Enewsletter
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Enewsletter • September 30, 2009 | ||||||||||||
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Notes from Vegan OutreachActivist Profile: Vic Sjodin
Continuing our series of activist profiles, we present Vic Sjodin. Vic started leafleting a little over a year ago, and is already one of VO’s all-time leading leafleters! He holds the one-day leafleting record (5,172 at Penn State); and as of this writing, he’s closing in on 200,000 individuals reached with the animals’ plight and the case for ethical eating! Here is an excerpt from his profile: What was your most positive leafleting experience this year and why? I can’t say just one – more of an overall journey. I’m just thankful to be able to work for animals every day, and meet so many wonderful people. I have had so much fun. Leafleting with Barbara, Jon, Italia and Don, the kids at Penn State, dragging a dozen friends out, recruiting people at parties, meeting David in Knoxville, laughing with Eileen in NYC, conning people into joining me on the Warped Tour, and so many others, embracing the suffering every day, Julie in Boston, getting to meet Joe and Casey, my trip to Kentucky with Darius, Dan in Youngstown, telling bad jokes and watching people wake up and go veg is awesome. Leafleting has enriched my life in so many ways and has been such an adventure, I feel like the luckiest man alive sometimes. Not that it’s easy – got to earn it – but that allows me to sleep, knowing I wasn’t silent, that I didn’t turn my back on the helpless ones. I know a lot of people have sacrificed to put me out there on campus, so I take it very seriously to represent veganism and the animals’ plight, as one of the few who is able to do so full-time. I thank you for all your sacrifices and for making this work possible. Read the entire piece!
Products of the WeekJack: “I was so impressed with Dr. Greger’s nutrition DVDs that he and I set up a limited time deal for readers. Details here!” Anne: “To me, the once-again-vegan Boca Chik’n Nuggets (in the new resealable bag) taste way too much like actual chicken. Serve to your not-yet-veg family and friends and see if they notice.” Send your product of the week to product (at) veganoutreach (dot) org; previous entries here.
Notes from All OverLink of the Season: Who You Callin’ Vegangelical?Too good for just an excerpt – please be sure to read the entire thing!
Lightning Round
Notes from Our Members
I would
just like to thank you guys. I
go to school at Anne Arundel Community College.
One day I picked up one of your brochures and
was horrified by the treatment of the animals.
I have not eaten meat since. You guys are awesome. A few
weeks ago at the University of
Colorado, Boulder, a guy told me he had gone
vegan from getting a booklet. Today, his girlfriend
told me she is now a vegan, too, and wants to
become an activist. The students
at the University of Wisconsin,
Stout seemed more receptive, and there was more
interest in Guides.
Some people responded with “Yes, of course!”
or “This is exactly what I need!” At CUNY
Staten Island, several students
who had already received a leaflet urged their
friends to take one as they passed by. Katie
(Pryor) overheard a number of positive comments,
including: Guy to girl: “You should read
that! It was very interesting.” Another
guy to friends: “If you read that, you
will never want to eat chicken again!”
Taylor
(R), Edward (S), and I had great
responses from students again at Fullerton College
(CA)! One guy said his sister has been a vegetarian
for a year because of the pamphlet! One girl
looked through the brochure and forced her friend
to look at the pictures, who was trying to run
away. Taylor met a couple students who were
interested in leafleting, and her sister saw
several students reading the pamphlet in class. At the
University of Utah, there was
a man who got a booklet last year and was moved
by it; as a result, he had cut back on his meat
consumption. He spoke with Darina and me at
length – he’s looking to take his next
step re: his diet and activism, so I will be
in touch with him. At Salt Lake City Community
College, a young woman mentioned that she cried
after reading the booklet. She is now the proud
recipient of a Guide.
Another
awesome day of outreach at Kent
State! Saw SO many people sitting outside between
classes intently reading the literature. Love
seeing that. Take rate was somewhere around
90% or higher. It was
a great day at George Washington
University and the University of Maryland, College
Park. A number of people thanked me for having
Guides. One student said she went vegan last
year because she received an Even If You
Like Meat. She didn’t know how to stay
healthy only eating chips and french fries,
but after reading the Guide, her diet
became a lot healthier.
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