About St John Accommodations Council

The Who, What, Why, When, Where and How!

The St. John Accommodations Council was established in 1989 by local hotel, guest house and property managers for the purpose of enhancing and protecting St. John's cultural and physical resources. Meeting once a month, they discuss problems ranging from water shortages and noise pollution to support of the Babe Ruth League and Steel Unlimited. The St. John Accommodations Council feels that by making the island better for the people who live here, it will also be improved for tourists.

Participating members of the SJAC collect a $1 contribution per night from the guests who stay with them. This money (T.A.P.) supports organizations and activities that care for the island and help instill a sense of purpose in our youth.

Our track record is quite extensive. Below you will find a condensed list of what our dues and TAP money go towards:

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Helps fund the aluminum can recycling project

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Provided funding for various St. John student musical groups

°	Funded the efforts for the St. John Steel Unlimited Band to record a disc at Disneyland
°	Funded the making of two steel drums for Winston Graham Steel Drum Program in Coral Bay
°	Steel Unlimited held concerts every other Saturday in the Cruz Bay Park in exchange for funding that went towards their transportation to Denmark and France
°	Love City Pan Dragons and Baby Pan Dragons

www.pandragons.org

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Refurbished Red Cross generators for hurricane preparedness 1993

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Donated funds to Elaine Sprauve Library for:

°	computers
°	Annual subscription to McNaughton best sellers book list

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Donated funds for various St. John school groups, including:

°	Musical instruments for the Julius Sprauve school band
°	Art supplies for Julius Sprauve School art rooms
°	Wood working equipment for J. Sprauve School Industrial Arts program
°	Let’s Talk Program – which helps 5th-9th graders deal with social issues
°	Julius Sprauve PTA for classroom improvements
°	Julius Sprauve School Summer Enrichment Program

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Provided funds to the Animal Care Center of St. John for:

°	The spay and neuter program
°	Animal feeding stations

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Funded supplies and uniforms for various youth sports groups:

°	Love City Leapers Jump Rope Demonstration Team
°	Babe Ruth League
°	St. Thomas Baseball Explores

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Alton Adams Scholarship fund

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Supplied St. John Tourism Office with landscaping and help maintaining it

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Sponsored St. John Racquet Club by providing funds for transportation to off island tournaments

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Sponsored St. John school student organizations with funding and helped students attend off-island programs

°	Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America
°	Future Business Leaders of America
°	College Tour for St. John high school students

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Supplied funds for Dial-A-Ride's office equipment

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Donated funds for fireworks during the 4th of July

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Provided equipment for St. John Rescue

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Purchased a child mannequin for St. John Clinic

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Donated funds to the St. John Fire Service for materials for the Fire Prevention Week at St. John schools

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Donated funds for "Kids and the Sea", a program that teaches marine safety. These funds paid for two intermediate boats

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Donated funds for the Children’s Carnival Village

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Provided donations to the St. John Revolving Fund

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Helped fund the St. Thomas – St. John Chamber of Commerce Visitors Welcome Program on the St. John Dock

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Refurbished Red Cross generators for hurricane preparedness in 1993

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Provided funding to the Friends of the Virgin Island National Park for:

°	Beach to Beach Power Swim

SJAC contributes 50% of TAP money to the Endowment Fund of the St. John Community Foundation, Inc. (SJCF).

Help us make St John a better place for residents and visitors alike. The St John Accommodations Council is an active fundraiser for the vital work in our community to improve the quality of life on St John through training, education and community service.

Tourist Awareness Program

What is the TAP?

This contribution is to be used to enhance St. John's position in the physical and financial world, and since Tourism is our number one business, to improve the quality of our lives on St. John.

How to collect the TAP.

It is not necessary to explain each and every dollar a hotel collects either for itself, for the government, or in this case, for the TAP. What is necessary is to be able to explain why it is important, and to be able to remove the charge if a person should object to it. Service charges and energy charges are often added to bills without the customers understanding or say. The TAP is very well understood by most customers, and freely given by the vast majority.

What will the TAP be used for?

The St. John Accommodations Council is working towards, using the TAP to fund its Island-wide full cover destination piece, to get matching funds from the government for use in specific Island improvement projects, to fund scholarships for the use by local youths, and to generally improve St. John as a unique destination worth keeping and fighting for.

How can your hotel help?

Just add a dollar to each room night rented, being sure to post a notice about the TAP and its importance. Learn about the timely events the council is working on by coming to our monthly meetings. Be part of what we accomplish. Send a check each month to the St. John Accommodations Council, Inc. and help this Island become even better.

The interest on this money helps fund the many programs SJCF offers or supports including:

•	St. John Dial-A-Ride-transportation services for senior and disabled residents and visitors.
•	St. John Film Society-free movies dedicated to Caribbean life and cultural expressions.
•	Aluminum can recycling program-the only all-volunteer and permanent recycling program in the US Virgin Islands
•	Using Sports for Social Change (USFSC) - A youth sports initiative in partnership with NIKE, Inc.
•	The St. John Youth Committee-an all-youth program which works politically and socially to increase youth programs and activities.
SJCF also, supports Crime Stoppers USVI, Recycling Association of the Virgin Islands (RAVI), gubernatorial and senatorial debates, and provides office space for the American Cancer Society. SJCF is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and is actively involved in many NGO/governmental committee’s and commissions.