1) GREETINGS FROM THE EDITOR
Spring is in the air and summer is on the way. Fortunately we are seeing more
and more food retailers carry items geared toward Vegetarian and Vegan eaters
that are not limited to fresh produce. One retailer that I have been tremendously
impressed with is Target. Previously I was unaware of their offerings, until
a co-worker recently advised me of their offerings as she knows my eating
choices. Target offers way more vegan options than my regular grocery store
probably ever will. We're all used to seeing tofu and the garden veggie burgers
in the grocery store. However, Target offers several different brands (even
gourmet yumm) such as Gardein, Sweet Earth, Amy's Kitchen, Kashi, Lyfe, in
addition to your regular day to day fresh produce. Target even has their own
brand of pre-seasoned meatless meat.
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2) THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP'S 1 ST ANNUAL ONLINE CHARITY AUCTION: JUNE 1- JUNE 15, 2015
Bid on unique products from your favorite veg-friendly companies for a good
cause at The Vegetarian Resource Group's 1st Annual Online Charity Auction!
June 1st through June 15th, 2015, The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) will
hold an online fundraising auction via Ebay Giving Works where 100% of each
item's final bid price will be donated to The VRG. Funds from this event will
be used to help offset the costs of printing and shipping our vegan and vegetarian-based
educational materials, which we have provided to activists, professionals
and organizations around the country, for over 33 years, free of charge!
The link to the auction will be shared on our [website] (vrg.org) and [Facebook
page] ([ https://www.facebook.com/thevegetarianresourcegroup ]
) the day it
goes live on June 1st at 10 AM. If you would like to receive sneak peeks of
all the amazing vegan goodies being offered in this auction please RSVP on
Facebook at:
[ https://www.facebook.com/events/1412672129044692/ ]
Please note that only amounts paid over the value of the item is a charitable
deduction since you are receiving a benefit for your purchase.
If you have any questions about this event or you are a veg-friendly business
that would like to donate an item please contact our Outreach Coordinator,
Nina, at [email protected].
We thank you in advance for your support!
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3) VISIT VRG AT THESE OUTREACH BOOTHS
If you would like to volunteer at any of these events, contact Nina at [email protected].
If you would like to donate towards our veggie outreach, donate at:
[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]
Donations can also be sent to
The Vegetarian Resource Group
PO Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
Or call: (410) 366-8343
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4) SUPPORT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP BY SHOPPING WITH AMAZONSMILE
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support the Vegetarian
Resource Group every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop
[ http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1279034 ]
,
you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping
experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion
of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose
from nearly one million organizations to support.
- How do I shop at AmazonSmile?
- To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to
[ http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1279034 ]
from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want
to add a bookmark to [ http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1279034 ]
to make it even
easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile. This is the link
provided by Amazon for shopping with AmazonSmile for VRG.
- Which products on AmazonSmile are eligible for charitable donations?
- Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You
will see eligible products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their
product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription
renewals are not currently eligible.
- Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
- Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping
cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are
also the same.
- How much of my purchase does Amazon donate?
- The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your
eligible AmazonSmile purchases. The purchase price is the amount paid for
the item minus any rebates and excluding shipping & handling, gift-wrapping
fees, taxes, or service charges. From time to time, we may offer special,
limited time promotions that increase the donation amount on one or more products
or services or provide for additional donations to charitable organizations.
Special terms and restrictions may apply. Please see the relevant promotion
for complete details.
- Can I receive a tax deduction for amounts donated from my purchases on AmazonSmile?
- Donations are made by the AmazonSmile Foundation and are not tax deductible
by you.
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6) A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING VRG VOLUNTEERS
We would like to thank the following volunteers for their amazing work this
month on VRG's Vegetarian Restaurant Guide, VRG Scholarship applications,
and other projects:
- Matt Baker, R.N.
- Shani Stewart
- Julz Hover
- Laura McGiness
- Reed Mangels,PhD, RD, LDN
- Eric Sharer, MPH, RD, CSO, CDN
- Anne Porterfield-Custer
- Tim Addicks
- Navaal Mahdi
Research for our Restaurant Guide and scholarship responses can be done at
our office located in Baltimore, MD or remotely using your computer at home.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Nina at [email protected].
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7) VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP INTERNSHIP
By Anna Balfanz
Last December, my internship advisor plopped a huge black binder filled with
internship opportunities in front of me. I began flipping through it, casually
placing Post-it notes on any pages that appeared interesting. I located a
few, but none really spoke to me. My advisor informed me that I could research
at home to find the best place to complete my three-week internship project
in March.
Back home, I went online, forgot everything in that binder, and began browsing
through internships for high school seniors in Baltimore. When I stumbled
upon this one, I couldn't believe it. It seemed to offer everything that interested
me: vegetarianism, activism, writing, and non-profit. Best of all, they accepted
people my age. The next day, I ran back to my advisor, knowing that VRG was
where I wanted to spend the three weeks. Within a week or so, I was one of
the first people in my grade to secure an internship.
When Charles (VRG Co-Director) first sent me an email with all my different
projects, I knew I was going to have one of my grade's most hands-on internships.
All of the projects related to my resume and interests, ranging from writing
a press release to assisting a lawyer, and I eagerly anticipated my classes
ending so I could immerse myself in real work.
When I first arrived, I immediately felt at home. Charles gave me a tour
of the office, explaining details about non-profits, publishing, and the vegan
movement. At the end, he gave me about fifteen books and cookbooks to take
home. As a current vegetarian who wants to transition into veganism, this
was the perfect gift. Everyone I spoke to in the office welcomed me and made
me feel free to ask questions. Having already filled out a preliminary schedule,
I could get right to work.
I began working on my Teen FAQ, which turned into a major project. Coming
from an Orthodox Jewish school, I've faced questions about vegetarianism from
a religious standpoint. I wanted to address that in my FAQ, so I chose the
question, "How do I respond to religious Jewish or Christian parents/teachers/leaders
who question going vegetarian due to Biblical verses against it?" As it turns
out, tons of information exists regarding the topic. This remained my favorite
project throughout the internship, because I learned so much about the answer
myself. I now feel well-prepared to respond to anyone who brings religion
into the conversation, and hope others reading the FAQ feel the same way.
Another of my favorite parts of this internship (I had many) was responding
to scholarship applicants. Having just suffered through the excruciating process
of college applications and essays, I suddenly found myself on the other side.
I read essays from high school seniors from all over the United States interested
in vegetarianism and their activism, and wrote brief responses to each. Though
the office may have been glad when we finished, I missed reading them!
One unique project I undertook was assisting a lawyer in researching prisoners'
rights to vegetarian food. I live near the campus of Johns Hopkins University,
and this opportunity allowed me to finally use its library as a resource.
Mr. S. Paul Kinzie, the lawyer, taught me how to use WestLawNext, an online
legal research system. I researched past cases related to the issue, and learned
much more than I expected. When I first began reading through the cases, I
had no idea what happened. Every other word felt foreign; I couldn't even
define the Court of Appeals. However, similar to being immersed in a new language,
you learn quickly. I now have a much better understanding of the federal legal
system, how constitutional rights and the freedom of religion work in prison,
and a better understand of how to build a case. After I found a relevant enough
case I typed up its summary and relevance, which made me really consider why
I found it relevant and how it could be useful. After four years of high school
mock trial, the presentation side, it was great to experience the real research
side of a court case.
It turns out, at a vegan non-profit, you sample lots of food. For one project,
I wrote a review of vegetarian/vegan items at a restaurant. This meant I had
an excuse for my family to order tons of food from my favorite restaurant,
Donna's, for dinner one evening. I also wrote three veggie bits for vegan
dark chocolate, macaroons, and tortilla chips. People were rightfully jealous
when they heard about that aspect of my internship. I left the boxes of food
near me so I could snack on them throughout the week, long after I had finished
writing the review.
I also wrote an article about vegetarian and vegan Bar and Bat-Mitzvahs,
which allowed me to ask people questions and hear their stories. I spoke to
two strangers on the phone, and while that at first made me slightly nervous,
I would now love to call up as many people as possible to hear their stories.
The more people I spoke to, the better I became figuring out what questions
to ask.
Many people intern in The Vegetarian Resource Group office for months, so
I wondered if I was going to get a version that felt curtailed. That didn't
happen at all; I believe that someone interning here for one week would receive
multiple experiences and a feel for non-profit work. I found myself learning
more than I bargained for, with Charles emailing me and placing in my office
mailbox interesting articles about non-profits and publishing, and even just
through overhearing the conversations happening in the office.
While I felt immersed and busy from the beginning to the end, there was time
for enjoyment. One time, a former intern brought bagels for lunch, and we
all ate in the kitchen and talked about life. On my second to last week, we
all had take-out Indian cuisine for lunch, and I discovered a love for spicy
potatoes. I'm leaving this internship with more recipes, new favorite foods,
greater understanding, and more experience. I doubt this will be the last
of my experience with non-profit work, but I'm very glad it was the first.
For information about internships, see:
[ http://www.vrg.org/student/index.php ]
To support VRG internships, join The Vegetarian Resource Group at
[ http://www.vrg.org/member/cabdacae.php ]
For information about VRG scholarships, see
[ https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]
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8) CALCIUM STEARATE
The VRG needs your help!
Have you spotted calcium stearate on a food label recently?
Please let us know!
Send us a web link to the ingredients label or a photo. Or at least, lead
us to it with the complete name of the food product including brand. No vitamins
or pharmaceuticals, please...just food.
At one time, calcium stearate was often derived from cow or hog fat, but we
think this is no longer true.
We're not even sure this once-popular anti-caking agent and emulsifier is
really even used much at all today in food.
In fact, we've spotted it only in Smarties candy and Subway Canada's Honey
Oat Bread (both plant-derived).
Have you seen it? Please let us know! Thanks!
-Jeanne Yacoubou, VRG Research Director
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9) POLLINATION PROJECT
Pollination Project provides $1,000 startup grants to individual change makers
and projects that promote compassion around the world. The foundation does
not fund projects that support the consumption, distribution, farming, eating
of animals or animal products. They encourage vegan youth to apply.
See: [ https://thepollinationproject.org/ ]
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10) COFFEY GROUNDS CARETAKER & FACILITIES DESCRIPTION
Seeking a mature, responsible, healthy, vegan-oriented couple or individual
(preferably retired) to exchange Caretaker/Property-Custodian duties for free
land rent for their RV or Camper in a pristine outdoor environment close to
an interstate, 2 towns and a city plus an international airport.
We offer Caretaker(s) a place to grow an organic garden and set up their own
tent, RV or Camper in beautiful, unpolluted surroundings.
For more information see:
[ http://www.all-creatures.org/cb/cg.html ]
Proprietor: Gerry Coffey: [email protected] or leave message at 256-350-2823.
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11) VEGAN FESTIVALS
Vegfest coming to Scotland on December 5th and 6th at SECC Glasgow, Scotland
is set to embrace a whole new world of healthy eating in 2015 with
Europe's vegan festival Vegfest arriving at SECC, Glasgow, on December 5th
and 6th.
The two day vegan food fest is preceded by a brand-new Glasgow-based venture
The Only Way is Ethics comprising of a number of ethical, fairtrade, organic
and vegan enterprises in the region. This joint venture is a result of months
of planning and the Vegfest organisers were thrilled to be able to announce
an event of this scale.
The event website vegfestscotland.com will be live in May.
Hello from Vegan Festival UK!
- Newcastle Vegan Festival
Saturday 4th July 2015
10 AM - 4 PM
at The Assembly Rooms
Fenkle Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5XU
- Edinburgh Vegan Festival
Saturday 8th August
10 AM - 4 PM
The Roxburghe Hotel
38 Charlotte Square
Edinburgh City Centre EH2 4HQ
Contact Info:
EUROPEAN VEGAN SUPERFEST
- Come to VegFestUK VegfestUK shows
- Bristol at Amphitheatre (BS1 5LL)
on May 23rd and 24th 2015
- and London October 10th and 11th 2015
at Olympia Central Hall Levels 1& 3
For details visit vegfest.co.uk and their free 24-7 global vegan news and
recipes website vegfestexpress.co.uk for full Contact:
[email protected]/ 0117 307987
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12) VIDA VEGAN CON TAKES TEXAS
- Vegan Bazaar
- Friday May 29 ~ 1 PM TO 7 PM
at the Marchesa Hall & Theatre
6226 Middle Fiskville Rd.
Austin, TX
- Vegan Expo, Vegan Bar, Panels, Food Trucks, Sampling, Live Demos, Book Signings,
Special Guests
- Day One of Vida Vegan Con III -- Open to the Public for the First Time Ever!
- Tickets at: VIDAVEGANCON.COM
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13) BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR FOR VRG
The Vegetarian Resource Group greatly appreciates the support given by our
monthly donors. You can join our monthly giving group with a minimum gift
of just $10 a month by going to www.vrg.org/donate. You will be part of a
network of givers who support our outreach efforts on an ongoing basis. These
donations allow us to continue vegan education in a wide variety of venues
including schools, doctor and dietitian offices, libraries, various professional
conferences, animal rights events, health fairs, environmental festivals,
and much more. Thank you for your support!
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14) FARMED ANIMAL SURVEY
I'm a grad student at the University of Edinburgh studying animal behaviour
and welfare. My dissertation is looking at attitudes toward farmed animals
and their welfare by different dietary groups (meat eaters, vegetarians and
vegans). I was wondering if it would be possible to post the link to my survey
on this site? Thank you! Go to:
[ https://qtrial2015az1.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0rIPk0tiRUzh3ut ]
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15) ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP
Our health professionals, activists, and educators work with businesses and
individuals to bring about healthful changes in your school, workplace, and
community. Registered dietitians and physicians aid in the development of
nutrition-related publications and answer member and media questions about
vegetarian diets. The Vegetarian Resource Group is a non-profit organization.
Financial support comes primarily from memberships, donations, bequests, and
book sales. The Vegetarian Journal, a print magazine, is a benefit of membership
in The VRG. (For more information, please see the Vegetarian Journal online
[ http://www.vrg.org/journal/ ]
)
To sign up for the The Vegetarian Resource Group national email newsletter,
please visit:
[ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]
We are also on Facebook and Twitter
If you would like to make a donation, become a member, volunteer, or find
out more about The VRG, contact us at:
The Vegetarian Resource Group
P.O. Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
Phone: (410) 366-8343
Fax: (410) 366-8804
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: [ http://www.vrg.org/ ]
To donate:
[ http://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?Action=GC&CID=1565/ ]
Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2015 The contents of this newsletter,
and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, are not intended
to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from
a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient
information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about
a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can
be made. Please use your own best judgment about whether a product is suitable
for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.
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16) ABOUT VRG NEWS
VRG-NEWS is the e-mail newsletter of The Vegetarian Resource Group. This is
an announcement list so subscriber messages are not accepted by the list.
If you have a technical question about the list, please contact us at [email protected].
If you have any suggestions, ideas, or corrections to VRG-NEWS, please direct
them to [email protected]. Thanks
To subscribe to VRG-NEWS, go to
[ http://www.vrg.org ]
or
[ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]
To unsubscribe, or otherwise manage your subscription to VRG-NEWS, go to
[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-news_lists.vrg.org ]
If you are a new subscriber, you might enjoy reading past issues of VRG-NEWS
online at
[ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]
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