NATCHEZ &045; A painting of the gazebo on the bluff by Natchez artist Catina Bernard was chosen as logo for

Vision Natchez at a Thursday meeting of about 50 members of the group.

Vision Natchez, founded by Rena Jean Schmieg and guided by

community development expert Vaughan Grisham of the University of Mississippi, has brought together hundreds of interested participants, including individuals, government officials, clubs, agencies and other groups, who chose beautification as the first short-range project for the betterment of the Natchez area.

The logo, which will be seen first on T-shirts that tout the beauty of Natchez and the importance of keeping it beautiful, was one of several submitted by Bernard and a single black-and-white logo submitted by Natchez artist Ray Brown.

Michael Winn worked with the artists who submitted designs and will work with a T-shirt company to have shirts made to incorporate Bernard’s design and commemorate the Vision Natchez movement.

Bernard said she was inspired to donate her artwork when she heard about the clean-up and beautification efforts planned by the group. &uot;This is my hometown, and I’ve learned to appreciate it,&uot; she said.

Schmieg said the choice of clean-up and beautification has been popular throughout the community and has brought more than 30 groups to the table to take part.

Vision Natchez participant Gill Smith said he had contacted about 30 leaders of Neighborhood Watch groups about getting involved.

The Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel has committed to clean and beautify Canal Street, Silver Street and Briel Avenue.

Ruby Gaylor attended the Thursday meeting to represent the Magnolia Neighborhood Club, a group of friends who live in North Natchez.

&uot;We are going to clean up in the College Heights Subdivision,&uot; she said.

Schmieg said the participation in Vision Natchez, which was organized only weeks ago, has been inspiring. &uot;We’re going to celebrate this achievement. It’s the first time in a long time we’ve had this across-the-board participation.&uot;

Grisham urges in his plans for community development that a group representing a true cross section of a community come together and make a plan to improve their home town.

That plan begins with a project that can be accomplished in one month. That’s the origin of the clean-up and beautification project now under way and expected to culminate with the community-wide effort on April 30.

Natchez Mayor Phillip West said at the meeting he already sees a cleaner Natchez as he goes about town. &uot;This is about shaping attitudes to make sure we all have a better quality of life,&uot; he said. &uot;Vision Natchez is going to be about not just a more beautiful Natchez but about beauty in the hearts and minds of our people. It is bringing the community together and making it a better place to live.&uot;

Lists of people who have volunteered are growing. Each group or individual is selecting a specific block or area for which to be responsible on April 30.

After cleaning areas and, in some places, planting flowers, volunteers will take bags of trash to the bluff area at 1 p.m., where Waste Management will pick up the trash for disposal.

Clean-up volunteers then will join together in a picnic lunch, with each person bringing his own food and drink.