Empower, Engage, Expand: Volunteer Leadership at Saint Louis Zoo

Empower, Engage, Expand: Volunteer Leadership at Saint Louis Zoo

Imagine being asked to take on another project or recruit volunteers for another event. Your team simply doesn’t have the capacity...or do you? Perhaps elevating your super-star volunteers into leadership roles could help!

Through an interactive presentation and discussion, the Saint Louis Zoo Volunteer Services team and participants will explore volunteer leadership as a means to both engage volunteers and meet challenges facing our organizations and departments.

By viewing the Zoo’s event volunteer program as a case study, participants will identify their own program needs, what volunteer leadership roles could look like in their organization, and the costs and benefits of devoting time to creating a practical, people-oriented leadership plan.

The session is a time for participants to reflect on their own volunteer programs and develop a plan of action that cultivates strong volunteer leaders and elevates them into roles that better serve the organization and community.

Presenter bios:

Katie Emerick is Director of Volunteer Services at Saint Louis Zoo. She has worked at the Zoo for the past ten years and couldn’t choose a better place to be. She appreciates Zoo volunteers’ enthusiasm, ideas and the strong community they have created together.

Rachel Drochter is Manager of Volunteer Services at Saint Louis Zoo and has worked at the Zoo for the past seven years. She is inspired by Zoo volunteers' love of the zoo, their knowledge and enthusiasm for making the guest experience their number one priority.

As a team, Katie and Rachel engage year-round adult volunteers, event volunteers, teen volunteers, interns and corporate groups.

Additional Details:

Complimentary breakfast will be provided to those attending. To ensure we have enough food and beverage, please register for this meeting by Thursday, July 10.

Parking & Entrance:

• Please park in the North Parking Lot at One Government Drive. You will pull a parking ticket when you arrive at the lot. Please keep the ticket in your car to use upon exit. At the meeting, you will receive a parking validation to use at the parking lot exit. You will not be charged for parking.
• As you enter The Living World building, please note that the Zoo now has a security screening system, called the Evolv system, at both entrances. This new security screening system is designed to detect concealed weapons as guests enter the Zoo.
• Enter The Living World building and proceed to the lower level of The Living World to the Employee Learning Center (to the left of the Zoo camp space).