Volunteer Management Committee Mission
The AZA Volunteer Management Committee (VMC) promotes a dynamic vision of volunteers and interns as vital resources within AZA member institutions by advocating for increased volunteer engagement, providing professional development opportunities tailored for individuals working with volunteers within AZA, and facilitating communication and collaboration throughout AZA institutions. The VMC advances the mission of AZA by empowering volunteer management staff at member institutions to engage and mobilize a diverse and committed force of volunteers.
Volunteer Services Best Practices
The Volunteer Management Committee has developed a series of Best Practices documents to give guidance to all AZA volunteer staff with providing meaningful and mission-related work to volunteers at their organizations.The topics covered are:
- Animal Handling
- Assignments
- Communication
- Conservation Internship Programs
- Interpretation
- On-boarding
- Policies & Procedures
- Recognition & Retention
- Risk Management
- Teen Volunteers
- Uniforms
- Volunteer Management
These documents are not intended to serve as ultimate authority; rather they are to be considered an umbrella of professional and suitable practices for structured and managed volunteer engagement throughout AZA. We anticipate periodic revisions to each document as we respond to our constantly changing audiences, communities and profession.
Chairs
Kelli Crawford, Greensboro Science Center
Andy Shucker, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Vice-Chairs
James Bluher, Clevland Metroparks Zoo
Lace Garland, New England Aquarium
Lisa Ostrego
Members
Julie Bates, Dallas Zoo
Linda Cairnes, Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium
Cassandra Davis, Aquarium of the Pacific
Melissa Dude, The Florida Aquarium
Christine Eckles, Blank Park Zoo
Kimm Fox-Middleton, Oregon Zoo
David Glenn, Seattle Aquarium
Kim Haas, Woodland Park Zoo
Beth Hawkyard, Oregon Coast Aquarium
Samantha Junker, Houston Zoo, Inc.
Kerrie Kovaleski, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Victoria Lambeth, North Carolina Zoo
Shaun Leonoff, Assiniboine Park Zoo
Dan Radley, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Bricken Sparacino, Bronx Zoo
Cheri Vogel, Albuquerque Biological Park
Advisors
Laura Klopfer, Friends of the National Zoo
Stacey Luhring, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
AZA Staff Liaison
Jack Keeney
Amy Rutherford