CONNECT FEATURES September 2014 10 FOUNDATIONS of the FUTURE the Value of In-Person Training in a Digital World Jane Ballentine
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CONNECT FEATURES September 2014 10 FOUNDATIONS OF THE FUTURE The Value of In-Person Training in a Digital World JANE BALLENTINE 14 ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT An Essential Piece of the Organizational Puzzle JENNY YEE GREBE, CVA AND DAN RADLEY 18 VOLUNTEERS AND FIELD CONSERVATION ISABEL SANCHEZ AND JEAN GALVIN 22 THE IMPACT OF AZA VOLUNTEERS SEAN D. DEVEREAUX 25 TO BE OR NOT TO BE OUTSIDE Choice is Enriching for Apes STEVE ROSS, PHD 29 FOR SERVICE, AT YOUR SERVICE VMC Committee Update 47 IN MEMORIAM Mary Healy 48 THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX LAURA KLOPFER 54 INTERNSHIPS: AN INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE PAUL BISHOP AND RACHAEL ROBINSON 59 Volunteer Blood COLLECTION from NILE Hippopotamus MARK HACKER IN EVERY ISSUE 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD 6 CONSERVATION & RESEARCH 32 MEMBER NEWS 32 GREEN TALES 40 A MESSAGE FROM THE THE PRESIDENT & CEO ON THE COVER 41 BIRTHS & HATCHINGS The value of AZA Professional Development courses extends to accredited members of 50 CONSERVATION SPOTLIGHT all sizes. Looking at course attendance numbers since 2007, it clear that the largest AZA member institutions (by budget size) had higher total attendance at AZA courses, but 52 EXHIBITS smaller and mid-size institutions were also well-represented. “Kudus” to all the instruc- 60 announcements tors and students who have participated and have made the courses such a success. 62 MEMBER UPDATES GREATER KUDU @ STEPHANIE ADAMS, HOUSTON ZOO 65 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 66 CALENDAR MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD reetings AZA members and stakeholders, chair of the board It is hard to believe that my year as Chair of our AZA Board is coming to an end. As I thought Gabout what to share in this, my final message as your Chair, I read back through the many top- ics we’ve discussed through the year. There were new initiatives and partnerships, like Pole to Pole, in which zoos and aquariums in Europe and the United States began working together to protect polar environments. We also had the honor of joining forces with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and more than 100 other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums as a partner on the 96 Elephants campaign – an effort focused on securing a U.S. moratorium on illegal ivory; bolstering protection of African elephants; and educating the public about the link between ivory consumption and the elephant poaching crisis. Related to that work, we celebrated the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services plans to destroy its six-ton stock of confiscated elephant ivory, and their request to work together on turning these materials into an appropriate educational display. In line with AZA’s strategic vision to educate and engage public, professional and government audiences, we created additional leadership development opportunities through the launch of AZA’s Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP), de- signed to better prepare current leaders in the zoo and aquarium profession for future executive positions. We also built upon an already-strong public education outreach with our Microsoft Studios partnership to provide fans of Microsoft Studios’ “Zoo Tycoon” game series the opportunity to build their own virtual zoo and support real-life wildlife conservation field projects at the same time. We announced the recipients of 30 “Nature Play Begins at Your Zoo & Aquarium” grants, selected through a rigorous review by a panel of industry experts and presented to accredited zoos and aquariums to encourage family nature play and conservation education. And perhaps most importantly, we are finally poised to address the potential for our zoos and aquariums to make a meaningful contribution to the conservation of species through AZA’s SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program, which we will be talking more about in Orlando. While I’ve only scratched the surface of our many collective accomplishments, there is a recurring theme that factors into each one of them. In my very first message as Chair, I called it both a challenge and strength. It is diversity – in our organizations, our efforts, our audiences and our passions. That diversity can sometimes divide us – but only briefly, because we know that working together makes us stronger and better enables us to reach our challenging goals of saving species from extinction. In short, together, we are a force to be reckoned with. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for an amazing year. Serving and supporting all of you who do such incredible work has been an honor and a privilege that I will never forget. And, although my time serving as your Chair is ending, I’m grateful that our work to save species, engage people and shape our collective future is just beginning. JACKIE OGDEN, PHD Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Editorial policy: CONNECT is published by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the advancement of zoological parks and aquariums for conservation, education, scientific studies and recreation. Issued to members as a free service; not available as a subscription. Mailed during the first week of the month. Articles submitted for CONNECT do not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies of AZA. Mission: CONNECT is a forum for promoting AZA’s mission by highlighting zoo and aquarium trends, industry initiatives, conservation efforts and member achievements. Copyright policy: All items appearing in CONNECT are copyright of AZA. Permission to reprint items must be obtained by contacting AZA’s Publications Department at [email protected]. Advertising policy: Advertising is available. AZA reserves the right to refuse advertising not consistent with its mission. Ad contracts are issued on an annual basis, and ads are accepted on a one, three, six, nine or 12-time basis. Deadline for insertion orders is the first of the month preceding publication. Deadline for artwork is the 10th of the month preceding publication. Rates and mechanical require- ments are available upon request. September 2014 CONNECT 3 AZA BOARD & STAFF AZA staff AZA board OF directors CONNECT staff 2013 - 2014 Tim Lewthwaite, Editor OFFICERS Lisa Cadigan, Designer, Cadigan Creative CONNECT EDitoriaL BoarD CHAIR Melinda Arnold, Dickerson Park Zoo Jackie Ogden, PhD Thom Benson, Tennessee Aquarium Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Martha Fischer, Saint Louis Zoo Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Julie Larsen-Maher, Wildlife Conservation Society Ph: (407) 938-2831, E-mail: [email protected] Tim Lewthwaite, AZA Publications & Brand Manager CHAIR ELECT Kristin L. Vehrs, AZA Executive Director Dennis E. Pate AZA Staff Executive Director and CEO, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Jim Maddy, President & CEO Ph: (402) 738-2014, E-mail: [email protected] Kristin L. Vehrs, Executive Director Jill Nicoll, Chief Operating Officer VICE CHAIR Paul Boyle, PhD, Senior Vice President of Steve Burns Conservation & Education Director, Zoo Boise Rob Vernon, Senior Vice President of External Affairs Ph: (208) 384-4125, x203, E-mail: [email protected] board & staff Debborah Luke, PhD, Senior Vice President of Past CHAIR Conservation & Science Tom Schmid Denny Lewis, Vice President Accreditation Programs President and CEO, Texas State Aquarium Jennifer Keaton, Vice President, Congressional Affairs Ph: (361) 881-1242, E-mail: [email protected] Steve Olson, Vice President Federal Relations DIRECTORS Phil Wagner, Senior Vice President of Finance Arslan Ahmad, Program Assistant, Conservation & Science Jim Breheny Executive Vice President and General Director, Zoos and Aquarium Candice Dorsey, PhD, Director, Animal Programs Jonathan Little Cohen Director of the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society Jeff Dow, Director of Sales & Marketing Ph: (718) 220-5101, E-mail: [email protected] Jennifer DiNenna, Manager, Accreditation Lynn B. Clements Sandra Elvin, PhD, Director, Conservation Research & Policy Development Director, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Ph: (757) 385-0241, E-mail: [email protected] Jennifer Fields, Communications Coordinator Allegra Formento, Marketing Assistant Jim Hekkers Rachel Gauza, Citizen Science Program Specialist Managing Director, Monterey Bay Aquarium Emily Gordon, Digital Media Coordinator Ph: (831) 647-6825, E-mail: [email protected] Rebecca Greenberg, Program Assistant, Conservation Gregg Hudson & Science Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Zoo Management, Inc. Shelly Grow, Director, Conservation Programs Ph: (469) 554-7510, E-mail: [email protected] Melissa Howerton, Vice President, Conferences & Membership Dennis W. Kelly Tim Lewthwaite, Publications & Brand Manager Director, Smithsonian National Zoological Park Nette Pletcher, Director of Conservation Education Ph: (202) 633-4442, E-mail: [email protected] Barbara Pueschel, Board & Committees Liaison Kevin Mills Nancy Ramos, Receptionist President and CEO, South Carolina Aquarium Amy Rutherford, Professional Development Program Manager Ph: (843) 579-8555, E-mail: [email protected] Ana Maria Sanchez, Controller Barbara Skewes, Manager, Member Information Services Amos Morris Zoo Director, Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden Sarah Sullivan, Manager, Digital Media Ph: (812) 435-6143 x401, E-mail: [email protected] Gina Velosky, Manager, Business Development & Marketing Cheryl Wallen, Meeting Planner Douglas G. Myers President and CEO, San Diego Zoo Global Ph: (619) 557-3999, E-mail: [email protected] Association of Zoos & Aquariums 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710