Computer market meltdown means unique opportunity for municipal IT: the recent use of mascots...

Rob Carnegie, B.CIS is the director of corporate services at the City of Chilliwack, B.C. In this role he is responsible for MIS, geographic mapping and systems, personnel, payroll, health & safety and FOIPPA. Rob can be reached at carnegie@chilliwack.com or www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Garage/5882.

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RJR Tobacco's Joe Camel, Charlie the Starkist Tuna and Tony the Tiger have all taken a permanent place in our culture. Sometimes the popularity of a mascot can take on a life that extends beyond that which was originally intended by the company that it represents.

North America's red-suited, white fur-fringed version of Santa Claus, for example, was originally introduced through a Coca-Cola advertising campaign.

On the darker side, the mysterious "Olympians" from the Olympia Beer commercial had to be killed and buried by the company it represents for fear that the unseen mascot's cult status would adversely affect the image of the product.