Questions? Email us at nycaazk@gmail.com or contact an officer or facility liaison.

Meeting Minutes: September 2017

NYC AAZK Meeting Minutes: September 22, 2017 – Congo Movie Theatre, Bronx Zoo

In attendance: Gabrielle Rosato, Jessica Chin, Brent Atkinson, Joe Borsellino, Omara Aviles, Joe Nappi
                           Carolyn Rezckalla, Guests: Sol (FOZ) + Guest, Leanne

National Zoo Keeper Week:
- Thank you to all the keepers and staff that helped out to make this event a success!
- New Social Media glasses utilized to present keeper stories, great reception
- Silent Auction in new location in Schiff Hall made approximately $1000 for the chapter

Bowling for Rhinos:
- $2,500 profit for the event
- Our overhead is eating into a lot of our profits. New ideas for next year? New location?
- Extra Special thanks to Amy for stepping in to head Bowling for Rhinos after Taylor left WCS
- Thank you to Sarah, and all the volunteers that helped out the night of the event!

Hurricane Relief Movie Night Fundraiser:
- $300 raised, which will be donated to AZA’s Hurricane Harvey & Irma Employee Relief Fud
- This money will help out zoo staff affected by the hurricanes in Texas and Florida
- Thank you to all who came out to the movie night and helped raise money!

Upcoming Events:
Thursday October 12: Beach Clean-up
    - Orchard Beach. Planning being coordinated by Lauren Del Grosso
Thursday October 19: Croctoberfest
     - Gunhill Brewery. Planning being coordinated by Reptile Department
Monday November 13: Alamo Drafthouse Movie Night (tentative date)
     - Movie selection to be voted on (need to pick a movie already out on DVD to keep the cost down)
     - 26 seat theatre will be rented out exclusively for AAZK
December: AAZK Executive Team Elections
     - We have several positions opening up this year. Think about running! Our team will guide you!
     - We will need a new treasurer and secretary this upcoming year

2017 Donations to Date:
 - $300 to Trees for You and Me reforestation campaign
 - $300 to AZA Hurricane Relief Fund
 - $360 to the Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders
 - $500 to WCS Pakistan Program
 - $2,565 Bowling for Rhinos Fund



Meeting Minutes: May 2017

NYC AAZK Meeting:  Friday May 5, 2017 Flaherty Learning Center

In attendance: Kenny, Brent, Joe B., Mike, Gabi, Aniko, Amy, Lisa, Carolyn, Joe N, Paid Members: Michelle M., Aniko T., Niya C., Lauren F., Joe N., Brittney M., Elizabeth M., Taylor R.

Member dues:
$15 members of AAZK national $25 for non national members
 
Benefits: discounts on Bowling for Rhinos, access to applying for the annual Travel Grant, chapter voting
 
There are currently 10 members

Ice Skating fundraiser:
 
Yonkers Murray Memorial Skating Rink
 
$300 raised for Trees for you and me reforestation program
 
16 people in attendance

Regional Symposium:
 
130 representing 27 different facilities in attendance!
 
Dessert Plastics, Bogs Boots and Blunderstone boot door prizes
 
Special thanks to all of the keepers that gave tours, animal department managers for helping to facilitate the
    event, Randi Winter for designing our custom made map and providing TEX tickets, Joe Padilla from IT for
   all his assistance, Priscilla and the Events team for setting up Schiff Hall, Kimio Honda and the EGAD
   department for our awesome symposium sign design, Pat Thomas for giving the opening remarks, and Jim
   Breheny for his support.
 
Thank you to our volunteers that came in to help run the event on their day off: Lisa Walker, Amy Golden,
    Aniko Totha, Gabrielle Rosata, Brent Atkinson, Taylor Ritz, Joe Nappi and Mike Masiello
 
Approximately $1,400 in profit
 
Behind the Scenes Tours: World of Birds, Aquatic Birds, Hospital, Congo, Madagascar, Reptile House
 
Keeper demos and talks: Bat training/Bug room, Giraffe training, Tiger demo, Gelada talk

Cinco de Salamander:
 
Thank you Carolyn for the amazing decorations!
 
17 people in attendance
 
$360 made which will be donated to the Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders Upcoming:

National Zookeeper Week:
 
looking for committee volunteers
 
3rd week of July
 
Social media outreach, education stations and games for the public, keeper chats, AAZK Silent Auction

Travel Grant:
 
$1000 annual professional development grant
 
Deadline Aug 1st

Bat Survey:
 
More info to follow Bat Surveying
 
Talking to Colleen McCann about AAZK assisting in collecting bat data at the Bronx Zoo over the summer.

Bowling for Rhinos:
 
Thank you Taylor Ritz for heading up the committee!
 
Bowlero Alley in Woodside, Queens
 
Deposit approved by members
 
Monday August 14th  Need volunteers to help get auction items and help with setup the day of. Ideas for

Future Event Ideas:
 
Paint night
 
Obstacle course
 
Alamo Drafthouse event
 
Summer Video Games Night
 
Hose to Habitat Workshop


Meeting Minutes: January 2017

NYC AAZK Meeting – January 30, 2017

In attendance: Carolyn Rezkalla, Leela Samaroo, Michelle Blatz, Brent Atkinson, Leah Simoncek, Joe Borsellino, Tim Mohl, Nyssa Turner, Elizabeth Mills, Alyssa May, Amy Golden, Maryellen Constantino, Heather Tassler, Vanessa Jones, Taylor Ritz, Lauren DelGrosso, Bill Doyle, Lisa Walker, Joe Nappi

2017 NYC AAZK Exec Team:
Joe Nappi – President, Lisa Walker – New Vice President, Avi Shuter – Secretary, Amy Golden – Treasurer

2016 Year in Review:

March Ice Skating Conservation Fundraiser: $777 Trees for You and Me reforestation project
May Cinco de Rhino: $670 (put towards Bowling for Rhinos fund)
May Rented out private theatre at the Alamo Drafthouse
National Zoo Keeper Week Silent Auction: $1,600 (successful keeper chats, social media presence)
August Bronx River Alliance volunteering to clean up river
August Bowling for Rhinos: $7,000, 175 people attended
September Paint Night Fundraiser: $300 Baton Rouge Zoo keeper flood relief
Croctoberfest: $1,300 raised WCS Crocodilian conservation projects. Over 70 people attended

Dues: $15 members of AAZK National, $25 for non-national members
- Benefits: Access to $1000 annual Travel Grant, discounts for AAZK events, voting on AAZK business,
  priority reservations for upcoming Regional Symposium

Participation:
- We would like to make AAZK as inclusive as possible, and have people participate  to whatever level
 they are most comfortable. Help shape the future of our chapter by joining one of our committees, or
 by organizing your own event.
- Interested in organizing a particular volunteer outing? Want to raise money for a specific conservation
 issue, animal or other cause? Reach out to us and we’ll help you organize your event!

Committees: Inquire at
nycaazk@gmail.com if you are interested in joining a committee!
Travel Grant: Review annual travel grant applications
Conservation Committee: Help steer the chapter’s volunteering and fundraising efforts
World Animal Days: Help organize keeper talks and events revolving around World Animal Days
National Zoo Keeper Week: Join the committee to help put together this signature event.
Bowling for Rhinos – Spearhead organizing AAZK’s largest annual fundraiser

Animal Planet ‘Unofficial Premiere’
  - 50/50 Raffle to benefit NYC AAZK
  - Be sure to RSVP whether you are going or not to allow other zoo departments to be invited should
   space permit.


4
th Annual Northeast Regional Symposium:
- Wednesday April 26, 2017 at the Bronx Zoo
- Up to 150 keepers will be admitted into the event
- 30 spots to be reserved for WCS keepers, with priority being given to NYC AAZK members
- Free zoo admission and parking for non WCS keepers
- Behind the Scenes tours will be offered during the day
- 15 keeper presentations in the evening, with a one hour pizza dinner break during the session
- March 1
st: Deadline to submit presentation abstracts to nycaazk@gmail.com for review
- Flaherty Learning Center will be utilized for the presentations
- Possible silent auction/other fundraising options during the event to raise additional money
- Funds from the symposium will go towards hosting a larger national AAZK conference down the road
- Suggestion (Vanessa Jones ) highlighting squeezes/enrichment at Bronx, encouraging keepers from
  other zoos to bring photos of their zoo -equipment, enrichment, etc.
- AAZK exec team will be setting up an interdepartmental meeting to help organize the event
- We are looking for keepers that are off Wednesdays to volunteer to help run the event

Chapter Fundraising Ideas:
Postcards
Calendars
Ostrich eggs/Peacock feathers
Enrichment at Home packet
Honey from World Birds

Up and Coming Events (all event dates not yet finalized):
Enrichment Night with Families
Ice Skating
Alamo Drafthouse Night
Cinco de Salamander Fundraiser
March Members Meeting