Even a first-time visitor quickly learns Natchez is a unique lady, grand and austere, beautiful and classic.

A beauty coach might say of the city, &8220;She has excellent bone structure.&8221;

But bone structure is just the beginning. Getting the most out of what God gave us takes some work.

A group of Natchez tourism leaders met this week to get down to work on improving the city&8217;s attractiveness by discussing ideas for development.

Consultants from Lord Cultural Resources Planning and Management led the discussion.

Lots of ideas were brought forth.

The next step &8212; and the most critical &8212; will be in getting everyone in the city on the same page. In the past our tendencies to drop back into areas of our own self-interests have hampered development potential.

Plans for the city shouldn&8217;t get bogged down in: How much will I personally gain from this or will my small group come out ahead?

As we consider options, one simple question should be asked of any plans: Is this what&8217;s best for Natchez?

If anyone needs proof that having a shared vision and some determination can get things done, walk up the Natchez bluffs and survey the Vidalia Riverfront.

In less than a decade, Vidalia has developed the once-dusty, scrabble of an area into a beautiful new development that serves local residents and visitors alike.

Think about what Natchez has accomplished in the same time frame and what it could have accomplished. The bones are there; we just need to agree on what&8217;s best.