Throughout the conference, at least four other speakers prominently mentioned the importance of ZIMS for aquariums, including Monterey Bay Aquarium Director Julie Packard, who gave a “welcome” speech during an ISIS/CGI-hosted dinner; IAC Conservation Committee Chair Chris Andrews of the South Carolina Aquarium and John Nightingale of the Vancouver Aquarium, who mentioned the importance of ZIMS in a plenary presentation on the future of aquariums.

Numerous participants came to the ISIS/CGI booths to find out how to get involved in the project, how to become members of ISIS and to view the ZIMS prototype run by our software vendor CGI. More than 10 aquarium professionals specifically asked to become involved in the project.

In addition, more than 50 aquariums signed up to win a free year’s ISIS membership post-ZIMS release. The winner was Aquarium Finisterrae in Spain. Congratulations!

“It is clear that the IAC was a wonderful, but rare opportunity,” said Nate Flesness. “We will need to continue to reach out to the aquarium community, finding new ways to engage them.”

The ISIS Board is discussing further opportunities to bring aquariums more fully into the ZIMS design process and into ISIS.

ISIS booth                                 CGI's Mark Switzer talks with an attendee

New auarium discussion forum
We have established an aquatic discussion forum at www.zimsforum.com/discussion. Aquarium professionals are encouraged to use this form to discuss how ZIMS can help aquariums.

Thank you to Jane Davis at Disney's Animal Kingdom/The Living Seas for moderating this discussion group!

Click hereto access other ZIMS discussion forums.

New ZIMS Core Team member: Rachel Watkins Rogers
Rachel Watkins Rogers is the newest member of the ZIMS Core Team, but she has been her organization’s ISIS representative since November 2000.

When asked why she is involved in the ZIMS Project, Rachel said, “ZIMS is the next ARKS. Why wouldn't I want to participate in the development of what I will be using to do my job when it comes out?

“I also believe that in North America we often get bogged down with our own needs and forget that there is a whole world out there. Any small part I can play in the greater good for the zoological community as a whole is worth the effort!”

Rachel is excited that ZIMS will function on the World Wide Web and about the flexibility and added features that ZIMS will bring, such as data analysis tools and the ability to master group numbers. “It’s almost like Star Trek or probably how people felt when ARKS2, MedARKS or SPARKS were released – very cutting edge and visionary,” said Rachel.

Rachel hosted the fifth Joint Application Development session and the International Animal Data Information Systems Committee (IADISC) at the Metrozoo in November 2004. “My personal pleasure came from being able to observe and participate in the development of what I perceive to be a ground breaking product that will change the way we keep records,” said Rachel.

Rachel has already become an integral part of the core team – bringing new energy and excitement to the project. Look for her ideas to come to fruition throughout the project!

Rachel Watkins Rogers (right) is a ZIMS Core Team member and registrar for the Metrozoo in Miami, Florida.

ZIMS update: May Data Standards Workshop data set
In 2005, ISIS will hold ZIMS Data Standards Workshops to help our software developer CGI set the data standards for ZIMS. Data standards sessions are scheduled for 14-18 March in the Netherlands and 16-20 May at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, USA. In addition, a specialized meeting focused on Asian languages and other internationalization issues will be held 14-18 February in Osaka, Japan.

ISIS and IADISC have sent invitations to these workshops to appropriate experts worldwide. If you have not received an invitation and would like to offer your time and effort for one of the data standards workshops, please register at https://zims.isis.org/sites/zims/zwr.aspx. We may need more help!
 
Building ZIMS: the Campaign for ISIS
The US Congress has appropriated US $500,000 to ISIS for fiscal year 2005. ISIS would like to thank ISIS Capital Campaign Chair Jerry Borin, ISIS Board Chair Jeff Bonner and the many US zoo and aquarium directors who contacted their members of Congress on behalf of the project. Thirty-two members of the US Congress signed a letter supporting the ZIMS Project. (This funding is in addition to the US $500,000 ISIS received through a competitive IMLS National Leadership Grant Award.)

We will go back to the US and other governments and corporations for more for funding in 2006.

This additional funding, including US $4.1 million in written and verbal pledges from the zoo and aquarium community, brings our funding total to US $5.4 million – more than half way to our
US $10 million goal. See a complete list of investors here.

ZIMS: Be part of it!
To build ZIMS, the ZIMS Core Team has recruited almost 500 volunteers – and we need you too!

• Participate in the data standards development process.
Members may also contribute ideas about what ZIMS should be through the ZIMS Wish List.

• Help raise funds for the project.
To donate to the ZIMS Project, e-mail kim@isis.org.

• Tell others in your institution and community about the ZIMS Project.

Click here to volunteer. To learn more about reviewing documentation, see www.iadisc.org.

Technical udates: Studbook CD ROM
ISIS publishes the studbook CD ROM annually. This CD, which contains information that was previously assembled by individual studbook keepers, contains almost 1,100 studbooks. This CD will be mailed to all ISIS and World Zoo and Aquarium Association (WAZA) members.

Did you know? ISIS updates the status of our studbook cleanup efforts weekly on the ISIS Web site. In addition, the ISIS Web site shows the most recent birth and deaths at each facility. Studbook keepers can use this information to verify information in their studbooks by contacting the institutions that have posted the data directly.

If you do not have a username and password to access the secure section of the ISIS Web site, please ask the ISIS representative in your institution or call ISIS (+1.651.209.9240).

Nate Hill earns Microsoft certifications
ISIS Database/System Administrator Nate Hill has received five Microsoft certifications, including Certified Professional (MCP), Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Certified Systems Administrator (MCSE), Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) and CompTIA Security+. 

Congratulations on a job well done, Nate!

New ISIS employee
Yasir Wasi has joined the ISIS staff as our Web developer. Yasir, a graduate of St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, has lived in Minnesota for 10 years.

Welcome, Yasir!

Membership invoices
We have sent annual ISIS membership invoices to the director of each member institution. We would appreciate prompt payment. Please send any questions or comments to isis@isis.org or to kim@isis.org.
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