JUN 18, 2013 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Lee Ehmke, CEO, Minnesota Zoo

President Jim departed from the normal agenda, and spoke of the importance of respecting both happiness and sadness, and knowing that they were real.  He spoke of Lieutenant Colonel Mark Weber, who succumbed to his battle with cancer on June 13.  Mark spoke to our Club last year, and was so moving that he received a rare standing ovation.  This impressed him so much, given his admiration for Rotary’s ideals that he became a Rotarian the following week. 

Two weeks ago, Mark made one of his last public appearances to thank us, and to make gifts to our foundations.  Again, he received a standing ovation, and this time he was moved to tears. 

After a moment of silence, Jim Field and Doug Hartford then led the assembly in America the Beautiful.  Ken Peterson provided the invocation. 

Mindee Kastelic facilitated the introduction of Florian Ero-Phillips, a visiting Rotarian and friend of Allan Ige, from Nigeria, and four guests, including three prospective members.  Jim thanked Shelly Rucks, Mary Britts, and Beth Naughton for serving as greeters.  Michael -jon Pease presented upcoming events and happy hour fellowship opportunities.  Happy Birthday greetings were extended in song to 9 Rotarians who were present for their annual serenade.

Bill Handschin spoke about the fast approaching end of the fiscal year for the St. Paul Rotary Foundation, and exhorted all to contribute.  He presented Paul Harris pins (first one) to Allan Ige, and (seventh one) to Jim Delamater.  Sarah Kolar then passed the basket for the traditional sharing of happy dollars and good news.

Vicki Gee-Treft then introduced our speaker.  Lee Ehmke has been Director/CEO of the Minnesota Zoo for thirteen years.  With degrees in law and landscape architecture, he has been part of a significant period of development and visioning for the Zoo.

Over the past several years the Zoo has completed a $75 million capital and endowment campaign, with both public and private dollars.  Lee compared this with the estimated $146 million in annual economic impact to the state.  There are 350 employees of the Zoo at the busiest time of the year, and some 1.4 million annual visitors (up 40% over the past seven years.)  In fact, Lee shared that Zoos outdraw professional sports teams.

The purpose of the Minnesota Zoo is to establish connections between people, animals, and the natural world.  Educational programs serve more than 300,000 young people and adults annually – and a significant mission is to advance the cause of conservation.  With an 85% decline in Tigers in the world over the past 40 years, and locally, a 50% decline in Minnesota Moose population, the cause is important and real.

The Minnesota Zoo’s future lies in the 15 year master plan recently approved, focusing on conservation, education and recreation.  Four projects within the master plan are in detailed design phase now.  Less than half of the Zoo’s 485 acres are developed – one of the largest site footprints in the Nation.  Plans are made for a Bison herd that will propagate calves to be released into State Parks; and facilities like convention spaces; hillside lodges for overnight guests in the African complex with Lions and Black Rhinos; an Indonesian event center overlooking a rainforest with orangutans, and more.

Lee is proud of what has been achieved to date.  As the incoming President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, he should know.  He says that we should know that we have a Nation-leading Zoo that seeks to be, and can become a World-leading Zoo.

John Andrews,
Scribe