Close ‘Open for Business

By Cynthia Hager
Poca High School

“Wild and Wonderful” has always expressed the general nature of our state. The first thing most people think of when they hear this slogan is West Virginia. These words also remind West Virginians what they have to be proud of. The wild in “Wild and Wonderful” may describe our mountains and wildlife, but the wonderful also describes our people and the state’s general atmosphere.

In January 2005, Governor Joe Manchin changed our sacred slogan to “Open for Business.” He said that the new slogan was created to attract more companies and large corporations to the state. However, the name change did not sit well with a lot of West Virginians.

“I can see what they are trying to do, and if it helps the state’s economy, then it’s all good,” said Winfield High School junior Cody Hager. “But in my opinion, they should have kept it the way it was.

“I have lived in West Virginia my entire life, and I always liked the ‘Wild and Wonderful’ motto. It just seemed less welcoming when I came back from the beach and saw the ‘Open for Business’ sign.”

Poca junior James Tucker agreed. “I think West Virginia’s new slogan is horrible. It screams, ‘Here big businesses, come take what little bit of wildlife we have left and build another Wal-Mart.”

Not just the guys were against the slogan, either. Alli Santer, a junior at Poca, said, “‘Open for Business’ makes our state seem desperate for business, and it doesn’t have any aesthetic appeal.”

“‘Wild and Wonderful’ is inviting, exciting and much better than ‘Open for Business,’” She continued. “I believe it describes our state much more beautifully than ‘Open for Business.’”

Tucker and Santer hit upon what seems to be the biggest problem with the new slogan: some feel as though it’s degrading to our state.

“It’s like a slogan for a restaurant or store,” said Poca junior Hilary Gibson. “To me, ‘Wild and Wonderful’ was better. West Virginia is not a business; therefore, we could never be ‘open for business.’

“Our mountains are our trademark. Why do you think they call us ‘the Mountain State’? Our mountains are wild and wonderful and so is our state!”

W.Va. slogan poll

In early September, the governor’s administration opened a poll where state residents could submit suggestions for new - or old favorite - slogans for the state. The poll, conducted via the Internet and a telephone hotline, ended Sept. 19. After the thousands of votes are tallied, a final poll will be conducted, with residents choosing from the top three to five most nominated slogans in this initial poll. The final poll will begin sometime in October. Keep an eye on www.wvgov.org for more.