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My husband, Garry and I belong to a flying group called the Short Wing Piper Club (SWPC). He was president of the Michigan chapter for 2 years and is now running for the position of National president. Every year there is a national convention somewhere in the USA. Michigan has it for 2004 and we need to have a theme or saying. The convention will be located in the upper peninsula in the town of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich (also known as the Soo). This is important to know but I'll explain later.
<p>Denver had it a few years ago and called it the Rockie Mountain Rendezvous (sp), Ohio called theirs - Ohio - Birth Place of Aviation. So now we (Michiganders) have to come up with something catchey and a really cool design that will go on the back of a t-shirt that everyone will get. The design will also be all over other stuff.
<p>While in college one of my teachers taught us that when stuck or while having a brain freeze -design wise, make a list of words. The words should relate to the eventual design and should be one or two word phrases of whatever pops in our head. Doesn't matter if the thought/word makes sense at the time. Some friends and I came up with words like, Soo, Falls, bridge, ferry's, great lakes, picture rocks, flying, mack Island, fudge, international, indians, locks, trolley, whitefish bay, pasties, forts, 2004.
<p>Important facts to know about the area. Upper and Lower Michigan are tied together by the Mackinaw bridge that lies between Lk. Mich and Lk Huron. Off the bridge (also nicnamed Big Mack)to the east is an island called Mackinaw Island that is a tourist trap known for its trolleys because there are "No Motorized vehicles on the Island and its great mackinaw island fudge). Other attractions are Picture Rocks, Tahequomon falls, Ferry's and boats that haul up and down the great lakes, The soo locks, which are located between St. Mary's River and Lk Superior, Indian reservations, Pasties (a dry meat pie in the shape of a half circle), Whitefish Bay (where the Edmond Fitzgerald sank), and Fort Machinaw.
So knowing this I figured all you neat right brainers could come up with a neat and catchey line. A few that we have come up with are:
<p> Lots to do in the Soo <p> All aboard for 2004 <p> Short Winger Mack Attack <p> You and Me in the U.P. <p> See you in the Soo.
So have it guys. Maybe your saying will be on the back of our shirts.
<p> I forgot to mention the Yoopers (They are a Upper Michigan entertainment group but I am not sure if they are a comedy, acting, or singing group). But they are known for their own english dialect.
[ April 06, 2003, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: Laura Butler ]
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Laura, the Edmund Fitzgerald, Stan Rogers....noooooooo. Gordon Lightfoot!!!
How about "Outta the Soo, Into the Blue"
now tell me again why a big heavy thing stays up in the air????
John / SignRider
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Laura, I'll kick that around if I can, but I'm curious: we've got an old movie that's been put on video, about the construction of the Mackinaw bridge. The film must've been made in the '50's, or '60's. Have you seen the film, and is it still for sale at some little pizza place? Silly question, I know, but just had to ask. Thanks, Jim.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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...Looking up and flying low in two thousand and fou... ( not a typo )
...2004 Mid East Half Pipe...
-------------------- "Are we having fun yet?" Peter Schuttinga DZines Sign Studio 1617 Millstream rd Victoria BC V9B-6G4 Posts: 521 | From: Victoria BC | Registered: Mar 2002
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Hi Laura. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan also happens to be the land base of the Pottawatami Tribe. There's also Hiawatha State or National park nearby. If you want to make a historic/geographic link, then perhaps you could incorporate some of that history aspect. There is a town in the UP called Ishpiming. In the Chippewa/Pottawatami dialect this translates to the English equivalent of Heaven.
Since the flying is done "in the heavens" so to speak, this might also be an idea that could be incorporated somehow.
That's about all that I have to contribute that might or might not be useful. Hope it helps you out.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2689 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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Great input guys-some things that I hadn't thought about. James, we have seen that movie. We sat and watched it in some store up in Mackinaw City and ended up buying it.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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How about "Wings over Mackinaw" or for t-shirts you might have "I flew the Soo". If the moon is full you could say "Moon over Mackinaw"....or how about "First Annual Letterhead Fly-In"....tell all the pilots they gotta bring a letterhead with them or they can't come!....Hmmm, that's not a bad idea......
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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I haven't seen the movie but I was there when it was being built. I was about 8 years old and my grandparents had a hunting cabin in the UP. We took a vacation up there by crossing the straits in the old government auto ferry. I vividly remember watching the barge cranes erect the steel uprights.
Some more ideas for your Piper convention...
There is a town across Whitefish Bay from the Soo called Paradise. (PS...Michigan also has a town called Hell, you can go to Paradise and Hell in the same day!) How about Pipers over Paradise or Pipers in Paradise.
People from the Upper Penisula of Michigan are called Upes and the area is often abreviated UP. Maybe "UP, UP and AWAY" would work.
Here is something else that Garry might want to think about. Across the river in Sault Ste. Maire, Ontario, Sault College runs a three year avaition program. They have over 100 young men and women learning to fly single and twin engine aircraft. I suspect many of the students would be willing to lend a hand in staging this event. About 1/2 of them are there during the summer months as they do the flyig for their private license in May thru August. The college may even be willing to show off their fleet at Sault International Airport and their simulators at the college. If Garry is intersted in pursuing this I could supply some names and phone numbers for him to contact.
You may be wondering how I know about this. I have a son that will be graduating from the aviation program this month.
-------------------- Chuck Churchill, It's A Good Sign Inc. 3245 Harvester Rd, U-12 Burlington, Ont. Phone: 905-681-8775 Fax: 905-681-8945 Posts: 633 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Chuck, The simulator and fleet tour sounds like something that people would be interested. When we had a convention in Ohio, we took a bus down to the Air Force museum and we were able to stay after the musuem closed. The museum tour guides opened up some of the planes so that we could crawl on and in. I sat in the pilot seat of the plane that downed the bomb on Nagasocie (sp). I also got to seat in the Stealth that flew over the Superbowl one year.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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