BZAAZK Meeting Minutes -- April 20th, 2011
In Attendance: Cindy Maur, Dawn Davis, Mary Gremler, Mike Wrubel, Vanessa Jones, Jason Castro, Flo Klecha, Sara Koplish, Linda Edge, & Lauren Augustine. OLD BUSINESS: Logo Selection: We voted on the BZAAZK logo by secret ballot. The logo with the most votes was designed by Dawn Davis. The logo and a photo of the artist are being sent to the Animal Keepers Forum for publication. EVENT NEWS BAR-NANZA: A Night of “FUN” Raising at BAR EAST, yielded $1200 which was divided 70/30 between Turtle Survival Alliance and BZAC. Thank you to all who came and made this so successful. Contributions are still coming in and decisions on how to split those funds are yet TBD. COMMITTEES ARE FORMED! Bowling for Rhinos (BFR) – Alexis Amman, Lauren Augustine, Amy Golden, & Sarah Koplish Annual National Keeper Week (NKW) – Lauren Augustine, Dawn Davis, Vanessa Jones, Cindy Maur, & Sabrina Squillari. For more information, please check out these websites: http://aazkbfr.org/ and http://aazk.org/national%20zookeeper%20week.php , NEW BUSINESS: GIRL SCOUT PRESENTATION Dawn shared the events of the first Girl Scout Enrichment Night. Dawn and Joan McGillicuddy met with her daughter’s troop and had a very productive evening. See the photos on www.bronxzooaazkblogspot.com . Committee meetings are being held to finalize this project. Members who are interested in giving back through this program are asked to contact officers via email. MEMBER’S FEEDBACK: 1. How can we make things better for BZAC members? Some of the suggestions were: Big discounts at all our events, Committees and outreach programs - members only Members only “appreciation” events. 2. From Barnanza Social Night Event: Add guest list Add a band Add a food sponsor Eliminate any competition (i.e. pool league night) 3. Flo Klecha shared a great idea for NKW. Recognizing keeper’s accomplishments with some sort of showcase for their project results or conservation efforts, in a special print, Awards show or at exhibit site. Lots of other ideas were exchanged, prizes offered (drawings of animals), keeper olympics, game night, patron outreach with displays at exhibits, candy donations, or ice cream sponsor. 4. Can we get permanent and regular access to a storage space in the enrichment trailer? NEXT MEETING AGENDA: May 20th – Enrichment Bonanza 2 and Pasta Challenge An Enrichment Creation Party and Make your favorite Pasta dish, hot, cold, or mac and cheese, whatever-edible. Any special needs, wants, trades; please contact BZAC officers. Current list: A33 barrels, gardening stuff, seeds, rope, fire hose, soldering gun, additional tools, and a Toddler toy trade off.
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BZAAZK Meeting Minutes -- MARCH 20th, 2011
In Attendance: Cindy Maur, Dawn Davis, Heather Tassler, Mary Gremler, Jason Castro, Dana Caton, Tony Buffill, Alexis Amann, and Lauren Augustine. OLD BUSINESS: BZAAZK LOGO CONTEST! ILLUSTRATORS, GRAPHIC ARTISTS, PAINTERS, DESIGNERS, SCRAPBOOKERS, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR LOGO DESIGNS FOR BZAAZK BY March 30th 2011. We received 2 submissions from Dana Caton and Dawn Bard Davis. Your logo design MUST be at least 5.5 x 5.5 inches. Dawn has volunteered to scan the images so you can now submit, just the original artwork if needed. We still prefer you submit it in .jpg format, with at least 300 dpi resolution. Again, the logo must represent a variety of animals (mammals, reptiles, and birds). Black and white only, no color please. AAZK membership is not required to submit a design. All submissions will be reviewed and voted on at our April 20th monthly meeting. DUES DEADLINE FOR MEMBERSHIP THIS YEAR IS APRIL 20TH. To become a member of our local chapter you must first pay your National AAZK membership dues of $45.00 on the website www.AAZK.com. Then please pay $25.00 for our local chapter dues by April 20th, 2011. Please remit payments to Lauren Augustine, with a copy of your National membership card, or receipt of your payment to National. Thank you. NEW BUSINESS: FUNDRAISING IDEAS We began the meeting with an “awesome ideas” brainstorming session. We came up with over 20 great fundraising events or ideas. Here are some of the top ideas: Wii Video game Night, Chili Cook-off, Dodge ball Night, Giant Yard Sale, AAZK Calendar, AAZK gift shop section, and Fight Club night. To learn more; be at our next meeting. COMMITTEES We would like to form two (2) committees for upcoming events: Bowling for Rhinos (BFR) and the Annual National Keeper Week (NKW). BFR is a tried and true fundraiser, which most AAZK chapters adopt. Since, many other chapters have this event we can certainly use their models to create a successful event for BZAAZK. NZW is at the end of July, and has a free format for creating all kinds of possibilities. If you would like to help on the committees, please contact any officer ASAP. For more information, please check out these websites: http://aazkbfr.org/ and http://aazk.org/national%20zookeeper%20week.php , PRESENTATIONS: Cindy, Lauren, and Dawn made formal presentation on four (4) worthy conservation organizations. Lauren presented Turtle Survival Alliance, Dawn shared the Plight of the California Condor and the Peregrine Fund’s involvement, and Cindy talked about the Endangered Species International organization. In addition, we all suggested we also include a fund raising effort made by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, to financially aid the Japanese Zoo and Aquariums affected by the tsunami. The Turtle Survival Alliance was selected to receive our financial support from fundraising efforts at our next event. EVENT NEWS BAR-NANZA: A Social Night for Keepers is April 11th, 2011. All WCS keeper and animal staff is invited to join us at BAR EAST, located at 90TH & 1ST AVE., for THE social event of the year. A $10 donation at the door gets you 2 free drinks, and great drinks specials ‘til 8 pm. In addition to the foosball table and dartboard, BZAAZK will have other specials activities. AZF ENRICHMENT TAILS SUBMISSIONS: Lauren informed us of AAZK’s Animal Keeper’s Forum (AZF) call for submissions for ENRICHMENT TAILS section of the magazine. If you submit your enrichment study or project paper before May 2011, it will be entered in the drawing for free registration for this year’s AAZK Conference in San Diego, August 24th-28th 2011. Please give all submission to Josh Charlton for review before sending to AFK. For more information on the conference: http://sdaazkconf.wordpress.com/. NEXT MEETING AGENDA: April 20th - Dues Deadline, Logo selection, BFR and NZW Committee formation, Summer Event Plans/Calendar, and Membership Celebration. BZAAZK Meeting Minutes -- February 20th, 2011
In Attendance: Dawn Davis, Heather Tassler, Dana Caton, Avril Armstrong, Alyssa Borek, Megan Baumer, Rebecca Yee, John Treanor, Danielle Steele, Mike Wrubel, Alexis Amann, Linda Edge, Noel Pernello, Cindy Maur, Daphne Revie, Brandon Casey, Mike Houlihan, Kathy D’Andrea, Sabrina Squillari, Lacie Martin, Melanie Lumba, Christina Nieves, Jason Castro, & Nate Thompson. ENRICHMENT BONANZA Our first event was such a great success; we want to thank all of you for your participation. If you have photographs of your enrichment, in use or otherwise please get a copy to Michelle Medina so we can display it on our website (http://bronxzooaazk.blogspot.com/). Here is just a sample of the creative items keepers made for Birds (B) Mammals (M) and Reptiles (R): Ladders – M Swings - M Bamboo chimes – MB Twig balls - M Snake tactile boxes - R Delayed feeders – R Bamboo feeders - MBR Suet feeders – M Paper mache’ zebra – M Easter egg feeders – M Fire hose braid - M Target sticks -M Please let Dawn know of any other projects you would like to complete for next time. That’s right we have plans for at least one more scheduled Enrichment Bonanza before the end of the year. Thanks: Lauren Augustine, Cindy Maur, Dawn Davis, and Linda Edge did a great job organizing this event, but there were so many who made contributions. So, a big Thank You to Management for providing their space, support, tools and supplies. Also a special thanks to the Reptile Department for providing their spring cleaning treasures, Horticulture for the bamboo, and Congo ‘s Enrichment Center for providing their tools and storage area. A very, very special thanks to Marty, for his assistance with the setup and closedown. Additionally, a significant portion of the supplies and tools were from Melissa’s enrichment budget, thank you, Melissa. And we couldn’t forget a “SHOUT-OUT” of gratitude for all the keepers who made food; it was delicious, thank you. Show your appreciation by sharing a family recipe at our next meeting. Let us know what you’ll bring. OLD BUSINESS: BZAAZK LOGO CONTEST! Submit your logo design in digital format to any BZAAZK officer. The deadline is March 30th 2011. Your images must be at least 5.5 x 5.5 inches, 300 dpi, and in .jpg format. The logo must represent a variety of animals (mammals, reptiles, and birds). Black and white only, no color please. AAZK membership is not required to submit a design. NEW BUSINESS: Bronx Zoo AAZK Chapter is officially in business. To become a member of our local chapter you must first pay your National AAZK membership dues of $45.00 on the website www.AAZK.com. Then please pay $25.00 for our local chapter dues by April 20th, 2011. Please remit payments to Lauren Augustine, with a copy of your National membership card, or receipt of your payment to National. Thank you. NEXT MEETING: Formal Presentations will be made at our next Meeting on March 20th, in the Mammal Department Meeting Room. Cindy, Linda, Lauren and Dawn will be making presentations for four (4) different National animal organizations. BZAAZK is dedicating the majority of our first fundraising event “Bar-Nanza: a social night for keepers” to the organization/presentation who receives the most votes in the Quorum. The remaining funds raised at the “Bar-Nanza” event will go into BZAAZK’s General fund. In the future, you too can make a formal presentation for a national organization or for your own animal project or professional advancement at our next “Formal Presentations” meeting. This small “Bar-Nanza” event & presentations are the best way to demonstrate “how to get AAZK financial support” for your projects/professional advancements. Committees are groups of AAZK members who discuss, plan, and organize AAZK events. For example, Cindy, Lauren, Linda, and Dawn served as the committee for the Enrichment Bonanza. We would like to form two (2) committees for upcoming events: Bowling for Rhinos and the Annual National Keeper Week. We will be asking for volunteers at our next meeting; so for more information, please check out these websites: http://aazkbfr.org/ and http://aazk.org/national%20zookeeper%20week.php . Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Meeting Minutes for Future BZAC -- January 20th, 2011
MAMMAL DEPT. MEETING ROOM – ADMIN EAST First, a special thanks goes to all who brought in or made the delicious, home made entrees and refreshments. Show your gratitude by volunteering to make your favorite recipe for next time. In Attendence: Cindy Maur, Michelle Medina, Avril Armstrong, Vanessa Jones, Mike Wrubel, Jason Castro, Kirsty Black, Melanie Lumba, Rebecca Yee, Linda Edge, Dawn Davis, Kristin Antonaccio, Rebecca K. Zenowich, Kim Warren, Paul Kmintek, Amy Golden, Alexis Amann and Lauren Augustine. Meeting Agenda: Dawn Davis – Welcome, Gratitude, Gametime: Zoo Speed Scatagories, & Review of AKF magazine Linda – AAZK, American Association of Zoo Keepers - History, Mission & Purpose Cindy – Accomplishments already, Why join? & Future Benefits for keepers and the Bronx Zoo Lauren – Financial responsibilities, dues (national, & individual) website & distribution of funds MINUTES: AAZK is a nonprofit, volunteer, national organization of professional animal keepers (http://www.aazk.org). Their mission is to continue education for the animal-care professional. AAZK provides a professional forum, monthly. This trade magazine is called Animal Keeper Forum (AKF). National membership is required to gain full access to AKF magazine online (http://aazk.org/akf), in their member’s only section of the website. Members can also submit to share their animal project papers on husbandry, enrichment, training techniques etc…for publication in the AKF, again in the member’s only section (http://aazk.org/akf-submission-guidelines/). The member’s only section has a lot of valuable information and resources, including upcoming national conferences, fundraisers, and workshops. AAZK also provides grants for a number of different professional improvements and educational opportunity (http://aazk.org/about/grants/). AAZK national membership dues are $45 and the future Bronx Zoo AAZK Chapter (BZAC) dues are $25, both annually. The deadline for payment of dues for both National and the future BZAC is the 3rd meeting after our Chapter is made official. Our future BZAC dues ($25 ea. collectively) and all additional funds we raise are put into our General Fund, managed by the future BZAC Treasurer, Lauren Augustine. This General Fund pays BZAC’s dues to the national AAZK, and will manage, through a Quorum vote of the membership, any other expenditures. Only the Treasurer is allowed to spend under $100, without calling for a quorum vote. A quorum constitutes 20% of the future BZAC membership. A majority of the quorum is necessary to pass any motion, election or spending request. ALLOCATING FUNDS: Future BZAC expenditures, including any and all grants, deposits, enrichment, conferences tickets, conservation contributions etc. will be “formally” presented to the membership, by a member. “Formally” is hereby defined as verbally or visually presented to the membership and officers at an official meeting of the future BZAC, accompanied by an accurate estimate of expenses and a promise to remit all receipts for said expenses. All presentations will be heard before voting. The funds will be allocated to the presentation with the majority of votes, in the quorum. Just, for clarity’s sake, this means that if we have 22 members, a quorum could be as little as, 5 people and a majority is 3 people. This is why your attendance is so important. The best way to ensure your voice is heard is to attend meetings and vote on motions. ELECTIONS: The future BZAC has four (4) officer positions: President, Cindy Maur, Vice President, Linda Edge, Treasurer, Lauren Augustine and Secretary, Dawn Bard Davis. Each office’s term is 1 year in length (January-December). The elections for office are held, annually, in December. An member can hold office for three (3) years consecutively, and must take one (1) year off before holding any other office. NOTEWORTHY: Avril Armstrong asked a great question: “how often can the treasurer spend upto $100.00, Without a quorum vote? We are researching an appropriate answer, and will have it ASAP. Avril Armstrong also won the first ever “Zoo Speed Scatagories” game. Michelle Medina is in charge of the creation and management of our Future BZAC website. UPCOMING EVENTS: ENRICHMENT BONANZA – Please notify officers about large ideas, or group projects COMING SOON – DATE AND LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED Next Meeting: February 20th, 2011, Mammal Meeting room, 2nd Fl. Admin East Future BZAC Logo Contest – everyone is eligible for entry. Submissions should represent a variety of animals, including mammals, birds and reptiles. Ultimately, final submission must be in digital format (.jpg is preferred). The size must be 300 dpi, and logo must fit in an 7 x 7 inch space. Remember these will be shrunk down for letterhead and expanded for t-shirts and posters. Deadline – To Be Announced |
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