Vision 2020 group honors volunteers

It sure is great to live in Cape.

That's the message of Vision 2020 Community Relations Council member Doug Austin, who carries a sign with those words on his pickup truck.

Austin praised Cape Girardeau at a breakfast Tuesday where the civic group honored the volunteer efforts of seven residents involved in a myriad of projects from the floodwall mural to public transportation.

The awards went to Tim Blattner, Dr. Dan Cotner, Meg Davis, George Foster, Tom M. Meyer, Doug Richards and Jim Watkins.

"We've got the bragging rights for a lot of things," Austin told about 50 people who attended the meeting at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Harrison Room.

He cited as examples the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge and the floodwall murals in downtown Cape Girardeau.

"History literally leaps off that wall," he told the audience.

Blattner was honored for his work with the River Heritage Mural Association in development of the recently painted murals.

Cotner, a local dentist, was honored for numerous volunteer efforts, including performing with the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band for 63 years and making 19 medical mission trips to Third World countries.

Davis was honored for her work with the "I Love Cape" radio promotions.

Foster was recognized for 20 years of service by coaching in a youth tackle football program. "He has donated over 3,000 hours of his time to youth over the last 20 years," said Heather Brooks, assistant to the city manager and ex-officio member of Vision 2020.

Meyer was honored for his successful efforts to preserve the old Marquette Hotel. Meyer helped put together the plan that led a developer to renovate the vacant building into a state office building.

Richards was recognized for his efforts as chairman of the Cape County Transit Authority in seeking to provide affordable public transportation. Richards was out of town and couldn't attend the awards ceremony.

Jeff Brune, executive director of the transit authority, accepted the award on Richards' behalf.

Watkins, a retired elementary school principal, was honored for his numerous volunteer efforts on local and state committees dealing with children's issues and emergency preparedness.

'Game of take-away'

Austin said Cape Girardeau needs to continue to make civic improvements that will retain businesses and attract new ones.

Other cities in the region constantly seek to lure businesses away from Cape Girardeau, he said. "It is a serious game of take-away, and we have to prevent that," Austin said.

Former Cape Girardeau councilman Melvin Gateley, who spearheaded development of the original Vision group -- Vision 2000 -- in 1987, has long been a cheerleader for the community.

The subsequent Vision 2020 group settled on a strategic plan that was approved by the city council on Aug. 7, 2000. The plan dealt with the arts, community services, economic development, education and transportation.

"It is really a strategic plan that is capitalizing on the positive things we have in Cape Girardeau," he said.

The original group may be remembered for planting thousands of jonquils and roses around town.

But Gateley said the group did more than that. It also successfully pushed for passage of a sales tax to fund city road projects.

Nancy Jernigan, who chairs Vision 2020, said her group plans to nominate Cape Girardeau for the National Civic League's All-America City designation, and work to promote better coordination among arts and cultural groups in the city.

"We want people to be proud they live here," she said. "We need to boast about that."

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123