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Montana Geographic Names Advisor

Geographic Name Change Request

Invitation Island
Flathead County, Montana

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Status = Approved

Description	island, 0.9 acres, located in Flathead Lake, 1.1 km (0.7 mi) SE of Somers, 11 km (7 mi) W of Bigfork; the name recalls a folk story of a gentleman who invited his female friend to the island where he proposed
Location	48°04’14”N, 114°13’00”W
PLSS Location	Sec 25, T27N, R21W
Proposal	new name for an unnamed feature
Proponent	Calvin (Kim) Moss; Kalispell, MT
Administrative area	None
Previous BGN Action	None
See also
GNIS ID	2582468
Local Usage	None found
Published	None found
The new name Invitation Island is proposed for an unnamed island located within Flathead Lake, just offshore from the community of Somers in Flathead County. According to the proposal, the name would recall a folktale involving “a young man who could not find the love of his life in his home town. He leaves town to find his fortune and his love but returns with only his fortune. Attending church service he finds his love and the courtship begins. However in the small community he is never alone with the new found love of his life. Finally, after making numerous trips in a small rowboat to the small island to create a perfect setting, he rows her to the island where he proposes marriage and she says yes.” Although no other details are known, the proponent is certain the incident took place approximately 100 years ago and that the story is familiar to other local residents. He claims this is the only island in Flathead Lake that does not have a name, although BGN staff research disputes this. The Flathead County Commissioners were contacted by the Montana State Names Authority, which reports that the county is in support of the proposal. The SNA also recommends approval. As part of its research, the SNA sent the proposal to the Montana Water Resources Division and the Montana Trust Lands Division, both of which expressed support. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and the Montana State Historic Preservation Office are not opposed. The Indian Country Economic Development Program of the Montana Department of Commerce has no objection provided no Tribes object to it. The proposal was sent to the Blackfeet Tribe, the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Crow Tribe of Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation. No response was received, which is presumed to indicate no opinion on the issue. There are no other geographic features in Montana containing the word “Invitation.”
Montana Geographic Names Advisor Recommendation - Support (Friday, January 15, 2010)
Domestic Names Committee Decision Date - Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Domestic Names Committee Discussion - A motion was made and seconded to approve this new name. Vote: 9 in favor 0 against 0 abstentions

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