Wisconsin Tourism Federation wisely rebrands

The Wisconsin Tourism Federation will henceforth be known as the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin - a wise piece of rebranding prompted by its exposure to public ridicule on the interwebs. The Wisconsin Tourism Federation logo and its new incarnation The "lobbying coalition of trade and promotional associations" has now purged …

[jake]

WTF?

"Federation"?

Really? Why?

I don't think "federation" means what the cheese-heads think it means ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Reminds me of Lucozade

Many years ago, there was a large illuminated sign advertising Lucozade on the side of a building next to the Chiswick flyover on the M4. It had the product name and the accompanying strap line that manufacturer Beechams had used for decades. Not long after the discovery of HIV it was taken down although the dirty marks in the shape of the lettering hung around for a good while after and it was eventually replaced with a modified strap line. The original sign said:

Lucozade Aids Recovery.

[nichomach]

Personally...

...I think they should have kept it - you can see the publicity campaign: "Come to Wisconsin, the "What The **** State! OMFGROFLWTFBBQ!!!1111"

[Anonymous Coward]

Priceless!

Couldn't resist.

[Anonymous Coward]

seem to remember

The War Against Terrorism became The War On Terror fairly quickly.

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice

They should have gone with Federation of Tourism Wisconsin.

Then they could have had a Milwaukee FTW office.

[DJ 2]

it begs the question

The **** why would you go to wisconsin?

DJ

[breakfast]

Could have turned the tables further...

Federation for Tourism in Wisconsin FTW.

However, I think they could probably have made profit with some stylish t-shirts for the young folks to wear.

[Avalanche]

@DJ 2

One reason to go to Wisconsin is the 'spotted cow' beer; you can't get it outside of Wisconsin (and certainly not here in the Netherlands).

[Major N]

heh

I remember going past a large DIY superstore on tyhe train, where one of the illuminated letters had burnt out, and the building was proudly proclaiming itself thusly:

B&Q WAR HOUSE

The lucozade story rocks.

[ShaggyDoggy]

T-shirt

Where can I get a Wisconsin Tourism Federation t-shirt ?

(original logo if you please0

[tfewster]

Reminds me of an ex employer...

...who had an internal campaign called "Winning The Future" which, of course, got abbreviated even in official updates. Twas most amusing to receive emails with "WTF" in the subject line.

It was a IT company, so there's your IT angle

[Anonymous Coward]

Not an acronym

read the title

[Mark Grady 1]

Not a patch on the OGC logo ...

Nuff said.

[Anonymous Coward]

WTF in emails?

My company use a Time and Attendance system and it is frequently abbreivated in emails to T&A, which makes me laugh. OK, so it's a bit of an American expression but still.

[Anonymous Coward]

Next up ...

... the World Taekwondo Federation!

[Throatwobbler Mangrove]

mmmm

"why would you go to wisconsin?"

Cheese + beer + colleges = hardcore fondue kneesups.

[jim1888]

Rebranding

The villiage of Ugley in essex have had similar rebranding excercises. The Womens Institute there has special permission to call itself 'The WI of Ugley' rather than the proper 'The Ugley WI'

Not in any way IT related but still funny

[Apocalypse Later]

Back in the 70s

I think it was, Guy Kewney wrote about a press conference the British Microcomputer Federation (BMF) had called to announce that they were changing their name to the "British Microcomputer Federation, UK". When Guy himself stood up and pointed out the way the new acronym was likely to be pronounced, the conference was hurriedly ended and the name change never came to pass.

[Floormeister]

Bong Recreation Area

One of the wonderful parks promoted by . . . WTF:

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/bong/

[Random Coolzip]

Back in the 80s...

When I was in college, the department I worked for hosted the Agricultural Info-Data Service. When the director brought it up to the board that perhaps a name change would be in order, given the public's growing awareness of the then-new disease, he was roundly ignored. It actually took several years of continued abuse and ridicule before the board wised up.

[transientcylon]

@Jake 8:24

Check your dictionary sir:

1 : an encompassing political or societal entity formed by uniting smaller or more localized entities

b : a union of organizations

Given that this is likely a group of businesses promoting tourism I don't see your point?

[Serenity]

One of my favorites

Was the brief period in South Carolina when the Furman University Paladins were knowns as the Furman University Christian Knights.

Didn't take to many abbreviations on banners for them to change that one.

[Bilby]

Aids for all

Suddenly and inexplicably changed the name of their shop in the 80's - They sold wheelchairs and mobility devices from a shop in Headingley IIRC

[Anonymous Coward]

@it begs the question

I am not going back. I once got the shit kicked out of me in Wisconsin.

[jake]

@transientcylon

"Check your dictionary sir"

I did done do that ... and discovered something new.

In my mind "federation" is a purely political word, and has nothing to do with RealLife(tm) commerce (which rarely pays much attention to politics ... bottom-line has no political boundaries).

Mea culpa, and thank you :-)