RAVS had an all-star late spring and summer, with luminaries of both national and local origin! In May we welcomed a visit from Jack Norris, R.D., who gave a primer on vegan nutrition with a special focus on the few problem nutrients that vegans should supplement, notably vitamin B12 and vitamin D; for this information go to VeganOutreach.org and click on “Starter Guide,” which you can read, download, or order for free. Thanks to those who provided refreshments at this event and at Dr. Greger’s lecture in March: Carol Barnett, Ellie Cherin, Darren Mrak, Yetta Panitch.
At our regular May meeting we welcomed Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary, whose heart-rending stories of rescued farm animals converged with his hopeful prediction that, with the mounting evidence that going vegan is optimal for health, we can expect wider acceptance of a vegan diet. In June, our program was a panel of experienced vegan cooks giving tips and recipes: thanks to RAVS members David Cherelin, Katherine DaCosta, Beth Garver, Tina Kolberg, Ken McBride, Gail Weiser, and Charles Worl. Contact us for a pdf file of the recipes and tips they presented.
Our July meeting was a picnic at the canal side home of Kimber Gorall. We all had a great time. Same time next year?
A HEARTFELT THANKS FROM US, AND FROM THE ANIMALS On July 26 we, along with Animal Rights Advocates of Upstate NY, were given a concert fund raiser on our behalf by Heather Zinninger and Aaron Yarmel. Heather and Aaron, an engaged couple, are graduates of the Eastman School of Music. Heather is principal flutist with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra; Aaron is a graduate student in philosophy at the London School of Economics. Thanks to them for their generosity and their devotion to animal rights, and to Alice Kanack of Kanack School for the venue.
We look forward to a visit from Will Tuttle, Ph.D. at our August meeting (Please note: It’s the 2nd Sunday, not the 3rd). Our fall programs will include talks by animal rescuer and sanctuary founder Jenny Brown, and healthy school food advocate Amie Hamlin. See p. 8 for details.
VEGETARIAN SUMMERFEST was held from June 27 to July 1 in Johnstown, Pa. There was a healthy contingent of attendees from Rochester including: Carol, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Ted Barnett, Mary (Handy) Cowles, David Daunce, Esther Doan, Yetta Panitch, Annie, Meena and Ted Potter, Norman Sacks and Charles Worl. Read more about this great event on pp. 4-5.
RAVS OUTREACH REPORT!
In the May newsletter, we omitted to report on a vegan food tasting for MVP Health Care employees, given onsite on March 12 by VegMondays volunteers Carol Barnett, Debra Couch, Kimber Gorall, Rosemarie Stepanik and Martha Sullivan.
Also a correction: two outreach events scheduled to occur just after the May newsletter went to press never took place due to a freak snowstorm on April 23: the spring Health Fair on Brockport main campus and Victor Earth Day Fair.
But a cornucopia of outreach events did take place in May, June and July. Thanks to those who staffed these events!
-American Heart Assn. Heart Walk (Honey Bloch, Nancy Hallowell, Tina Kolberg,Walt McBurney)
-Health Fair at RG&E service headquarters (Carol Barnett)
-Health Fair for Rochester Central School District (Tina Kolberg)
-Represented NY Coalition for Healthy School Food at workshop given by USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan (Carol Barnett)
-Talk on vegan meal planning at Bay Knoll Seventh Day Adventist Church Health Fair (Carol Barnett; table staffed by Ken and Rhea McBride)
-Energy Fair sponsored by Color Brighton Green (Tina Kolberg)
-Health Fair at Ginna Nuclear Power Plant (Carol Barnett)
-Focus group showing of “Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home”
(Carol and Ted Barnett)
-Health Fair, Rochester Housing Authority (Carol Barnett)
-Cooking class on Vegan Pot Luck at Pittsford Community Library
(Wendy Gilmore)
-Cool Rochester class for inner-city youth on eating a Low Carbon Diet (Margie Campaigne)
It’s a pleasure to reach so many people at these events.
Enjoy the rest of summer as we move towards the cooler months, and keep spreading the word about the joy of a vegetarian way of eating and living.
PLANT-BASED NUTRITION course at the Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Ave., taught by Ted Barnett, M.D. with food samples by Carol Barnett, will be offered again on six Thursdays beginning Sept. 6. Call 461-2000 to register.
GREENTOPIA For the 2nd time, RAVS will participate in this environ-mental festival, to be held Sept. 10-16. RAVS’s information table will be staffed on Sat. Sept. 15 and Sun. Sept. 16.
FARM SANCTUARY WALK FOR THE ANIMALS in the Rochester area will be on Saturday Sept. 22 starting at the Riverbend Shelter in Genesee Valley Park. Registration at 10 AM; the 1.5 mile walk begins at 11 AM. Register at walkforarmanimals.org. You can also visit the Rochester Walk for Farm Animals Facebook page.
WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY is on October 1, and the entire month of October is Vegetarian Awareness Month.
VEGAN KICKSTART, a program of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), provides phone and email reminders, tips, and recipes for a 21-day introduction to vegan living. The next Kickstart program starts on September 3; visit 21daykickstart.org to register. There’s an app for your iPhone that allows you to start the program any time; or you can buy Neal Barnard, M.D.’s book 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart and start when you want.
LOCAL NUTRITIONIST INTERVIEWS RAVS COORDINATOR Tami M. Best, in her nutrition column in the Democrat and Chronicle on 5/16/12, interviewed Ted D. Barnett, M.D. on a recent nutrition survey conducted by PCRM, which revealed that many Americans are unaware of the advantages of plant foods, such as that greens are rich sources of calcium. Dr. Barnett, citing the rising rate of obesity, said that “Switching to a whole-foods plant-based diet with minimal added oils would go a long way toward reversing that trend.” The article mentioned RAVS, as well as the plant-based nutrition course at the JCC taught by Dr. Barnett.
Carol Barnett
Winter Solstice Gathering and Celebration!