INC NEWS - Next Act: Fat Lady Sings

Wed Apr 4 13:34:22 EDT 2007

Bill,

In my humble opinion, partnerships of different groups and cooperative efforts will always be more effective than one group's efforts.  As an artist myself, I must admit that I was not entirely blown away by the Durham Star when it first came out.  However, with each passing day, it continues to grow on me.  It is safe to say that, today, it holds a special place in my heart.  In fact, I am very proud every time I see that darn star.  My parents came into town to visit two weeks ago.  I did not realize the pride I have for that darn star until I caught myself showing my parents the new sign in front of the DCVB building on Morgan Street.  "That is our new brand, mom and day."

I tried to explain why I was pointing it out to them.  I could not really find the words to express my thoughts then and I cannot find those words now.  Durham is something different to each person who lives in or visits our town.  

To me, this brand represents a whole bunch of different people and groups coming together and saying in a collective voice something to the effect of:  "Hay, we don't all think the same way.  We don't all like the same flavor of ice-cream.  Some of us like pulled pork BBQ, NC-style.  Some of us like tofu burgers.  Some of us like pea porridge served piping hot.  Some us like it served cold.  Some folks won't even consider eating it until it is at least nine days old.  But, by golly, we do all love this town, we love our neighbors and we love the lifestyle that Durham affords us the opportunity to live.  We realize that making our town better is something that will take cooperation, some hand holding and even the occasion concession by some."      

Please sign me up for that effort.  

Ken Gasch
REALTOR®/Broker
Seagroves Realty
108 West Delafield Ave.
Durham, NC  27704
Ken at SeagrovesRealty.com
O: 919.220.0351
C: 919.475.8866
F: 866.229.4267

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: TheOcean1 at aol.com 
  To: randy at 27beverly.com ; inc-list at durhaminc.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 9:41 AM
  Subject: Re: INC NEWS - Next Act: Fat Lady Sings

  Realizing that even replying here makes it appear as if I'm participating in a petty argument with Randy, but I don't appreciate being singled out. I didn't instigate adopting the Durham brand, but am not opposed to it.

  I don't decide when the deal is done, but at the time we all thought a quorum existed. All I suggested was that when Randy is asked to forward a message to the INC Listserv, the message should be forwarded, rather than copied and pasted in pieces. And that when a vote has been taken, as it appeared at the time, we shouldn't start rehashing the issue again the following morning on the listserv. Period.

  Personally, I don't feel strongly about what logo or name we adopt. What ever consensus is reached, I'm happy to go along with it. I look forward to the next delegate meeting, so this minor issue can be put to bed for good.

  Bill Anderson

  In a message dated 4/4/2007 1:07:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, randy at 27beverly.com writes:
    Looking at the posted draft minutes, it becomes apparent that our vote to
    change the spelling and adopt the modified DCVB branding as a logo was
    moot. There were not enough members present to vote on anything. So as
    much as Bill Anderson has decided it's a done deal, it looks like we still
    have the fat lady left to sing. And as we all know, it not over until she
    gets her opportunity.

    So perhaps we can use this time to discuss what benefits these changes
    might bring to INC. Bill said it was unnecessary to discuss this any
    further. I think he is incorrect in that assumption. It appears this
    decision, for better or for worse, is still on the table. So I'd like to
    hear from those who think the idea is good, that the spelling is better,
    and the adoption of a branding icon (that we have already been told is
    subject to change as it has in the past) will be for INC. If it's such a
    good idea, then there should be plenty of reasons and discussion about why
    we'd be making this change. Otherwise, as I contend, it makes no sense.

    I'll give you a head start before I get started. There are a number of
    reasons why this is a bad idea and it's not that simple (or cheap) to fix
    any of it. But better yet, why are we changing anything in the first
    place? Whose idea was this anyway? I've not missed any meetings to have
    missed a conversation where any of us addressed why this was good, bad, or
    otherwise. Are we just that bored and have so much time and money that
    there are not more important issues to deal with than stringing 17 letters
    together to form a new spelling of our name? Shouldn't INC have its own
    identity (logo) after almost 23 years? Durham is supposed to be full of
    the "creative class". We hear that all the time. Did we even ask? Perhaps
    they would have a better suggestion...

    Why don't we open it up to all the "creative" folks and just see what we
    get? What do we have to lose? How could it be wrong to involve our
    community? After all, it's the neighborhoods that all the creative folks
    live in that make up this City and our organization. Why not reach out to
    them and see what they can come up with. "The Great INC Logo Contest". I
    can see it now. Even the art classes in the schools can add it to their
    project list. We could even offer a prize to the winners. Heck, if they
    don't change the spelling, just look at the money we'll save...

    Our friends at the newspapers can advertise it. We could even have
    sponsors to make the winners pot large enough to attract some big fish. Or
    maybe just helping out INC and the neighborhoods we serve might be enough
    to draw them in. Sort of a "giving Back" to the community if you will.

    It's time INC had a brand. Not something we share with everyone else
    across the City. The change sets us up to change it again, and again, and
    again as the Durham brand changes. And every time it does, it may create
    the same headache it does at this time. Why make future INC groups suffer
    through it ever again? Let's move forward with something we'll all be
    proud of and something that is INC, not a Durham brand.
    SuperCalaFragiListicExpiAlaInterNeighborhoodCouncil is just a bad...
    Neither fits on a tee shirt very well. Our brand is INC and that is what
    we should push forward with.

    Tell us why this is such a great idea if there is any reasoning behind
    this change. Inquiring minds want to know.

    RWP
    27 Beverly

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