So we got together to, to build connectivity, develop professionalism, and develop tourism more in the state of Nebraska, collaborate because it was, again, it was all about collaborating and helping each other become stronger. Read More
What do you think zoo and museums have in common?… Read More
Well, you know, the bottom line is we all curate collections. You know, I don’t care if it’s a quilt museum, I don’t care if it’s a children’s zoo, I don’t care. You know, Nebraska has rich history and so many communities have the mom and pop museum from the… Read More
Yes, I was Founding member. Read More
So you were also a founding member of the Nebraska Museum Association?… Read More
So community service, I needed to lead that. I needed to have that face out there. I needed to collaborate with all those community stakeholders. Okay. And that was a chief drive of mine. I was a Kian, you know, working in the QAs Club, I was served as Kian… Read More
Oh yes. Abs they, they saw that the zoo leadership was all about community and collaborating. Okay. Working with human service agencies, working with all kinds. I, I served on the Human Services Federation. I even chair the Human Services Federation. I served on the Humane Society board. You know,… Read More
Oh yeah. Did, did, did you feel then that this enhanced the community embracing the zoo?… Read More
So did you felt that you’ve served on many community boards?… Read More
Well finally in July of 65, the zoo did open, but it had Mr. Folsom at scavenge lamppost from the city that they weren’t using anymore. And bricks for sidewalks. He was a great scavenger and resource developer besides the money. Okay. And the zoo opened in 1965, but the… Read More
Okay? If you were a kid riding a bicycle, he’d say, go pick up some pop bottles, get them redeemed and bring me the money. He’d send thank you letters to kids who made 35 cents in pop bottles. Or he’d send the thank you letter to the guy who… Read More
Sometimes every hand in the room would go up. And I’m going, there’s a different perception in this community about this zoo. And so I pulled out the zoo archives. The zoo had actually saved the junior league years ago, had gotten a grant to organize the founder’s papers, Mr. Read More
Well, when I did that in Lincoln, I’d go and talk to these groups going, who’s been to the zoo lately?… Read More
And maybe a fourth of the hands would go up. Read More
Go, you know, who, and I would say, well, who’s been to the PA MOU lately?… Read More
’cause there were no ladies at the time going, I’m the new guy in town, I’ve got some ideas, I wanna hear from you. Okay. And guys came up afterwards, they said, we’re gonna make this a priority project. You gotta join this club. We’re gonna make this a priority… Read More
And how did you get the, what were your strategies to get the community to embrace the zoo?… Read More
From Watsu Lincoln? Yeah. The Money came from where to run the zoo. It was, the zoo has always been ever since incorporated. Completely private contributions, memberships, all earned revenue, concession stand gifts, all that has always run the zoo. When I stepped into the zoo, you know, the budget… Read More
You know, I wasn’t at the zoo. I stepped in on Monday and on the zoo director’s calendar was to talk to the Kiwanis Club on Friday noon. 200, 200 guys. Then it was just a men’s club. 200 guys in a big room in downtown, in a cafeteria. I… Read More
And the money came from where now?… Read More