Melvin Gateley wonders why the birthplace of the Missouri state flag doesn't have a city flag. Under the auspices of the Vision 2000 Community Relations Council, the Cape Girardeau councilman called a meeting of the local class of 2000 to get the flag-making process started.

Gateley, Cape Girardeau Central High School teacher Julia Jorgensen, two other adults and 13 sophomores from Central and Notre Dame high schools met Monday evening at Notre Dame school to get the ball rolling.

Notre Dame student Sarah Stricker came because "it was something to be involved in with the community. I think we need a new symbol."

She volunteered to be on a committee that would figure out procedures for selecting the flag.

With Gateley and Jorgensen presiding, the group agreed there should be some kind of competition. Jorgenson called for committees.

One will draw up guidelines on how to submit the entries, what form the entries should take and whether to require any particular colors or themes.

Another will figure out how to select the flag -- should a committee select finalists or should the people of Cape Girardeau vote on all entries, who would be eligible to vote, and how to hold the vote.

A third will be in charge of publicity.

Only students volunteered for the committees. Gateley suggested the students invite an adult to join them. The group plans to meet again at 7 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 29 at Central High School.

Gately passed out a report written by Southeast Missouri State University students in 1992 that suggested holding a contest for a city flag. Those students polled people at the West Park Mall and over the telephone and found that a majority didn't know whether Cape Girardeau had a city flag, but supported the idea of having one.

Gateley said that although the Vision 2000 Committee supported the idea, at that time no group had the initiative to organize it. Vision 2000 was preoccupied with the city's bicentennial celebration.

Gateley said that when he thought about reviving the idea, "I thought the Class of 2000 would be perfect."

Central sophomore Ross Redfearn agrees. "Our class will be a change in the community," Redfearn said, "with new technology and new people to run the community."