Plans for clock unwind
The Rotary Club of The Woodlands had hoped to pay for the installation of a clock in Town Green Park to commemorate the club’s 40th anniversary, but those plans hit a snag over signage.
When the Rotary Club of The Woodlands approached The Woodlands Township board of directors with a plan to pay for the installation of a clock in Town Green Park to commemorate the club’s 40th anniversary, they thought their proposal would be a slam dunk.
The club displayed the image of an elegant, 17-foot-tall clock designed by a company with 173 years’ experience, imagined into a spot on the popular town park near the Waterway.
“The idea … is in commemoration of our 40 years of service to the community,” said Bill Friebel, former president of the Rotary Club, an organization focused on community service, including supporting the high school Interact service clubs and providing $1.3 million in scholarships locally. The club’s board budgeted $26,000 to cover the cost of the clock and its installation at the park with the intention of donating the clock to The Woodlands Township.
“We thought it’d be a phenomenal way to leave a lasting legacy,” Friebel said.
But the board was hesitant. On each of the four faces of the clock is the Rotary Club’s symbol.
“What are we going to do when the Lions Club, the Kiwanis club, etc. want to have some sort of marker that is beneficial to the community, but it also sort of promotes their brand?” said board member Ed Robb. “This is a nice idea … (but) if we want a clock it could be that we would be better served just buying our own clock and putting it up there.”
Robb’s concerns were echoed by other board members. They were afraid that if they allow the Rotary Club to put its logo in a prominent location, such as the face of the clock, that would open the floodgates for every organization that wants to put its branding on display in the community.
“It will set a type of precedent and we need to be aware of that,” Robb said. “Signage is a major consideration of The Woodlands (and) this is a kind of signage.”
Board member Peggy Hausman said she’s seen issues like this come up before and she stands by preserving a consistent standard.
“We’ve been consistent through the years in asking for ground plaques,” Hausman said. “The clock is absolutely gorgeous and would be an asset to the community, but I could not vote to have any sort of emblem on it … Putting a plaque down does not impede the beauty of our community as much as having (the symbol) up there.”
The board voted to approve the placement of the clock, under the condition that the Rotary symbol was removed from the face of the clock and that the club celebrate its anniversary with a plaque at the base instead.
“Our intention is that we want the community to know Rotary is here,” said Julie Martineau, the club’s current president. “We were wanting to make a statement.”
She remarked that many communities around the country allow their Rotary clubs to have a sign announcing the club’s presence and that The Woodlands’ chapter had intentionally chosen something that would represent them while still adhering to the aesthetic standards of the community.
“We believe the Rotary logo is not obnoxious or a detriment to the appearance of The Woodlands,” Martineau said.
In light of the board’s decision, Martineau said that the club will have to re-evaluate its options.