New big blue signs in SoWal

[wrobert]

Since this is such a hot issue in relation to tourism, maybe the TDC can find a tourism expert on this area, and hire them as a consultant, to work through what would be acceptable to both the local residents, yet still allow the tourists that can find us from several hundred miles away, be able to find the beach. Just a thought. I still think your best bet is to start personally contacting the local members of the TDC board and put pressure on them to do something.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Dave, I love the passion, but I've attended too many BCC meetings, hence my tainted view. You want to get them changed, put pressure on the BCC. If everyone flooded the next BCC meeting with their input, that is the only way I see a change happening. Given the tightening budget with which they are working, they won't be quickly doing anything. Just my two Euros.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Since this is such a hot issue in relation to tourism, maybe the TDC can find a tourism expert on this area, and hire them as a consultant, to work through what would be acceptable to both the local residents, yet still allow the tourists that can find us from several hundred miles away, be able to find the beach. Just a thought. I still think your best bet is to start personally contacting the local members of the TDC board and put pressure on them to do something.

I think if one would look closely at this situation, it just might be a consultant that came up with this idea and pushed these signs through...



BTW, Walton GOP, I think your idea of contacting the TDC Board members is a good one; any idea of where to find that list of contacts? They are not on either the Walton County Online list or on the Beaches of South Walton website...at least not so that I have been able to find so far.

I think mass mailings/emails to these folks, to the BCC, and to the media groups is in order. The TDC by definition does not care about the local community: their mission is to market and recruit tourists.....

 

[wrobert]

I think if one would look closely at this situation, it just might be a consultant that came up with this idea and pushed these signs through...



BTW, Walton GOP, I think your idea of contacting the TDC Board members is a good one; any idea of where to find that list of contacts? They are not on either the Walton County Online list or on the Beaches of South Walton website...at least not so that I have been able to find so far.

I think mass mailings/emails to these folks, to the BCC, and to the media groups is in order. The TDC by definition does not care about the local community: their mission is to market and recruit tourists.....

From the county website list of committee members. This is pretty up to date, Tim Norris was just put on that committee a couple of months ago. He also sits on the Design Review Board. Louthain was quoted as saying that these signs went through the process of Design Review, and the DRB were the ones I thought instrumental in coming up with an approved color palette, the many shades of tan, for some areas of south Walton. I work with the guy on a lot of political issues and he is a pretty straight shooter. In the real estate business.



Don McQuade Tax Collector/Operator 11/30/2007
Scott Brannon Elected official 11/20/2008
Ken Gifford Owner/Tax Collector 11/30/2008
John Gillis Tourism Related 11/30/2008
Maurice Gilbert Elected Official 10/25/2009
Mary Jo Tommas Owner/Tax Collector 10/25/2009
Mary Brown Owner/Tax Collector 10/25/2009
Mike Stange Elected Official 2/23/2011
Tim Norris Tourism Related 11/27/2011

 

[jodiFL]

and the DRB were the ones I thought instrumental in coming up with an approved color palette, the many shades of tan, for some areas of south Walton.

I always thought that the rules of the 3T's applied to the Scenic Corridor..................
TAN, TEAL & TAUPE!:roll:

 

[TooFarTampa]

I think if one would look closely at this situation, it just might be a consultant that came up with this idea and pushed these signs through...



BTW, Walton GOP, I think your idea of contacting the TDC Board members is a good one; any idea of where to find that list of contacts? They are not on either the Walton County Online list or on the Beaches of South Walton website...at least not so that I have been able to find so far.

I think mass mailings/emails to these folks, to the BCC, and to the media groups is in order. The TDC by definition does not care about the local community: their mission is to market and recruit tourists.....

Here's a great list of emails. To say it is buried on on their site is an understatement. Here is the link. Have at it folks!

http://www.partners.beachesofsouthwalton.com/abouttdc/staff_council_info.aspx

 

[GoodWitch58]

thanks...buried is an understatement!

 

[SHELLY]

Since this is such a hot issue in relation to tourism, maybe the TDC can find a tourism expert on this area, and hire them as a consultant, to work through what would be acceptable to both the local residents

Hey! I know someone who is a tourism expert:

According to the NWF Daily News....Titus is planning on starting her own tourism consulting company, said Tracy Louthain, spokeswoman for the TDC.


.

 

[Indigo Jill]

I think everyone needs to take a breath about the sign issue. Aesthetics are incredibly subjective - look at where the discussion even here has gone. For some it's the color that grates on the nerves, others it's the height, others it's because they are not wooden...beauty IS in the eye of the beholder. Obviously someone - a group of people actually - thought the signs as they are in their completed state was a good idea. And not everyone thinks they are horrid - the majority of those I've personally questioned have a "it is what it is" stance. Oh, and my boys think they are great . Keep in mind, those NOT happy with something are sooooo much more motivated to let the world know about it - in forums like a message board for example - which can skew perspective of the community as a whole.

I DEFINITELY think that the TDC needs to address the concerns of those who vehemently oppose the design because that is the what Public Relations is all about. But if it is true, that the community/public did have an opportunity to attend meetings on the proposed design, etc. and this is what the majority voted on, then I think we need to move forward from the subject.

Just my two cents, though.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I am not at all sure there was any kind of vote. Perhaps it was an agenda item on an obscure meeting notice somewhere...but, I am quite sure the community at large did not have an opportunity to vote on any design or even for signs to be installed.

In fact, a closer look at the entire process might show that even the TDC staff wasn't of one mind about the project.

Members of the community should have an opportunity to make a contribution to the look of the place where we live....it should not all be about marketing to tourists.

JMHO