New Natchez Mayor Phillip West &045;&045; who presided over his first meeting on Tuesday &045;&045; got off on the right foot the next day with a speech about teamwork.

Talking to members of the Rotary Club, West emphasized the need for residents and community leaders to work together and pool each person’s strengths to make Natchez a better place.

That includes making it a better place for business and for quality of life. West has formed a team of leaders &045;&045; from the city, county and EDA &045;&045; to meet with Gov. Haley Barbour about industrial prospects for Natchez. While Barbour has canceled the meeting due to a scheduling problem, we hope it will be back on his schedule as soon as possible so that the governor can hear more about Southwest Mississippi’s needs.

West said he wants elected officials to get more involved in economic development by making contacts with industries. That is a good plan, especially as it sounds as if it would not usurp the role of the EDA, which should remain our chief clearinghouse for economic development.

But West also said he wants to see residents and businesses team up for volunteerism. The mayor, who had a key role in developing the city’s Boys & Girls Club, said he will ask business leaders to encourage their employees to volunteer for just 40 hours a year.

It is a simple request, but it could make a world of difference to the agencies and people in need in our community. What a positive impact that would have &045;&045; and what a positive idea to put forth.

We hope that kind of optimism continues to color our community’s future and this administration.