Vision 2020 subcommittee talks over ideas to promote Cape

Submitted photo

At a recent meeting at Cape Girardeau City Hall the Vision 2020 community services and enrichment subcommittee held a special meeting to discuss a plan to encourage citizens to become more involved in promoting the city's image through involvement, empowerment, volunteerism and pride. Sitting, from left, were Nancy Jernigan, chair of arts and culture subcommittee; Melvin Gately, former city councilman; Megan Davis and Debbie Otto, both of Zimmer Radio. Standing, from left, were Bryan Uptain, Charter media specialist, and Doug Austin. Not pictured was Gayle Conrad, city clerk.Southeast Missourian

With visions for a bigger, better and brighter Cape Girardeau, a brainstorming session of the community services and enrichment subcommittee of Vision 2020 was held at the Cape Girardeau City Hall on Thursday.

The meeting focused on two main areas: how to get the community involved in the "I Love Cape" campaign and the plan to submit the All-America City application this year and win.

The National Civic League awarded Cape Girardeau with the All-America City title in the late 1960s, according to committee members. In 2002, an application was submitted by Cape Girardeau. However, the honor of All-America City was bestowed on 10 other U.S. cities.

Gayle Conrad, Cape Girardeau city clerk, handed out sample applications of three winning cities for committee members' review. Along with the evaluation received from the National Civic League, these tools will provide insight on ways to strengthen and enhance Cape Girardeau's 2003 application. The application, due March 26, is one of the subcommittee's priorities. They plan to meet today to discuss it further.

Discussion about promoting the City of Cape Girardeau on a nonexistent budget was one of the topics that followed. Help from local media organizations was volunteered, including news coverage of the subcommittee's events by the Southeast Missourian.

Bryan Uptain, Charter media specialist, suggested opening up a logo contest to the community, focusing on a visual of "I Love Cape." The tentative kickoff date to launch the contest is four to six weeks away.

Melvin Gately, a former principal of Schultz Middle School in Cape Girardeau for 22 years, said, "We held a Cape Girardeau flag contest for children and adults while I was a principal. The contest had guidelines and was very successful."

Efforts to promote the contest at First Friday Coffee events and Chamber meetings were discussed.