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I am going to have to call it for awhile on the Colorado Walldog event. Everyone was excited about it until the cost came up..
So far all monies laid out for the event has been out of my pocket and I can no longer do that with winter around the corner.
I just don't feel the community support that should be happening for this type of event is there.
With the highly depressed economy around here the money is just not there at this time.
I have been receiving a lot of emails of people holding off on registering for the Arcola event until I had an answer and I don't feel it's fair to Cornbread and to the people wanting to go to an event next year to wait on our towns answer.
It takes a certain type person to organize these types of events and obviously I am not one them. (I am terrified of public speaking) So I apologize for wasting everyone's time.
Bill.
[ September 16, 2011, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: William DeBekker ]
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Bill, I don't think any apology is needed. I know you worked hard on this and I don't think it's a reflection of your dedication or ability. In my opinion, the towns that can benefit the most from the Walldogs coming to town are the ones that are having difficulty raising funds but remain committed to trying. If they can pull the money together with no problems, I'm not sure how much we're really needed. One of the things I took from Danville is that in a town on the edge, we have this opportunity to help them rebound and to find a renewed sense of history, value and belief in their own community. It's visual proof of how much impact art can have in a real and tangible sense. Whether it's one wall or thirty, I'll try to show up if it can make a difference. I appreciate your efforts, Bill and any help I can offer is yours.
-------------------- Doug Haffner Haffner Signs www.haffnersigns.com 309-338-9570 211 W. Williams Wyoming, Il 61491 Posts: 211 | From: Wyoming, Illinois | Registered: May 2010
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Didn't know about this Bill. If you happen to get anything else going or hear of something of interest I'd sure be interested. As a relative newbie to all of this I'm like a sponge looking for knowledge. If I get over your way I'll stop by to say hi and buy you a cup.
-------------------- Mike Simpson Simpson Studios 324 E. Main St., montrose, CO 81401 970-249-1098 www.mikesimpsonart.com Posts: 30 | From: Montrose, Colorado | Registered: Aug 2011
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Bill, there are no apologies needed. You did what you could and if they didn't get the big picture, you are better to get out before you get in any deeper. But remember this....you have planted the seed. Don't totally discount this event. You might find that later, when they have had time to stew over it or the economy changes a bit or who knows what, they may reconsider. Don't burn any bridges and maybe bring it up for consideration later if you feel like it. Just so you know, we started YEARS before it actually happened in Pontiac. Our big stubbling block was insurance and we wouldn't budge without it. They came to us after a while when they figured that out and som other things had developed and then we all did it TOGETHER. They HAVE to want to invest their time & $ in this or you lose and you don't want that! We salute your efforts. Don't give up, just let it rest till later (if you want).
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I appreciate all your effort. Your event was to fall on our 40th anniversary. I thought it would be cool for us to be there for that but if I wanted to make it to year 41, I'd have to devote more attention to Sophie than spilling paint all over Cañon City. I was working out the trip logistics to include 'dogging without ending up in the dog house. Next time I'm through there, I'll still stop in and harass you.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Now that's a shame, Bill. Kudos to you for your efforts. And like Jane said, you planted the seed. Most towns don't have a clue about artistic endeavors. We had a heck of a time getting a meet in our town.
We notified our local newspaper about the first walldog meet in Iowa after we came back from it, because we thought it was a good human interest story. Folks came by almost from that point on, wanting to know why we couldn't have one in our town. And as time rolled by, and after we returned from each walldog meet, they kept on bugging us to see about getting a meet.
So we laid it out for the town's leaders and they somehow thought it was all free. After all wasn't that what artists do ... work for nothin'. If you are going to get on my bad side, just show me lack of respect. So I straightened their thinking out and I guess they didn't think it was worth the money, and of course they said there wasn't money. What everyone needs to know is most communities will find a source for money if they absolutely have to have something.
I noticed with our town they were spending 40 grand with consulting firms that did studies on how to bring tourists in to town. So I knew that if they had that kind of money just for a study, they should be able to find the funds for something that was going to net real lasting results.
Kind of by accident and a shot in the dark, they started a Rt66 museum. It was kind of an after thought for the powers that be in our town, but they were totally surprised by the amount of tourism that museum brought to town. So somebody came up with an idea of painting the well known Rt66 shield on the back wall of the museum, mostly to camoflage a bad wall, but they also wanted it to be the largest wall painting of the shield so that they could brag about having something of note.
They came to us for the work knowing our history with the walldogs, but we wanted to tweak it to make it unique, so Joe designed to make it more than just the shield and they were pleased with the results. As time went by and they saw that the painted wall was an attraction all to itself, they started to get reinterested in having a walldog meet.
Like Jane said, insurance was a stumbling block, because I wasn't going to get involved without it, but the city got a new insurance company that found a way to insure the thing. I pitched the thing to the city council, complete with pictures,etc. in a professional manner and we were off and running. Several years went by from the time it was first brought up until it actually happened, so, Bill, you never know it may happen in your town too ... eventually.
I'll tell you this, when you do have one in Colorado, it won't be long and the neighboring towns will want one too. Just look at whats happened in Illinois. It seems like every other town wants one. It's "keep up with the Joneses" don't ya know.
Some of us veteran walldoggers are trying to figure out better ways to help pitch these walldog festivals and help folks like you out. Folks that might be terrified of public speaking and so forth would benefit by having a support team of sorts. So stay tuned.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Thanks for working on this, Bill- certainly NOT in vain!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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Sorry to hear it won't be happening next year. It's the right move however if everyone isn't on the same page. I hope it does work out down the road, I'd love to attend a Colorado meet. No need for any apologies - thanks for the effort you put into trying to get it set up.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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You should be thanked just for trying to get it started, it takes an enormous amount of work and time on your part, not to mention the money. You are my hero. Bill
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Where else can you give bad news and be supported 100%? I love this group. Thanks for trying, Bill.
-------------------- Nancy B. Bennett Walldog Public Art 317 N. 13th St. Centerville, Iowa 52544 Posts: 95 | From: Centerville, IA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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Thanks for all the support.. My shop is always open for a Mini-Meet. So if anyone is/or wants to come out this way just holler and THAT I know I can put together along with a wall or two.
If you want Rafting and snow Late Spring.. You want Aspens Changing and 4 wheeling Fall.
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