Mayor Koelpin seeks designs for New Ulm pin

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- When visitors come to New Ulm, Mayor Arnold Koelpin would like to give them a gift to remember the city.

In past years, the mayor's office has handed out pens. But this year, Koelpin is thinking about trying something new.

Koelpin announced this week he is holding a contest, asking area residents to make drawings and designs for a lapel pin.

The design should be drawn on large scale and should identify New Ulm and the Hermann Monument, he said.

"We're trying to promote Hermann now that he has been given special designation by the 106th Congress," Koelpin said. "We have a national treasure on our hands."

Any person can make a drawing: there are no limits on ideas or items that should be in the picture, except the requirement to include the city's name and Hermann. The winning design would be reduced down to size at the manufacturer.

"We'll leave it to their imagination," Koelpin said.

The pin would not be an official city emblem. However, Koelpin envisions that he could hand them out to dignitary from other towns.

"We have a lot of visitors here," Koelpin said, saying performers who attend New Ulm festivals would likely be awarded with the momento. "We're thinking nationally and internationally with this pin."

The pins would be given to people who donate to the Hermann restoration fund, and would also be sold at the monument, Koelpin said.

There is no monetary prize for the winning design. Koelpin said the winner would be given the first pin that comes off the production line.

First, Koelpin wants people to be creative.

"It should be fun. I think we have a lot of talent in the community," Koelpin said. "We wanted to throw it out to the citizenry for their input."

The city has an account named the "mayor's contingency fund," which allows the mayor to make keepsake momentos like a lapel pin, said city treasurer Gary Gleisner. There is $4,025 in the fund, Gleisner added. Money not used from that account each year is placed back into the general fund.

Final drawings should be sent to the mayor's office in City Hall by Valentine's Day. A panel of judges will then meet and select the winning design.

Then, the city would seek bids from manufacturers. Koelpin believes he could have the tiny momentos within a few months. He has not yet decided how many pins to order.

Denis Warta, former city councilor, said the idea for the pin came from a professor who teaches German-American history.

Warta agrees that the pin would become a visible item on hats, jackets and shirts in town.

"It would be very proudly worn by Americans of German descent," Warta said. "It's an identification. You need to have a pin that is attractive and then people will wear it."

The pin also will raise money for Hermann restoration, Warta added.

"It's a neat little 'thank you' we can send to donors," he said.