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Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Ron Alessi & The Salisbury Zoo Are At It AGAIN!


Let me explain what this ad DOESN'T exactly say. The City of Salisbury is looking to HIRE a telemarketing company to go out and call everyone and their brother to raise funds for the Zoo. I have been in several of these meetings where they discussed this possibility and as I recall, this Firm would allegedly take at least 35%, (if not more) of ALL of the money they raise.

IMO, it's a SCAM! Granted, it's done quite often. Many of the calls you get asking to support your local FOP events are from an outside marketing company. A very strong percent of what is raised goes to this marketing company and NOT to the Police. I'm NOT saying ALL of them do this.

So look at it like this. Let's say this company raises $2,000,000.00 for the Zoo. They keep, $700,000.00 of it. Is that how you want YOUR donations spent? Why isn't the Zoo Commission raising this money?

I should add, the Salisbury Zoo WILL more than likely lose their accreditation with the AZA. The Zoo has survived for 50+ years without this building. The ONLY reason they're building it is because the AZA is demanding it to be built. However, since they have NOT hired a Zoo Director, the AZA will take away their accreditation and the $2,000,000.00 building won't be necessary. Barrie Tilghman is trying to spend money immediately, all of which is not necessary. Demand that Wicomico County NOT give them the $300,000.00 for their share of the building UNLESS they regain their accreditation with the AZA. The County should also have ONE Council Member on the Zoo Commission as part of the terms as well.

You WON'T read about this in The Daily Times!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

They have enough volunteers to do that. It would help if someone at the zoo had marketing and fund experience.

joe albero said...

Funny you should mention that. THAT'S what the DIRECTOR is actually supposed to do. The Curator manages the Staff, (for the most part) while the Director of ALL Zoo's across America are supposed to raise funds. Call any other Zoo and ask them. They'll tell you I'm exactly right. They hire and fire Directors based on how much money they raise.

Anonymous said...

Joe:

Can those jackals call you if you are on the national "do not call" list?

PS -- If I get a call, it's no more donations to the zoo from me.

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely disgusting! I certainly will never donate to the zoo, especially if I am asked to do so by phone. What's wrong with the over abundance of staff and volunteers at the zoo taking care of raising these funds? They raise funds and give it away to other zoo's, so why not go to bat for their own facility? I also wonder what that add cost the commission needlessly?

A. Goetz

Anonymous said...

Anyone heard that the architect for this building is going belly-up. I think it's a local firm.

Anonymous said...

Lot of contractors are in tight times now. If you need some work done, now is the time to do it, as many are having problems keeping their employees busy, you can get a better deal now rather than wait until it picks up again after the next presidential election.