DIRECTOR OF THE BEARDSLEY ZOO, GREGG DANCHO,

SPEAKS TO THE Y”s MEN ON OCTOBER 4th

 

On Thursday, October 4th, Gregg Dancho, the Beardsley Zoo Director will speak to the Y's Men of Westport/Weston. His subject is “ The Beardsley Zoo in the 21st Century .” The meeting begins at 10AM at the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East .

For the past 80 years the Beardsley zoo has been Connecticut 's only zoo and is open year-around. It features almost 300 animals including several endangered species such as tigers and bears. The Beardsley Zoo sees itself as an important institution in the community and conducts a number of educational programs for children and adults.  As a private institution, it faces a number of financial and operational challenges.  Gregg Dancho will discuss the present and future opportunities that face all facilities of this type.

Gregg has been associated with the zoo for more than 25 years. He began his career in the operations side and assumed the leadership of the zoo more than fifteen years ago. He operates through a community-based Board of Trustees and utilizes a broad range of volunteers in every aspect of the Zoo's operation.

Gregg appreciates the simpler things in life. He lives near where he grew up and has worked at the same place since high school. One of seven children, he was raised on a farm and joined the zoo as a volunteer because he wanted to work in the animal field.

"My first job was to mop the monkey house," Dancho said. In 1980, he was offered a full-time position as zookeeper and in 1983 was named acting director. After six years, he was named the zoo's director.

For more information about the Y's Men, contact Bill Meyer, Membership Chairman at 226-3704 or Bob Fatherley, President at 454-3653 or visit their website: www.ysmenwestportweston.org