Zoos belong in Stimulus Package

Stacey Johnson, Executive Director Lehigh Valley Zoo, forwarded me an editorial from Jim Maddy, President and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, in regards to Zoos being excluded from the stimulus package. I am sure there is some political partisan reason behind this, but why Zoos. I am off to Washington DC, National Zoo the weekend of March 20th, I will be sure to look up President Obama, and ask him personally, why did you pick on Zoos.

Stretching your marketing budget

Every business should be looking to find new ways to stretch their marketing budgets in this economy. Social media has transformed marketing from a monologue about your organization to a dialogue, between your organization and your customers. Today's Morning Call article in regards to the social media success of the Lehigh Valley Zoo and its grass roots facebook page, offers a tesimony to how social media can offer you not only exposure in the tech/virtual world, but also some free PR in the traditional media outlets.

Can facebook Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo?

It worked for President Barack Obama, now it seems the powerful social media group facebook, may save the Lehigh Valley Zoo. When I first received an email from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce that it had a facebook page, I giggled and thought who has time for that? Next, the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau said they were launching InSite, their new Blog. Again, I said who has time for that? Then on January 7th an old fashion email came across my computer from Tracey Werner, the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau Director of Public Relations and everything technology manager, said there is a group discussion on Linkedin about the Lehigh Valley Zoo, you should check it out. Now, I had time for that!

Saving the Lehigh Valley Zoo, has been my cause, since its threat of closure in 2004. Concerned about the loss of the quality of life benefits derived from having a zoo in our community several concerned citizen’s developed the Lehigh Valley Zoological Society and hired professional zoo management to operate the Zoo in Lehigh County.

As I stumbled my way through the social media maze of networks, groups, friends, etc. I stumbled on the Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook page. Here was a grass roots effort to again save the Lehigh Valley Zoo. Just like the old days (2004), when Diane Stein, aka the Zoo lady, passed around a notepad at the Lehigh County Commissioner’s meeting, for concerned citizen’s to submit their email address. Four year’s later email is yesterday’s news. The Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook page on January 16th had approximately 150 members. I joined the group and challenged them for 5000 members by the year’s end. In 12 days, the group passed 700 members, 5000 by year’s end seems conservative.

January 30th, Lehigh County Commissioner Bill Leiner Jr. posted a “come out and see you local government in action, support the Lehigh Valley Zoo at the February 11th commissioners meeting” This is when legislation to fund the Lehigh Valley Zoo will be voted on. Commissioners Dean Browning and Glen Eckhart have a facebook page, along with County Executive Don Cunningham. This event may need to be moved to Lehigh University’s Stabler Arena, if all the Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook members show up.

Joanna Hansen the creator of the Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook page has organized a couple of days to meet face to face at the Zoo, Friday February 13th and Saturday February 28th at 10:30AM. How many ppl show up will be dependent on the weather and how powerful this social media culture can be. Are these fans of the Lehigh Valley Zoo, truly engaged, or are they merely trying to add contacts, to beat some social network Guinness Book of world record? I hope they donate their time and money to saving the Zoo!

Today, many marketers are debating the power and usefulness of social media for the promotion and delivery of information for small businesses, big business, political campaigns, and mainstream media. In the past 2 weeks, I have become a believer and look forward to celebrating 5000 members on the future We Saved the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook page.

New exhibit - helps draw zoo attendance in the Winter

The new Penguin exhibit at the Lehigh Valley Zoo has helped to turnout crowds on fair weather days. This picture was taken the weekend of 1/24 - below freezing temperatures could not keep these guests away.