News and an adviser for the Source.
Upon learning she had won the award, Pennington joked, "Does this mean I don't have to write the story?"
Feuerzeig, who was in on the ruse, said after the presentation that she takes pride in Pennington's success.
Several of the past honorees and/or their family members, were on hand for the presentation, as guests of Rotary.
Previous persons of the year are: Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta, Albert Aubain, Gov. Roy Schneider, Costas Coulianos, Calvin Wheatley, Dr. Alfred Heath, Gov. Alexander Farrelly, Irvin "Brownie" Brown, Delegate Ron deLugo, Dilsa Capdeville, Athniel "Addie" Ottley, Judge Verne Hodge, Leona Bryant, Edward Thomas, Juel Molloy, Vinnie Mohanani, Sen. Lorraine Berry, Nick Pourzal, Randy Knight and John P. DeJongh Jr.
For the full text of the speech given by Davis as he presented Person of the Year Award to Source publisher Shaun A. Penningtonclick here.

Maho Bay Camps will collaborate with Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society on a series of weeklong adventure vacations in ocean exploration and environmental awareness on St. John from July 21-Aug. 10.
The "Ambassadors of the Environment" program will teach youths from 11 to 18 years old and their families about the local ecology, sustainability and on becoming better stewards of the environment on St. John. This unique program brings together the expertise of two world leaders in sustainable tourism — Stanley Selengut, founder of ecotourism resorts on St. John, and Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the undersea pioneer, the late Jacques Cousteau — to offer lessons on both marine and terrestrial ecology in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Selengut has been bringing travelers to his tent cottages in the USVI on St. John for 25 years, teaching guests how to enjoy the natural environment while minimizing the impact on the land. Cousteau has been leading groups of young people to remote parts of the world to explore the wonders of the sea and its intrinsic value. This new program will combine both terrestrial and marine preservation efforts to study and protect delicate ecosystems in the USVI.
The Ambassadors of the Environment program will consist of two major types of activities: challenge activities, which focus on individuals and the group, and educational activities, which include daily field activities to study the land, sea, campgrounds and ecosystems. Most will take place in Virgin Islands National Park. More than one-third of the 11,560 acres that make up the V.I. National Park are underwater.
Participants will learn about environmental protection on land and sea. Snorkeling excursions, hiking, kayaking and stargazing will be an integral part of the educational activities, in addition to informative discussions about ecosystems.
Wearing snorkels and masks, participants will observe the fragile coral reefs, sea grass beds and endangered mangroves to better understand their value and ecological connections. Land-based activities will include exploring the forests and ancient indigenous cultures, and workshops about solar technology, recycling, composting and organic gardening. Participants will also be able to work with glass artisans to make beautiful functional pieces such as mugs and vases from recycled glass materials, as part of Maho's ongoing glass recycling project.
Three consecutive seven-day programs will be held during the summer at St. John's Maho Bay Camps. The first program, July 21-27, is for families consisting of people of all ages. Rates for families are as follows: $3,400 for three people/one cabin; $4,300 for four people/one cabin; $5,000 for four people/two cabins; $5,900 for five people/two cabins; and $6,800 for six people/two cabins.
A maximum of 90 campers can participate in the family program. More time will be allotted for families to spend time together with minimal programming.
The second program will be held July 28-Aug. 3, for children 11 to 14 years old. The final summer program will be held Aug. 4-10, for those 15 to 18 years old. The cost for each youth program is $1,250 per camper. The maximum number of campers for each youth program is 40.
Costs do not include airfare to the Virgin Islands. Accommodations will be provided at Maho Bay Camps, where participants will stay in its singular environmentally sensitive tent cottages. Maho Bay's kitchen staff will provide three well-rounded and healthy meals each day, and a small grocery store is also on-site.
All instructors for the program have a college degree in natural or environmental science, are over the age of 21, and are first aid/CPR and lifeguard-certified. All staff instructors are personally trained by Jean-Michel Cousteau team members and are full-time employees of Ocean Futures Society with extensive experience in conducting these programs.
For the youth programs, there will be one staff counselor for every three campers in addition to the instructors.
For more information about the Ambassadors of the Environment program and Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society, call (805) 899-8899, visit their Web site or call Maho Bay Camps at (800) 451-9288 or (340) 776-6226.

Maho Bay Camps will collaborate with Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society on a series of weeklong adventure vacations in ocean exploration and environmental awareness on St. John from July 21-Aug. 10.
The "Ambassadors of the Environment" program will teach youths from 11 to 18 years old and their families about the local ecology, sustainability and on becoming better stewards of the environment on St. John. This unique program brings together the expertise of two world leaders in sustainable tourism — Stanley Selengut, founder of ecotourism resorts on St. John, and Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of undersea pioneer, the late Jacques Cousteau — to offer lessons on both marine and terrestrial ecology in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Selengut has been bringing travelers to his tent cottages in the USVI on St. John for 25 years, teaching guests how to enjoy the natural environment while minimizing the impact on the land. Cousteau has been leading groups of young people to remote parts of the world to explore the wonders of the sea and its intrinsic value. This new program will combine both terrestrial and marine preservation efforts to study and protect delicate ecosystems in the USVI.
The Ambassadors of the Environment program will consist of two major types of activities: challenge activities, which focus on individuals and the group, and educational activities, which include daily field activities to study the land, sea, campgrounds and ecosystems. Most will take place in Virgin Islands National Park. More than one-third of the 11,560 acres that make up the V.I. National Park are underwater.
Participants will learn about environmental protection on land and sea. Snorkeling excursions, hiking, kayaking and stargazing will be an integral part of the educational activities, in addition to informative discussions about ecosystems.
Wearing snorkels and masks, participants will observe the fragile coral reefs, sea grass beds and endangered mangroves to better understand their value and ecological connections. Land-based activities will include exploring the forests and ancient indigenous cultures, and workshops about solar technology, recycling, composting and organic gardening. Participants will also be able to work with glass artisans to make beautiful functional pieces such as mugs and vases from recycled glass materials, as part of Maho's ongoing glass recycling project.
Three consecutive seven-day programs will be held during the summer at St. John's Maho Bay Camps. The first program, July 21-27, is for families consisting of people of all ages. Rates for families are as follows: $3,400 for three people/one cabin; $4,300 for four people/one cabin; $5,000 for four people/two cabins; $5,900 for five people/two cabins; and $6,800 for six people/two cabins.
A maximum of 90 campers can participate in the family program. More time will be allotted for families to spend time together with minimal programming.
The second program will be held July 28-Aug. 3, for children 11 to 14 years old. The final summer program will be held Aug. 4-10, for those 15 to 18 years old. The cost for each youth program is $1,250 per camper. The maximum number of campers for each youth program is 40.
Costs do not include airfare to the Virgin Islands. Accommodations will be provided at Maho Bay Camps, where participants will stay in its singular environmentally sensitive tent cottages. Maho Bay's kitchen staff will provide three well-rounded and healthy meals each day, and a small grocery store is also on-site.
All instructors for the program have a college degree in natural or environmental science, are over the age of 21, and are first aid/CPR and lifeguard-certified. All staff instructors are personally trained by Jean-Michel Cousteau team members and are full-time employees of Ocean Futures Society with extensive experience in conducting these programs.
For the youth programs, there will be one staff counselor for every three campers in addition to the instructors.
For more information about the Ambassadors of the Environment program and Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society, call (805) 899-8899, visit their Web site or call Maho Bay Camps at (800) 451-9288 or (340) 776-6226.

A clearly very surprised Shaun Pennington, founder, publisher and owner of the Virgin Islands Source online news publications, received the Person of the Year Award on Wednesday from Rotary Club II of St. Thomas.
Pennington said she was "pleased and thrilled" by the honor. The daily production of three interrelated news sites "totally is a group effort, and I accept this on behalf of all the 'Sourcers,' as we call them."
Rotarian Elliott "Mac" Davis made the presentation at a luncheon at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort. Davis, an attorney, said the club began giving the annual award 21 years ago "to recognize someone who, through their words and deeds, has demonstrated their allegiance to the principle of service to others above service to self."
He described Pennington as "a writer by God-given talent" who trained in business management and public relations. For many years she has lent her support to a number of organizations, including the League of Women Voters, the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council, the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, the Ad Club of the Virgin Islands and the Friends of Fort Christian.
On Jan. 15, 1999, Pennington launched the St. Thomas Source. It was followed in July of that year by the St. Croix Source and, five months later, by the St. John Source.
"All three newspapers reach local readers looking for accurate, complete and unbiased news and insightful commentary about their home," Davis said. "And because they are electronic, these newspapers also instantly reach thousands of people around the world who also have a vested interest in keeping up with the news we make here. They are read faithfully by the major decision-makers in government and the private sector, in the territory, in the nation's capital and beyond."
Producing a daily newspaper with a very small staff means Pennington is on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day, Davis said. "Through these efforts, and countless other unheralded ones, she continues to uphold the standards of honesty, integrity, generosity of spirit and community commitment that we have come to expect," he said.
As usual, Davis teased his audience by withholding as long as possible any identifying information about the recipient of the award. Some Source staff hid in the room until Davis made the announcement.
Pennington was lured to the luncheon by Davis and her husband, Wally Bostwick, on the pretext that she was to accompany the "real" recipient, Penny Feuerzeig, former executive editor of the Virgin Islands Daily News and an adviser for the Source.
Upon learning she had won the award, Pennington joked, "Does this mean I don't have to write the story?"
Feuerzeig, who was in on the ruse, said after the presentation that she takes pride in Pennington's success.
Several of the past honorees and/or their family members, were on hand for the presentation, as guests of Rotary.
Previous persons of the year are: Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta, Albert Aubain, Gov. Roy Schneider, Costas Coulianos, Calvin Wheatley, Dr. Alfred Heath, Gov. Alexander Farrelly, Irvin "Brownie" Brown, Delegate Ron deLugo, Dilsa Capdeville, Athniel "Addie" Ottley, Judge Verne Hodge, Leona Bryant, Edward Thomas, Juel Molloy, Vinnie Mohanani, Sen. Lorraine Berry, Nick Pourzal, Randy Knight and John P. DeJongh Jr.
For the full text of the speech given by Davis as he presented Person of the Year Award to Source publisher Shaun A. Pennington click here.

Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen and Gov. Charles Turnbull met with Interior Secretary Gale Norton on Tuesday to press for action to lessen the impact of the federal government’s establishment and expansion of marine national monuments in the territory.
The meeting of the Pacific Basin Development Council, which focuses primarily on issues affecting the Pacific territories but to which the Virgin Islands is invited because of common concerns, provided a chance for the two V.I. officials to discuss the recent creation of a national monument off St. John and the expansion of Buck Island Reef National Monument off St. Croix.
"We need your assistance on the question of who owns the submerged lands," Christensen told Norton. "Once the jurisdictional questions are resolved, we are also asking for the involvement of our fishing community in the development of the management plans."
Christensen also asked that the designations of the "no-take" zones be put on hold until the jurisdictional issues are resolved.
It was Turnbull’s second meeting with Norton this week on the monument issue. In a statement Wednesday, Turnbull said the secretary told him she would review the monument boundaries and make "appropriate adjustments" after consulting with local officials.
"Because not a lot of consultation was done, we need to take another look at those most affected," said Norton of the monument designations. "We need to look at what can be done through management and boundary adjustments until we reach a mutually satisfactory solution."
On Tuesday afternoon, Christensen attended a briefing with Interior officials and the House Resources Committee's National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee staff that addressed the issue of who owns the submerged lands. Interior officials gave presentations on how they determined ownership and on the need for preserving and in turn replenishing the fisheries.
Christensen noted that while fishermen were not against the replenishment of the fisheries, a balance should be struck between preservation and the community's socio-economic well-being.
According to the proclamation signed by former President Bill Clinton during his last week in office that expands the Buck Island Monument by 18,000 acres, the secretary of the Interior, who oversees the Park Service, has two years to prepare a management plan to protect natural and historical resources. For the 12,700-acre St. John monument, the time line is three years.
The delegate echoed her concerns over the ramifications of no-take zones Wednesday when she addressed the Coral Reef Task Force in Washington, D.C. While applauding the task force's science and preservation efforts, Christensen urged members to "work harder to look for that fragile balance, and take into equal consideration every impact that your decisions might have, as well as to maintain a posture of flexibility in terms of the possible approaches that might well be able to achieve the same goal."
The 1999 Coral Reef Task Force meeting was held on St. Croix, where Turnbull and Dean Plaskett, Department of Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, signed off with other members to set aside as no-take zones a minimum of 20 percent of U.S. reefs by 2010.
The Coral Reef Task Force meeting was attended by a contingent of Virgin Islanders, including DPNR staff, Friends of the Park and the National Park Service officials.