This past October Linda and Vanessa attended the EMA conference in Columbus, Ohio. The week was kicked off with a visit to the Cincinnati Zoo.
Janet Dray, left, and President Linda, right, giving Schottzie a scrub (also pictured on the far left, Cecil Jackson Jr., Cincinnati Zoo Elephant Manager)
There were two days of paper presentations and a couple of round-table discussions for all attendees to participate.
Linda and Vanessa had a table with the other vendors and sold Elefantea, shirts, greeting cards, some lovely necklaces made by Sharon Glaeser, and of course were there to talk range country conservation!
Kristen Warner, Elephant Manager at Little Rock Zoo, left, and Linda with the proceeds from Little Rock Zoo AAZK Elephant Appreciation Day
Linda presented on our past projects and Vanessa was there not only representing AES, but she also is the Social Media Committee Chair for the EMA. The keynote speaker this year was none other than Dr. Christopher Stremme, the veterinarian from Sumatra whom we sponsor.
Linda presenting our project updates
They enjoyed a day at the world renowned Columbus Zoo and a post-trip to The Wilds, a conservation center out in the country by Evansville, Ohio. AES is proud to have three out of the four board members as professional members of the EMA. We are always thankful to be a part of the elephant community here in the United States and abroad. We look forward to the conference next year in Miami!
P.S. We were surrounded by luck with baby rhinos! One had just been born at Cincinnati and one was born at The Wilds the day of our Columbus Zoo visit.
Michael Gagne, Secretary Vanessa Gagne, and Sarah Conley of International Elephant Foundation are very close friends and enjoyed being able to hang out at the conference