Animal Keeper's Association of Africa

To the AKAA Members, our zoological community and supporters.

It is with great anticipation that I announce the launch of two rather large and important services to you; one is the new membership card and the other is of our new website.  The AKAA has over the past few months been redesigning your website based on your feedback.  The purpose and objective of the website is three fold, 1) to enable and share information with our community at large on what the AKAA members are doing, 2) to provide a proactive and interactive medium for the members to be able to log into and obtain information from experts in the field as well as participate in KEPA Exchanges, outreach missions and initiatives.  3) this is the most important and perhaps the most valuable in that the new membership card will enable you to log your activities & achievements on the AKAA database and in thus doing, develop your own professional portfolio through on-line courses and workshops.   Appreciation has to go to Lantz and Nola from AfroMedia for their drive and passion that they put into our website and for their ingenious work behind the scenes. 

The membership card, has a value beyond measure.  All new and renewed members will receive their own membership card with their own membership number. This card will allow you access to the website.  It is only available to professional members (those that work at a recognized facility or organization).  Each member will receive a card, a badge, a cap and certificate.  The membership card remains with you for the life time of  your membership, if however you do not pay then the membership will be revoked until said time you renew your membership fees.  The AKAA has in its short history since inception in 2005 grown in stature. AKAA is proud to be recognised by the Management of facilities and is underwritten by PAAZAB and is now in a position to provide you, our membership, with opportunities to improve your professionalism within the industry. However, the onus is on you to apply the values and opportunities the AKAA has to offer and to work and contribute to your association.  Without your continued participation, the AKAA can not deliver on its promise to create a network of ethical and competent Zoo Keepers and to improve your professionalism.  

2010 has been a busy year, but 2011 is going to be an even busier one with the roll-out of our commitments to helping you. The next conference, to be held at Johannesburg Zoo in September, will include a multi day workshop.  AKAA is also proud to have been invited to run a multi-day keeper workshop at the PAAZAB conference in May. Added to this, there will be at least four 1 day workshops (each repeated 3 times to ensure maximum attendance from facilities) throughout the year of 2011.  In conjunction with this, multiple KEPA programs and activities with Ed4PAAZAB and SHAPE-Africa will be included throughout the year.   I would like to take this chance to thank all our supporters and contributors for their continued commitment to the Animal Keepers Association of Africa, especially SRE Developments.  I wish to thank the PAAZAB executive and members for your insight, foresight and support in the knowledge that AKAA can and has the capacity to build a professional keeper community with regard to development and growth for the industry in Africa. 

Regards  
Robynn Ingle-Moller