Welcome to the Little Mountain Reunion
We the Little Mountain Reunion Association are sad to announce that the 2012 LITTLE MOUNTAIN REUNION has been CANCELLED due to conflicts dealing with the Little Mountain Town Council.
PRESS RELEASE FOR 2012 REUNION
The Little Mountain Reunion has been part of Little Mountain’s history and culture since 1882. Since it was revived in 1976, the Reunion has been held annually on the first Saturday in August, and has become a popular destination for both local folks and all others who hold the Town near to their heart. While the Reunion is a great opportunity to socialize and catch-up with friends, it has also served as a way for the Little Mountain Reunion Association to raise money for the community. Last year, the Association was able to use proceeds from the Reunion to renovate Reunion Park. $18,000 was invested in renovations, along with countless hours of donated time and labor. Additionally, nearly $8,000 was donated to other groups in the community including: Little Mountain Elementary School, the Cub Scouts, Little Mountain Baseball, Little Mountain Fire and Rescue Building Fund, and the Little Mountain Library/Senior Center.
It is with heavy hearts that the Little Mountain Reunion Association announces that the Little Mountain Reunion has been cancelled for 2012. Since February of this year, the Little Mountain Reunion Association has been diligently working to organize the festival. Performers, amusement rides, food and craft vendors have been booked, the road race is being finalized, sponsors were submitting contributions, and planning for the pageant had begun. Everything was falling into place and we were on pace for the best Reunion ever, but one piece of the puzzle was missing…a location for the Reunion.
For some reason, this year, Mayor Buddy Johnson and the Little Mountain Town Council had a problem with the Little Mountain Reunion being held in Reunion Park. Apparently liability to the Town had something to do with the Town’s unwillingness to allow the Little Mountain Reunion Association to use the Park. Unfortunately due to the vague and imprecise reasoning provided by Mayor Johnson, the Little Mountain Reunion Association is still uncertain as to why the Town is reluctant to allow the Reunion to take place in Reunion Park this year.
Since February, the Little Mountain Reunion Association has jumped through every hoop and negotiated every roadblock Mayor Johnson has constructed. The Little Mountain Reunion Association has complied with all applicable regulations and completed all actions requested by the Town. The Town has failed to hold up their end of the bargain though. A lease agreement for the use of the Park has been promised for months. It is now May, and there is still no lease agreement. Trey Merck, the town attorney, sent a letter to the Little Mountain Reunion Association dated May 7, 2012 granting permission to use Reunion Park. The permission to use the Park is still tenuous though, as the Town Council has reserved the right to give final permission for the Reunion to be held. Additionally, a lease agreement has still not been drafted, and one will not be available until June 7th, at the earliest.
So basically, after three months of waiting and being compliant with the demands of the Mayor and Town Council, the Little Mountain Reunion Association still does not have a venue for the Reunion. The Little Mountain Reunion is less than three months away. Without a venue, and with so much uncertainty from the Mayor and Town Council, there is no way the Association can continue planning. Contracts with performers cannot be signed, agreements with vendors cannot be negotiated, t-shirts cannot be ordered, and the ad book cannot be prepared and sent to the printer.
It is sad to think there will be no Reunion this year. Our world today is constantly changing, and tradition and history are being forgotten at an alarming rate. Everybody is busy and the fast pace at which we are all moving, often makes us forget the more laid back and simple times of the past. The Reunion was a chance to go back to the old days. It was an opportunity to socialize with friends and neighbors and to appreciate our charming little town. Sadly, due to politics, arrogance, or possibly poor legal reasoning, the people of Little Mountain, and all others who look forward to the Reunion every year, are the ones who are going to suffer.