SEATTLE - This week’s “Schrammie” ponders:  What’s in a word?

Well, when you spend $200,000 and more than a year coming up with one, I think it should at least mean something.
 
Too bad the Seattle Visitors and Convention Bureau wasn’t thinking when it came up with “MetroNatural.”

So…Don Welsh, President and CEO of the bureau, come on down, because I have a song in my heart for you!
 
(The following is sung to the music of “16 Tons”, with sincere apologies to Tennessee Ernie Ford)

You spend 16 months and whadda you get?
A really lame slogan and public regret.
Mayor Nickels don’t invite them ‘cause they won’t come.
‘Cause no one is lured by a slogan that’s dumb.

Well…you wanna compete for the tourism buck.
But with MetroNatural you are plumb outta luck.
The slogan means nothing and sounds so absurd.
You’ve screwed up Seattle with one stupid word.

If you want conventions that’ll fill the hotels,
You come up with a slogan that is easy to sell.
MetroNatural, what the hell does that say?
It sounds like something keeps people away.

You spend 200 grand and whadda you get?
A really lame slogan and public regret.
Mayor Nickels don’t invite them ‘cause they won’t come.
‘Cause no one is lured by a slogan that’s dumb.
 
So, Don Welsh, take a bow, because this “Schrammie” is for you.

Have something to say to Ken? E-mail him at  kenschram@komo4news.com

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