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Many zoos around the country have "Friends of the Zoo" type
organizations which promote their zoos, organize events at their zoos,
hold fund raisers and educational events ... things like that which help
both their zoos and their communities. Some of these organizations are
pretty creative. I attended a birthday party for an elephant once, and
one year at Halloween, the local zoo was the location for a haunted
trails event, which was a unique takeoff on the traditional spook house.
With all of this buzzing around in my brain, I called Armando Gil Monday
afternoon to ask how the city would react to the suggestion of an
organization such as this in Pecos. He told me that the city council
would have to approve it, but he didn't think that there would be a
problem if it was something that members of the community were
interested in.
Gil also told me that starting Tuesday morning, a plant and tree
planting beautification project was scheduled to begin at the zoo. Well,
that was yesterday, so if you take your family there this weekend, you
may be able to spot something new. He sounded rather optimistic about
the project and said, "My goal is to make the zoo as bright and colorful
as possible, so it will be attractive and people will feel comfortable
walking around there."
Gil's positive attitude and comments gave me the impression that if a
zoo support group were formed it would have the city's cooperation, and
the city is the entity that is responsible for zoo maintenance, so their
cooperation would be necessary.
Schools from throughout West Texas and as far away as Chihuahua, Mexico
bring their students to Maxey Park Zoo on field trips, but they live
permanently in this vast area, and know that we have a zoo here. I
wonder how many travelling families pass by our town and never realize
that we have a park with a zoo where they could stop to stretch their
legs and show their children some animals for free. If we made more of a
point of pointing that out to them, they might stop here for lunch or a
tankful of gas while they're in town instead of going on and spending
those dollars someplace else. I'm not saying that the zoo could generate
millions of dollars in additional revenue for local businesses, but
every little bit helps.
Not only could a zoo group promote the zoo to tourists and organize
events for the community, it might also be able to monitor the animals'
living conditions, and work to improve them, if there are still people
with that concern, as I have heard.
So, the question is: are there any people out there who have children,
businesses, a love of animals, a deep commitment to Pecos, or some other
motivation which would make them willing to form a group to promote the
zoo and organize activities there? If anyone else is interested, call me
here at the paper (445-5475) and we will see what we can accomplish by
working together.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Cara Alligood is an Enterprise writer and advertising administrator.
We are living in America by birth or by choice, so all our allegiance
should be given to America. This is our heritage.
The American people should not be forced to hear, see and read about
something that means nothing to America.
The people who come to this country of their own free will to improve
themselves and have a better way of life (I am one of those persons)
should thank God that they are here and show their first allegiance to
America and celebrate the holiday of the country they freely gave up in
a quiet manner and not force it on all of the other people that have no
desire to hear all about something that is not American.
Juan Rodriguez
Here is Bessie A. Stanley's description of success: "He has achieved
success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained
the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has
filled his niche and accomplished his task, whether by an improved
poppy, a perfect poem or a rescued soul; who has never lacked
appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who has always
looked for the best in others and given the best he had; whose life was
inspiration, and whose memory a benediction."
That's good. Question: How do you achieve success? My answer: Combine
the right attitude with specific skills, and add the Golden Rule
philosophy and a specific game plan. Now build your life on a character
base, and you have an excellent chance of achieving total success.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's definition: "Finish every day, and be done with
it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and some absurdities no
doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day.
Begin it wll and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with
your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too
dear, with its hoeps and invitations, to waste a moment on the
yesterdays." Good advice.
In summation, remember that failure is an event and not a person.
Yesterday really did end last night. Today is a brand new day. Take that
approach toward success, and I'll see you at the top!
EDITOR'S NOTE: Zig Ziglar is a motivational speaker whose column is copyrighted and
distributed by Creators Syndicate Inc.
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Copyright 1997 by Pecos Enterprise
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324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
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