Wednesday, December 10, 2003
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Wednesday, December 10, 2003 |
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Fans hope PTC’s new slogan will stay around awhile PTC By J. FRANK LYNCH Peachtree City’s new corporate slogan, “Plan to Stay,” is designed to reflect a community in transition, on the move and still relatively youthful, despite the fact it turns 45 next year. It also suggests respect for the original plan for the city, said Debbie Britt, a local marketing consultant who volunteered her time working with a committee of city officials and residents to come up with the new identity. Britt made the formal presentation of the new city logo and slogan at Thursday’s City Council meeting, where it was formally adopted. It will begin appearing on city letterhead, facilities and vehicles early next year. It won’t be adopted by the police department, however, which has its own more official image. “It’s an invitation to come and partake of all that Peachtree City has to offer,” said Britt, pointing out that the idea of creating a new city slogan, born out of last winter’s council retreat, just naturally called for creation of a new logo as well. The words “Plan to Stay” replace various unofficial marketing efforts employed through the years such as “It will grow on you” and “You’ll love to call it home,” most all the creation of the Peachtree City Development Corporation. The word “plan” can be applied in different ways, said Britt, and may even be adjusted as appropriate to various city departments. “The recreation department can tell people to ‘Plan to Play’,” suggested Britt. “Falcon Field may tell folks to ‘Plan to Soar’.” The sleek new logo will replace the familiar, squatty but dated green tree graphic that’s been in use so long, nobody around City Hall can remember a time without it. But coming up with both words and an appropriate graphic element defining the town wasn’t easy. “Peachtree City doesn’t have one single attribute that identifies it,” said Britt. But that’s why the logo itself is so perfect, she added. It was designed by local graphic artist Jay Johnson, who like Britt volunteered his services. Depending on the point of view, Johnson’s design features the chopped off top of a peach, with a blossom or leaf attached at the center. To others, the wavy edge becomes a bike path, a lake shore, a golf course or simply a rolling hillside. “Logos don’t have to have literal symbolism,” Britt said. But they do have to look good in black and white, and this one passed the test, she said. The image and catch-phrase will appear on all city correspondence, letterhead, fax pages and the like just as soon as current supplies are depleted. City Manager Bernard McMullen confirmed that adopting the new look will have minimum impact on the budget. The old logo will remain until current supplies are exhausted, and even city employee uniforms won’t be switched over until they need replacing. McMullen estimates it will take about two years for the complete transition, but that’s worth the $30,000 value Britt placed on the project, for which the city didn’t have to pay a dime. The image and slogan will be copyrighted by the city to control marketing efforts. Councilman Annie McMenamin called the new look very relaxing, “And it’s going to look great on a golf shirt or coffee mug.” Steve Rapson said he liked it, though admitted the slogan “grows on you after awhile.” Murray Weed, who made the original suggestion to adopt a new logo at the council retreat and was the council representative on the selection committee, said all 98 suggestions received from residents were considered, though the final result was a compilation of several ideas. Before making a final vote on adopting the campaign, however, the council looked to the back of the room, where longtime city clerk Frances Meaders sat observing Britt’s presentation. What did Frances think, they wanted to know. “I love it, I really like it,” said Meaders, causing Britt to burst into a wide grin. “I think we’re ready for a change.”
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