Ships of State from years ago used to carry the image of their benefactor with them to sea. We see no reason why that cant hold true once again when we carry the brand of one corporate benefactor past the windows of NYC on way to the Atlantic each summer and up the channels in Harbors all along the East CoastWeird title huh? Well its over due. We spoke with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development yesterday about our plans for the Mystic and the $400,000 loan/grant package we applied for back in April. They didnt say no, but then again they didnt say yes either.
In short, The DECD said IF we could prove that the Mystic could be economically viable, THEN they would write the deal. We didnt know you had to PROVE you could make money to do good deeds in this State but so be it- thank goodness no one asked to prove that the US Postal Service was economically viable or the George Washington Bridge or I-95 could make a buck. Public projects are public because of the good they provide not the bang for the buck. As a 501c3, we dont judge what we do based upon how much money it will make- we do it because its the right thing to do. Apparently that is not the case for a State-run and funded organization that is dedicated to improving the community????
Ok rants aside, we've never relied on tax dollars to do what we do at CCB and we're not about to start now. If the State doesnt think Long Island Sound, children and a cultural resource like a Regional School Ship are worth standing behind without strings, then we wil use the best economic resource we can think of in these United States to make it happen- the free market.
Nascar does it. The NFL does it- Heck even UCONN, Southern and Yale do it- Sponsorships, revenues and branding!
The Mystic will be a highly visible, economic engine that will go from Bar Harbor to Bermuda and Madison to Montego Bay- Imagine this big ol girl steaming up the East River past the windows of the Freedom Tower or past the shores of Long Wharf or under the bridges of Newport?
Companies pay vans to drive the streets of Norwalk for weeks at a time to get their brand out? Why cant we do it with a Ship that boats State of the Art amenities, a completely green foot print and is dedicated to serving low income kids and families? Can you see the Starbucks Mermaid over the heads of smiling young faces as they haul in the main sail of a beauty like the Mystic?
And then theres the name. Many have suggested we ought to rename the lady Mystic. Poseidon does not look kindly on those vessels who wish to shed one name in favor of another- Many a vessel sits at rest on the bottom of the Atlantic for such violations of maritime tradition. But then again, when one name has fallen out of favor with his salty highness, it is often wiser to put on a new face rather than try to remediate a persona that has gone sour. So a new name for the Mystic when we get her might be in order.
But whoa there tiger- you didnt think we would do it just like that?
Rechistening a vessel requires an offering to Poseidon, the gentle hand of lady to warm his cold heart so that he may open the books of the Sea and admit a new name to one his children. He also requires an offering of spirits to brighten his mood and it never hurts to ply your passage past the annuls of Davey Jones locker with a capital investment. And so to do so, we will need a capital partner. An underwriter for the Seas as it were.
As a thank you, we will give one lucky benefactor a host of benefits for the summer including brand placement on the full compliment of sails, title sponsor of all our events this summer and the cherry on top, we will etch your name into the traditions of the Sea and give that most coveted real estate on the ship's hull to you along with the full pomp and circumstance involved with re-christening a vessel- Your wife, daughter, Mom or favoritest lady in the land will be asked to crack a bottle of bubbly over her hull when we give her your name.
That sounds pretty cool huh? Well it is, but its not cheap. We need to "prove our economic viability" after all. So we wont be so vulgar as to put a price tag on such an honor, but as any good boater will tell you, if you have to ask how much it costs, you cant afford it.
Who can afford it? Well we have looked at the top 15 Greenest Companies in America and the Top 15 WORST companies for the Planet in America. This honor will go to one company that either wants to cement their brand in the Zeitgeist as a a top corporate neighbor on the scene in the Northeast or has a substantial need to do a little spring cleaner of their corporate image. We don't discriminate at CCB so either is welcome.
Some of the ideas we have been given and some of the calls we are making include Google, Starbucks, Sprint and LEED. Others could include PSEG, the NRA, BP or Exxon. We don't judge at CCB, but Poseidon has a dark sense of humor- so if you are one of the ones who needs a little help in the public imag department, we will ask that you reflect reflect that in your bid.