JAMAICAN WATERSLIDE TEAM
ANNUAL MEETING 2002
This is intended to be a little different from normal trip reports submitted by individuals because this is a group trip report from all of the members of the Jamaican Waterslide Team. The report won’t get into travel or airlines, because each member had their own experiences with that, and will be submitting individual trip reports as they feel the urge. Most of the group used GoClassy Tours who had negotiated an excellent rate for our group and provided great service. Because of their intervention, many of us were also able to take advantage of the Super Clubs promotion awarding a free night next September for each night paid for this year.
Our Team converged on Hedo III during the period 7 to 14 September for our third annual meeting. This year, despite the fears associated with 9/11 we mustered almost 60 members, many of whom had been at Hedo III during 9/11/2001, but included many new members and first timers as well. All in all, we feel the trip was a huge success and as our members were getting on the bus, many were discussing plans for next year already.
This year each member was greeted by our welcoming committee who provided refreshing drinks, personalized necklaces for everyone and big hugs to let them know they had arrived in Paradise……………(at least until the welcoming committee sampled too many drinks and had to be benched). Each member also was given a personalized door card with the team logo. Tattoos with our logo were applied daily at poolside to some rather interesting parts of the anatomy to further indicate who were members and who were not. Some folks even came back several times a day for renewals.
Our mascot, “Seymore T Butts” was in attendance at all events and led each group down the slide. He also visited many of the activities and locations at the resort and stopped in to chat with General Manager Kevin Levee in his office one afternoon (we have the photos to prove it). To learn more about Seymore, you can read about his legend on our web page at www.jwst.com.
Although our group was small in comparison to others, we were well known by the staff and welcomed with open arms. The hospitality by everyone was unsurpassed and the best we have seen in previous visits. Occupancy at the resort was low, so there was no problem with over-crowding, restaurant reservations or any other events. In fact, our group made the week for non-members who were vacationing on their own.
The resort itself was in “reasonably” good repair (Jamaican style), but everyone seemed to be happy with his or her accommodations. The front desk staff, quickly moved those who were not, and everyone appeared to have been very satisfied. It really is a beautiful location though, and despite the rocky nude beach, the grounds are spectacular with the now mature foliage.
We had no problems with anyone (staff, guests, Vinnies or locals) except for one night. The local, who has been regularly reported on Denny’s board as lurking in the hot tub, was dealt with by the group firmly, and summarily escorted off the property. That problem should not reappear.
Food continues to be excellent, depending on your tastes, and the service continues to be excellent, except at the Main Bar, where service continues to be poor. Reservations at the two theme restaurants have improved and can only be made one day prior now. The restaurant staff seemed to enjoy joining in our fun and jokes, especially at Munahana.
The Team ran several events of our own that were lots of fun. On Sunday, because the disco is quiet, we had our own theme party called “Wear Mesh and Glow” which was really wild. We brought so much “glow stuff” we made the disco look like Times Square. We also held a Chinese gift exchange party for the Team early one evening in the Piano Bar, and most of the gifts were too wild to describe here. That was followed by a Team dinner the restaurant staff organized for us out on the deck by the pool. One of the big highlights was the renewal of wedding vows by one of our couples, where many of us shared their happiness by launching hundreds of bubbles through the air as they celebrated in the oceanfront-wedding gazebo.
We also sponsored and led most of the “Bar Dancing” in the disco, and many of our members held court around the Quad Pool bar during the day, because they were too tired from the Bar Dancing (or too hung-over) to make it all the way over to the nude pool area. Our regular daily group breakfast was dedicated to rehashing the events of the previous evening and reminding those who had forgotten, what they REALLY did last night.
The keys to the week were our Team Captains, (some of whom were impeached and replaced for being drunk on duty) but they got things moving. We had our own Nude Slide Captain who organized our several daily trips down the slide (we’re really sorry we gave her a whistle though). Our games Captain kept things moving when the E/C’s were not around and, and our Gift Party Captain kept that event moving smoothly. Our two (M/F) Massage Team Captains made things fun for several customers (figure that one out for yourself) and have reservations for customers for next year already.
Our official count for nude slides for the week, according to our Captain was 1,4”69” (1469), a figure which she attests to. We also had some other firsts, like the “Mooning “ of the Disco one night from inside the slide, and several other “mooning events at various locations. (On your next trip to the disco, check for the JWST mark inside the waterslide.) We never could figure out why “mooning” at a nude resort was so funny, but you had to be there.
The strongest memory most of us have are the strong bonds of friendship and comradery formed in the months prior to the trip as we exchanged thoughts and ideas in chats and Emails. Although most of our members had never met in person, many new friendships were cemented during the week, and the bonding was apparent in the fun and games, jokes and pranks we played on one another. What was fascinating to most of us was that no one cared what a person did for a living, how old, young, heavy or thin they were, or how much income they had. All that was evaluated among the members was the warmth and respect accorded to each other. All that mattered was that you be a person of good cheer and good spirit.
We have two sayings in the JWST and they are:
If something happens that is great it’s known as: “It’s a beautiful thing”, coined by one of our members last year and used many, many, many times this year. Our second saying is a slogan that says it all: “If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong”!!!!!
For staff, we offer special thanks to Michelle Davis, PR Manager and our staff Liaison; Paulette Lewis, Front Desk and Reservations Manager; Nola, Main Dining Room Manager, Bevon and his Entertainment folks especially Romeo and Teddy Bear (who claim to be honorary members), all the bartenders in both pool bars, waitresses and waiters in the restaurants, especially Sasha and Michelle at Munahana, Christine in Guest Services; and lots of others who are too many to name. Finally our special thanks and accolades to Kevin Levee, General Manager, for his leadership and hospitality.
Overall, the Third Annual Meeting of the Jamaican Waterslide Team was a huge success. Even though held on a week when many Americans were remembering the tragedy of last year, our group remembered in our own way by returning to the location where we first heard the devastating news last year. And as they did last year, our Jamaican friends remembered the day with us by offering a special candlelight memorial service, with both Jamaican and US flags held aloft together by staff members, and the singing of God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood with all of us, American, Canadian and Jamaican and other nationalities singing together. For that remembrance, we all are deeply grateful to our Jamaican friends.
See you next year at Hedo III……September 6 to 13, 2003.
Respectfully submitted by the entire Jamaican Waterslide Team