www.roanoke.com

Here's an e-mail we received today. Normally, we'd wait and hold letters for our print publication but the deadline for this Friday's issue has already passed and, well, as you can see, this is one we wanted to go ahead and share. It's from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offering praise for the hospitality that Salem showed when teams from there have been in town for various Division III sports events:

I hope that it is never too late to say thank you.
In cleaning off my desk and files from the 2007-2008 school year in preparation for the new year about to begin, many items (and many more memories) of my visits to the Roanoke Valley popped up. Our school, and by extension our players, parents of players, friends, and fans have been fortunate to visit Salem three consecutive Decembers. Each time we were amazed at the personal and professional warmth of the city governments, local businesses, your parks and recreation staff members, and the people of the valley. We also were fortunate enough to visit your community in the spring for the NCAA III softball championship, and that allowed us to appreciate the gifts of the valley and its people in a new season.
These experiences are not taken for granted. Each has been a highlight of our students’ lives. From my perspective, my association with the people of Salem and Roanoke has also provided several of the professional highlights of my thirty-plus years in intercollegiate athletics.
You have first rate facilities, a first rate setting, and most important, first rate people. You all deserve to take a moment to congratulate yourself.
Cordially,
Tom Fick
Sr. University Relations Specialist
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, Wisconsin