What I learned at AZA2022
19/09/22 09:58 Filed in: AZA Conference Post
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!
Well, almost anything. I was invited to attend the conference and help man the Epsten Group booth, but unfortunately we didn't realize that that would have gone against AZA policy for exhibit hall booths (see previous Blog post). Epsten and I have been working on project together for the last 15 years, and I was the one who got them interested in AZA membership and this years booth commitment. But wanting to maintain good standing in the AZA, I obeyed the rules and kept out of the booth. So I got to attend as a member and go to talks, sessions and visit with old friends & meet new ones. I was heartened to hear that several people stopped by the Epsten Booth expecting to see me in response to the pre-conference marketing emails - even though the association is getting younger and younger, some people still remember me!
One of the big take-away was the adaption of a unified term for animal wellness - WELLBEING! I have to re-tool my vocabulary - at least the association and it's members have united around animal wellbeing and establishing criteria for measuring animals in captivity.
The Association is also learning to be more inclusive to all peoples - making their institutions look more like the communities around them with diversity hiring, Autism spectrum areas and leading with empathy. There were talks where people were encouraged to have "difficult conversations" related to racism and sexism - apparently this is something new. It appears to be a start to bring zoo leadership into the modern age where all people are created equal. I do remember that written somewhere in a history book….
These conferences are very important for Ursa even if we aren't presenting or participating in sessions or in booths - it is a time to remind people that Ursa is here to help and that we care about the animals in captivity in Zoos and Sanctuaries worldwide. While we do care, it continues to be a challenge to go beyond the basics in providing optimum environments for all animals as the cost of these facilities continue to spiral out of control with the costs of everything everywhere.
The other take away from the conference was that no matter how competitive our zoo design world may appear to be, the people that represent ownership in those design firms are my friends and colleagues, and quick to smile and stop to chat about their challenges or successes. I so appreciate knowing that we are an inclusive and congenial association of like-minded groups that are doing their best through difficult situations - with our common goals to improve conditions for captive animals worldwide. Thank you all for doing what you do. And I'll see you all next year as we continue to fight the good fight.