West Virginia has also gone through an image makeover (or not, depending how you look at it) by replacing the much loathed "Open for Business" signs with the original "Wild and Wonderful" slogan. This was an excellent decision seeing as how the "Open for Business" sign that greeted my mother upon her arrival to the state for the first time prompted her to ask, "Is that new? Was it closed before?"...Good question mom. Now we greet visitors with the familiar slogan of "Wild and Wonderful", a description that suggests adventure, thrills, and pleasant-ness all in one catchy phrase.
Although this is a good step in promoting all that the Mountain State has to offer, I propose that we take it one step further. We need to distinguish ourselves from the "other Virginia". I don't know how many times I have told people that I live in West Virginia and have had them ask if I was close to Roanoke or some other "other Virginia" city. Choosing a new state name would have to be a sensitive matter that would fairly represent the state AND be appealing to visitors. And so it is my great pleasure to suggest: BEST VIRGINIA!
Now some may feel that this is a judgement against the "other Virginia", but let me reassure people that that is not the case. On one hand we have a state that is home to Seneca Rocks, Canaan Valley, the New and Gauley rivers, Mountaineer football and was founded in the pursuit of equality and freedom. On the "other (Virginia)" hand we have a state that is not. Therefore BEST Virginia isn't a judgement call, it's just an observation of facts.
I've taken the liberty to draw up a preliminary new logo...
