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V*Updated
March 28, 2010*
VISION 20/20 MAKING
RAPID PROGRESS.
Since its inception in 2007, Vision 20/20 and its
roster of more than 70 community leaders have
initiated and supported many projects across Isabella
County. Vision 20/20 was formed to organize citizen
involvement, share resources and talents and help move
Isabella County from 'good to great.' Vision 20/20's
plan is built on five elements: Leadership, Education,
Integration and Planning, Economic Development and
Quality of Life. There are separate subcommittees
focusing on each of these elements made up of
volunteers with varying backgrounds. These members are
drawn from across Isabella County.
Over the past year many projects have been launched
and their benefits have been felt county-wide;
confirming that strong leaders are at the core of
every community's success. Vision 20/20's Leadership
committee acknowledged this fact and partnered with
the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce to help take
such leaders from 'good to great.' Every second year
the Rollie Denison Leadership Institute offers a
curriculum to enhance leadership skills. The class of
2008-09 set a goal of raising $10,000 to start a Mt.
Pleasant Area Community Foundation endowment that will
help fund leadership enhancement opportunities in
Isabella County. To date, the class has raised nearly
$8,000 towards its Vision 20/20 Article Page 2 of 3
goal. One of these graduates, Scott Gillespie,
described the experience as very insightful and
beneficial to not only how he runs his business,
Selling U, but on how to become an effective volunteer
and community leader. Scott continued, "I would
certainly recommend this program to others. It was a
perfect fit for the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of
Commerce and the Vision 20/20 group to work together
to take the program to the next level."
Applications for the fall 2010 class are available at
the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce
office.
Other current Vision 20/20 projects stem from the
Quality of Life committee. The Banner Festival, in its
second year, has proven to be very successful with 250
banners being completed this year; up from 160 banners
in 2009. Artists range from age 8-80 and hail from
communities across Isabella County. Many organizations
have come forth to support this initiative including
Art Reach of Mid-Michigan, Central Michigan
University, the Mt. Pleasant Area Convention and
Visitors Bureau and the communities of Mt. Pleasant,
Shepherd and Winn. These original pieces of artwork
will be displayed from June through November on CMU's
campus and in downtown Mt. Pleasant, Shepherd and
Winn. The project is inclusive. Individuals do not
have to be artists to be involved. Those interested in
completing a banner just need to contact the Art Reach
office.
Another project going strong in its second year is the
Youth After School Health and Fitness Program. Housed
at Morey Courts, this outreach offers junior and
senior high school students the opportunity to improve
their fitness levels, learn about health and nutrition
and develop leadership skills. Morey Courts initiated
this project and Vision 20/20 identified partners to
make this program a reality. Central Michigan
Community Hospital provides training on fitness and
nutrition, the Isabella County Transportation
Commission offers reduced rates for students to be
transported to Morey Courts and Vision 20/20 Article
Page 3 of 3 Central
Michigan University students serve as mentors to
participants. As an added benefit, every week Morey
Courts gives one additional free pass to each program
participant. The initial goal was to have 40 students
involved and this semester 45 students who represent
every school in the county are participating. This
program will again be available in fall 2010.
Reflecting
on Vision 20/20's short history and rapid progress
over the past three years, Vision 20/20 chair and
co-founder Sid Smith stated, "It is wonderful to
see numerous community organizations work toward a
common goal. No matter what the project, there are so
many talented individuals in the county making good
things happen. Two of the main reasons Vision 20/20
started was to have people share their resources and
talents and help take Isabella County from 'good to
great'.'' Smith continued, "If the first three
years are any indication of things to come we are well
on our way ---- thanks to so many."
-Vision
20/20 is now on Facebook.
-Information
is also available on the website
www.vision2020isabellacounty.com
VISION 20/20
was formed entirely by an ad hoc group of concerned
Isabella County residents, whose purpose was to take
the community “From Good to Great” through a
planned, cohesive approach to growth.
The goal is to move our community to the
highest level possible by creating opportunities for
sustained cooperation between governmental entities at
all levels, among all of our educational institutions,
and business and industry collectively and regionally
lending to the enhancement of the quality of our
lives.
The objectives of VISION 20/20 are
the creation of a sustainable leadership base to fill
all leadership opportunities, occupy positions in
local government that have been historically hard to
fill, infuse the community with volunteerism and
community service, and increase regional and
intergovernmental cooperation for the benefit of
Isabella County residents.
VISION 20/20 has hosted public meetings
and has presented to several service organizations to
get your ideas and dreams for the future.
We will be happy to speak to any group or
person that wants to be a part of the dream and taking
their suggestions seriously.
We need your input, every idea is worth
consideration, so please contact Vision 20/20 at wsidneysmith@msn.com
or send comments to 108 S. University, Suite 6, Mt.
Pleasant, MI 48858.
The members of Vision 20/20 includes community
leaders who have no special agenda other than to
work together through open, frank and frequent
discussions, to examine all issues without
concern of political consequence or political
constituency. For this reason, no government
officials or representatives from governmental
organizations were included within the original
Vision20/20 structure.
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Jack
Anson
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Chuck
Fitzpatrick
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Mary
Olivieri
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Kathy
Backus
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Tony
Fox
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Darcy
Orlik
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Rick
Barz
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Scott
Gillespie
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Rich
Paar
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Carolyn
Bennett
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Lisa
Hadden
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Stan
Rathbun
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Nicole
Bliss
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Deanna
Heath
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Debbie
Robb
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Jennifer
Bolle
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Jim
Hill
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Bruce
Roscoe
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Ken
Bovee
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Kathy
Hill
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Sherri
Rosecrans
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Lisa
Boyd-Devers
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Eric
Janes
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George
Rouman
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Mary
Ellen Brandell
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Patti
Janes
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Tracey
Sallee
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Tim
Brockman
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Janine
Janoskey
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Ryan
Schlicht
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David
Burdette
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Al
Kaufmann
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Sid
Smith
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Charlie
Burke
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Maxine
Kent
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Mark
Smith
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Mike
Carey
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Gary
Knight
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Bill
Sowle
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Brent
Case
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Bob
Kohrman
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Joe
Sowmick
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Sandy
Caul
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Brandon
LaBelle
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Michelle
Sponseller
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Frank
Cloutier
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Kristin
LaBelle
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Terry
Stacy
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Joneil
Cook
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Steve
Martineau
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Bill
Strickler
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Jeni
Cross
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Lisa
McGonegal-Smith
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Jan
Strickler
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Lisa
Diaz-Sytsema
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Julie
McGuirk
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Mike
Terwilliger
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George
Dunn
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Rick
McGuirk
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Barb
Theunissen
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Nancy
English
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Kathy
Methner
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Ken
Van der Wende
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Mike
Ervin
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Lon
Morey
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Jack
White
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Judge
William Ervin
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Dave
Moscardelli
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Jennifer
White
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Audrey
Falcon
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Mike
Moutsatson, DO
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Jim
Wojcik
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