I guess I’m pleased about going outside of the box and going into an area where I was uncomfortable and that is the fundraising to get the endowment established. And I worked very hard with our board and with the newly formed endowment board to get that project funded, because… Read More
What do you know about this profession you’ve worked in that you’ve devoted so many years of your life to?… Read More
So in all the time you were director of Brownsville, is there one thing that you might point to, if I asked you about your proudest accomplishment, what you’re proud about?… Read More
I’ll give you one warning, but it it’s not applicable anymore and let’s not use a phone after Fred Z Handler talked on it because he would get so excited that he would slab and make the phone a mess. One good story about Fred Z, we imported an Indian… Read More
And we did end up losing him shortly after his 30 day insurance was up. And I felt very badly about that. And Fred did also, but in all good conscious to Fred Z handler, he did everything possible he could to see that that animal had the best chance… Read More
Can you gimme a story or two?… Read More
Did you ever have op the opportunity or did you work with Fred Z handler to bring animals in?… Read More
Goodness. Yes. Read More
And I think that we need to be more and more aware of this because not only for laws that may affect how we act, but also for funding opportunities for our various nonprofit organizations. Going back just slightly, you mentioned that when you were putting things together at Gladys… Read More
In your opinion, has the zoo association continued to do those things that you felt they should be doing as an association?… Read More
Unfortunately, I think the American Zoo Association is like many other organizations. They’ve become almost too organized to the point where the bureaucracy is overshadowing the common good that they can and should be doing. It’s sometimes cumbersome to get something done. And you’ll find where a vocal minority of… Read More
Do they have friends who are well connected and just try and see what resources you have to work with and then maximize the potential. You mentioned that you were president of the American Zoo Association. Read More
Then once I find out what’s available and what sort of a rapport we had with them, then I’d try to maximize on them. And I’d go with looking into my board of directors, assuming I have a board, and almost all zoos now even if they’re a municipal zoo,… Read More
Find out what those people, what their contacts are, what strengths they have, are they well connected in the local community?… Read More
Is the zoo on their minds when they think about news stories or media opportunities?… Read More
What was his or her relationship with them?… Read More
Are they on good terms? Do they regularly come to the zoo?… Read More
How did my predecessor treat them?… Read More
I’m a young zoo director, I come to you and I say, “Don, I’m trying to market my zoo.” What advice would you give me?… Read More
Well, find out what resources you have first, find out what your standing is with regular media in the area. Read More