Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Update Plus!

During a recent visit, I got into a conversation about the crime Zoo Management has committed against me and my friend. I mentioned this blog and when I came away from that conversation, I realized how fast time has flown and that I hadn't made an update in some time.

About six weeks ago I received a letter from San Francisco Zoological Society Chairman David Stanton. As soon as I read it, I batted out a reply. Since it was clear in the letter I received that my previous correspondence information and request to view this blog for more details, was not heeded, my reply came in at nine pages. I have not sent it yet, as I felt I should sit on it for a few days to make sure I hadn't missed mentioning any important details. Since it took six months to get a response out of anyone, I figured I better make sure I'm VERY clear. As the days went on, I decided I wasn't yet sure how I wanted to proceed. Life happens and I still haven't gotten around to dealing with this time and energy consuming issue. So, here we are almost a couple months later.

I had planned to post a copy of this letter and my reply, and I still will as soon as I get that far. Until then I don't want to say much more about it, only to let those who have been following the situation know, I will never give up seeking justice.

If you are just visiting this blog for the first time, I'm going to try and add a synopsis here, so you don't have to spend your time reading all the details, unless you want to :)

Synopsis: My friend Lee and I love the Zoo. We have been big supporters for years. We are on a friendly basis with a great many of the Staff. The Zoo Staffs very few Security and since we love the Zoo Friends, we report misbehavior when we see it. Lee reported seeing a man over the barrier at a Polar Bear Grotto. A week later we both had our Memberships revoked. Until recently no one had officially given us a reason, we had to hear via third parties we enlisted to help us. We have been slandered with accusations we called in a prank call, as well have abused Staff. Many attempts over the past many months were made to not only get an official reason, but to present our side and show how ridiculously obvious this is, by exposing the untruths.

I also want to say that it is draining not only dealing with this when I do, but making sure all the details are documented. As well I also have a blog sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com that documents things that just don't seem right. Also, along the same lines, my crusade for the Zoo to give their Andean Bear some grass, as he lives exclusively on concrete :O projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com Writing these negative vibe blogs is kind-of a bummer. It sometimes feels like all I do since the crime was committed is complain. I seriously wish that all this didn't happen and I was still blogging on my gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com blog about all the great Zoo Friends and great things happening at the Zoo. I also wish I was still making enrichment toys for the friends and posting all the fun at thebigcatnip.blogspot.com BUT there are persons in Zoo Management that evidentially would prefer to stir things up, not just with me, but with other Staffers as well.

It would serve the people above Zoo Management, eg the Zoological Society Board and City Park and Rec. to take a real close look at what is happening at Management level if they want the Zoo to thrive.

It will really be a shame if the system stays status-quo. The Zoo could be so much more, if the hands of those who really cared weren't tied. To me the Zoo should be Staffed by people who are there because they love Animals and want to do what's best for them. Sure its a business, but it is also a place where Animals live. So, everyone at all levels should keep that in mind and put personal agendas aside. The people who work at the Zoo are the luckiest people, more of them should be grateful they have these great jobs and stop trying to domineer and politic.

Ok so maybe I went on a tangent there, but after my experience, my semi-rosed colored glasses came off.
What happened to me is sad and frustrating because its wrong. Unfortunately there is alot of wrong going on at the San Francisco Zoo.

I do want to say that I am trying to move away from my negative vibe blogs and have started a new one. I have yet to post, but have the outline, so it will launch soon. My goal is to just report on my visit of the day and post photos. The details I share will be exactly what I thought and saw that day. It will be about my awesome Zoo Friends, Visitor misbehavior and other assorted yays and nays. Check it out if you're interested iamnotananteater.blogspot.com

You can also find links to my other Zoo Friend related blogs and photosite in the Welcome post of this blog. Thankx!

UPDATE: 11.09.11 I have mailed my reply to David Stanton, Zoological Society Chair, as well and delivered a copy to Phil Ginsburg, Park and Rec GM. When/if I get a reply I will post their reply, my reply and hopefully a response to it all!