What I learned at AZA2022
Well that was quick!
The AZA met this year in Baltimore. It was earlier than most years, just before the labor day weekend and for a day shorter than previous years. While this was the first year back together since COVID shut down face-to-face meetings, this one took many precautions to make sure this was as safe as possible for 2500 of your best friends to gather INDOORS and in packed conference rooms. Every attendee had to show a negative test, uploaded to a central website and we had to print-out a QR code that needed to be handed in at Security before allowing access to the registration lobby of the Commercial vendor exhibits hall. There were QR codes to get your conference schedule on your phone, volunteer-less name-tag printing and gathering of the donated bag and re-useable aluminum water bottle - then once inside, anything goes! Read More...
AZA - Here we come!
Ursa in the HOUSE!!! True that! Looks like after 25 years in the AZA, I'm finally going to experience the great unknown! What it's like to be "in the booth"! I usually spend a lot of time in the exhibit hall, talking to vendors, designers and other commercial members, but like a grandparent - I can leave! This year I talked the Epsten Group into doing a booth, then they turned around and talked me into sitting in it. So - this year I get to experience the cold shoulders of "i'm not interested" and the "how do you design a zoo" questions from the 1st timers and the great homecoming greetings from friends that I haven't seen in three years. I am looking forward to it - but i'm also quite curious how it feels to watch the parade of attendees walk by and see if I can grab their attention for just a minute as they zoom by on their way to an important talk or meeting. Read More...
Conservation Is For All
We had a chance to review some of the talks that were given at the Annual Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) virtual conference September 2020. One of the great benefits of the virtual conference method is to be able to listen to talks that you missed as well as talks you'd like to hear again to get a better understanding of what was said.
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Peace and Prosperity In A Changing World: AZA Conference Reflections
Well, it’s a wrap! The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) 2020 Annual Conference ended last Friday (18 September). As I write this reflection, today 21 September is the United Nations International Day of Peace. Because I live in Belize, Central America, I also recognize that this auspicious day is Belize’s 39th Independence Day. Its theme, "Overcoming Adversity, Creating Opportunity, Belizeans: Unite for Prosperity!" was created by a 13-year-old girl from the town I live in, San Ignacio.
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Women Leadership In A World Of Change
“The world of humanity has two wings -- one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. Not until the world of women becomes equal to the world of men…can success and prosperity be attained as they ought to be.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
We are learning a lot about equality these days. How all humans are equally susceptible to viruses and other zoonotic diseases. How humans with darker skin colors are equal to those with lighter tones. How women can equally contribute to the development of local communities and national economies. I want to explore this concept of women’s equality, and the value of women in leadership, particularly in creating new, just solutions for this rapidly changing world we live in.
Creating Brave Spaces
Many of yesterday’s talks at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Conference were about our support communities. How do we connect with them? What do they want? How can we be resources for them? How can we inspire conservation action? I particularly liked what Jess Niven-Kohring, from the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, said about creating “Brave Spaces” of/by/for their communities. Let’s explore this more here.
Read More...Using Our Light Saber
I just finished listening to Dr. Mark Plokin’s Community Conversation with Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) conference attendees. In response to a question on whether zoos and aquariums should use their collective voices for political change, he said, “You have a Light Saber. Use it. Specifically, on issues that are relevant to you.”
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