Chamber has big ideas for new quarter

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Chamber has big ideas for new quarter, promotions

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Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
May 18, 2004
By LEE JUILLERAT

Ways of promoting Klamath County as the home of Crater Lake National Park are being investigated by the chamber of commerce.

Although Gov. Ted Kulongoski has yet to approve a commission's recommendation to feature Crater Lake on Oregon's commemorative quarter, chamber officials are moving ahead with plans to promote Klamath County.

Aides for Kulongoski said today the governor is expected to announce his decision soon on whether he will accept the state advisory group's recommendation that Crater Lake be on the obverse side of the coin, which will be released on the state's "birthday," Feb. 14, 2005.

Michael Justin, Crater Lake National Park's spokesman, said park Superintendent Chuck Lundy has been working with Kulongoski's staff to do "last-minute tweaking" on the Crater Lake design.

"We feel once the governor does approve the design and it is forwarded to the U.S. Mint, it will fit their needs," Justin said.

The chamber is selling license plate frames with the Klamath County slogan, "Klamath County Home of Crater Lake," for $2.50 each. The slogan was adopted by Klamath County commissioners earlier this year.

In addition, the chamber is sponsoring a contest for youth age 18 and younger to submit written entries on how to use the Oregon quarter to promote the county and Crater Lake.

Contest participants will be judged on various categories, including artistic presentation, practicality or ease of implementation, and creativity.

Entries must be received or postmarked on or before July 4. Awards will be given for the top three entries. The first place winner will receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond. Entry forms are available at the chamber office at 706 Main St., telephone 884-5193.

"We thought the youth contest would be a good way to get kids involved," said Stephanie Bailey, the chamber's director.

"We wanted to come up with a fun way to celebrate these recent decisions that would promote us, not just in Klamath County but around the state, as inexpensively as possible," Bailey said. "These license plate frames will be on vehicles that our residents will drive to all parts of Oregon and our region, letting others know that a visit to Crater Lake comes through our county."

Justin noted other states have implemented plans to promote themselves through coin-related programs. Most recently, California, which selected a design that features John Muir, a condor and Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, has announced plans to tie the quarter design to ongoing environmental efforts.