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ISLAND RESOURCES FOUNDATION F R O M : O f fic e o f t h e P r e s i d e n t S U B J E C T : B u l l e t i n f o r M e m b e r E d w a r d L . T o w l e M a y 1 9 7 6 As we review the level of Associate Membership renewals for 1975, we are most encouraged. As a small, unendowed, operating foundation, we rely substantially for support on you, our Associate Members -- for both tangible support (dollars!) and intangible support (your quiet, behind the scenes encouragement). In return, we cannot offer you elaborate membership services but only the knowledge that your monies are being utilized directly to enhance the development and implementation of research and educational programs for small oceanic and coastal islands. You are a vital link in this process ... all we can say is "thank you " , pledge our best to give you the best return for your dollars, and keep you informed via periodic bulletins of some of our activities on your behalf. Your ideas and participation are always welcome. Perhaps the most significant change since last corresponding with you has been the "institutionalization" of our relationship with IDEAS, Inc. another non-profit organi zation based in Washington, D. C. and the formal establishment of an IRF branch office in Washington, located at IDEAS and operational only because of their most generous support. My wife, Judith, and I will be periodically manning the Washington office, and we hope thereb3>- to strengthen our rapport with and knowledgeability about state side funding sources. If you are in the area, please stop in at 1785 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Suite 100 (telephone: 202-483-9045). Additional good news: one of the Foundation's earliest patrons, AMERICAN AIRLINES, has once again lent their most generous support to our work with an unrestricted gift of $5, 000 for 1976. Our thanks to Cy Collins, Joe Scott and all our good friends there. SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS . . . * The coastal zone inventory for the U. S. Virgin Islands, being prepared under contract to the V. I. Planning Office, is in the final stages of pre paration. Several consultants have worked with IRF staff on the report, including Dr. Maynard Nichols of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, David I. Grigg, a Virgin Islander with extensive marine biological ex perience in tropical waters, and James Dobbin of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, who worked with us on sketches, maps, and charts. * We have been given assurance of the availability of funds for Phase II of the Anegada (British Virgin Islands) island resource planning study, and are now moving ahead in its implementation. Chris Howell, geographer and resource planner from the U. of Florida, has returned to IRF staff for Phase II and will be leaving shortly for Anegada, possibly utilizing our newly donated research vessel, Meander, as a base of operations. (Meander, a 38 foot Camper Nicholson ketch, was donated to the Founda tion at the end of 1975 by Mrs. Ann L. Bronfman of New York. ) * Work continues on our nationally recognized Caribbean bicentennial program. St. Kitts, St. Vincent, and Jamaica have matched dollars we were able to make available for a preliminary inventory of American Revolutionary era historic sites and cultural resources on their islands. We are hopeful other governments will also take advan tage of the availability of matching bicentennial funds to join with us in taking this first step toward the ultimate objective of a regional Register of surviving West Indian historic sites. IRF is also discussing with the Institute of Jamaica and the Barbados Museum the possibility of mount ing jointly a number of bicentennial focussed museum exhibits. * George F. Tyson, Jr. , staff historian, continues work on three bicentennial publications for the Caribbean. We shall advise when these are ready for distribution. SOME NEW BUSINESS ... Thus far in 1976, the Foundation has submitted several program development proposals to various funding agencies, a few of which include: * To UNESCQ/UNEP (in cooperation with the Caribbean Conservation Association and IDEAS) a proposal for a Caribbean environmental education training program with an experiential education focus; >:« To the National Endowment for the Humanities, a proposal for a feasibility study to examine the parameters and scope of a compre hensive historical records program for the U. S. Virgin Islands, whereby the archival records of the former Danish Virgin Islands, now in foreign or off-island repositories, would be inventoried, microfilmed, and returned to the Virgin Islands; At the request of the V. I. Government (Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs), a proposal for the historical documentation of the Enighed Ruins on St. John, preparatory to restoration of the ruins as an island community center. 1976 IS OFF TO A PRODUCTIVE START ! ! ^ » * V + 3 + * J + m J U * ! * , « t * « ! * * l « * J U We have taken the liberty of enclosing an Associate Mem bership application form in the event you have not renewed for 1976. If you have, we do thank you and ask that you please pass the application along to a non-member. ISLAND RESOURCES FOUNDATION LAGOON MARINA, RED HOOK ST. THOMAS, U. S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (809) 773-3225 FROM: Office of the President SUBJECT: End of the Year Bulletin for Members E d w a r d L . T o w l e D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 1 9 7 6 * * * * * In a recent issue of Intcnnational Wildlife (reprinted in the Auqust 29, 1976, issue of The. Washington Post) F. Ray Fosberg of the Smithsonian Institution says: Maybe, you can a&fiond to make a mistake, on a continent. The. thing you damage. ok de.btn.oy probably exists -in two on. thn.e.e. othen. places. Bat aimo.it evenij iAtand ka6 something unique on it. And theAe. anan't any iblandb that ane. tafie. &n.om degnadatlon. * The Island Resources Foundation, which was featured in an accompanying story in IntennatLonal Wildlife, continues to work to insure the survival of that "uniqueness1 about which Dr. Fosberg writes — with an emphasis on improved resource management programs, demonstration projects, and technical assistance in local and regional institutional development appropriate to island areas. * * * * * As we close 1976, we wish to bring our members up to date on our recent activities. But first we would like to give acknowledgement to three very SDecial friends of the Foundation whose support during the closing months of 1976 was particularly timely and vital: Nancy Woodson Spine, whose generous gift of $7,500 in November represented the largest unrestricted contribution of 1976. Thank you, Nancy! Myn.on Hokin, of Chicago, St. Thomas, and Virgin Gorda, and Bob Bennhand, of Long Island and Culebra, Puerto Rico, for their continued support with additional generous gifts during the closing months of 1976. Nancy, Myron and Bob are fellow island lovers, patrons of science, and lona standinn Foundation friends! While acknowledgements of support are being extended, let us not foraet two very important categories of contributors: our SPONSORING MEMBERS (membership of $100) and UEE MEAtBERS (membership of $500). Because we have never listed them in a previous Bulletin, we take the opportunity to do so at this time. 1) This article represents an important statement on the future of islands. If you would like a copy, please let us know. - 2 r . r EOUNVATION SPONSORING MEMBERS Sarah Harkness Samuel P. McChesney Nathaniel Schurer Joe Scott Mrs. Mason Scudder Robert Siddall Elsie M. Tytla tOUNVATWN LIFE MEMBERS Robert A. Bernhard J. Simpson Dean, Jr. Dr. Lyman and Nancy Spire * * * * * H I G H L I G H T S 0 F 1 9 7 6 * The year saw a culmination of our several Bicentennial focussed programs for the Caribbean (including archival research, historic site inventory and documentation, museum exhibits, historic publications). John Warner, former head of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA) in Washinqton, D.C., made a special presentation of a formal plaque and Bicentennial flag to the Foundation in August, in recognition of our "Caribbean and the American Revolu tion" ARBA supported program. George Tyson, Bicentennial program director, is back at work, after being seriously burned in a boating accident this past summer, and is bringing the various projects to a close. Separately funded by ARBA, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and the Virgin Islands Bicentennial Commission, over $75,000 in grant funds were awarded in sup port of this multi-faceted project. It should be noted that all bicentennial grants to IRF were matching fund grants, and an additional $37,300 had to be pro vided by the Foundation to "match" funds received in direct program support. Watch 1977 for announcement of bicentennial related publications, some of which are now going to press (e.g., Potvde.n, Pno^it and Pnivateers, by staff historian,_ G.F. Tyson, a documentary history of the Danish West Indies /U.S. Virqin Islands/ during the period of the American Revolutionary struggle). * The coastal zone management project, funded under contract by the Virgin Islands Planning Office, was completed in the spring, and the resultant report and Publication, \Jingin Islands Coastal lone. Management: The Marine Environment, mark continuing commitments by Foundation staff to assist insular governments through im plementation of improved resource management and comprehensive planning programs. We have been informed by the V.I. Planning Office that the report is currently being reprinted for broader distribution. * 1976 witnessed the commencement of a series of coastal water quality studies funded by the Offi-ce of Resources Management of the U.S.V.I. Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs. Site specific work has begun at the Mangrove Lagoon and Perseverance Bay, St. Thomas, and additional work on St. Croix is pro grammed for 1977. - 3 - focusslnn In%hoT^KKn'S ongoin9 resource management and conservation program Infill L c h? Caribbean green sea turtle which has just been placed on the IUCM o? ho'sTfViSdTof lllKuluT? !" 19l6' raVy ass^sted by the contHbu fo s " turtle ?»«^ L«. £ a wh,° named a turtle,", thereby providing $25 per from the one Solfar aiftan? *xPediti°n expenses. Turtle ta9 contributions ?anged n?L"fh°n? ?0,1?r1,91ft of 12 year old Kathryn Doyan to S250 sent by Manuel and Elizabeth Hinke of Mexico. Many of the contributions this year (over S3 nnn ?ntan a H r t ™' n 1 t d h e n m o n t d h l C h 0 , ° 1 ' " I " ? t h r ° U 9 h ° U t t h e ^ t e d T t T t i . T ^ S l n J ' S " tagging effort InTtlLJ"'3l'"f *"* n,agaz1ne about our sea turt1e ^arch Snd leader and chief «w?«r'«?nfT'perSOn r?Search team deluding expedition nnOv w *1 II scientlst< Bl11 Ramey; navigator, Ed Towle; Dick Dewey, gener- caolain f IL 6 Pr°JuCt by the V-L Bureau of Fish and Wildlife; and Jim Lefever captain of the research vessel Pelagic) sailed to and lived on remote Aves island SuHnSU119796a ?o°,rr ?( r6S!drcRT^in9 and "Nervation begun Ave year go ' 1973 919?I 'Jn°V«JUrtles* ta9uged by IRF scientists during expeditions to Avis in III in tit fSt ? ' "ere caught and reported by fishermen from around the region turt e recovered1 in"^ ^ ^J".the Grenadines, and one in Martinique 90ne' W) nanfi^! m ™ 1976„nad hypothetically travelled, in straight-line distance 459 nautical miles from Aves to point of recovery in the Dominican Republic! qo^h h! t2c ?on,menced in 1974, with the "Caribbean Cruise in Conservation" (soon- sored by IRF in cooperation with the National Trust for Historic Preservation anrf aria o? r^aann^nMir^°n Ass°ciation), the Foundation's leadership role * the" jec?s are worth! of Zll^t™?0" pr°?ranK has continued in 1976. Two pro! the Caribbean wm?„ tti* res*orat1on of.surviving historic site resources in Alexandra T9r; fhlit • S Pr°Ject. technical assistance has been provided by Ms organ?zaaiLTn(wl Mn^nr'nTf10,"15.' and associate of IDEAS, Foundation support ti™ 11 " in Washington, D.C.); she has just completed a nine-island site visit* t n? "ork with island preservationists and historical organizations in prepara tion of the inventory. More on this project in 1977. rs<»"«tions "> prepara- prog^'conla^ted^thTh^F unde!\the "UD b1°ck grant co^unity development til cI^LIa c ? : nw th.the Foundation to research and document the historv of the Emghed Estate Ruin in Cruz Bay, St. Oohn, preparatory to restoration of ?hP t a t e ' ? & w i t i n U ^ i e x f ' o r ' f " ^ , W ^ To r e l c ^ ^ ^ l r e e ; ^ S " important example of historic site documentation for the Caribbean region * With the appointment in September of Dr. 0. Marcus Buchanan « * ^„,-™ Sw Ass°c1at\and Director of the Foundation's Museum roqrams or IttTtZ forml , 7tntRt0;USe: development program for small, tropica ?s[an2s was w?tTihe unioSe Drohwnn5nn9S t0 V* ass}*™nt P™en experience in dealing »n,.?Jr " q I Problemsof conservation-oriented institutions in insular Caribbean environments, having served as resident director of the New York Zoological Society's lllll1"? Bfb- ^T"1 R.esearch Station in Trinidad and director of thf virgin it? lands Eco ogical Research Station at Lameshur Bay, St. John, U S V I ProTto his work in the West Indies, commencing in 1967, Dr. Buchanan was iff1 lilted with the museum program at the U. of California, Los Angeles and with thDallas Mu eum - 4 - of Natural History. Beginning with the provision of planninq and technical assistance to the Dominica (West Indies) museum in 1973, and"linked to our his toric sites program as discussed above (many museums are housed in historic build ings), the Foundation's commitment to museum program development evolves from a recognition that museums have great potential as cultural and educational, as well as conservatorial and research institutions. They have, however, lagaed behind other sectors in the Caribbean in funding, staffing, and professional"development. Using the U.S. Virgin Islands (with four operating museums) as a base of operations, we have worked with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and two federal government agencies (the National Endowment for the Arts and the Smithsonian In stitution which administers the National Museum Act), and subsequently have sub mitted two proposals for funding to these agencies, one, to conduct a short-term introductory workshop/seminar for museum personnel in the English-speaking eastern Caribbean and two, to establish a system for the identification of conservatorial priorities for eastern Caribbean museums. Finally, with the assistance of the Foundation, three publications have been released in 1976 by the West Indian Museum Associates (which Dr. Buchanan heads): * A Briei directory o$ Museum Associations and Related On.ganizati.oyis * What Is A Museum? An Essay on a Ve.iinitA.on Dilemma * Specimen Cabinets and Conservation: Some Solutions ion. the Smaller Museum * As a continuation of our ongoing program of assistance to the developing Morne Trois Piton National Park in Dominica, the Island Resources Foundation assisted the U.S. National Park Service, Office of International Affairs, in establishing a a park training curriculum and in implementing an inservice manaqement training pro gram for park personnel from the Dominica Park. The training effort was carried out at the Virgin Islands National Park in November. In addition to assisting the National Park Service with designing the curriculum and scheduling the training, the Foundation conducted an instructional session at IRF headquarters in St. Thomas for the Dominican park trainees, as another facet of the NPS in-service program. The Foundation recognizes the need for interchange and cooperation among the is lands of the Caribbean as a critical factor in conservation and national park de velopment in the region, and we expect to enlarge upon this aspect of technical assistance in resource management programs. A comprehensive annual report for the year 1976 will be available in February. Members wishing a copy may so request from Foundation headquarters in St. Thomas. * * * * * It is on a sad note that we conclude this report to members, and it is with deep sorrow that we inform those who knew her of the death of Virginia (Ginny) Radcliffe, beloved friend, comrade and island traveler. Ginny died quietly at her island home on Fire Island, New York, in August, shortly before publication of The. Caribbean Heritage (Walker and Company), her final tribute to the Isles of the Caribbee which she knew and loved so well. She respected these islands with an idealism and en thusiasm which knew no equal; yet her commitment was disciplined, and she argued well their need to protect endemic cultural and natural resources in the face of conflicting pressures. - 5 - We wish to close the year by thanking each of you for your continued support in 1976. As our newly printed membership form indicates (enclosed), we are an in surance program for islands, and your membership contribution represents your investment in the future of these fragile insular systems. We are enclosing a membership renewal form and mailing envelope and request that you return it as soon as possible with your membership contribution for 1977. If you have already renewed, please accept our thanks, and we ask that you con sider a gift membership for the new year for a relative, friend, or associate who shares your concern about islands. An appropriate place is provided on the form for gift memberships. We look forward to hearing from you and, in the meantime, wish for you and yours a prosperous and meaningful now year. The Staff of the Island Resources Foundation EdM-id L. Towle Judith A. Towle Geonge F. Tyson .Kathy Finnerttf WU'C'iam E. Ra'iney* Ernest J.P. Mulily* 0. Ma4cu6 Buchanan* Plus the. numerous student volunteers and visiting neseanch sta^ who have worked with us in 79 76 Part-time.