Enewsletter

Enewsletter • May 18, 2011

Notes from Vegan Outreach

Activist Profile: Marguerite Campbell

Continuing our series of activist profiles, today we feature a fast-rising star, Marguerite Campbell! While a full-time student, Marguerite has handed a booklet directly to 7,905 individuals, including 1,213 in one day. You can support her work by contributing at her Team Vegan page.

Here is an excerpt:

Why do you leaflet?

After reading the excellent The Animal Activist’s Handbook, I understood for the first time how to effectively communicate my passion for animals. This was a revelation for me! I always struggled to answer the oft-asked question of why I was vegan, and the Handbook really helped me to translate the overwhelming sadness and despair I felt about the suffering of factory farmed animals into constructive dialogue. I was compelled to leaflet after reading it, because leafleting is the absolute best use of my activist time.

What was your most positive leafleting experience and why?

I had an awesome experience in leafleting Warped Tour's Salt Lake City stop. So many concert-goers stopped to tell me they were interested in becoming vegetarian or vegan, it was inspiring to see so many young people not only aware of vegetarianism and veganism but excited to givie it a go! However, I do appreciate even the coldest, windiest day because I know that what I'm doing is making a difference for animals.

You can read the full interview here and support Marguerite’s work here!
(Please note: you don’t have to register for Team Vegan to donate!)

From “Your Daily Dose of Vegan Outreach!” & Jack Norris RD Blogs

Product of the Week

Marguerite: “I’ve been making these chocolate chip cookies for five years now and they can convince even the most strident omnivore of veganism’s deliciousness!”

Please submit your nominees for product of the week via this page; previous entries here.

Notes from Our Members

Macie Rivera uses the truth to enlighten a student at Cabrillo College.

New record at Sonoma State, where I reached over 800 students! Dozens of productive conversations, including a vegan who wants to get involved. I met a professor who told me he has an Even If You Like Meat tacked up on a board in his office, as it’s the reason he’s vegetarian! He happily accepted a Guide.
Later, I met a young lady who told me that because a couple classmates had received booklets, the class ended up talking about factory farming for quite a while. I asked her what the consensus was, and she said everyone thought it was really bad and a few people mentioned that they didn’t eat animals anymore because of “stuff like that.”
—Team Vegan member Brian Grupe, 5/9/11

Students were very receptive at Truckee Meadows Community College, and I had several wonderful conversations. When I was leaving campus, I cut through the student center and I saw students reading leaflets.
At Lake Tahoe Community College, I also had many amazing conversations and met several vegetarians. People here were almost eerily enthusiastic about taking leaflets! In all my days of leafleting, never have I been so cheerily received with so many responses along the lines of, “Marvelous!” “Fantastic!” “Yes please!” “Oh great! Can I have another one of these?” and other equally awesome remarks.
—Team Vegan member Jeni Haines, 5/3/11

Team Vegan member Scout Kilbourne-Jervais reaches out for the animals at Columbus State.

Three students joined me at John Jay, two of whom weren’t vegetarian when they started. They read the leaflets during breaks and now wanted to go veg!
At NYU, a security guard called me over…to ask questions about going vegetarian! Heard from many vegans and vegetarians throughout the day, and one comment stood out: “I went vegan for a week last time I got this, give me another one, I want to give it a shot again for real this time.”
—Team Vegan member Eileen Botti, 3/9/11

Yale is the toughest school in CT, but we rocked it today – 777 students reached! Met dozens of vegetarians / vegans. Great interactions and feedback. A student told Aleta: “I got my booklet in Pittsburgh. You guys are all over the place!”
—Karen James, 3/22/11

My brother and I reached over 2,000 students at the University of Houston. Reception was through the roof! It was great to have help because person after person was coming up to ask questions – wanting to go veg or vegan, getting active, bulking up on a vegan diet, donating, etc.
—Team Vegan member & birthday boy Jon Camp, 3/24/11

Team Vegan member Eric Griffith spreads compassion at Clemson U.

Reached 1,100 at Boston’s GLBT Youth Pride Parade. There were probably about 1,000 folks there (with maybe 500 spectators along the pathways of the common), so the take rate was absolutely phenomenal – probably 90% without a single rude comment and many, many veg folks and supportive people.
—David Coman-Hidy, 5/14/11

(Team Vegan member) Darina and I had an exhausting day at Iowa State, but it was well worth it! I was involved in conversations with angry farmers for much of the time. I always came back to our goal of reducing suffering. When it comes back to that, it’s hard to argue, unless the person is convinced that these animals don’t suffer in the least (in which case you probably need to move on).
I had one exchange with a person who was seething mad. After a few minutes, another student (who had accepted a booklet while I was talking to the first guy) came by and listened to the conversation. He was originally siding with the agitator, but he came to understand my viewpoint, and even started doing some of the arguing for me at the end!
—Team Vegan member Jon Bockman, 3/29/11

Surprisingly good reception at the Great Human Walk. Many folks appreciated our efforts. Highlight was getting a picture taken with Ronald McDonald, who then ran away when he saw the Compassionate Choices booklet. Also met an entire family who are going vegan!
—Team Triangle, 3/26/11

A Palomar College student stops dead in his tracks to study the truth.

(Team Vegan member) Nettie and I met many vegetarians and vegans at Oregon State, and had a lot of good conversations. One student said we need regulations, because “You’re not going to get me to stop eating meat.” I replied, “You could eat vegetarian one or two nights a week.” This got him thinking, and he took a booklet. Good to get a foot in the door!
—Cobie deLespinasse, 3/28/11

We reached nearly 3,000 students and saw many wheels kick into gear at Cerritos College, along with great conversations. I met a young lady who wanted to do this topic for her class presentation; I gave her 20 leaflets for her classmates. (Team Vegan member) Yvonne heard from a woman who – after getting a leaflet from me – committed to vegginess right there!
—Team Vegan member Nikki Benoit, 3/16/11

Vegan Outreach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the suffering of farmed animals by promoting informed, ethical eating.

All donations are tax-deductible.

Vegan Outreach
POB 30865, Tucson, AZ 85751-0865