VOLUNTEERS AWARDED AT VISION 2000 CEREMONY

One of the greatest gifts a city can have is citizens who participate in efforts to better the city.

And Cape Girardeau has such citizens, said mayor Al M. Spradling III Thursday morning as he welcomed those at the Vision 2000 Awards of Distinction breakfast.

"It's wonderful to have so many people who put in timeless hours for no monetary compensation to make the community what it is today," Spradling said.

At the breakfast, awards were given to some of these people who have worked to meet the goals of Vision 2000, a volunteer initiative to better the city of Cape Girardeau. Speakers at the breakfast praised these efforts and talked about the efforts to come.

Kathy Swan, one of those working on the development of the Vision 2020 strategic plan, gave an update on those plans.

She described Vision 2000, which was established in 1987, as a map drawn up to guide Cape Girardeau into the 21st century. At the time Vision 2000 was established, four key areas or visions were identified for improvement: community spirit, planning and zoning, business/industry/jobs and education.

Using those visions, 24 objectives were set and in the 13 years since its inception, 19 of those objectives have been accomplished or addressed, Swan said.

Vision 2000 was so successful, she said, that it was decided the effort should be continued as Vision 2020. A 50-member planning committee, after holding a number of focus groups, have set five new priorities or visions, Swan said. These are community service/enrichment, education, arts/culture/leisure, transportation/infrastructure and economic development.

She said the planning committee will meet in February to use those vision areas to develop goals and objectives, which should be unveiled in September.

Cape Girardeau schools superintendent Dr. Dan Steska said when he thinks of Vision 2000, the phrase that comes to his mind is "Man's reach should exceed his grasp."

He said the effort has been able to accomplish so much because it has set its goals so high.

"Vision 2000 may not hit every mark, but it's great that it sets its mark so high," Steska said.

Vision 2000 works with the principal that the future is what you make of the present, said Tiffany Miller, a member of the Class of 2000 at Notre Dame High School. Vision 2000 has worked with these students since they were in first grade, involving them in rallies, pledges and projects like designing a flag for Cape Girardeau and listening to their opinions during discussions.

"It helped us realize we are the leaders of the community and of the world in the new millennium," Miller said.

Lillian Dean, a member of the Class of 2000 at Cape Central High School, said young people often feel they are too small to do much.

"But Vision 2000 has made us feel we can contribute," she said. "It showed us we could be active citizens and if we want change we have to be willing to work for what we want."

That's an attitude Melvin Gateley, who has been a leader of Vision 2000 since its inception, would like to see proliferate throughout the city.

"Together we can harness the power to change for the better and move into the future," he said.

Receiving awards were Cape Girardeau City Planner Kent Bratton, Cape Girardeau City Clerk Gayle Conrad, Missouri Secretary of State Rebecca McDowell Cook, Cape Girardeau Assistant City Manager Walter Denton, educator Jeanine Dobbins, Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission chairman Brian Driscoll, businessman Charles L. Hutson, Mid America Teen Challenge, Vision 2000 planning committee charter member Harry Rediger, educator Becky Richey, Schnucks Food and Drug, Vision 2020 facilitator Dr. Stan Stough, businesswoman Kathy Swan, community representative Leola Twiggs and Vision 2000 charter member Judy Wilferth.

A special award went to Melvin Gateley for his efforts in beautifying the city through the planting of rose and flower gardens.