LEADERSHIP CAPE GROUPS OUTLINE PROJECTS AT GRADUATION

Some of Cape Girardeau's newest leaders, fresh from their training and filled with energy, are already planning their five-year reunion at a new city park they proposed during a group project.

Twenty-six members of the Leadership Cape 2000 outlined their plans for projects that included a new family aquatics park, an online community calendar, youth mentoring program, a youth activities calendar particularly geared to residents on the city's south side and a central volunteer network.

The group held graduation Thursday at Drury Lodge and presented five separate projects. Several of the projects spurred enough interest in their research and planning stages that local agencies and organizations already have taken steps to implement them, said Kathy Swan, co-chairman of the Leadership Cape steering committee.

Leadership Cape was developed to identify new leaders in the community and offer them training necessary to develop their skills. It is a seven-month course that has been sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce since 1986.

During the process of learning to be better leaders it seemed important to offer not only training but projects that would offer some contribution to the community, said John Mehner, chamber president.

By the end of the course, the 2000 class was already planning a five-year reunion at the proposed family aquaplex. The water park was devised as a project based on survey information gathered by the city parks department and Vision 2000, a community planning group.

Donning a Hawaiian shirt, Dan Steska explained -- over the background Beach Boys music -- how the park would be used to replace aging city pools and offer family leisure activities.

He showed the proposed site near Osage Community Centre, saying the photo was taken "halfway up the water slide. You've got to use your imagination."

The park has been included in the park department's master plan. Dan Muser, city parks director, said the parks advisory board has been studying the feasibility of building a family water park, but the overall plan will likely be included in a city facilities study.

"We are all excited about it and thinking it would be great since there is nothing like this in the vicinity," Steska said.

Each group planned a project based on survey information they had received through Vision 2000. The groups then chose specific programs that would address the needs of the community.

Other projects included creating an online community calendar that would list several activities and be available as a planning resource for schools, churches and civic clubs.

The Rev. Paul Short, a Leadership Cape class member, said the idea was "incredibly good."

It has already been implemented at the Southeast Missourian's Web site at www.semissourian.com. The interactive calendar allows groups to submit information about activities as well as see what else is happening around town.

Having a central calendar would "prevent duplication of events," Kevin Essner said. It the Boy Scouts were planning a community food drive, they might not hold it on the same date as a fraternity's canned food drive, he said. The Web site also allows civic groups to link to the community calendar.

Steven Bjelich also wants a central location for volunteer information. Bjelich was spokesman for a group that developed a central volunteer network to connect agencies with volunteer needs and people seeking volunteer work.

The Areawide United Way has already begun working with RSVP, a senior volunteer program, to begin the Cape Girardeau Area Volunteer Center.

The center would help meet the demand for volunteers that area agencies have and would serve as a point for matching volunteers with job. The center would need funding to operate continually. The group studied several cities of similar size with existing volunteer programs to find out how the programs operated and how they were evaluated.

Loretta Schneider, a newly elected member of the Silver Haired Legislature, said the program was a great opportunity. "So many of our volunteers are seniors, and they are a diminishing supply," she said.

Creating a network for volunteers might help bring younger people into the program. The Silver Haired Legislature is also considering lobbying for a tax credit or cash rebate for people who volunteer in their communities. Offering the credits "could be a financial incentive to get more young people in those roles."

Another group looked at the possibility of creating a youth mentoring network. The "Facing Tomorrow Today" program would begin with cooperative efforts of schools and youth organizations to identify youth in grades 7-11 that would benefit from a mentor relationship.

A network of mentoring agencies and programs would be available as a resource for the youths. Businesses and civic clubs could help identify people that would serve as mentors.

It is important for the program to include both at-risk and high-achieving students, said Short. "If they already have a goal they might need exposure to an occupation" so they could understand what the job is about.

A panel would handle referrals to match the youth with an adult mentor and to evaluate the program. The United Way is already conducting a survey that would address some of the program's aims, said Kathy Denton.

Data collected by the group is being shared with the United Way. "To have a community this size and to have as many opportunities to coordinate work is even better," Short said.

Offering everyone equal opportunities was the goal of the Youth Action 2000 team. The group looked at ways that the city can inform residents without computer access to calendar happenings or to community activities.

A community bulletin board was devised and placed at the Save-A-Lot store at the corner of William and Sprigg streets as a means of reaching the residents of South Cape Girardeau.

The bulletin board would list recreation activities in a calendar format so that youths could get involved. "It's not unique that two groups came up with the same idea," said Jason Crowell.

LEADERSHIP CAPE PROJECTS

Facing Tomorrow Today

The group worked to develop a cooperative effort between schools and youth organizations to develop mentoring relationships. It would also work to develop connections with people in the business and civic community who could serve as mentors. It is being studied as part of an Area Wide United Way assessment program.

Area Volunteer Center

The group worked to develop a centralized volunteer center that would connect people interested in helping with the agencies needing volunteers. RSVP has already begun working with the United Way to provide some assistance for the project.

Cape Community Calendar

The group has already put their project to work. The group saw a need for a centralized online community calendar listing events from schools, civic groups and other community organizations. The calendar is available at www.semissourian.com, where items can also be submitted for posting online.

Family Aquatic Center

Cape Girardeau needs to consider building a family water park, the group says. The park would be an ideal attraction for the area and could easily be built on city land near the Osage Community Centre.

Youth Action 2000

The project is aimed at communicating citywide activities to residents without immediate access to the information, particularly activities for youth. Community bulletin boards would be created for posting announcements and have been put in place at the Save-A-Lot store at William and Sprigg streets.