MASON CITY, IA-- Folks in Mason City are being encouraged to help sell their community to Google.
The city is one of several across the country preparing to pitch themselves to the internet giant.
Part of the application to test out the company's high speed internet is a video on the internet site You Tube.
Google is going to pick some place so this is our one opportunity to say look at us look at us, look at us, pick us." said Mason City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Robin Anderson.
Chamber members and Mason City's Mayor brain stormed on Thursday afternoon.
They talked about creating some videos and encouraging people in Mason City to submit their own.
"This whole video we're talking about has to be multiple videos it raises numbers and it's quick and it's easy, give you a quick flavor," said Mason City Mayor Eric Bookmeyer.
A popular suggestion is to adapt parts of Meredith Willson's musical, "The Music Man."
"Oh we need Google, right here river city with a capitol g and that rhymes with c, that stands for cool," said Anderson as she recited some altered lyrics to Wilson's tune Trouble.
They decided their goal is to videotape a pep rally, a parade and create some video testimonials including an American Gothic style statement featuring Mayor Bookmeyer.
Organizers hope to include both Mason City and Newman Catholic High School band members or at least assemble a kazoo orchestra to play The Music Man's signature song, Seventy-Six Trombones.
They suggested the parade might also feature people dressed like "computer nerds," "mouse-keteers" (people with computer mouses on their heads like mouse ears) and cheerleaders.
The chamber is working to organize a special event on March 23rd; they are still working out the locations.
In the meantime they want to encourage local media to get their listeners or viewers to submit their own short videos to You Tube, touting Mason City and to also make their voices heard on Facebook.
"Community engagement will separate us from other communities, we need to tell a unique story," said Anderson.
The city's application to Google is due on the 26th of March.
