Board Members, Guidelines, Policies and Financials

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Our Board Members

“Yisrael” Allan A. Petersen, President and Chairman

Diana Brown, Vice-President

Marcia Bedminister, Secretary and Director

Shanell Harney, Vice Chairman

Erika Petersen, Treasurer

Desiree Lambertis, Director

Liza Margolis, Deputy Director

Rudel Grant, Seargeant of Arms/Security

Annual Membership Dues, Benefits and Guidelines

Thank you for being a member of Yisrael’s New Generation of Moko Jumbies also known as Yisrael’s Cultural Ambassadors.

Benefits of Having a Membership:

By being a member, you are able to take free weekly classes year-round at any of our locations on St. John and St. Thomas. You will also be part of our membership WhatsApp group to get the latest details of upcoming events, notifications on any changes of classes or participate in our next upcoming fundraiser or event. Receive discounted prices on stilts and costumes. More importantly you are part of group of members who are committed to uplifting and sharing the Moko Jumbie culture to our virgin island community.

Renewal Membership Dues are Coming Up!

If you have not already done so your renewal membership is due no later than August 1, 2025, of $40.00 to be paid by check or Money Order. Please make check/money orders to Yisrael’s New Generation of Moko Jumbies Inc. Please mail your payment to Yisrael’s New Generation of Moko Jumbies Inc. ATTN: Allan Petersen 7308 Bovoni Homes, St. Thomas, VI 00802 or hand them to Yisrael at your next class. NO CASH will be accepted. All membership dues must be submitted along with Membership Renewal Application which you can fill on-line. Please click icon below. For those that have recently joined from Jan 2025 forward your annual membership fee will be do the next year of the month you started your membership. Click this icon link to access form.

Guidelines to Renewing Your Annual Membership:

Please complete the form on-line and send your payment either by mail or hand it in to Yisrael at your next class. Each student/member participating in classes or events must pay the annual membership fee of $40.00. Please make sure that you do not owe any money towards your stilts being made and costume. Please pay for your stilts and costumes fees, if you have not already done so. Failure to pay for stilts or costumes fee will hold back your annual membership renewal application. We do not encourage our members to build-up debt.

If annual membership fee is not paid, you will not be able to continue to take free classes, instead you will be charged $45 per class. Also, if you do not pay for the making of your stilts and costumes you will not be able to renew your membership or partake in our membership—which includes free classes, WhatsApp members group, events, including our troupe parade, etc.

Please note the instructor, Yisrael Petersen does not get paid for teaching classes. We appreciate the time and dedication provided by Mr. Petersen and our Board Members to ensuring that weekly classes, stilts, and costumes are affordable for those who want to learn the art of Moko Jumbie stilt dancing. Your membership fees help to cover the fixed cost of running this non-profit.

All ages above 4 years old are welcome to be a member. We do not discriminate against religious beliefs, race, gender, or sexual orientation. We ask that all members respect each other and come together to carry on the torch of our ancestors by being the light across our family islands in the Virgin Islands and to the world.

Guidelines to Participating in Our Troup for Carnival Parades Across the Islands.

As of August 1, 2025, you must be up to date on payment of annual membership fees, stilts and costumes. The reason we chose August 1st as the final date to renew your annual membership is because it is after the following carnivals that we as troupe participate in—-St. Croix Parade/Events Jan, St. Thomas, Parade/Events April/May and St John Parade/Events July. This way we can start the new carnival season with everyone up to date on their annual membership and focus on new membership. Again, for those that have recently joined from Jan 2025 forward your annual membership fee will be do the next year of the month you started your membership.

We ask that members who plan on participating in the parade must attend no less than three (3) practices of the routine for the parade. We are there to perform as a troupe and participate in the contest for “best performing troupe” and are being judge by the carnival committee. If you do not attend the practices to learn the routine, you will not be allowed to participate in the parade. Remember, this is stilt dancing, and it requires practice, practice, practice, for the safety of the moko jumbies as well as spectators. Practices help to prevent injuries and build team working skills. We are a team and as a team we must show-up for each other. Please come to the practices.

On the day of the parade, you must bring the following costume items: Mask, hat, gloves, shirt, vest, pants, grass skirt, umbrella, and stilts w/cloth ties. Anything missing and you will be asked to not participate in coming down the parade with the troupe. If you child is participating, please do not have your child on stilts prior to the parade starting. We do not want your child to be exhausted, dehydrated or burn a lot of energy before the parade starts. Please keep your child hydrated, bring water and snacks for your child. We are not in charge of the duration of the parade so please pack a lunch for your child. We will provide water, juice and snacks but if your child has extra needs, please always come prepared. We want all our children and adults to have a great time and to make amazing memories. We ask that you come in your best behavior, you are not only representing yourself, our troupe but our ancestor’s art & culture, please be mindful and respectful at all times of this artform.

If you are traveling and participating as a parent/guardian or member, we ask that you reframe from drinking alcohol, carrying a weapon or use of foul language, negative comments/yelling or anything that deems inappropriate or goes against our values as a Moko Jumbie Troupe. If you invite anyone that is not a member to come along with you; you are responsible for that individual’s actions, and they too must follow our guidelines and polices. Remember you are here to be a role model and to watch over all our children, including your own. We understand that it is Carnival, but we are participating in the Children’s Carnival Parade for children. We are being photographed, videoed for live T.V. and watched by many eyes from start to finish of the parade. Please be aware that we are setting an example and showcasing the Moko Jumbie artform as guardians and protectors of our community. Most importantly, we are creating a safe environment for our members and children. Any misbehavior will be dealt with immediately and the board will decide of any future consequences regarding your future participation and membership if necessary.

Also, when you are caring for your child on stilts, please be mindful of other Moko Jumbie stilt dancers nearby, please do not be in such a rush to attend to your own child and keep your distance from other stilt dancers. We do not want any of our Moko Jumbies to be accidentally pushed and lose their balance, always be mindful—especially if you are walking around with a huge umbrella (which may block your own site of others around you).

Policies and Financials

We ask that all members including non-members invited by members to any of our practices, travel, parade and fundraising events follow our policies and guidelines established by the Board Members of Yisrael’s New Generation of Moko Jumbies, Inc.

If you have any questions or suggestion that can improve our group practices, events, or fundraising, please feel free to send via e-mail. We also understand that there might be disagreements or misunderstandings from time to time or if you need to file a grievance, please email your questions, suggestions or concerns to our Board Secretary, Marcia Bedminister at mdbcancer@hotmail.com

Please give the Board time to review and respond. We respect all our members, and we hope that together we can resolve any issues and continue to grow. Please reframe from using WhatsApp membership group to voice any concerns. This method is not conducive to keeping the moral of our group such actions will be viewed as confrontational. If a member continues to use WhatsApp to voice complaints instead of e-mailing the board or not allowing a minimum of 48 hours for the board to convene and respond, the member will be removed from the WhatsApp group. We do not want to have to reach such measures. Please note that not all board members are on the WhatsApp membership group. Again, please e-mail instead; the board will respond. The Board is here to serve the group to the best of their ability and to provide an enriching environment for all members. Please keep in mind that some of our board members are parents/guardians whose children are participating members in this group. We all want what is best for our members and this non-profit organization.