After 20 years of service, Evelyn Shahan, 83, has announced her retirement as president of Barters Island Community Association (BICA). BICA’s goal is to foster a sense of community and help neighbors in need. 

“That's the one thing I have always strived for; to help anybody on the island who falls through the cracks. And it could be any of us,” she said. This help ranges from helping to pay for groceries, electric bills, or the mortgage, to giving rides to chemotherapy treatments, or just giving someone flowers.

Shahan said this safety net can be especially important for keeping young people in the community, as they may not have relatives or other household members to rely on if something happens.  

“As each problem comes up on the island, we deal with it. And the more you're into it, the more you see that you’re needed here,” she said. 

Twenty years ago, Shahan was just what BICA needed to come back from the brink. She and her husband had just moved to the island from another area in Boothbay (the house sketch that heads the Trevett column in the Register is hers)  when they attended a meeting. At the time, the association was down to about three members, and this was its last-ditch effort to keep going. It was about time to sell the dishes.

Shahan's enthusiasm at the meeting prompted Ronnie Spoffard, a member who didn't even know her yet, to offer Shahan the presidency. She was unsure, until Spoffard took her to visit a young girl who was wearing a cast. BICA had been giving the girl presents during her recovery.  

“When I saw that and saw what good (BICA) could do, that was it. I was hooked,” said Shahan.

And the dishes? They didn’t get sold. It has become an inside joke to threaten to do so whenever things take a dip. In fact, the dishes have been getting plenty of use with the monthly potlucks BICA holds.  

Shahan’s continued devotion to BICA made her retirement decision hard, but she felt it was important to have someone with new ideas step into the role. It took a year to find a replacement. It was imperative for her that any successor share the same main philosophy: “This island belongs to all of us.” Kim Brauer took over this year. 

Shahan still plans to be involved, as the new assistant vice president. She’ll be attending board meetings, helping others, and probably sweeping the hall floors, she added, laughing.  

No matter what position Shahan is in, the mission stays the same: “We can't save the world, but maybe we can help the island people.”