Donald and Janet Greenebaum of Mequon are two of the Platypus Society’s longest-term members. In 2008 they celebrate 20 years of membership in the Platypus Society, the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s (ZSM’s) highest-level donor group. “I guess we’ve always been zoo people,” says Janet. For Janet, it all started with childhood trips to the zoo. “When I was a little girl I lived in the Chicago suburbs and my parents would take me to the Lincoln Park and Brookfield Zoos,” she says. After the Greenebaums married and moved to Milwaukee, they visited the Phoenix zoo when wintering in Arizona and the Milwaukee County Zoo during the summer. “I think the Zoo is a necessity in a city,” says Janet. “It can open the eyes of people who would never be able to see an elephant or a polar bear or a moose up close.” Animal lovers who have gone on safaris in Kenya and Tanzania (including a ZSM- led safari), the Greenebaums have been involved with the ZSM and the Platypus Society since 1988. “The Platypus Society is an opportunity for people to give more than the bare necessities,” explains Janet. “It’s a chance to give to something they believe in.” Throughout the years, the Greenebaums have donated more than $20,000 to ZSM projects such as capital cam- paigns and annual appeals. That’s in addition to their Platypus Society membership. “The Zoo is a very important part of the community and we’re happy to help,” says Donald. Good animal care and up-to-date exhibits inspire the Greenbaums to support the Zoo. For example, “I’m delighted with what the Zoological Society has done for the giraffes,” says Janet. In 2006, the Miller Brewing Company Giraffe Experience opened as part of the ZSM’s New Zoo II Capital Campaign, conducted in a public-private partnership with Milwaukee County. This exhibit features a remodeled, indoor area for the giraffes as well as an outdoor observation deck from which zoogoers can feed the animals. “I was absolutely thrilled to be a participant in that project,” says Janet. The Greenebaums’ favorite Zoo animal, however, is the ring-tailed lemur, which Janet first saw at the zoo in Phoenix. Some of the Greenebaums’ best memories come from taking their four now-grown children and eight grandchil- dren to the Zoo throughout the years. “Our kids always wanted to go on the train [now called the North Shore Bank Safari Train], and if we went around and saw the animals first, there was screaming,” says Janet with a laugh. Another time, Janet’s grandchildren gave a tour of the Zoo to her. “I had just had hip replace- ment surgery. My grandkids were off from school and we went to the Zoo. They pushed me in a wheelchair instead of me pushing them in strollers. We all enjoyed the Zoo that day!” The Greenebaums look forward to visiting the U.S. Bank Gathering Place, a new entrance to the Zoo opening May 10, with a Platypus Society/VIP Premiere May 8. (The Gathering Place groundbreaking is featured on the inside pages). Says Janet: “I’m just so glad the Zoo is here and we’re able to be part of it.” By Julia Kolker March 2008 Two Decades of Dedication
Transcript
Donald and Janet Greenebaum of Mequon are two of the Platypus Society’s longest-term members. In 2008 they celebrate 20 years of membership in the Platypus Society, the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s (ZSM’s) highest-level donor group. “I guess we’ve always been zoo people,” says Janet. For Janet, it all started with childhood trips to the zoo. “When I was a little girl I lived in the Chicago suburbs and my parents would take me to the Lincoln Park and Brookfield Zoos,” she says. After the Greenebaums married and moved to Milwaukee, they visited the Phoenix zoo when wintering in Arizona and the Milwaukee County Zoo during the summer. “I think the Zoo is a necessity in a city,” says Janet. “It can open the eyes of people who would never be able to see an elephant or a polar bear or a moose up close.” Animal lovers who have gone on safaris in Kenya and Tanzania (including a ZSM-led safari), the Greenebaums have been involved with the ZSM and the Platypus Society since 1988. “The Platypus Society is an opportunity for people to give more than the bare necessities,” explains Janet. “It’s a chance to give to something they believe in.” Throughout the years, the Greenebaums have donated more than $20,000 to ZSM projects such as capital cam-paigns and annual appeals. That’s in addition to their Platypus Society membership. “The Zoo is a very important part of the community and we’re happy to help,” says Donald. Good animal care and up-to-date exhibits inspire the Greenbaums to support the Zoo. For example, “I’m delighted with what the Zoological Society has done for the giraffes,” says Janet. In
2006, the Miller Brewing Company Giraffe Experience opened as part of the ZSM’s New Zoo II Capital Campaign, conducted in a public-private partnership with Milwaukee County. This exhibit
features a remodeled, indoor area for the giraffes as well as an outdoor observation deck from which zoogoers can feed the animals. “I was absolutely thrilled to be a participant in that project,” says Janet. The Greenebaums’ favorite Zoo animal, however, is the ring-tailed lemur, which Janet first saw at the zoo in Phoenix. Some of the Greenebaums’ best memories come from taking their four now-grown children and eight grandchil-dren to the Zoo throughout the years. “Our kids always wanted to go on the train [now called the North Shore Bank Safari Train], and if we went around and saw the animals first, there was screaming,” says Janet with a laugh. Another time, Janet’s grandchildren gave a tour of the Zoo to her. “I had just had hip replace-ment surgery. My grandkids were off from school and we
went to the Zoo. They pushed me in a wheelchair instead of me pushing them in strollers. We all enjoyed the Zoo that day!” The Greenebaums look forward to visiting the U.S. Bank Gathering Place, a new entrance to the Zoo opening May 10, with a Platypus Society/VIP Premiere May 8. (The Gathering Place groundbreaking is featured on the inside pages). Says Janet: “I’m just so glad the Zoo is here and we’re able to be part of it.”
By Julia Kolker
March 2008
Two Decades of Dedication
PlatyPress
One of the best examples of how Platypus Society members support the Zoo is the U.S. Bank Gathering Place. Platypus members are involved in the funding, design, construction and landscaping of this distinc-tive new indoor entrance to the Milwaukee County Zoo. All Platypus members will get a chance to preview the new entryway on May 8. U.S. Bank, which provided the major gift for the project, is a corporate Platypus member. So is Mortenson Construction, the building company that’s turning a former open plaza into an inviting, indoor space. Rich Tennessen, a patron Platypus Society member, is vice president of Eppstein Uhen Architects, the Gathering Place designer. And corporate Platypus member Hawks Nursery, owned by Zoological Society Board member Joe Kresl, is donating $50,000 in landscaping and plantings. At the Sept. 11, 2007, groundbreaking, many Platypus Society members were on hand to hear Bill Bertha, president of U.S. Bank-Wisconsin, kick off the construction. The 29,548-square-foot space will have a fluid feeling indoors and a large outdoor canopy to the east to provide shelter from the weather. The west entrance will be graced by the Elizabeth Elser Doolittle West Gardens. Inside you can grab coffee and a snack from a coffee bar or select from various food stations in the new restaurant. The atrium will have updated guest services, including electronic information screens, sponsored by U.S. Cellular. Wildlife photos by Platypus member Richard Brodzeller, who has photographed Zoo animals for more than 35 years, will hang on ban-ners from the ceiling. The U.S. Bank Gathering Place is the ninth and final project in the New Zoo II Capital Campaign to improve the Zoo. Donors to the Zoological Society’s Annual Appeal also are helping make the Gathering Place possible. For information on how to support the Zoo’s new entrance with your name on a donor tile or bench, go to our Web site at www.zoosociety.org or call (414) 258-2333.
New Zoo Entrance GroundbreakingPLATYPUS SOCIETY STEERING COMMITTEE
Robert Anger Paul CadorinDr. Bert Davis
Richard GlaisnerMike Grebe
Katherine HustKaren Peck Katz
Maria Gonzalez KnavelJoe Kresl
James KuehnDaniel F. McKeithan Jr.
James McKennaBernard J. Peck
Joan Prince, Ph.D.John Sapp
Andrew T. Sawyer Jr. (chairman)Judy Holz Stathas
DEVELOPMENT STAFF
Beth W. CaronaVice President of Development
Katie HessAnnual Giving & Events Coordinator
Brooke FellenzDevelopment Assistant
Cassie JefferyGrant Writer
NEWSLETTER STAFF
Paula BrookmireEditor & WriterJulia Kolker
Writer
Kevin de WaneDesigner
Richard BrodzellerPhotographer
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 sup-
port. Members include about 375 area foundations, businesses and individuals contributing more than
$650,000 annually with in-kind services and support. The Platy Press
is published four times a year by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, 1421 N. Water St., Milwaukee, WI
53202. www.zoosociety.org
New Zoo Entrance Groundbreaking
Platypus members Jerry and Melody Czubinski stopped next to an Apes of Africa sign after the groundbreaking.
Brian Boecker, Mortenson Construction’s project manager for the Gathering Place, and Platypus Society member Trish Kagerbauer got hard hats to visit the construction site.
Bill Bertha, president of U.S. Bank-Wisconsin, displayed an artist’s rendering of the new entrance.
Patron Platypus members Michael and Judy Fitzpatrick visited the construction site.
Karen Loth, who’s on the Zoological Society’s Associate Board, and her husband, Doug Smith, enjoyed the Humboldt penguins after the groundbreaking. Loth and Smith are patron Platypus members.
Breaking ground for the U.S. Bank Gathering Place on Sept. 11, 2007, are (from left) Karen Peck Katz, 2007-’08 chair of the Zoological Society (ZSM) Board; Bill Bertha, president of U.S. Bank-Wisconsin; John Sapp, 2005-‘07 chair of the ZSM Board; Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker; Dr. Robert Davis, ZSM CEO; Rich Tennessen, vice president of Eppstein Uhen Architects, the Gathering Place designer; Mark Sherry, vice president and general manager at Mortenson Construction, the builder; Zoo Director Chuck Wikenhauser; and Dr. Gil Boese, ZSM president emeritus and capital campaign project manager for the new entrance.
Zoological Society Development Office1421 N. Water StreetMilwaukee, WI 53202
Please remember the Zoological Society in your will or estate plan.
printed on recycled paper 3646B08
March 8 & 9Behind the Scenes Weekend at the Zoo*
March 22Egg Day, sponsored by McCormick & Pick ’n Save*
March 30Feast for the Beasts Pancake Breakfast, a fund-raiser for the Zoological Society, sponsored by Tri City National Bank.*
April 5Family Free Day at the Zoo, sponsored by North Shore Bank and FOX 6 April 16Talk by Vicki Piaskowski, international coordinator of
Birds Without Borders-Aves Sin Fronteras®, 7 p.m., Wehr Nature Center; free. Call (414) 425-8550 for details.
May 8Platypus Society/VIP premiere of U.S. Bank Gathering Place; look for your invitation in the mail.
May 11Mother’s Day at the Zoo, sponsored by Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort*
May 22Platypus Society/VIP premiere of new flamingo exhibit; look for your invita-tion in the mail.
May 31 & June 1Conservation Weekend at the Zoo, sponsored by American Transmission Company*
June 15Father’s Day at the Zoo, sponsored by Chinet® & Pick ’n Save; all dads get in free*
June 18, 19, 20Nights in June, for Zoological Society members only, 5:15-9 p.m.*
June 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30Sunset Zoofari, sponsored by Tri City National Bank, 6-9 p.m.*
June 28Zoo Ball 2008, sponsored by American Airlines & American Eagle*
July 15, 17 & 18Kids’ Nights, sponsored byWauwatosa Savings Bank, for ZSM members only*
July 31Platypus Society Family Picnic; look for your invitation in the mail.
* For more information, call (414) 258-2333 or go online at www.zoosociety.org.
Names: Scott & Melinda Redlinger Address: S85 W19825 Meadowlands Ct.,
Muskego, WI 53150Phone: 262-971-0774E-mail: [email protected] Reason you joined the Platypus Society: We love the Milwaukee County Zoo and enjoy all the learning oppor-tunities it has provided for us and our children. We wanted to find a way to be a part of that experience for others.
Personal history with Zoological Society and Milwaukee County Zoo: Scott is a
new member of the Zoological Society Board of Directors. Scott and Melinda both have been coming to the Milwaukee County Zoo since they were children. “We now share that love with our own two children.”
Why the Platypus Society is important: The Platypus Society is invaluable for the educational opportunities it provides to the communities and children of southeastern Wisconsin.
