It’s not a required part of the Zoo director’s job to join the Platypus Society and financially support the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM). And with all the hours that Chuck Wikenhauser puts in as director of the Milwaukee County Zoo, it would be remarkable if he hung around after hours to attend Platypus Society events. Yet he does. In the public-private partnership between Milwaukee County and the not-for-profit Zoological Society to support the Zoo, Wikenhauser is often the face of the public sector. He exemplifies the dedication of many county Zoo employees.Chuck and Trish Wikenhauser both have been members of the Platypus Society for 20 years, since Chuck became Zoo director in 1990. “We have always felt strongly about giving back to the community, and that starts right here at the Zoo,” says Chuck. “The missions of both the Zoo and Zoological Society are very similar, and whether it is supporting Zoological Society events by participating in them or facilitating their successful outcomes, we just want to help.” Adds Trish: “I consider myself an ambassa-dor for the Zoo and for the animals and for the staff who provide daily care for the animals. I cannot imagine it in any other way. That’s why we’re Platypus members.”Besides attending all Platypus Society events, Chuck and Trish have come to every Zoo Ball, the ZSM’s largest annual fund-raiser, since 1990. Trish has helped recruit Platypus mem-bers, such as Gary and Sally Sprenger. Chuck has led safaris to Africa for the ZSM. His safari participants often have become much more interested in animals and in supporting the Zoo through the ZSM. Chuck takes time to present Zoo news at every ZSM Board meeting, at donor events, at some ZSM staff meet-ings and at events for Zoo Pride, the ZSM’s volunteer auxiliary. “Everyone appreciates ‘insider’ news,” he says. “That is why I really enjoy providing updates.” He also makes his animal staff available at Platypus and Zoo Pride events to talk about wildlife and conservation. “Arranging for other Zoo staff to speak to those groups really enhances the members’ experience with the Society – either as a volunteer or a donor – and makes their participation much more meaningful.”Teamwork between the county staff and Zoological Society has made their public-private partnership so admired in Wisconsin. That teamwork starts at the top. Chuck Wikenhauser works jointly with Dr. Robert Davis, Zoological Society CEO, on many projects, such as presentations to significant donors. “The inter-organi-zational communication and sharing of information has greatly increased with Dr. Bert,” says Chuck. Adds Dr. Bert: “Chuck is great to work with and is really supportive of the Zoological Society.”

Wikenhauser says he is thankful that the Zoological Society has provided millions of dollars each year to support the Zoo. That includes thousands of dollars to allow Zoo staff opportunities for professional development such as participating in conserva-tion projects and attending conferences. “The public-private partnership is so successful because we truly have the same goals: to make the best Zoo that we can, to support conservation and to educate people.”Chuck asks zookeepers and other staff to give presentations to children attending classes and camps run by the Zoological Society, which built an eight-classroom facility on Zoo grounds. “We have the best education programming out there as far as cultural institutions in Milwaukee,” he says. Chuck asks his staff to provide information for ZSM publications, which in turn promote Zoo events and explain Zoo projects. His staff make it possible for the ZSM to run an annual behind-the-scenes event for people who sponsor animals; the ZSM’s Sponsor an Animal program raises money for the Zoo’s animals. The Zoo staff help make possible the ZSM’s Kids’ Nights in July, Platypus Society/VIP premieres of new exhibits, special Zoo tours for Platypus

November 2010

Teamwork Makes a Partnership

Story continued on back page

PLATYPUS SOCIETY STEERING COMMITTEE

Robert Anger Paul Cadorin

Dr. Robert DavisGerald Dias

Mary Ellen EneaKaren Peck Katz

Maria Gonzalez KnavelJoe Kresl (chairman)

James KuehnJack McKeithan

Deborah MusanteJoan Prince, Ph.D. Judy Holz Stathas

DEVELOPMENT STAFF

Karen Von RuedenVice President of Development

Lisa Ruidl Development Coordinator

Cassie Jeffery Grant Writer

NEWSLETTER STAFF

Paula Brookmire Editor

Julia Kolker, Erica Breunlin Writers

Kevin de WaneDesigner

Richard Brodzeller Photographer

(unless otherwise noted)

The Platy Press is a newsletter for members of the Platypus Society.

The Platypus Society is the highest level, donor-member-recognition group in the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s network of support. Members include about 375 area

foundations, businesses and individuals contributing more than $700,000 annually with in-kind services and support. The Platy Press is published four times a year by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, 10005 W. Blue Mound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226. The Zoological Society celebrates its

100th anniversary in 2010.

www.zoosociety.org

On the Web For back issues of Platy Press

dating to September 2006, go to www.zoosociety.org/pubs/platypress.

Judy Holz Stathas was honored with the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s (ZSM’s) top award, the Emu Egg, on Aug. 17, 2010, in a ceremony at the Zoo. The award, a real emu egg encased in glass, honors Holz Stathas for her exceptional commitment to the non-profit ZSM since 1986. A member of the ZSM’s Board of Directors, she has chaired many fund-raising events for the Zoological Society and served many years on the Associate Board. She and her husband, Dr. William Stathas, supported Milwaukee County Zoo exhibits ranging from the Holz Family Impala Country to an education annex in the Animal Health Center through per-sonal gifts and gifts from the Jerome and Dorothy Holz Family Foundation. In 2002 and 2006, Judy Holz Stathas was honored by the Platypus Society with awards for outstanding support of the Zoological Society. Other people honored with awards August 17 are listed at right.

Platypus Society Awards

The Dohmen Family Foundation was honored with the Zoological Society’s President’s Award. Accepting the award were foundation president Robert Dohmen and his mother, Mary Dohmen, an officer and director of the foundation. In 2008-2009, the Dohmen Family Foundation helped fund the Milwaukee County Zoo’s new hippo enclosure, called the Dohmen Family Foundation Hippo Home. The generous gift covered exhibit design, construction and an endowment for the long-term maintenance of the exhibit. The extra space allowed the Zoo to bring to Milwaukee a hippo called Happy, a “star” animal from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

Platypus Society Awards

Lois Tetzlaff received the Leontideus rosalia award (a framed pair of golden lion tamarin footprints) for contributing more than 5,600 volunteer hours to the ZSM. Tetzlaff has been a member of Zoo Pride, the ZSM’s volunteer auxiliary, for 33 years. This year is the 35th anniversary of Zoo Pride, and Tetzlaff joined just two years after the group was formed. Over the decades, she has done everything from chairing the primate committees to giving behind-the-scenes tours to VIPs. She also helped launch the volunteer group’s conservation committee.

Mike and Laura Arnow of Fox Point accepted the Bubo virginianus award (a framed pair of children’s footprints) on behalf of the Antonia Foundation. The award recognizes the Foundation’s longtime support of ZSM conservation education programs such as education internships for college students, and the Animal Ambassador program for metro-Milwaukee children attending schools in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The Foundation also gave the naming gift for the surgery center in the Zoo’s Animal Health Center and supported a bird conservation program.

Ken and Joan Hudak of Bayside were honored with the Loxodonta africana award (a framed African elephant footprint). The Hudaks own and operate Canopies, which provides in-kind rentals of tables, chairs and tents for many ZSM fund-raisers and events, including Zoo Ball and Wines and Beers of the World – as well as all Platypus Society events. Each year, their generous donation saves the ZSM significant money and time.

Michael “Mike” Grebe received the Spheniscus humboldti award (a framed pair of Humboldt penguin footprints) for outstanding service. Grebe is on the ZSM Board of Directors, is a trustee of the ZSM’s Endowment Trust and serves on the board of the Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Inc., the ZSM’s conservation partner. Grebe, a partner with the law firm Quarles & Brady, has contributed many hours of pro bono legal work to the ZSM. Since 1998, he has secured annual funding from the law firm for hole sponsorship at the ZSM’s MillerCoors Birdies & Eagles Golf Tournament fund-raiser. He also has purchased corporate tables for Zoo Ball. Mike and his wife, Kelly, have been members of the Platypus Society since 2007.

Deborah Kern, a longtime, avid supporter of the ZSM’s bonobo-conservation program, received the President’s Award. In 2010, Kern (not pictured) gave a generous lead gift to construct a new outdoor exhibit for the Zoo’s 16 bonobos. The donation includes support for interactive graphics and a museum-style diorama featuring the work of Dr. Gay E. Reinartz, the ZSM’s conservation coordinator, who spends much of her time in the Congo for the ZSM’s Bonobo & Congo Biodiversity Initiative (BCBI). In 2003, Kern was honored with the ZSM’s Gorilla, gorilla, gorilla award for her support of BCBI. The 2010 donation also will help the Zoo to renovate the bonobos’ indoor exhibit and improve access to the animals for zookeepers and researchers.

‘Our honorees have dem-onstrated their support for this wonderful institution. We are indeed grateful for their contributions, which will have a profound and lasting impact.’ -Dr. Robert Davis, Zoological Society CEO

Zoological Society of Milwaukee CountyDevelopment Office10005 W. Blue Mound Rd.Milwaukee, WI 53226(414) 258-2333

Please remember the Zoological Society in your will or estate plan.

Name: Anthony and Colleen PolstonCity: Cedarburg, Wis.How to contact them: anthonypolston@ northwesternmutual.com

Personal history with Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM) and Milwaukee County Zoo: “We’ve been coming to the Milwaukee County Zoo since moving back here from San Francisco in December 2005, ”says Tony. “We enjoy frequent trips to the Zoo and two of our children –Michael, 6, and Edie, 4 – would come every day if possible. We love learning about the varieties of animals and their habitats. Michael is especially fascinated with animals. These days, he is mostly into monkeys. We spend lots of time at home reading books about animals, drawing pictures of them, and researching them online. Michael says he wants to be a zookeeper when he grows up. So we feel compelled to encourage that interest.” Colleen came to the Zoo as a child with her family and recalls hearing the train whistle as she neared the entrance. So it was poignant when Michael took a Zoological Society class where he got to ride the Zoo train. She says ZSM classes have taught the kids that “there’s always more to investigate and discover.”

Reason you joined the Platypus Society: “Our family joined the Platypus Society to support the Zoo and to ensure that it remains a quality enter-tainment and education option to everyone in the community,” says Tony. “We added a new addition to our family over Memorial Day weekend, 6-month-old Ainsley. So, truthfully, we haven’t had a chance to take advantage of all the benefits that come with being Platypus members, but in October we did have a behind-the-scenes tour that was remarkable.”

Why the Platypus Society is important: “It is easy to forget that many organizations that give back to the community are supported largely by pri-vate donations rather than ticket sales or public contributions. We may take for granted that these things will always be available in Milwaukee. They’re available because the generations that came before us made sure that they were here for us to enjoy. It’s our generation’s responsibility to provide the same and even better opportunities for those who come after us.”

New-Member Profile

November 2010 through February 2011Zoo hours: weekdays 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; weekends 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Dec. 3The Zoological Society’s Fantastic Forest, sponsored by Hawks Nursery, opens in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place; child-decorated trees.*

Dec. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19Breakfast or Lunch with Santa, sponsored by Racine Danish Kringles; to get on Zoo mailing list, call (414) 256-5466 or see www.milwaukeezoo.org

Jan. 16Samson Stomp & Romp for the Zoo, sponsored by Gatorade and Pick ’n Save, 8 a.m. registration.*

Jan. 20Puttin’ on the Ritz gourmet dinner and boxing fund-raiser for Zoological Society*

March 24Wines and Beers of the World ZSM fund-raiser, 7-10 p.m., at the Zoo* (Pre-register.)

* For more information, call (414) 258-2333 or go online at www.zoosociety.org.

Society members, and other events. While this is extra work for Zoo staff, Chuck says that they really appreciate the opportunity to interact with the public. And he uses every opportunity to praise their dedication.In 2010, Chuck accepted two awards honoring the Milwaukee County Zoo. The first, a Diversity Achievers Award given by the Boy Scouts of Metro Milwaukee, recognized the Zoo for host-ing an annual scouting day. In August, the Zoo also received a Lamplighter Award from VISIT Milwaukee for advancing Milwaukee’s tourism and hospitality industry. “For many years the Zoo has had a profound influence on the tourism industry here in the Milwaukee area,” says Chuck. “It is nice to be publicly recognized for our success. It happens only because of the hard work and dedication of the Zoo and Zoological Society staff.”

By Paula Brookmire

Teamwork & Partnership

Calendar

printed on recycled paper 4647J10

Photo by Rick Heinlein

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