Vail Daily letter: Create a joint proclamation

On Aug. 2, the Vail Town Council officially recognized the upcoming town of Vail’s 50th birthday — in a proclamation where each council member read a portion of the document. It was moving to me and others who have memory of early days of something we called “Vail.” This landmark is an opportunity to reaffirm a close working relationship between the town of Vail, as a municipal government, and Vail Resorts, as operators on the U.S. Forest Service Vail Mountain — noting Vail Resorts celebrated its 50th during the 2012-2013 season.

Hence, why not have a joint town of Vail-Vail Resorts proclamation that will capture a sense of history for an audacious idea of a ski mountain and town in the middle of nowhere? Such a proclamation might include the following points:

• Whereas, the town of Vail’s origins are directly related to the “mountain” called Vail (a Vail Associates project on U.S. Forest Service land) in a mutually dependent arrangement best described at the time as “being one” together …

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• Whereas, over the subsequent 50-plus years, both the “mountain” (in going from Vail Associates to a Vail Resorts property) and “town” (town of Vail municipal government, coupled with being a figurehead representing residents and businesses) have expanded in quality, size, capacity and reputation …

• Now therefore, since the name Vail to most visitors includes “mountain” and “town,” there is a mutual dependency and the need for ongoing cooperation between Vail Resorts and the town of Vail.

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Note there will be a birthday party celebration of exactly 50 years to the date of town of Vail’s founding on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 4-6 p.m. at Donovan Pavilion. It would be nice if a proclamation, or other such recognition, be announced at that event. This could be the kickoff of possibly an expanded logo: “Vail, like nothing on Earth” … mountain and town working together to exceed expectations!

Paul Rondeau

Vail