For Immediate Release:
January 4, 2011

For more information, contact:
Francine Patella Ryan
ESL Public Affairs Manager
fpatella@esl.org
585.336.1089 or 585.261.6220 (cell)

ESL Federal Credit Union Presents Colossal Dinosaurs: Bigger than Ever

New Rochester Museum and Science Center Exhibit Features Giant, Animatronics Dinosaurs

Rochester, New York... ESL Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce that it is the presenting sponsor of Colossal Dinosaurs: Bigger than Ever at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. The exhibit will run from Jan. 29, through May 1, 2011.

Visitors will have the opportunity to come face-to-face with the greatest creatures that ever roamed the earth. They will take up residence in the Riedman Gallery for the public to experience. Adding to the thrills, these creatures will actually roar and move! The walking, hatching, and teeth gnashing, mighty T-Rex will be joined by more than a dozen other prehistoric creatures of land and sky.

Colossal in size and individually handcrafted, each monstrous creature holds an uncanny resemblance to what scientists believe dinosaurs really looked like more than 65 million years ago. The animatronics elements add to the excitement, further engaging audiences. Built using the latest computer programming technology, the creatures' motion is amazingly fluid, lifelike and brilliantly complex.

Distinguished paleontologists are consulted on each aspect of the dinosaurs' attributes and functioning — all to further the realism of these gigantic creatures. Feeding, roaring and fighting — these dinosaur models act and interact with captivating authenticity. Visitors are transported back to the Mesozoic era, experiencing the splendor of the ancient life.

With several interactive areas of the exhibit, visitors immerse themselves in the action. Visitors walk in the shoes of a paleontologist at the model dig site — a pit that holds numerous bones waiting to be uncovered. With a crayon in hand, fossil rubbing stations offer children the opportunity to take home an impression of the dinosaurs they've encountered. Hands-on robotics put visitors in control of the dinosaurs' movements, and help them understand the unique inter-workings that bring these creatures to life. This process is also explained trough a video on how these dinosaurs are crafted and given motion.

In addition, visitors experience what it would have been like to touch these creatures by feeling a dinosaur skin replica — the same lizard-like material covering the models. Children can also climb into a giant dinosaur nest to play with books and puppets, or dress up in dinosaur costumes. Magnetic boards with various moving pieces of the ancient environment (including dinosaurs, ancient trees and plants) allow children to interact together while creating their own story. Stimulating minds, this board of original art helps spark conversation and generate interest in the exciting prehistoric time these children are learning about.

The exhibit is open to the public Mondays through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,(except selected holidays); and Sundays, 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. General admission is $12.00. For ESL employees, their families and members, the cost of tickets is $2.00 off the general admission price. Tickets can be purchased at the Rochester Museum and Science Center front desk. For more information, please visit www.rmsc.org or call 585-697-1942. Tickets may not be returned or changed—no rain checks are available and no individual discounts, passes, or coupons will be accepted for Colossal Dinosaurs: Bigger than Ever!

Founded by George Eastman in 1920, ESL Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with $3.8 billion in assets. ESL employs more than 600 people locally and has more than 300,000 members world-wide. The company was recently ranked 12^th as one of 2010 Best Small and Medium Work Places in America by the Great Place to Work^® Institute and presented by Entrepreneur^®. Access to the credit union includes 19 branch locations and more than 40 ATM locations, a Tele-Banking Center, and Internet and online banking channels. The company is headquartered at 225 Chestnut Street, in Rochester, and can be found on the Internet at www.esl.org.