There is power in pumpkins.

A few weeks back, a Volume One reader was looking for something local to carve into this year’s jack-o-lantern, and they had a hard time coming up with any kind of iconic imagery. (I’m assuming they didn’t want to stab a boring ol’ “EC” into their big orange gourd.) She commented, “I just kind of realized that we don’t have any iconic local imagery ... simple enough to carve onto a gourd anyway.”

The pondering carver got a few suggestions from other readers, including the Sacred Heart bell towers, the Barnes Block turret, Justin Vernon, Old Abe, the trestle footbridge (into Phoenix Park), people arguing about the Confluence Project, and the actual confluence. Fine options all around, but none of them really struck me as iconic enough. After all (Grammy award winning singers and legendary war raptors notwithstanding), all of the suggested imagery is found downtown. And as much as I love downtown, it’s only part of the Eau Claire equation.

At all ages, from middle school through adulthood, people harbor a vague (and ridiculous) understanding that they can’t like where they live and still be cool. Well, I’ve got news for you. None of us are cool.

Other places seem to have pretty natural iconic imagery. Unique skylines and such. The French have their big tower. And wine, I guess. Italy is often defined by its food. New York has a big statue of a lady. Canada has a leaf. But Eau Claire is not a whole country or a bustling metropolis with centuries upon centuries of cultural development, evolution, and distillation.

So what images do we have? And how can we use them?

When you delve into these ideas, you encounter terms like “place branding” and “region branding” and “city branding” and “dandy branding” (except for the last one that which I made up because it rhymes) – which are defined as the “process of image communication to a target market.” It’s based on the notion that places compete with other places for people, resources, business, and who makes the best five-alarm chili.

And all that stuff is very important. A place needs to be known for things: its buildings and destinations, its annual festivals and events. its celebrated pastimes and customs. You can’t maintain a healthy stable of people, resources, and businesses without noteworthy, identifiable ... things. And if you don’t already have destinations and signature events, you may need to make them, digging deep into the local landscape to figure out what’s cool and what makes sense for your community.

I happen know that a number of Eau Claire organizations are working to do just that.

But, as crucial as it may be, I’m not worried about competition with other places. I’m thinking about we, the people who live here right now. What iconic things are we proud of? What kinds of stuff do we all stand behind or hold up? What unifies us through a unique sense of place? What do we have that few others have? How many questions can I keep stringing together here? Two more? Is that too many? When will it end?

Mostly, I’m looking for an image that could possibly unify us with, if nothing else, a sense of pride. I’ve spent my whole life hearing people insult Eau Claire, mostly because they feel like they’re “supposed to.” At all ages, from middle school through adulthood, people harbor a vague (and ridiculous) understanding that they can’t like where they live and still be cool. Well, I’ve got news for you.

None of us are cool.

Seriously, maybe one-tenth of one percent of us are cool. If that. So maybe we can stop wasting energy, fidgeting over our personal image and what people think of us – and our city – and instead try to identify, celebrate, and enhance the things we like. If we, as a city, are undeniably proud of who we are, then attracting people, resources, businesses, and top-shelf five-alarm chili chefs will be a hell of a lot simpler.

Yes, I know, times have been changing. People want to love what’s local and we’ve been supporting each other more and more – valuing local businesses and attending local events. But we can do better. And I really think having some iconic images would help.

I think there’s still a prevailing attitude around most of the Eau Claire area that “they” do things. “They” are developing the city. “They” are holding events and festivals. “They” are really into this or that activity. Having some kind of iconic image around which we can rally will help us take ownership over these things. “We” will be doing stuff, not “they.” And when you’re dealing with “we,” it becomes a lot easier push out your own ideas. All of a sudden, you’ve got the support you need.

I don’t have any suggestions for iconic images. But I’m thinking about it. And I hope you are, too.