About the experiment

The Thanks Great Lakes experiment has two parts. The first is a pilot project in select cities. A handful of businesses, including restaurants and breweries, bike shops, outfitters, ferry companies and other tourist-focused businesses, will be asked to give away free THXGLX stickers to their customers. The goal is to determine the degree of interest. Will businesses see merit in a grass-roots initiative that promotes gratitude for the Great Lakes? Will they agree to give away THXGLX stickers? Will basin residents want them? The speed at which the supply is depleted will be a key piece in deciding whether to proceed with a full-blown campaign throughout the Great Lakes basin.

If the pilot is successful, the next stage would be establishing a nonprofit to develop and run a full-blown campaign and to solicit donations to fund it. In addition to asking businesses to distribute free stickers, the campaign would seek the endorsement of key organizations and individuals that already engage in or support Great Lakes conservation efforts. This "Coalition of the Converted" includes environmental groups, research institutions and universities, government agencies, tourism bureaus, elected officials, municipalities, indigenous groups, news outlets, and other organizations. Collectively, they amount to a giant megaphone that could help bring the Thanks Great Lakes Campaign and its message of gratitude to the general public.