SPECIAL REPORT: Multi-generational vision in Mid-Michigan

By Sarah Chuby

Forty years ago, a group of Isabella County youth met with G.R. “Rollie” Denison, a local businessman and political leader, at Stan’s Restaurant in downtown Mount Pleasant for a cup of coffee and conversation.

As their bread toasted and eggs scrambled, the young men asked Denison about local politics.

Sid Smith said they looked up to Denison for guidance and, in return, Denison expected the youths to take a leadership role in their community. Denison died in 2003 at age 83.

“Rollie told me, ‘Our leadership is growing older, and we are getting tired.’ He wanted to teach us the ropes to take over,” said Smith, now in his mid-60s. “We are looking forward to a new generation of ideas.”

With Denison’s teaching in mind, Smith – along with Isabella County resident George Dunn – established Isabella County”s Vision 20/20, a group dedicated to improving the quality of life. This year’s highlight will be a Banner Festival brightening downtown Mount Pleasant this summer.

Vision 20/20 began in summer 2007 with about 30 members, Smith said. It has grown to more than 150 members. As the initiative picked up momentum, younger community members joined to support it.

As first, there were two Vision 20/20 groups divided by age. The junior group and senior group each created a “top five” priority list.

The two groups discovered their areas of county focus were the same – intergovernmental cooperation, economic development, leadership development, quality of life and educational opportunities.

Five committees, made up of both junior and senior members, were established to carry out priority-focused improvement plans to bring Isabella County from “good to great.”

“Something that I learned from Rollie is that when you realize you can have an effect on something you care about, you naturally become a leader,” said Smith, president and CEO of Smith Equities Corp.

Vision 20/20 group plans include Isabella County beautification, bike paths and a school safety route for elementary-age children.

The new Safe Routes to School initiative encourages and enables students to walk or bicycle to and from school by having school-related adults, such as parents, acting as crossing guards and looking out for the children.

“We tested it at one school (Fancher Elementary School in Mount Pleasant) and it has had great response,” Smith said. “Not only is it for safety, it also gets kids exercising outside.”

Vision 20/20’s Quality of Life committee also wanted to create an Isabella County signature event to draw people to Mount Pleasant, the county seat. For almost a year, the committee has been planning a Banner Festival.

Banner Festival Chairman George Rouman, who raised all four of his children in Isabella County, said the 2009 theme is “Paint the Town.”

Every household in the county was invited to participate and there were more than 155 banner designs received. Banners were painted in late March and early April. They will dress up the downtown Mount Pleasant light poles from early June to mid-September.

On an April community banner-painting day at Mount Pleasant’s Veterans Memorial Library, Isabella County residents – ages 2 to 78 – drew abstract art, flowers, whistling faces and pinwheels on 3-by-5-foot vinyl canvases.

“We want to attract people downtown with these beautiful banners,” Rouman said. “We have great restaurants and shops in our historic downtown, and we want those to stay healthy.”

Smith said the involvement not only enriches Isabella County businesses but also also benefits the Isabella County neighborhoods and the people in them.

“There is so much going on to enhance and improve where we live. People are really getting excited. This is community involvement that would have made Rollie proud,” Smith said. “I know that I am.”