BFR EVENT FACILITY PLANNING
Set a Date – Early so that it can be advertised in as many newsletters, fliers as possible. Info should be placed in zoo newsletters facility volunteer newsletters, Society communications, facility maps or advertisement fliers.
Chamber of Commerce – Check with Chamber (or other Community Association) prior to setting date to find out events that could conflict. Once you choose the date, inform your Chamber of Commerce and ask to be placed on their Calendar of Events.
Facility Management – Set up a meeting with your facility director and/or management. AAZK has a Partnership with AZA offering cooperation to AAZK’s BFR event through AZA IM resources such as Public Relations (PR) Graphics Departments. In addition, BFR funds may be credited on the AZA Annual Report on Conservation Science (ARCS) which illustrates the substantial collective effort AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums dedicate towards direct field conservation. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums serve as conservation centers that are concerned about ecosystem health, take responsibility for species survival, contribute to research, conservation, and education, and provide society the opportunity to develop personal connections with the animals in their care. These esteemed institutions play a vital role in maintaining our planet’s diverse wildlife and natural habitats while engaging the public to appreciate and participate in conservation.
Volunteer Coordinator – Set up a meeting with the Coordinator. Talk to your zoo volunteers at an organized luncheon to let them know they can join the event or sponsor someone (have your forms ready) or work at the event.
Society Director – Set up a meeting with the Director or Coordinator of the entity that supports your facility. Promoting the BFR event, promotes the facilities involved.
BFR EVENT PRE-PLANNING
Collect door prizes. Seek the big airline prizes 4-6 months in advance. Hint: Restaurants are easy to get prizes from. Visit a potential donor in person, with formal letter of donation request. The letter should detail the successful history of the event on the local and national levels.
Fliers – Put registration fliers in an area where volunteers may see them-in their “check –in” area. Have fliers that you can hand out so they can be completed later.
Invite Bowlers from Previous Events
BFR is Open to the public – Make sure this fact is well advertised.
Invite Boy Scouts or Girl Scout troops to join your event.
Create a T-shirt – Look for sponsors for the event shirt
Marketing and Promotion – Your facility may have contacts or staff can lend a hand – hey, these people do this for a living! Seek help to get the word out.
Prizes – It pays to advertise. Once you have a list of Door prizes or other giveaways, raffle prizes, etc. Publicize the list to attract bowlers and sell raffle tickets.
Invite Local Celebrities to bowl at your event (especially TV/radio- free advertising).
Advertising – Get permission from your Facility to post info next to rhino/elephant exhibits about your upcoming event and how to join!
Trip Winner – The person that raises the most money, wins a trip.
Friends and Family – The most important donors of all.
AAZK EVENT AND CONTACT INFORMATION
EACH YEAR SEND INFO TO AAZK: Please send your BFR contact person’s name & contact info (email/phone) & your chapter’s website/facebook info+ your event date info ASAP.
There is a $25 administrative fee for BFR events. This allows AAZK to send 100% of donations to conservation rather than taking a portion of funds for Administrative costs. Please make checks payable to AAZK and mail to:
American Association of Zoo Keepers
2820 S. Alma School Road
Suite 18, PMB 2057
Chandler, AZ 85286
Please write in memo: “BFR Admin Fee”
If your chapter would information regarding Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, please contact Lewa Wildlife Conservancy USA at LewaUSA@lewa.org
If your chapter would like Asian Rhino info, flyers,etc. for events, contact IRF: info@rhinos.org.
For additional BFR Event information or assistance please contact, Scott Soldat-Valenzuela at scott.soldat-valenzuela@aazk.org