I admit, I'm getting lazy when it comes to my posts. It just seems so much easier to post the emails I send to either local, state, or federal offices. Here's my latest:
To: christopher.krhovjak@oag.state.tx.us
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 4:52 PM
Subject: Wild Animal Orphanage - Additional Information
Greetings Chris:
In my June 6, 2010 email to your Office, I referenced several Bexar County Sheriff's Office reports pertaining to the Talley Road facility. My apologies for the delay, as it took some time for the Bexar County Sheriff's Office to enter the Deputy Sheriff's records into the system. I've attached the three County reports from the Sheriff's Office for your consideration.
Also, I noticed on the WAO's website the Cryers elected to raise the price of admission to the WAO as of July 1, 2010. http://www.wildanimalorphanage.org/tours/educational-tours
I believe this to be a serious mistake on the part of the Cryers since the WAO has been struggling for the last several years with encouraging guests to visit the WAO based on its current admission rates. The WAO tour is only 30-40 minutes long, depending on the mood of the tour guide. The WAO’s admission costs to visit approximately 109 animals living on less than 5 acres of land will increase as of July 1, 2010 from $10 to $15 per adult and from $5 to $8 for children. I would be interested in learning exactly what market study the Cryers use to come up with this new admission rate? The admission increase well exceeds the cost of what visitors pay for an all-day visit to the San Antonio Zoo, which happens to be the WAO’s main competition. There is simply no incentive for visitors to visit the WAO's animals when visitors can spend all day at the SA Zoo and see a larger variety of animals (3,500 animals representing 600 different species of animals located on 56 acres of treed property). WAO is not a unique facility as the SA Zoo also claims it too is an educational facility. Therefore the WAO can no longer effectively compete with its main San Antonio competitor and will lose what little financial support it receives from guests, especially during this difficult economic times. Families will simply want more "bang" for their buck and will not visit the WAO simply because they can see and do more at the San Antonio Zoo.
SAN ANTONIO ZOO ADMISSION
http://www.sazoo-aq.org/general/index.html
Hours Of Operation
9 AM - 5 PM
365 days a year
Guests can remain in the zoo
until 6 PM.
Admission Pricing
Members:
FREE
Military Discount:
$1.00 Off
Adults:
$10.00
Senior Citizens 62 and over:
$8.00
Children 3 - 11 yrs:
$8.00
Children ages 2 and under:
FREE
Handicapped 3 - 14 yrs:
$5.00
Handicapped 15 yrs and up:
$6.50
Parking:
FREE
Since the Cryers took over, I have not seen any special animal enrichment events listed on the WAO website which could have helped bring in additonal revenue to the WAO. In contrast, when Nicole Garcia took over the WAO in October 2009, she immediately started special enrichment tours, which not only benefited the animals, but it also brought in first-time and repeat visitors as it was a unique attraction, not seen anywhere else. The number of individuals visiting the WAO was on the rise due to the 2010 radio/TV ads plus the Stockshow and Rodeo special events booth, which informed the public about the WAO. It is now my understanding the number of visitors to the WAO dramatically decreased over the last two months.
I am extremely concerned with the direction the WAO is going in light of the fact that the Cryers were involved in at least two failed business (J&M Pest Control LLC and Custom Klean Lube Center) and now they are attempting to operate this facility. Apparently, this is truly a family affair as I have heard Ms. Cryer’s daughter, from a previous partner, named "Megan," may also be working in the WAO office. This brings the number of ‘Cryers’ working at the WAO to '4'.
In regards to the WAO’s website, I could not help but notice Ms. Cryer removed Nicole Garcia's name from the blog posts which Nicole made on two occasions and instead falsely entered her own name in Nicole Garcia’s place (1.4.10 and 10.15.09). Apparently, the WAO has gone back to its old business practices of lying to the general public regarding information posted to its website.
For the record, I want to make it absolutely clear that the Cryers had nothing to do with the WAO's website until after May 15, 2010, when they finally gained access to the site. They did not build or maintain any of the tabs listed on the site to include: tours, directions, meet some of our animals, monthly newsletters (and the Cryers did not write the January – April newsletters), birthday party reservation, FAQ, etc. The Cryers inherited the website as it is today. In my opinion, they made disastrous changes to the homepage, tours, and the volunteer webpages, which no doubt influenced donations amounts made either by mail or by paypal, especially within the last three weeks.
I am stunned at the changed wording of the volunteer webpage which I originally created along with the volunteer application. As an HR professional, I would never have used the words, "We are looking for strong backs…" as this may have a negative racial connotation. I showed this statement to several HR professionals, and all agreed, without any prompting on my part, this statement should be removed from the site as it may turn off potential volunteers, especially those individuals who may not have a “strong back” but could have help provided administrative support in the office or participate as a WAO ambassador at special events. Also, I do not know how volunteers will be able to expand animal enclosures or build fences when I learned that Michael Dereadt (who has a criminal record in Bexar County), Henry Newman (who has a criminal record in Bexar County) and Alex Cryer (who has a criminal record in Bexar County) took caging and fencing material to the recyclers for cash. And as to one of the volunteer duties listed on the website where volunteers are needed to pick-up trash—why are the workers polluting the properties and then expecting volunteers to clean-up after them? This simply does not make good business sense and demonstrates the Cryers inability to establish an effective volunteer program.
Before Nicole Garcia was, in my opinion, wrongfully terminated from her position, she worked with the band group in Helotes to set up the benefit fundraiser scheduled for July 11, 2010. The Cryers had absolutely nothing to do with setting up this event. It was supposed to be a family fun event, but it appears the Cryers decided to list this event on the WAO homepage as for adults only. The WAO used to sponsor primarily family-friendly events, but it looks like the Cryers want to eliminate the WAO’s family-friendly image and focus more on adults. Also, did you by chance see the diamond jewelry piece donated by Americus Diamond at the WAO during your most recent visit? It was supposed to be raffled off at the July 11, 2010 event and it is worth approximately $2,500 (see attachment). The diamond was housed in the WAO's safe. Nicole Garcia and I planned on publicizing this special raffle by updating the website with a special announcement, sending out posters to the WAO's major sponsors and contributors to be posted in local businesses, and emailing e-announcment cards out to the WAO's e-newsletter mailing list during the first week of May 2010. As far as I know, these actions were not completed and I am concerned the WAO may have sold the jewelry piece for cash, which I believe, would be in violation of the Americus Diamond donation agreement with the WAO.
It is my understanding the Cryers got rid of the printer used to print quality newsletters, posters, transfers (mugs, mouse pads, etc) and broshures. The last batch of newsletters that were mailed in April 2010 by Nicole Garcia, no doubt brought funds into the WAO for the month of May 2010. If the WAO does not send out newsletters very soon, which are essentially the main source of income for the WAO, then the organization's financial situation will continue to decline.
Prior to Carol Asvestas leaving the WAO, she left the WAO with a very expensive printing bill, which was why Nicole Garcia, with the approval of Will West who was board president at the time, entered into an agreement to purchase a quality printer (which came with a free paper supply) that would produce quality newsletters at half the expense. Now that the printer is gone and there probably is no company willing to enter into an agreement to print WAO newsletters unless there is cash up front, I am not sure how the WAO plans to mail out thousands of newsletter needed to generate revenue for the WAO's animals.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regarding this email -
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