PRESS RELEASE

AUGUST 11, 2003

Smith Mountain Lake Decal, a local design firm, today presented what they hope will be the first of many checks to the Friends of Smith Mountain Lake at the headquarters of the Smith Mountain Lake Association.

The check represents an advance payment for proceeds of the sale of the first 1,000 new Smith Mountain Lake decals.   The company has pledged to donate 25 cents for every decal sold.  The decals are on sale at various stores and businesses around the lake.

Richard Mundy, founder of Common Sense Solution, parent company of SMLDecal, says that the lake is one of Virginia’s greatest treasures; and he applauds the work of those, like the Friends of the Lake, who are spearheading efforts to keep the lake clean.  Mundy challenges others who benefit from the lake to step forward and help out. 

Mundy has long-standing family roots in the lake.  His uncle, Warren Gilbert, was the official photographer for Appalachian’s lake project in the early 60’s and most of the aerial photos of the building of the dam and subsequent creation of the lake were taken by him.

Decals, such as the new SML Decal, have grown in popularity since the OBX decal was created for the Outer Banks several years ago.  Residents and visitors to popular areas are eager to display on their car, decals of the vacation they had or the place they call home.  The trend of late has been to incorporate more unique designs, rather than simply the letters abbreviating the location.  When you can combine this trend and at the same time insure the continued beauty of the destination, that’s a worthwhile endeavor.