During the past century, the parks and attractions industry has grown tremendously, expanding the quality and diversity of entertainment options around the globe. In the past 10 years, perhaps the greatest growth and progress have taken place within the specialized segment of zoos and aquariums.
IAAPA is actively involved in sharing developments in this field by tapping into zoo and aquarium experts, and encouraging the propagation of emerging trends and key successes through professional seminars, roundtable discussions, and workshops during our annual convention and at the new IAAPA Asian Expo taking place in Singapore this July.
As both the amusement park and zoo and aquarium fields have matured to meet the ever-demanding desires of a more sophisticated and educated public, the educational aspects of aquatic and animal exhibits are being presented in a much more natural and engaging manner. The tried-and-true approaches of marketing and retail merchandise that are used in theme parks can be easily applied to other attractions such as zoos or aquariums, which can further enhance the funding available for education and conservation.
In addition to the zoo and aquarium events offered during our trade shows, the creation of the IAAPA Zoo and Aquarium Committee is another example of the value placed upon this specialized form of entertainment. Each year the chairman of the board is asked to appoint active association members to head up the various committees. Last November, I asked John Frawley, who is currently the chief executive officer of the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco, to chair the Zoo and Aquarium Committee. He has gathered a team of five additional professionals who have been the real driving force behind the topics and events offered during our seminars. In this issue of Funworld there is a profile of each of the committee team members who is graciously volunteering his or her time.
This is the second time our magazine has focused on zoos and aquariums, and this year, with the help of the committee, we have presented some enlightening reports. We hope you enjoy these features and come to better appreciate the valuable role these attractions play in our community.

Best Wishes,

Gary Story
Chairman of the Board