When life hands you “Mittengate,” make “Mittenade”
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In news that will surely warm the hands and hearts of even the most cynical pundits (cough, cough), Travel Wisconsin has announced it will harness the ridiculous publicity surrounding “Mittengate” for a good cause. The tourism organization made big news last week when it used an image of a mitten-clad Wisconsin on its website, upsetting some folks in Michigan who claimed that their state—and only their state!—could be the “mitten state.” Now, in an effort to put a positive spin on the mind-numbingly dopey scandal, Travel Wisconsin has teamed up with Michigan tourism organization Pure Michigan for a winter mitten collection campaign. According to a press release:
In light of all the buzz surrounding the image of a Wisconsin-shaped mitten on TravelWisconsin.com and its social media sites, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism would like to invite the public to visit a Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center or participating chamber of commerce or convention and visitors bureau during business hours between today and Jan. 15 to donate new or gently used mittens. The mittens will then be donated to local charities.
“There has been a lot of national excitement surrounding the debate over whether Wisconsin or Michigan looks more like a mitten,” Governor Scott Walker said. “Our Pure Michigan friends have agreed to join us in taking all of this attention and turning it into something positive. We encourage everyone in both states to ‘shake hands’ and donate mittens to help make this winter a bit warmer for those in need.”
Yes, even Gov. Walker is getting in on the action, and the “shake hands” crack will surely go down as one of his finer moments.
Participating mitten drop-off sites include:
• Beloit Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center located at the I-39 Northbound/I-90 Westbound Rest Area in Beloit
• Kenosha Area Visitor Information Center located at 10519 120th Ave. in Pleasant Prairie
• La Crosse Area Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center located at French Island I-90 Eastbound Rest Area in La Crosse
• Marinette Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center located at 1680 Bridge St. in Marinette
• Platteville Area Chamber of Commerce and Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center located at 275 West Business Hwy 151 in Platteville
• Prairie du Chien Regional Tourism Center located at 211 S. Main St. in Prairie du Chien
• Superior-Douglas County Welcome Center located at 305 Harborview Pkwy. in Superior
