The Westmoreland Conservancy is planning a region-wide event – Conservation Connection at the Zoo – to be held at the Pittsburgh Zoo on the evening of Saturday, May 3rd, 2008. Goals of the event are to promote conservation, expand membership in our organizations, and provide the chance for conservation-minded people and organizations throughout the region to share ideas and information at a great Pittsburgh venue. And to have fun! We would like to invite your organization to attend and, if you like, to participate in planning and preparation.
Exact ticket prices will be known once the menu is set, but it is expected that the cost of a ticket will be about $20. For tickets orders processed via the Westmoreland Conservancy website there will also be a $1/order handling fee. We are in the early stages of planning; as plans evolve, current information will be posted on our website at www.westmorelandconservancy.org.
Conservation Connection will include a picnic-style dinner in the Zoo’s large Garden Tent, which will showcase display tables from participating organizations around its perimeter. The focus of the evening will be meeting and mingling with other conservation-minded people and organizations, enhanced by fun and entertainment. Planned diversions include behind-the-scenes tours of the zoo, children’s activities, brief talks on topics relating to conservation, and possibly a background slide show of great photos of our region’s flora and fauna and areas of natural beauty.
We invite you to:
Consider sponsorship
Join us as we plan this event
Consider hosting a table
Encouraging participation by your members.
A planning meeting will be held in the back room of the Panera in the Miracle Mile Shopping Center on William Penn Highway (Route 22) in Monroeville, from 10 am to 12 noon on Monday, January 28. Please join us! If possible, please let us know you will be coming by contacting contact@westmorelandconservancy.org by January 27th. Hope to see you there!
Q & A
Q & A for conservation organizations (intended for use during our phone calls)
“What time on Saturday, May 3rd?”
Conservation Connection at the Zoo is planned to run from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. The zoo closes at 5:00, and the staff requires an hour to close the zoo for regular visitors.
“Parking?”
Parking is free at the zoo’s large lot off Baker Street. Look for the Buy ‘n Fly at the intersection of Butler Street and Baker Street. Turn onto Baker Street, and then turn left into the zoo parking lot.
“How large will the event be?”
Our preliminary attendance goal is 500, which is the Garden Tent’s seating capacity. If enough organizations participate, additional zoo facilities will be secured to accommodate more people.
“What will it cost to attend?”
The cost of an individual ticket for the gala is likely to be somewhere between $17 and $20. For those who wish to come early to tour the entire zoo, reduced-price tickets for general admission to the zoo are available at $6/person (details for reduced-priced general admission tickets are shown below).
“What entertainment will be offered?”
The focus of the evening will be meeting and mingling with other conservation-minded people, but several diversions are planned, including behind-the-scenes tours of the zoo, possibly brief talks on topics relating to conservation, children’s activities, and possibly a (background) slide show of great photos of our region’s flora and fauna and areas of natural beauty.
“How can my organization maintain an information display the event?”
The cost of display table space is expected to be $100 plus the cost of an event ticket for anyone ‘manning’ the display. If enough sponsorship funding is secured, this fee will be reduced.
“What if my organization would like to act as a sponsor?”
We will be thrilled with your sponsorship of Conservation Connection at the Zoo! As a sponsor you will receive credit in the event’s program and associated publicity. For more information, call or email contact@westmorelandconservancy.org
“Is help needed with planning or preparation?”
Yes, your help will be very highly valued! Planning is now underway for menu options, entertainment, and many other details. Your help will be welcomed for these things, and for such other things as publicity, sponsorships, presentations, children’s activities, and general logistics. On the day of the event, your help will be invaluable for such things as decorating, set-up, last-minute preparations, and greeting participants. If you’d like to join our Conservation Connection effort, please call or email contact@westmorelandconservancy.org
“When and where can people from my organization buy tickets?”
Tickets should become available to purchase on February 1st, 2008. Batch purchases by conservation organizations are strongly encouraged; for group sales please call or email us at contact@westmorelandconservancy.org . Individual’s tickets will be available for purchase online, using a credit card, at www.westmorelandconservany.org, and they will be mailed. A $1/order handling fee will apply to on-line purchases. Tickets will also be available for purchase at selected sites, which will be shown at the Westmoreland Conservancy website as these arrangements are made.
Places to buy tickets for Conservation Connection at the Zoo
Arrangements are pending – please check back after February 1st, 2008.
“What if our people would like to come early, to tour the entire Zoo?”
Reduced-price tickets for general admission to the zoo are available at $6/person. For general admission, people should arrive at the zoo anytime prior to 5:00; they will be able to stay on after the Zoo closes.
“Some of our people would like to go to the zoo during the day of May 3rd, but are not able to stay for the event in the evening. Are they eligible for discounted general admission on May 3rd?”
People affiliated with participating organizations will have the chance to buy reduced-price tickets at $6/person for May 3rd general admission to the zoo, even if they do not plan to attend the evening event. For these tickets, the normal regulations and hours of zoo operation will be in effect.
“It sounds like a great event! What happens next?”
A planning meeting will be held in the back room of the Panera in the Miracle Mile Shopping Center on William Penn Highway (Route 22) in Monroeville, from 10 am to 12 noon on Monday, January 28. Please join us! If possible, please let us know you will be coming by contacting us at contact@westmorelandconservancy.org by January 27th. Hope to see you there! And hope that you will join us on May 3rd for a most excellent celebration of conservation!
Q & A for individuals (these Q & A are intended for our website)
“What time on Saturday, May 3rd?”
Conservation Connection at the Zoo will run from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. The zoo closes at 5:00, and the staff requires an hour to close the zoo for regular visitors.
“Parking?”
Parking is free at the zoo’s large lot off Baker Street. Look for the Buy ‘n Fly at the intersection of Butler Street and Baker Street. Turn onto Baker Street, and then turn left into the zoo parking lot.
“What if I would like to come early to tour the entire Zoo?”
Advanced purchase reduced-price tickets for general admission to the zoo are available at $6/person. For general admission, plan to arrive at the zoo anytime prior to 5:00; if you will be attending Conservation Connection you will be able to stay on after the Zoo closes.
“What entertainment will be offered?”
While the focus of the evening will be meeting and mingling with other conservation-minded people, planned diversions include behind-the-scenes tours of the zoo, several brief talks on topics relating to conservation, children’s activities, and a background slide show of great photos of our region’s flora and fauna and areas of natural beauty.
“When and where can I buy tickets?”
Tickets should become available to purchase on March 1st, 2008. Individual’s tickets will be available for purchase online, using a credit card, at www.westmorelandconservany.org, and they will be mailed. A $1/order handling fee will apply to on-line purchases. Tickets will also be available for purchase at selected sites, which will be shown below as these arrangements are made.
Places to buy tickets for Conservation Connection at the Zoo
Arrangements are pending – please check back after February 1st, 2008.
“We would like to visit the zoo during the day on May 3rd, but are not able to stay for the evening event. Are we eligible for discounted admission?”
Yes, you will be able to buy reduced-price tickets at $6/person for May 3rd general admission to the zoo, even if you do not plan to attend the evening event.
