What’s in a name?
So I’m not naming a baby here, and this can’t be as hard as rocket science, but it is feeling that way. I have spent the whole night debating what to name this astronomical society. It is important obviously to draw as many of the locals as possible, and to show up on random search queries. Not to mention I can’t proceed until I buy the domain name, and this is a deciding factor in that decision. So let me go through my ideas, and then let you all vote on your favorite, or don’t vote and tell me what’s better.
~ Eureka Springs AS - Eureka Springs is the closest town to where I live, and ‘THE’ tourist town in Northern Arkansas .http://tinyurl.com/2us2gvy It is full of tourists 10 months of the year and has a LOT of weekend festivals. It would be very easy to set up events in conjuncture to these weekend festivals It is a bit eclectic however and it is yet to be seen how many locals are astronomers.
~ Eureka Springs & Branson – Whereas Eureka is to my South, Branson is to my North. It too is a tourist town, and you probably have already heard of it. It’s only a 45 min drive from where I live. It is a bigger town, and would obviously have the potential for more members. Attracting tourists won’t help membership, but it will get our name out faster, and may draw some donations.
~ TableRock Lake – Eureka Springs and Holiday Island are on opposite ends of TableRock Lake. The dam is at Branson, and the White River flows into the lake at Eureka. So choosing this option would draw people from around the lake. The lake’s name is probably not as well known to outsiders as the towns are but it is the tie that binds.
~ Ozark Highlands – Another geographical feature in the area are the mountains (and woods). I live in the middle of the Ozarks which extend a lot further away from here than Branson and Eureka Springs are. The Ozarks are known by people worldwide and are searched online a great deal. Living in the Ozarks is a way of life, living by mother natures terms. The mental picture of living in the mountains and astronomy seems like a good fit.
So what do you think? Base it upon town(s), or geographical features? Try to attract the tourists? or the region? So many questions… I need to decide on this so I can buy a domain. Give me your input my fellow Space Tweeps!!
