It began with Deidre Rosenboom's relation to Lake Okoboji. She grew to love Okoboji as a young child, the smell of the clean lake and the feeling it gave her when she practiced her dive over and over again off the wooden dock or the back of the boat. She even felt so connected to the lake, she told her parents that she thought she could of been a reincarnated fish out of Lake Okoboji. Like a lot of us, the lake drew her back as an adult and she settles in Arnolds Park finding ways to build a future.

Keep Okoboji Blue began the spring of 2005 When Deidre was getting educated about the impact of Aquatic Invasive Species and got scared enough to wake up in the middle of the night thinking something has to be done. The fear was knowing that there can be a defeating impact on our lakes environment. She also knew if our valuable lakes resource is taken from us with the infiltration of invasive species or pollution runoff, there would be larger economic impact to the people that live here.

The area of "Okoboji" is a variety of small towns, but yet unique enough that people travel here for the natural resources - our lakes. So how can you create something that can help protect Iowa's Great Lakes? Finding ways to protect a community asset, isn't easy since most of those organizations are non-profitable. But she knew she had something...an idea but wasn't sure what it was. She also knew no one else was going to do it for her. But to have enough passion to chuck it up to the game of risk? Could it even happen? But how? How can you educate the public and also raise monies for the cause of water quality awareness? How can you speak a message that is about business, environment & future generations? How can you deliver that where you can relate to all?

So I guess you start the next day... Deidre got on her computer to do what she knew best - design a logo for a sticker campaign - the first initial idea. At that time she was unsure what to call it. She had a few ideas, but none seemed right. She then went to her husband Scott Baumgard and asked for his advice. He said, "Deidre, what about Keep Okoboji Blue?" in fact in 1996, three years before they met he had secured Keep Okoboji Blue by purchasing the trademark at the local courthouse. He wanted to do something with it, but was unable to afford the graphic designer or printer. As it works out Deidre is an established free-lance graphic designer and printing broker.

In that summer it all came together. With in a month of designing the two logos she had signed up with The Chamber Showcase and T-Galaxy to sell clothing featuring these two logos. Fall came around and she signed on with Anniversary Jewelers and then went on to design this web site.

It truly is the right time for something to happen and thanks to Keep Okoboji Blue people out there are able to share the same passions by displaying the decals on their car, boat or doorway. You can also display these logos by wearing the Keep Okoboji Blue brand. It's a great way to give back to water quality efforts.

There can't be enough thanks for the people who helped make this idea reality. It might have started with a driven fear of, "what if?" But the belief from the people who know the value in our rare resource made Keep Okoboji Blue happen!

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Deidre is activly involved with the LID Task Force, Dickinson County Clean Water Alliance Communications Board, Board of Directors of the Okoboji Protective Association and The Iowa Great Lakes Visioning Group (Environment). So please if you have any interest in these orgs. feel free to contact her to ask questions or to get involved in these progressive community groups!

Keep Okoboji Blue.com™ ~ Operated & Designed by Deidre Rosenboom ©2005