LEADERSHIP CAPE TEAMS LOOK AT SOLUTIONS

The latest Leadership Cape Girardeau class carried its work a bit further than other classes by coming up with some great ideas that deserve consideration.

The annual leadership groups bring together both new and longstanding residents who are interested in learning more about the problems and decision-making processes in the city. This year's class wasn't satisfied to stop at just learning about Cape Girardeau through daylong monthly workshops that focused on the workings of city government, law enforcement, health services, economic development, the media and the city's history. After seven months in the program, participants recommended a teen-age advisory council be appointed, a First Night alcohol-free New Year's Eve celebration be held and ideas be gathered on ways to revitalize downtown.

Five teams within the class of 25 chose their own projects from topics that ranged from the arts to government to community pride, health and recreation. The projects they picked ranged from very practical to an attempt to re-envision the city's downtown. In addition to concentrating on the First Night Cape Girardeau celebration and downtown revitalization, they considered opportunities for teen-agers in Cape Girardeau, a sign enhancement study and developing a volunteer program for the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

Their plan for downtown revitalization blends the history of Cape Girardeau with future visions downtown. It parallels the Downtown Merchants Association's Main Street project, which is being pursued under a national program and would include much of Broadway and the Good Hope business district.

Every year the chamber program turns out a class of community leaders who have and will continue to do a great deal to make Cape Girardeau a better place in which to live. They are dedicated individuals who really care about keeping the city on the move.

With more classes like the one that finished in July, Cape Girardeau can expect a wealth of benefits to come out of the Leadership Cape program for years to come.