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Meeting Minutes: February 2016

2/20/2016

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NYC AAZK Meeting
  - February 22, 2016, Bronx Zoo Curator's Room

President: Joe Nappi, Vice President: Erin Mowatt, Secretary: Avi Shuter, Treasurer: Amy Golden 


Attended by: Erin Mowatt, Joe Nappi, Avi Shuter, Ken Huth, Lisa Walker, Taylor Ritz, Kevin Hils, Leela Tamero, Mike McCue, Erin Minnock, Gabrielle Rosato, Elizabeth Mills, Brent Atkinson, Joe Borsellino, Jen Loveless, Amy Golden, Vanessa Jones, Michelle Blatz, Alisha Mendez, Bonnie Glover, Rebecca Mitchell, Brianna Ogas, Heather Tassler, Linda Edge, Nyssa Turner, Tim Mohl, Bill Doyle, Amanda Hackett 

Themes of 2016: Communication, Collaboration & Conservation
  - We want to make for a chapter that internally communicates better, as well as better 
    communicates with non-members
  - We want to make for a more socially cohesive chapter, as well as collaborate with different 
    departments around the Bronx Zoo
  - We want to support more conservation projects through volunteer efforts and fundraising

Goals for 2016:
  - Refocus our efforts on the Bronx Zoo
  - Mini open forums with different departments? (social media, sustainability, fundraising) 
  - Social events with a cause: 
        . Ice Skating, March 
        . Cinco de Rhino, May
        . Paint bar night, Fall
  - Volunteering/Conservation 
        . Bronx river clean-up
        . Summer Bat walk 
  - Social Games night, Summer
  - Keeper presentation night in Fall 

Ice Skating Fundraiser 
   - Murray Memorial Skating Rink in Yonkers
   - $20, half goes t
o conservation, half to rink. We will pay as one big group to get a discounted price
   - Ideas/vote for what conservation groups we want to support
   - Date: Sunday March 20th, 5:20-7:30 PM

Committee Reports:

- Bowling for Rhinos. We need your help! 
   . Same location
   . Looking for more parking options with local restaurant
   . Bigger push for non-zoo staff bowlers so buy tickets early
   . Almost sold out all 35 lanes last year with approx. 250 bowlers. Made over $6,000 in 2015!
   . Looking at adding a second bar tender as well as smoother pizza distribution 
   . Most of the work is done. Need help getting raffle prizes, corporate donors 
        - template letter already made
        - Need help at the door for the event
   . WCS Indonesia works in rhino range areas 

National Zoo Keeper Week: Cindy, Avi, Lisa & Heather
  - Planning starts this month, so it’s not too late to get involved 
  - This will be a collaboration with ALL departments at the Bronx Zoo, so this is an excellent 
    opportunity to either network or get a better understanding of how events work at the zoo
  - Let us know if there are any particular animals you would like to give a keeper chat for!


Travel Grant Committee
  - changing the submission date to late summer to coincide with AEP grant and the fact that there are 
    more conferences in the fall
  - There is a $1000 grant given out to advance the ideals of AAZK (professional development, 
    conservation work, research, etc.). There is an additional AAZK National Conference Grant to help 
    cover registration fees as well
  - Anyone interested in being on committee?

World Animal Days:
  - Discussed the prospect of starting a committee to oversee hosting world animal day events through the year

Closing Message:
- Thank you for all that attended our open forum. It was a great success and a lot of great conversation were held. 
  We are looking into hosting similar forums at the other WCS parks. 
- We appreciated everyone that attended this meeting! We had a record crowd.
- Our next meeting will be held at the end of March. 
- Please let us know if you are interested in joining one of our committees (Bowling for Rhinos, National Zoo Keeper Week, Travel Grant)

We want to hear from you!!! Now is your chance to have your voice heard and shape the future momentum of this chapter!

Non-Members AAZK Survey


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QQXCPH6

Members AAZK Survey::
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QWDM6RC
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Meeting Minutes: April 2015

4/20/2015

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April 20, 2015 NYC AAZK Meeting Minutes

In Attendance: Members: Tyrone Nickens, Elizabeth Mills, Brittany Murphy, Ashley Herbolich, Brent Atkinson, Avi Shuter, Sara Koplish, Joe Nappi, Michelle Medina, Lora Murphy, Melanie Weber, Cindy Maur; Supporters: Mo Ortiz, Samantha Gaeta, Vanessa Jones, Sosha Fusco, Diane Craft, Cristina Mendonca, Miranda Feldman, Anne Gilewski

Old Business: Nothing to Report

New Business:
* New Amendment Proposed: Effective beginning in 2015, yearly chapter membership dues are $15 for National AAZK members and are $25 for Non-National AAZK members.
o Please note yearly dues are valid from January to December.
o Voting on this amendment will end May 20th at 5 PM.

* Bowling for Rhinos!
o It’s our 5th Annual BFR
o New venue: Woodside, Queens
o New prices:
* $25 for chapter members, $30 for non-members
* To buy a lane: $200 for a member, $220 for a non member
o New deal: 3 hours of unlimited bowling, shoe rentals, 1 drink and 2 pizzas per lane
o New fundraising goal: $10,000!

* To reach this goal we are asking all bowlers to “ask 5 friends for $5”

* Training Demonstration by Cristina Mendonca and Anne Gilewski (and Diego and Bruiser)

* Sea Lion End Tidal CO2 Presentation by Mo Ortiz (in collaboration with Marisa Ostek)
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Meeting Minutes: March 2015

3/20/2015

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Meeting Minutes: February 2015

2/20/2015

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​NYC AAZK Monthly Meeting Minutes – February 20, 2015
Attendees:
Sarah Parker – President, Bill Orrico – Secretary, Michelle Medina, Joe Nappi, Erin Mowatt, Elizabeth Mills, Florence Klecha, Kelvin Alvarez, Brent Atkinson, Andrew Kathriner, Lenny Billie
Reports:
·         Dues must be paid for the new year ASAP
·         Barnanza raised $141 and dues were collected from 12 members
o   Suggestion box a success. Most suggestions for BFR venue change, increase in workshops and panel discussions, monthly meetings shortened in duration, and holding fewer but larger fundraisers
·         Recharter is due March 1 – Officers are working to complete it
·         Bowling for Rhinos – August 17
o   New location “34th Ave Lanes” in Woodside, Queens
o   $25/$30 for 3 hours (includes 2 pizzas/lane and 1 drink ticket/person)
o   Option to buy whole lane for $200/$220
Business/Discussion:
·         March Meeting – Need ideas for type of meeting or it will be another simple business meeting
o   No ideas from meeting – Contact officers with suggestions
·         April Meeting – Presentation Night at Aquarium
o   Aquarium requests funding if food budget is over $100. Will be preparing itemized list and be put to a Chapter vote
·         Run for the Wild – April 25 – Should we have a table?
o   Consensus is that we should have a table at the event. Brent and Bill volunteered to work at table. Anyone else interested should contact officers
·         Panel Discussion
o   Survey results lacking – Many did not receive the survey – will send again
o   If interested in joining committee for future discussions contact Cindy or Avi
·         National Zoo Keeper Week – July
o   Planning has already begun by committee – in contact with management
o   Concerns voiced by members included increased work during week, lack of feeling appreciated by management, and ineffectiveness at reaching public
o   Do we want to keep gifts from chapter to keepers? – Vote
·         Bowling for Rhinos
o   New location and prices should greatly increase interest and attendance
o   Want more involvement from public – Posters/signs, contact NYC Cultural institutions, table at events?
o   Increase fundraising by including individual Bowl-a-thon component
o   Option of second BFR event in Bronx area to attract different subset of Keeper Staff?
§  BFR once a year but different event can be held north. Looking at locations for Croctoberfest in Bronx. Cinco de Rhino?
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Meeting Minutes: September 2014

9/20/2014

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​Financials
  • Money has been given to Heather (for meeting food, labels) and Sarah ( for BFR tees)
  • Reimbursement for Robin ($615 recharter fee and $60 banner purchase) needs to be sent…get cashier’s check from bank ~$10 (bc new acct checks cost hundreds of dollars), and mail to her
  • Fundraiser- order forms for items are being sent to us shortly, will be dispersed through interoffice mail
    • Money will be needed up front for items
    • Can write receipts by hand for records
    • Fundraiser can be run during October, order placed Nov, and items arrive for Dec
    • 40% of profits go to our Chapter


October Meeting
  • Will be Discussion Panel!
  • On the 20th, a Monday, at Bronx after work
  • Time and format is in works, Cindy is discussing with Breheny
  • Should only run about an hour long
  • Send questions to Cindy for anonymous asking
  • No FOZ invited
  • What are we doing for food??? Coffee and snacks only??
  • Officer election time- please have nominees or interested person give a brief 5 minute speech about themselves, vote in Nov


November Meeting
  • Will be Enrichment Bonanza
  • Perhaps have facility based if each facility wants, and puts it together
  • Potluck dinner
  • Officer Voting online


December Meeting
  • Will be Holiday Auction
  • Donations are being collected
  • Auction will be before Christmas sometime
  • Cindy is chair
  • Monthly meeting will be facility based, because of busy holiday schedules


Misc
  • Please set up recycle boxes at your department/facility to collect cans!
    • Need to discuss exchanging for money…who will do and when









Attendance from the BZ:           
Erin Mowatt
Rebecca Mitchell
Mary G
Mike Wrubel
Brent Atchinson
Sara Koplish
Kaitlyn Keys
Heather Tassler
Jay Schoen

Attendance from PPZ:
Tierney O’neal
Ashley Herbolich
Denny Muireo
Danielle Taylor
Debbie Dienaman
Brittany Murphy
Andrea Reimold

Attendance from QZ:
Melanie Weber
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Meeting Minutes: July 2014

7/20/2014

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​National Zookeeper Week
  • PPZ is getting treats from Education
  • submit childhood photos at the Zoo!!
         --reenact adult version (when possible) for 2015? See Brittany
    Murphy's photo lol
  • Buzzfeed goes out Mon 7/21
  • Keeper gifts given out in Bronx mailboxes, PPZ at Kickball to
    Brittany, and Ashley gave CPZ's to Brian to pass out.
  • Twitter Party is Weds
  • social media will be even heavier next year; very present this year,
    and planning started pretty late
  • auction is in progress; other facilities can bid on higher priced
    items as well

BFR
  • raffle is coming; donations are welcome!!
  • ticket sales go up 7/21 (but postponed to 7/23)
  • 40+ tickets sold, but really need to sell more, more, more over next few days


Other
  • bank account stills needs updated to switch from Cindy to Heather
    (and add c/o line for statements, as they're getting lost)



Attendance: PPZ- Ashley Herbolich and Debbie Dieneman from Education,
Brittany Murphy, Atu Marshall, Justine Wilber, Andrea Reimold (and her
boyfriend Andrew), Juan Alberto Choy Lui, and Morgan Parlo, and also
Takquan McGill and James Savastano from O/M, NYA- Kayla Bergman,
Shoely (I'm butchering this name...), David, and Julie, BX- Cindy
Maur, Sara Koplish, Kaitlyn Keys, and Heather Tassler. Also attending
and not claiming a specific facility were Matt and Shawn (?)
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Meeting Minutes: June 2014

6/20/2014

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​National Zookeeper Week
  • Meeting with Jim B. and others to discuss developmental planning, get things on track and get interest
    • The auction
    • Keeper chats
  • Need to touch base with management to see who is available to participate
  • Also need to touch base with keepers
  • Pat Thomas indicated that  Julie (photographer) sent him a lot of pictures of keepers to be displayed during NZKW


July Meeting
  • Prospect Park projected for July
  • AAZK has given the OK to Ashley, she has let the liaison Brittany know…she is waiting to hear back from the bosses (delayed because of AZA accred. Coming up)


BFR
  • Code for discounted member tickets: “Imamember”
  • If anyone wants to purchase tickets in person:
    • Get name, email, which park they are from (if applicable), and who is on their team/lane (if applicable), get cash. Lora will add them to the system
  • Max of 256 tickets available
  • $2,000 payment due in June
  • We should set a goal for ourselves to anticipate the next payment that needs to be applied, so no one is paying out of their pocket and getting reimbursed
  • Idea for next year: Early bird special needs a bigger gap between its deadline and the event, to push sales
  • Bake sale should include salty items to go along with refreshments!
  • Having face painting for a small fee this year!
  • Sara has some raffle supplies from last year- gift bags
    • Do we have a list of BFR items sold at holiday auction?? To add to this year’s fundraising efforts
  • T-shirt design is being decided upon, still have shirts from last year
  • Sara will check with her shirt contact about lessening the order
  • Recap:
    • Date: Monday August 11th
    • Tickets are on sale now!!!
      • Members are $35, non-members $40, will increase $5 each after July 20th
      • No tickets will be sold at the door, so we need you and your friends to buy tickets ASAP!!  Go directly to http://nycaazkmeetingminutes.blogspot.com/p/2014.html for ticket purchasing.
      • We need a list of helpers, and what you would like to be assisting with at the event.
      • We will be having a baked goods sale, as well as giving goodies to any parties celebrating a birthday or other special occasion…Please inform us if you are celebrating something!
      • We need donations and sponsors, please help us collect money or items for BFR!!!!


Barnanza
  • Discussed coupling it with the holiday party


Finances
  • New account is open and active!!
  • We need to stay on top of our finances!! Last year was very poor in doing so (cashing checks on time, etc.)



Attendance from the BZ:
Matthew LeBron 
Kaitlyn Keys
By phone:
Melanie Weber- QZ
Ashley Herbolich-PPZ

Jared Ozga 
Sara Koplish
Cindy Maur
Lora Murphy- AQ
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Meeting Minutes: May 2014

5/20/2014

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​Official officer announcement
  • Please welcome the following new board members that were voted in:
    • President: Kaitlyn Keys, Bronx Zoo
    • Vice President: Heather Tassler, Bronx Zoo
    • Treasurer: Ashley Herbolich, Prospect Park Zoo


BFR
  • Date: Monday August 11th
  • Tickets are on sale now!!!
    • Members are $35, non-members $40, will increase $5 each after July 20th
    • No tickets will be sold at the door, so we need you and your friends to buy tickets ASAP!!  Go directly tohttp://nycaazkmeetingminutes.blogspot.com/p/2014.html for ticket purchasing.
    • We need a list of helpers, and what you would like to be assisting with at the event.
    • We will be having a baked goods sale, as well as giving goodies to any parties celebrating a birthday or other special occasion…Please inform us if you are celebrating something!
    • We need donations and sponsors, please help us collect money or items for BFR!!!!
Dues
  • Please pay your national dues if you haven't yet! Most have not paid!!! Also, make sure you show proof of payment and pass it along to your officers or nycaazk@gmail.com. 
  • Please pay your local dues as well, if you haven't!!


NZKW
  • Please let us know if anyone at your facility would be interested in doing a keeper chat
  • Gifts are being ordered soon


Panel Discussion (more details to come)
  • Specific dates are being discussed, we are hoping to find a date in October that works
  • Please fill out and return the surveys that have been emailed, it’s very important to guide us in planning this event, the survey is located below



Attendance from the BZ:
Jessica Chin
Mike Wrubel
Kaitlyn Keys
By phone:
Melanie Weber- QZ
Ashley Herbolich-PPZ
Lora Murphy- AQ

Erin Mowatt
Rebecca Mitchell  
Tyrone Nickens
Heather Tassler
Joe Nappi
Cindy Maur

​The NYC AAZK Chapter is hosting a panel discussion this coming summer at one of our monthly meetings. This event will be an open floor format, in which all questions, comments, and ideas are very much welcomed and encouraged to be expressed to a panel of representatives from each of the parks.

Please answer the following questions honestly, to help us determine if this would be of interest to you and the animal department and education staff.

- Would you attend such a panel discussion? Why or why not? If NOT, what could be a better way to voice your questions?



- What do you think would be the pros or cons of having this type of discussion?



- If you could ask 1 question, what would it be? Limit 2 to 3 questions.
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Meeting Minutes: October 2013

10/20/2013

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​NYC AAZK General Meeting Minutes – Sunday, October 20, 2013

Location: New York Aquarium: Sharks in the City!
Current Members: Robin Sutker, Tom Anderson, Allison Shaw, Joe Nappi, Rob Blakely, Mo Ortiz, Heather Tassler, Mary Gremler, Michelle Medina, Matthew LeBron, Sarina Cella, Tyrone Nickens, Cindy Maur
Future Members: Melissa G, Nicole Ethier, Yang Ting Lau, Leonard A Bille Jr, Adrienne Nussey, Tammy Lam, Kiana Gourdine, Michelle Wu, Mike Camardell, Barry C., Virginia Fioribello, Stephanie Mitchell, Deanna DeRosa, Mike Wrubel, Sylvia de la Piedra, Martha Hiatt, Andrea Reimold, Natasha Karl, Kyle McKenna, Ellen Spencer, Hans Walters,Jillian Dombo, Neil DeMaster, J Elizabeth Clark, Christine Telesco Cancela, Angel R Cancela, Brittany Murphy, Francis Verna, Atu Marshall, Kayla Bergman, Lauren Del Grosso, Erin Mowatt, Brandon Waldron, Angie Coccoma, Hallie Schultz, Cristina Mendonca, Faiynn Goldferb, Christina Williams, Azzara Oston, Tierney O’Neal, Shuli Rank, Kelsey Kovner


Upcoming Events
-      Wednesday, Nov 20th-Enrichment Bonanza at the Bronx Zoo: Join us for holiday themed enrichment making including paper mache and other “presents” for our animals
-      Elections- Please let a current officer know ASAP if you are interested in an officer position starting Jan 1st. We will give membership an opportunity to learn about all candidates and membership will vote for our incoming officers before the Dec 20th meeting
-      Monday, Dec 9th- Holiday Party at Mc Faddens. Join us in celebrating a great year with drink specials and chances to win a free membership for next year.

Report of Finances for BFR- The totals are not yet fully in, but we do expect to make upwards of $4000 thanks to the efforts the Bowling for Rhinos committee with a special thanks to Lora Murphy, Liz Benham and Joe Nappi who were our top fundraisers. A special thanks to our WCS facilities who generously donated animal interactions for the BFR Committee to use as incentives for fundraising!

We are still selling BFR T-shirts!! T-shirts are still on sale! Email us if you want one! Chapter BFR t-shirts are $12 and National BFR t-shirts are $15
      
Committees- If you want to help make NYC AAZK’s events and meeting as fun as this NYA Event, please consider joining or helping a committee! Here are a few of the committees you can join:
-BFR                                                   -National Zoo Keeper Week
-Travel Grant Committee                     -Enrichment Committee
-Girl Scouts Committee                       -and much more!

Main Event- Sharks in the City!
We had a wonderful night of presentations covering topics from shark anatomy to novel shark/ ray training, to WCS involvement with shark in situ research. The presentations were followed by a behind the scenes tour of the NYA’s shark/ ray/ turtle holding pool. A special thanks to Andrea Reimold, Nicole Ethier, and Hans Walters for their great presentations and a special thanks to Lora Murphy and the NYA AAZK enthusiasts who planned such an impressive night!
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Meeting Minutes: June 2013

6/20/2013

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​June 20, 2013
AAZK Meeting w/ Guest Speaker Melissa Nelson on Public Speaking
Attended by: Robin Sutker, Cindy Maur, Sara Koplish, Melissa Ortiz, Lisa Walker, Elizabeth Mills, Kelly Carman, Ty Nickens, Jessica Chin, Randi Winter.

Presentation covered many aspects of public speaking including how to address different crowds for different kinds of talks, how to tackle difficult questions/subjects, how to exit gracefully and much more.
·        GNC: discussed volunteer days last Wednesday and Friday and the possibility of continuing the partnership between GNC and NYCAAZK. We can continue to volunteer and promote them at our events and they can sell our chopsticks in their shop.

·         Elections coming up in November, we can add positions if more people want to be involved by creating more specific titles.

o   Need to remind members to register for online voting.

·         Liaison Meetings: open to all departments from all of our zoos, want to increase our outreach.

·         Presentation Night: this year’s theme will be Training and Enrichment sometime in Sept or Oct

·         BFR: Lucky Strike $18/person for 16 lanes, possibly pushing date from August to September getting up to all 22 lanes (need to see how much the tickets would be to book all lanes).

o   Allowed to sell merchandize, baked item raffle
o   $3 beer/$6 pizza
o   For big money raisers ($50/$100) we can offer a tee-shirt and 3x raffle entry
o   Trying to push people to raise money above the ticket price
o   Kathleen is checking with Breheny for animal encounter prize
o   Need to solidify tee shirt design and quantity (100)

·         Dues: possibly enabling PayPal for dues, will most likely cost us money though; there is currently no prorating on membership dues.
Upcoming Events
National Zookeeper Week July 21st –27th
Overlook Bar July 31st (RSVP) 44th & 2nd food and drink specials
 
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