West Jax Rotary

Tony Vecchio
Exec. Dir. Jacksonville Zoo

Tony Vecchio is responsible for the entire operations of the Zoo, which welcomes more than 700,000 guests each year; its education program that serves more than 100,000 children annually; the animal program and its research and conservation efforts that recently resulted in the birth of a genetically-valuable jaguar; and the fundraising and management of the expansion plans for the Zoo. Planning that began for Monsoon Asia in 2006, continues under Vecchio’s leadership. It includes the construction of more Asian animal exhibits and a plaza twice the size of the Range of the Jaguar with a restaurant, gift shop and restrooms. The exhibits and plaza will open in phases over the next 10 to 15 years, depending on the availability of funds.

Vecchio’s zoo career spans a 32 year period. It began at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina, where he worked from 1979 through 1985. Between 1986 and 1988, he worked as curator of mammals at Zoo Atlanta. In 1988, he was hired as general curator of Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, where in 1989 he was promoted to and worked as zoo director until February 1998. In March 1998, he was named zoo director at the Oregon Zoo.

Under Vecchio’s leadership, the Oregon Zoo achieved record attendance in nine of the past 11 years he has been there. It has become the most visited admission-based attraction in the Northwest with nearly 1.6 million visitors. Last fall, a successful bond campaign secured $125 million to help improve animal health and safety at the zoo.

Vecchio has a Master of Science, Biology, from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science, Environmental Resource Management/Wildlife Conservation from Penn State University. His honors and awards include the Vanguard Award, Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association in 1995; Outstanding Citizen Award, Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island 1994; and the Outstanding Service Award, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), 1991. He previously served on the Board of Directors, Board of Regents, Animal Welfare Special Committee, Pig and Peccary Advisory Group, and Science and Technology Committee of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is considered a leader in the organization. He has also been a member of the American Association of Zookeepers; Animal Behavior Society; American Society of Primatologists; International Bear Biology Association; Society for Conservation Biology; American Society of Mammalogists and the American Federation of Herpetoculturists.

Tony is married and has two children.

Notes
President john discussed the charity grants and the blueberry fundraiser to be held on July 10 in two locations.

President John announced President’s Night on June 30.

President John recognized Phil Bravo and Rotaract for their annual event.

Wally Barrs introduced Officer Alan Richardson and his wife Lana for our Quarterly Officer Award. Alan graduated form Ed White High. He has spent the last 5 years as a detective with JSO’s missing persons division.
Alan is a youth minister at Hillcrest Baptist Church.

Bob Kidd honored the Myers family for Bob Myers Sr. and Bob Myers Jr. by reading and presenting resolutions to their family members.

Jerry Spinks introduced the speakers, Bruce Dickinson and Corey Campbell, both with the SB/SE Division of the local IRS office. Corey spoke about the IRS office in Jacksonville. He informed us that Jacksonville is part of the South Atlantic Area. There are about 120 Revenue agents in the area. Twenty five locally here in Jacksonville. 60% of the agents have less than 5 years experience due to turnover.

Next he discussed the percentages of taxpayers that pay taxes. He said approximately 43.4% pay zero taxes. Next he discussed the tax gap.

Currently they estimated the tax gap to be about 345 billion dollars as of 2001.

There were few questions asked after the presentation.

Dr. Jim Shumacher have the 4 way test to conclude the meeting.

Visiting Rotarians:
Ed Witt, Sr — Downtown
Henry Beckwith — Downtown
Larry Turknett — Riverside

Rotary Guests:
Millie Myers — Guest of club
Cara Myers — Guest of club
William Myers — Guest of club
Caroline Myers — Guest of club

Birthdays
Veronica James — June 19
Earl Bright — June 21
Walter Williams — June 25

Next Meeting - June 30, 2010
President’s Night at Timuquana Country Club. No meeting at Holiday Inn.

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