QUILCENE — Residents of this south Jefferson County community will vote Friday on the best slogan for their town — and then hear the results of that vote Saturday night during the first Quilcene Conversation Academy Awards.
Quilcene Conversation organizers are rolling out the red carpet for the awards, which they call the RACSOs.
That’s “OSCAR” spelled backward.
The carpet and ceremony — which begins at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Quilcene Community Center at 294952 U.S. Highway 101 — aren’t the only cues the group will take from Hollywood’s recognition of the best in the business.
The awards — which will be given to people who have worked on projects to improve the town — are named for Tinsel Town accolades, said Cass Brotherton, an organizer of Quilcene Conversation, an ongoing community makeover.
There will be an award for Set Decoration (town cleanup) as well as Best Documentary, Best Optical Effects (no descriptions provided) and four others — which Brotherton wanted to keep secret as a surprise for the community Saturday.
The awards ceremony “is a report back to the town” about improvements that evolved from a series of Quilcene Conversation public gatherings begun last fall.
“We wanted to make it a fun event,” Brotherton said.
Visitors are directed to “dress for a party.”
“What does that mean in Quilcene?” Brotherton said. “It can be anything you want it to be. Some are going to wear sparkly tops and their jeans.”
After the awards, presided over by “world-famous” Bob Rosen — now the volunteer director of the community center and formally a scout for Hollywood movies — the winning marketing slogan for Quilcene will be announced just before a potluck dinner, Brotherton said.
Friday’s vote will be at ballot boxes through Quilcene.
More than 100 suggestions were narrowed down to three:
■ Quilcene — Linger Longer.
■ Quilcene — Mountains to the Bay.
■ Quilcene— Pearl of the Peninsula.
Community members can vote between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at ballot boxes outside the post office, the Coffee Stand, US Bank, Henery’s or Plaid Pepper, Brotherton said.
Those who don’t vote Friday can vote at the awards until 4:15 p.m.
Quilcene Conversation began last fall with a community meeting about the lack of a gas station.
Suggestions for various improvements came out at that meeting, Brotherton said, and 10 more small meetings followed, with residents throwing out ideas for making Quilcene a better place.
On Feb. 19, the compiled list was presented at a meeting that drew 90 people, Brotherton said, and participants decided to create projects in four categories: support of families and recreation, business opportunities, beautifying Quilcene and putting Quilcene back on the map.
Six projects were undertaken: downtown cleanup, reopening Quilcene Campground, mentoring youth, choosing a marketing slogan for the town, establishing a website for commercial businesses and signage.
Progress has been made on five of the six. Signage plans await election of the town’s slogan.
“People have been putting in hundreds of hours on these projects,” Brotherton said.
“There seems to be a real attitude change in town.
“It’s exciting what’s been happening.”
For more information, phone Brotherton at 360-765-0901 or email cbrotherton1@hotmail.com.
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Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.
