Name Change and Promotions

To all concerned,

I am in support of a name change, but again, for the sake of not looking disorganized, I suggest at least a year of transition would be prudent, considering the logo is already out there and signs and initial contacts have been. I think that simply adding onto the bottom of existing banners a new banner with something that is generic, but suggests the broadening of our horizons as a festival/fair as a possible solution. Then attaching something like that to our online logo as well. Unless there are strong commitments from those involved with the ability to redesign a logo, and re-print promo materials with a new concept pronto so we can get the new image out there with my next wave of vendor/exhibitor contacts? I think that an add-on to what already exists this year may be a good route.

Don't get me wrong, I think the name change needs to happen, I am only concerned with cost, time and planning and promotion of a newly branded image. I think we have time, but it really would take an entirely new promotional direction and a lot of extra work to get it out their, if we did it this year. You could really do a lot to make a new name known this year, and then premier it at the next festival. Maybe we could incorporate a design contest into the school aspect of this years communication with teachers students and the community. That would be major buy-in. Then we could take the basic idea and spiff it up to look professional after this years festival or something. Or possibly work with a local artist who supports our efforts and ideas? Community buy-in to a changing event is imperative, not confusing people is harder than it seems. Is this a transitional year? Is this "the" year? What are our expectations of this years festival in relation to next years and the years following? Should we sit tight or shake it up? All questions to be asked at the meeting, which I hope will be well attended since there are so many important issues on the table for consideration.

I love the idea of going paperless for promotions and using re-usable materials such as white boards and well thought out, reusable signage at the festival and around town, and I am happy that we are promoting to a bigger cross section of the local populous than before. I do still need to be able to assure potential vendors/exhibitors that we are aggressively marketing to their target audience, Homeowners and Contractors. Are we going to have our own website? That question has entered the arena of my interactions with vendors/exhibitors. I'm putting the brakes on my community involvement in regards to solicitation until after the 28th, when it seems we will have more solid ideas about the name and promotional direction. Until then I will be compiling info like crazy for the paperless promo campaign. By the way, wish me luck with Mr. Lakey @ Meadowbrook Intermediary School. I am setting up a meeting to hopefully recruit him or another strong middle school science teacher onto the committee. Wouldn't that be wonderful? I welcome all feedback and any ideas in response to my own. I have a loud voice, but it is only one voice! I'm brand spankin' new at this too, so there's a lot of great things I have yet to learn about this sort of volunteerism.

Best Regards To All,

Christina Stamper
Exhibitor Chair