Let's dream up a new identity

Put on your thinking caps, ladies and gents! It's time to come up with a new logo and slogan for Red Willow County and McCook.

Not only will entering be a fun thing to do, but it could be profitable as the Red Willow County Visitors Committee is offering cash prizes totaling $350.

"We've had the current logo -- which features diamond shapes surrounding the words, "The American Experience" -- for six or seven years," said Dan Stramel, a member of the county visitors committee. "It's time for a change."

Anyone of any age from anywhere can enter. Each individual may submit up to two logos and two slogans each to promote Red Willow County and McCook. "Logos should be simple in design and easy to reproduce," the committee said. Slogans must be eight words or less. The logo and slogan entries may be submitted separately, or may be entered as a package.

The contest will run from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15, with the winners to be announced Dec. 1. Prize amounts are $100 for first place, $50 for second and $25 for third in both the logo and slogan contests.

Entrants are asked to place their name, address and daytime telephone number on the back of each logo and slogan entry, and send them to: Red Willow County/McCook Slogan/Logo Contest, P.O. Box 337, McCook, NE 69001. Entries must be postmarked before Nov. 15, 2003.

The Red Willow County Visitors Committee reserves the right to decide how the logos and slogans are used. The committee also reserves the right to make minor modifications to the logo design and the slogan if it deems it appropriate to do so. Also, the committee stipulates that all entries will become the property of the Red Willow County Visitors Committee and could be considered for future logos and slogans for the county.

The Red Willow County Visitors Committee was established in 1982 when the county started collecting a lodging tax of one percent. In 1992, under terms of Legislative Bill 499, the lodging tax amount was raised to two percent.

Since that time, Red Willow County has collected between $27,000 and $45,000 per year for the promotion of travel and tourism. Current members of the visitors committee are Carol Schlegel, Doug Vap, Dan Stramel, Perry Strombeck and Rebecca Vosburg. The committee meets monthly to determine how to use the promotional dollars.

Among the methods they use are a tourism booth, trade shows, golf expos and advertising in state and national publications, including Good Housekeeping as part of a regional promotion.

You can help the committee do its job of promoting McCook and Red Willow County by submitting ideas for the logo and slogan contest. It will not only be fun and potentially profitable, but it could give you the satisfaction of knowing your suggestion is being used to attract visitors to the county.