The 200th birthday of the town of Vevay is still about three years away, but a group of volunteers is continuing to meet to begin the planning process – and hopes to encourage others to join in with ideas and help.
The group met on Tuesday at the water plant building on Seminary Street, and Vevay Town Council members Tye Sullivan and Kirk Works told those gathered that there needs to be discussion as to when the event will actually happen, and how long the celebration will last.
It was noted by Ron Hocker that the actual plat creating the town was filed in the Jefferson County courthouse in November – because Switzerland County wasn’t a county yet. The group agreed that trying to hold a Bicentennial celebration in November might be risky; so discussion focused on summer and fall.
With the 4-H Fair in July and the Swiss Wine Festival in August, the group discussed how to not impede on those programs while creating a unique, stand alone Bicentennial celebration.
Although a date was not set at the meeting, thoughts and input will continue to be gathered.
Some of the ideas for the Bicentennial include holding a Homecoming celebration; where not only can people with ties to the town and county come back, but also groups and organizations could have reunion celebrations – from school class reunions to a gathering of past members of the Little Swiss Polka Dancers.
The plan of where events will take place was also discussed. Will there be a central location that will be the epicenter of the event; or will programs and events take place at various locations around the community?
Pam Acton of the Community Foundation of Switzerland County told the group that the foundation’s board of directors had voted to allow the Community Foundation to serve as the fiscal agent for the group, if that was approved by the Bicentennial group.
That way a structure is already in place to collect funds and pay bills as the Bicentennial approaches.
The group was unanimous in its approval of the idea.
The group will now begin the process of identifying several general elements of the Bicentennial that will serve as the focus points, with each sub group having its own committee to coordinate activities under that arm.
Suggested groups included agriculture and its role in the development of the community and its future here; the Ohio River and its role in the creation of the town and the town’s future; education in the county and the role of our youth in the town’s future; and the history and genealogy of the county and connecting people to their ancestors.
The official statement for the committee is “Honor the past, Celebrate the present and Inspire a vision for the future of Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana”; and the group is hoping that more residents and groups will begin to be a part of the planning process.
The next general meeting of the group will be on Tuesday, May 29th. That meeting will begin at 6 p.m., and will be held at the water plant building in Vevay.
Everyone is encouraged to attend.