As soon as last Friday’s News Tribune hit your front porches, my telephone started ringing and my e-mail inbox starting pinging.

I asked simply, “Do you have any ideas to help this state of ours come up with a catchy slogan to promote tourism?”

That question put many of you in a Washington state of mind.

“I’m sure you’re going to get a million of these, but I’ve got an idea,” said John Hunter. “How about, ‘The Forevergreen State’? Think about it.”

Well, I didn’t get a million. But I got a lot. And, believe me John, I will think about it. Your play on words with the state’s longstanding motto – The Evergreen State – has a bodacious, contemporary ring to it.

But the folks who need to think about your ideas work for the state Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development. The agency issued a request for qualifications last week to find an advertising agency ready to take on a four-year, $16 million contract to promote Washington to tourists.

And because our state’s advertising campaign has gone sloganless over the last two years, I thought you might want to jump-start the creative process with some suggestions.

Paul Conrad of Lakewood sure did. “I think you’ll like it,” he warned me, then paused for dramatic effect. “‘George Would Be Proud.’ (Another pause.) Think about it.”

Before we get too far, Raymond Levine of Gig Harbor wrote to warn me about getting too enamored with outdoorsy slogans.

“We have seasons here,” said Levine, “and there are months where the weather is not agreeable for outside activities; however, there are interesting things to do inside: our museums, independent movie theatres, entertainment, restaurants, etc.”

Duly noted.

Cynthia Minnitti suggested a twist on the critically panned 2006 state tourism slogan, “SayWA.”

“How about this one?” Minnitti wrote, “‘Say Ahhh … Wander WA!’”

Once Karen Burne got started, she said, “Well, I just can’t stop. … I need to get a life.”

What do you think of Burne’s ideas? See Surprising Washington. Land of Lattes. From Ski to Shining Sea. Water, Wine, Wonderful – Washington State. Unlike Any Other – Washington. We’ll Keep You Busy! A State for all Seasons. Washington Rocks! Washington: Why Not? We’ve Got It ALL! Amazing Washington. More than You Can Imagine. One Big Photo Op.

“I’ll keep at it,” Burne said.

An anonymous e-mailer sent in these wonders: It’s Wonderful In Washington. Wonderful Washington (or WoWa, for short). Washington’s Wonders. And make sure to follow these with the words, “ … but please don’t move here.”

Then the same e-mailer sent in a second batch: Ooo La Wa (for the French), Aaron Go Wa (for the Irish). Woo Wa (for the military) and Zippedy Do Wa (for everyone else).

Lesley Pollack of Ruston offered two visual slogans. First, “WhAt a state!”

And then this acrostic:

“Wonder

Awe

Sated

Happy

Inquisitive

Natural

Great

Thrilled

Oooooh

Never want to leave”

Ken Miller of Tacoma thinks you can’t outdo the purity of “The Evergreen State.”

“It started as a tree but now ‘green’ has a broader meaning,” Miller wrote.

Evergreen works in three dimensions, he said. First, it works to promote envirotourism. Second, it reflects “all the shades of green around the state from grapes in Walla Walla to apples in Chelan, the grass at Chambers Creek.” Third, think of the “green you’ll save by taking part in all the free festivals and attractions around the state.”

Gretchen Wilbert, the former mayor of Gig Harbor, wants to kick “The Evergreen State” up a notch by adding the phrase “From Wheatlands to Mountains.”

“When I think of Washington,” wrote Paulie Tweten of Gig Harbor, “I think Emerald City. Trees. Tree huggers. Recycle. Restore. Subarus and Birkenstocks … Why not, ‘Believing in Green.’”

Dawn Lucien of Tacoma says she’s appalled that more people don’t know about all that Washington offers. So “a slogan for WA can only be ‘Discover Washington.’”

Vicki Murri started brainstorming by borrowing Nike’s trademarked slogan: “Washington: Just do it!” Then she added a few originals: Washington … Why Wait? Washington … The Way To Go. Washington … WOW. Washington … Welcome to AA* * * * *

H.

Patty Schumacher felt compelled “to share just because if I don’t, I’ll always be thinking, ‘I should have said something when I had the chance.’” So she sent in these five: It’s in you. Where Worlds Collide. The Grass IS Greener. The Art of Washington. Washington: It’s All Good!

Finally, one anonymous caller left me a voice mail with 48 ideas. I don’t have space for them all here, but I’ll share a few of my favorites:

“Ma, I’ll be gone. I’m going to Washington.”

“Mother Nature’s Favorite Dress”

“Memo to self: Visit Washington”

“Staying awhile? Don’t blame ya.”

Dan Voelpel: 253-597-8785

dan.voelpel@thenewstribune.com

Selling Washington

Send in your ideas for the next state tourism slogan to dan.voelpel@thenewstribune.com by noon Thursday.

Then look for an online poll Friday where you can cast a vote for your favorite.

We can’t promise the state will go with our winner. But Voelpel will forward the final ballot to the state Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development.