<p>Georgia tourism and economic development officials have unveiled a new slogan _ "Put Your Dreams in Motion" _ to sell the Peach State to a wider audience, but are trying to dispel rumors that it's a replacement for the highly popular "Georgia on My Mind," which has been used to promote the state for two decades.</p><p>"We're not getting rid of 'Georgia on My Mind' under any circumstances," said Craig Lesser, the state's top industry and tourism official.</p><p>"Georgia on My Mind" also is the title of the state's official song, popularized by the late legendary singer-songwriter Ray Charles, who was born in Albany. The song, which became officially became the state's anthem in 1979, is commonly heard in Georgia at political rallies, sporting events like University of Georgia football games, and other events like fireworks displays and laser-light shows. The slogan also appears on all standard license plates in the state.</p><p>Research showed that people liked "Georgia on My Mind" and were very familiar with it, but that the state needed something else to attract even more tourists, encourage existing businesses to expand and new businesses to relocate to Georgia, Lesser said.</p><p>"We're adding to the phrase. We've bifurcated it into an invitation and a thank you," said Lesser, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.</p><p>Lesser announced the new "Dreams" slogan and introduced a futuristic new Georgia peach logo in green, black and peach Thursday at a tourism conference in Valdosta. The new logo is a more colorful rendition of the traditional Georgia peach logo with leaves blowing back as if in motion.</p><p>Initial media reports had indicated the new slogan would replace the beloved "Georgia On My Mind," and within hours, 92 percent of people responding to a poll on an Atlanta radio station's Web site said they opposed "Put Your Dreams in Motion" in place of the tried-and-true slogan. Some compared replacing "Georgia On My Mind" to the new Coke marketing debacle of the 1980s.</p><p>"That's been around forever and it ought to stay forever," 66-year-old Albany insurance agent Louis Powell said in defense of the state's longtime slogan. "It just has a good ring. It rekindles your love for the state."</p><p>Greg Lisby, professor of communications law and ethics at Georgia State University, said successful slogans need a connection with the subject they are promoting. But the new slogan says nothing about Georgia, he said.</p><p>"A good slogan leaves you with a good feeling," he said. "'Georgia on My Mind' leaves you with a positive feeling about the thing we're promoting here."</p><p>However, two slogans might work if each is targeted at different audiences, said Srinivas Reddy, a professor of marketing at the University of Georgia.</p><p>"The risk involved is how do you delineate?" he said. "The risk is always going to be ... confusion about what these are attempting to do."</p><p>Some Georgians seemed willing to give the new slogan a chance, even though they are fierce supporters of "Georgia on My Mind."</p><p>"'Put Your Dreams In Motion' is a terrific slogan for our market," said Peter Studl, an entrepreneur helping to revitalize Albany's downtown. "This market doesn't happen naturally without effort. It has to be put in motion."</p><p>Former Albany mayor Tommy Coleman, an attorney, said the new slogan "doesn't say much to me" but may have to be viewed in the context it will play in the state's overall promotional campaign. The song, "Georgia on My Mind," on the other hand, is well-known all over the world, said Coleman, who also is a folk singer and plays the guitar.</p><p>To avoid royalties, the state of Georgia actually negotiated an agreement in 1970s for free use of the "Georgia on My Mind" song and slogan for tourist promotion.</p><p>"When people hear that song ... it conjures up certain basic fundamental feelings about our state and they are good things that people universally like and appreciate _ warmth and hospitality," said Coleman, who hopes the slogan and music will continue to be a prominent part of the state's promotional effort.</p><p>Research showed that "Georgia on My Mind" was familiar and popular, but the state needed something else to "drive people to expand businesses, to invest in Georgia and to tour Georgia," Lesser said.</p><p>"It's been wonderful for recognition," he said of the old slogan. "That won't not going away and we will continue with the wonderful phrase 'Georgia on My Mind' as a thank you."</p><p>---</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x1ce01bc)</p>
