A YEAR of FIRSTS 2007 Friends of the National Zoo Annual Report

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24 PROVIDING an EXCITING and ENRICHING ZOO EXPERIENCE FONZ supports the care and well-being of both animals and the visitors who appreciate them. Not only do we want people to connect with wildlife and our conservation messages—we want them to have rewarding experiences that inform and enrich their lives. FONZ employees and volunteers are often the face of the Zoo for the nearly 3 million people who visit each year. From information aides who greet visitors to volunteer interpreters who help educate them, FONZ plays a critical role in providing an exciting and enriching experience to Zoo-goers of all ages. GOAL 1 Provide an Unsurpassed Zoo Visitor Experience
• • • • Here are just a few ways in which FONZ helped Zoo visitors enjoy their experiences in 2007: FONZ volunteers engaged and assisted visitors as exhibit interpreters and tour guides, among other public-support roles. Interpreters and guides explain the natural history and status of the Zoo’s animals, raise awareness about efforts to study and conserve endangered species, and share animal artifacts, such as bones, feathers, and fur. Visitors enjoyed refreshed gift shops and more diverse food choices from our concessions, including fat-free, sugar-free frozen yogurt and apple slices. Food service was also faster thanks to the opening of additional points of sale at the Mane Restaurant and Panda Plaza Grille. Visitors received greater assistance from information aides thanks to improved training, increased staffing, and the placement of aides at the Connecticut Avenue entrance, where they greeted incoming visitors and offered them maps for sale. • • • In return for their dues and continued support, FONZ members enjoyed special benefits, including free parking, Zoo store discounts, and informative publications including the magazine ZooGoer and newsletter Wildlife Adventures, as well as the chance to enroll in members-only classes, trips, birthday parties, and camps, and attend the annual early summer Zoo Morning open house. The award-winning Zoo/FONZ website helped guests plan their visits and expand their horizons, providing not only directions, hours, and event details, but also educational materials and extensive information about Zoo animals and the work done by Zoo scientists and keepers. Through grounds-keeping, landscaping, and horticulture services, FONZ staff and volunteers helped clean and beautify the Zoo, contributing in 2007 to the Zoo’s designation as a public garden by the American Public Gardens Association.
Page 1 and 2: A YEAR of FIRSTS 2007 Friends of th
Page 3: As we celebrate FONZ’s 50th anniv
Page 6 and 7: 6 gROuNdbREAkINg on ElEphANT TRAIlS
Page 8 and 9: 8 REcORd hiGh mEmbERShiP FUNdS GENE
Page 10 and 11: 10 REcORd-bREAkiNG FUNdRAiSER AttEN
Page 12 and 13: 12 A NEw PARtNERShiP to dOcUmENt hi
Page 14 and 15: 14 NAtiONAL StOmP OUt cARbON cONtES
Page 16 and 17: 16 NEw SiGN LANGUAGE cLASS NEw and
Page 18 and 19: 18 hiStORy-mAkiNG biRth and hAtchiN
Page 20 and 21: 20 twO AdditiONAL yEARS with tAi Sh
Page 22 and 23: 22 CONNECTING PEOPLE with WILDLIFE
Page 26 and 27: 26 SUPPORTING ZOO SCIENCE and CONSE
Page 28 and 29: 28 ADVANCING the WELFARE of ZOO ANI
Page 30 and 31: 30 ENGAGING ZOO SUPPORTERS and PART
Page 32 and 33: 32 BECOMING MORE SUSTAINABLE At the
Page 34 and 35: 34 CONCESSIONS • A key source of
Page 37 and 38: A BRIGHT FUTURE On its 50th anniver
Page 39 and 40: ADOPT A SPECIES • The Zoo’s end
Page 41 and 42: 57% REVENUES Visitor Services Membe
Page 43 and 44: 2007 FONZ cONTRIbuTORS cONTRIbuTORS
Page 45 and 46: Mr. and Mrs. Everett H. Bayliss Mr.
Page 47 and 48: Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Kushan Mr. Chad L
Page 49 and 50: Ms. Lisa Mulligan and Mr. Kevin McC
Page 51 and 52: Lebanese Taverna Lia’s Restaurant
Page 54: Friends of the National Zoo Smithso

A YEAR of FIRSTS 2007 Friends of the National Zoo Annual Report

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