Notes from Vegan Outreach

Note to Members (especially in the Northeast!)

Nearly all colleges are now in session. Without Jenna Calabrese out there every day, the many schools in the Northeast are begging to be leafleted! If you can leaflet a school in your area, please contact anne (at) veganoutreach (dot) org.

Even an hour or two can make a big difference!

Activist Profile: Monica Ferroe

Continuing our series of profiles, here are some excerpts from Monica Ferroe's:

What made you decide to start leafleting? If you were nervous the first time, how did you get over it?

I decided to leaflet with Jon Camp as a volunteer just to help out during his tour of the south in 2006. As with anything that is new and unpracticed, there is some uncomfortable anxiety. I was so nervous the first few times that I thought I would never want to leaflet on my own. But that anxiety fades over time. There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of, because most people are genuinely concerned about these issues. On average, the ratio of negative reactions to positive is probably 1:300. Another thing that helps me get over any nervousness is knowing that as an AAC leafletter, to endure a mere hour of nervousness or aggravation is nothing compared to the fear and discomfort that factory farmed animals experience 24 hours everyday of their miserable tortured lives.

What was your most positive leafleting experience this year and why?

There were so many positive experiences this year, I cannot remember anything specific. I get lots of "thank you's." I can say that I NEVER regret leafletting.

What would you say to individuals hesitant about leafleting?

Stay positive! Take some deep breaths and DO it! Also, I think that it is important to try leafletting more than once. Practice makes perfect -- when you figure out the best locations, the best times, and your approach, you will witness for yourself that the AAC program is the most effective way to spread the word. So, do not hesitate ... we all need to speak up for these animals. If you have any questions, just ask -- anyone on the AAC mailing list would be happy to help out!

Note to Members in the Southeast

Suntrust bank is running a promotion through 10/12 that can benefit Vegan Outreach. Open a new free checking account and make one purchase with a debit card by 11/15, and Suntrust will donate $100 to the customer's preferred charity. You can learn more here.

Marshmallows of the Week

Several folks have written in to nominate their favorite vegan marshmallows -- from Pangea or from Sweet & Sara.

Send your nominees for Product of the Week to product (at) veganoutreach (dot) org; previous products can be found here.

Notes from Our Members

At the March for Peace today, Jon Camp, Josh Balk, Ryan Merkley, Delci Winders, Aashish Bhimani, Kirsten Stade, Frank, Noelle Callahan, Gary Lowenthal [at right; photo by Jon] and I handed out 4,700 Even Ifs and Why Vegans, along with 25 GCFE. What an amazing day of outreach! The crowd was remarkably receptive; each of us had great interactions with people. I've never encountered so many vegetarians and vegans during a day of leafleting; it was truly inspiring and reminded me that all the hard work each of us is putting in, day after day, is really making an impact.
-Jenna Calabrese, 9/15/07

I just wanted to say thank you for taking such a friendly approach to turning people on to vegetarian/veganism. It's such a nice change from calling everyone who doesn't subscribe to veganism 100% a murderer. It can be hard to be a vegetarian, especially for students who have parents opposed (and even hostile, in my case) to the idea. I got your flyer from someone handing them out on the [Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign] quad, and I'll be sure to pass it on.
-CM, 9/13/07

It was great to be out leafleting again! Exchange of the day [at U Victoria]:

Me: "Brochure against animal cruelty?"
Male student: "I'm with ya," and continues walking. A moment later he turned, walked back to me to shake my hand and then said: "That (gesturing to the Even If booklets in my hand) was the tipping point, that right there man ... for me and my roommate!"

-John Bowers, Victoria, BC, 9/13/07

Zachary Solomon (age 13) leaflets at Cal State, Northridge while another student reads a booklet; photo by Stewart Solomon.

An amazing day at Sac City College! It just doesn't get better than this. I received three thank-you-hugs for being there and six (6!) people asked how they could do more. Two separate students took extras and leafleted on the spot. More than a few people asked for extras to give to friends. I don't know what's going on up here in Sacramento, but it's something good!
-Susan Rattenbury, 9/12/07

The Toronto Vegetarian Association's 23rd Annual Vegetarian Food Fair (the largest event of its kind in North America) was a huge success! We distributed 1,000 copies of the GCFE -- it is one of our favourites!
-David Alexander, 9/13/07

Vegan Cowboy Matt Ball leaflets U Arizona; photo by Anne Green.

Today, Victor and I leafleted two colleges and a HS. I had many memorable exchanges, and answered many questions. For example, one person said, "You really changed the way I thought about eating meat. The information in here is really terrible. I don't think I could ever eat another chicken, pig or cow after seeing these pictures."
-Miranda R, 9/13/07

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