New image costing Kansas $1.7 million

[atommom]

The state's new image brand -- "Kansas: As big as you think" -- is more expensive than once thought.

The $1.7 million advertising campaign to present a positive image of Kansas was unveiled today in simultaneous news conferences across the state.
<snip>
Lunsford, with the Commerce Department, said the agency will seek another $1.7 million in the next fiscal year to continue the campaign. She said funding for the project so far have come from lottery sales revenue that is diverted to the agency.

http://www.ljworld.com/section/legislature/story/192513

What do you think of this project? I have to confess that my first thought was, "They can find money for this, but have to be ordered by the state supreme court to adequately fund education?"

Ads will soon start running, glamorizing Kansas' wide open spaces and instilling pride in the state. I am still skeptical.

[AlbizuX]

1. sad...

that a state has to spend money on an "image campaign".

How about this one...probably more long lasting, Kansas...

you want your people to be viewed well by the rest of the world....spend some more money on your education, adopt tolerance training, and, just for good measure, ban religion.

I know, iknow...you can't do the last one...but if you ask me, most of the problems associated with the Red States stem from a very bad interpretation of religion.

[Telly Savalas]

10. It's not that uncommon...

A number of states have tourism boards that run similar ad campaigns. Here in Toronto, I used to see an ad all the time for Texas, where they tried to promote it as a really cosmopolitan place. The Kansas slogan is about as stupid as that campaign.

In defence of the people that made the idiotic slogan, Kansas would be a hard place to market. Other than KU hoops and Lawrence in general, most of the great treasures of the state are obscure hidden gems that don't have any unifying theme: e.g. the Garden of Eden in Lucas, Bob's Diner in Manhattan, the numerous little lakes that make great picnic spots, the Ike stuff in Abeline, that giganto hill in the south part of Topeka from which you can look out over most of the city, and the awesome prarie sunsets. So, yeah, they probably should have put that $1.7 million into the schools.

[HamstersFromHell]

2. "Kansas: Big as you think...

...and proven by science to be flatter than a pancake."

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Not true

have you seen the Flint HIlls?

[TlalocW]

3. They need to play hardball

Kansas - Visit Us or We Stop Wheat Production. (That means no more Krispy Kremes, Chachi)

Others
Kansas - We're the only thing protecting Oklahoma from Nebraska

Kansas - Not for people with agoraphobia

I'm a native born Kansan now in Oklahoma. The best Kansas shirt I ever saw was one with a character called Captain Kansas, and he was saying, "I'LL mess with Texas!"

TlalocW

[atommom]

6. Hmm. State promotion via threat. It just might work! ;)

[TlalocW]

7. Another

Kansas - Our State Bird Will Kick Your Cat's Ass

Kansas' state bird is the Meadowlark. We had some living in a tree, and one of them would habitually dive-bomb one of our semi-stray cats - we lived on the edge of a small farming community. Past our backyard were wheatfields so we had lots of stray cats. Anyway, Felix eventually got used to it and wouldn't even bat an eye, or turn around when one of them divebombed him from behind and hit him on the head.

TlalocW

[atommom]

8. Rats. Before I read the rest of your post, I assumed it meant

Jayhawks kicking Wildcats' asses. :D

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. I liked 'Land of Ahs'

that was my favorite.

[MuseRider]

15. I did too.

Funny, I think you are the only other one! I thought it was clever and I don't mind being associated with the movie, why not?

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. That movie is the most famous thing about KS

We may as well face it.

And I think it's neat. Have you ever been down to Liberal to that park with all the Wizard of Oz statues? It's really neat.

[MuseRider]

20. No I have not

and I did not even know about it! I must go. This state is never going to be a tourist attraction, ever. We need to face that and accentuate the positive as they say. There is plenty here and many parts of the state are quite beautiful but we need to sell it for what it is instead of trying to make it something else. Personally I love the movie and have no problem being associated with it, it is much better than being associated with the idea of kicking evolution out of our schools. I also happen to love many things about this state and am very proud of it for what it is.

[Kolesar]

4. I dream of cycling across Kansas

400 miles, west to east, subtly downhill with the prevailing winds at my back, sunflowers and shortgrass, 50 miles between towns.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Good luck

Kansas is NOT flat. You will find out when your bike hits the central part.

[Kolesar]

21. Thanks

Well, I did say it was a dream. It's gotta be flatter than where I live. Since the ice age, streams of all sizes that flow into Lake Erie have been cutting into the 500 foot escarpment that is my town. Consequently, in any direction I ride, I am going up and down the sides of these valleys.

[villager]

5. "Kansas: As small-minded as you think"

n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. That's terrible

We are not small minded here. Only a few crazy fundies are.

[Mabus]

9. Here are some possible slogans

that I lifted from a local forum. As far as I know these are free.

Kansas: We're Evolving For You (except in the schools)

Kansas: Intelligently Designed

Kansas: Where Being Gay is Only a Misdemeanor

Kansas: It's the Alabama of the Plains

Kansas: We're Just Like Oklahoma Except With a Better Basketball Team and Worse Football Team

Kansas: Pleasant Weather For a Week Each Fall and Spring

[atommom]

11. ROTFLMAO! nt

:thumbsup:

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Those are hilarious

[Mabus]

19. Feel free to add more

I'd like to hear what others think would be good slogans.

BTW, I was born a Kansan and I will die a Kansan.

[daydreamer]

22. What a waste of tax dollars

A good example of wasteful government spending.