VRG-NEWS: The Vegetarian Resource Group Newsletter

Editor: John L. Cunningham

Volume 5, Issue 10

October 2001

CONTENTS

1) Notes from the Editor

2) VRG Vegan Dinner in St. Louis, October 22, 2001

3) Help Support VRG Through Matching Donations

4) Recipe of the Month: Korean Barbecued Tofurky

5) November/December 2001 "Vegetarian Journal" Preview

6) Club Veg Vegan Nature Tour of Costa Rica

7) Upcoming Vegetarian Events and Conferences

8) Job Openings and Opportunities at VRG

About The Vegetarian Resource Group

About "VRG-News"

1) NOTES FROM THE EDITOR

***We at The Vegetarian Resource Group join the rest of the world in

extending our condolences and deepest sympathies to those whose lives were

changed by the tragic events of September 11. One of our goals at The

Vegetarian Resource Group is to promote kindness. We salute those who have

demonstrated that times of great sorrow, such as this, can also be times of

great kindness, and we encourage you to continue the generous and

compassionate work of assisting the victims of this disaster.***

This is my first month at the helm of VRG-News, I would like to begin by

acknowledging my predecessor, Davida Gypsy Breier. I am humbled by the

fantastic job that she has done as editor of this newsletter for the past

few years, and I promise to work hard to fill her shoes. I'm sure you will

join me in wishing her well in her future endeavors. If you are planning to

attend the Natural Products Expo East on Friday October 12 in Washington

D.C., you can wish her well in person! Davida will be at the Nutri-Books

booth to sign copies of the book she co-authored with Reed Mangels Ph.D.,

R.D., VEGAN & VEGETARIAN FAQ. The Vegetarian Resource Group will also have

a booth at the Expo. It will be Table Top 1 between halls B and C. Stop by

and say hello!

In the short time that I've been at The Vegetarian Resource Group, I've

learned much and met many great people. I look forward to meeting Maryland

members when The Vegetarian Resource Group celebrates its 20th annual

pre-Thanksgiving Potluck on Sunday, November 18th. The dinner will be held

at 5:30pm at St. John's Church, St. Paul and 27th Streets in Baltimore.

Admission is $3 per adult and a vegan dish that will serve four or more

people. Children are free. Please write the recipe on a 3X5 card and bring

a serving utensil for each dish. For more information, contact Tamara Gabai

(410) 366-VEGE or Jeannie McStay (410) 366-8343 or e-mail us at vrg@vrg.org.

Happy World Vegetarian Day, everyone!

2) VRG VEGAN DINNER IN ST LOUIS MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2001, 6:30 PM

During the American Dietetic Association Annual Meeting, VRG will hold a

dinner in St. Louis, Missouri at the Mandarin House at Union Station. The

dinner is open to dietitians, VRG members, and the general public.

The menu for the Chinese Vegan Banquet will include:

Vegetarian Deluxe Soup (vegetable, tofu, green bean noodle)

Fresh Spring Rolls (rice sheet wrapper, non-fried)

Pan Fried Bean Curd Cake

Green Beans with Szechwan Sauce

Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Vegetables (Napa, spinach, etc.)

Three Greens (Chinese broccoli, zucchini, and snow peas)

Hot Bean Curd in a Special Sauce (a favorite of their vegetarian guests)

Steamed Rice

Mixed Fruit Dessert

The cost is $20. Children under 10 years are half-price. Price includes tax

and tip. Payment must be made in advance. Refunds will only be made if we

have a replacement for your seat. Call (410) 366-8343 between 9 am and 5 pm,

Monday to Friday; fax (410) 366-8804; e-mail vrg@vrg.org; or send to VRG, PO

Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

Please send in your payment and reservations by ***October 15, 2001***.

3) HELP SUPPORT VRG THROUGH MATCHING DONATIONS

VRG was recently selected to join Give for Change's list of non-profit

organizations receiving philanthropic support. Give for Change allows you to

make online donations to a variety of progressive organizations. VRG is

listed under the "Rights & Welfare Of Animals" section. Give for Change is

affiliated with Working Assets, a company that supports a variety of

organizations through their long-distance phone and credit card services. As

part of the "Tax Rebate Matching Grant" program, Give for Change will match

any donations of exactly $300 or $600 from now until November 1, 2001. For

more information on this program go to: <http://www.giveforchange.com>

For more information about Working Assets go to:

<http://www.workingforchange.com/>

And go to <http://www.giveforchange.com/cgi-bin/GiveForChange.storefront>

for more details about Give For Change.

Thanks to all who have already sent donations!

Please remember The Vegetarian Resource Group in matching gifts at work,

United Way, and federal employee (CFC) campaigns.

4) RECIPE OF THE MONTH : Korean Barbecued Tofurky

(Serves 4) Adapted recipe from CONVENIENTLY VEGAN by Debra Wasserman

<http://www.vrg.org/catalog/convvegan.htm>

(Thanks to Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D., for sharing this delicious recipe!)

4 cups Tofurky cut into 1/2-inch thick strips

1 Tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

1 Tablespoon sesame oil

1 Tablespoon maple syrup or apple juice

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon ginger powder

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cups warm cooked brown rice

20-32 lettuce leaves

Salsa or Korean hot pepper paste (Available in some Asian markets), to taste

Combine sesame seeds, oil, sweetener, spices, and onion in a glass baking

dish. Add the Tofurky strips and toss to coat with the marinade. Cover and

refrigerate 2-6 hours, stirring occasionally.

Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat and add the Tofurky

mixture and marinade. Cook, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes.

To serve, place about 3/4 cup cooked rice, 5-8 lettuce leaves, and a fourth

of the Tofurky on each plate. To eat, fill a lettuce leaf with rice,

Tofurky, and salsa or hot pepper paste to taste. Roll up and eat with your

fingers.

This holiday season, each time you purchase Tofurky Feast, a donation will

be made by Turtle Island Foods to The Vegetarian Resource Group. More

information and delicious holiday recipes can be found on our website at

<http://www.vrg.org/recipes/tofurky.htm>

5) NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2001 "VEGETARIAN JOURNAL" PREVIEW

The NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2001 "Vegetarian Journal" articles include:

Regional Italian and Sicilian Pasta Sauces, Vegan Italia, by Nancy Berkoff

Interested in Nutrition? What does it take to become a registered

dietitian? Michelle Y. Burke lets us know

Tortilla Sunrise, Debra Daniels-Zeller wraps up breakfast with Southwestern

flair.

Winner of the Audrey Fluke Vegetarian Award

Easy, Healthy Appetizers for Holiday Company, the best of vegetarian little

food, by Nava Atlas

Winner of the Ruth E Caring Award, "How Many People Do You Know Who Have

Been Vegetarian For Over 65 Years?"

REGULAR FEATURES INCLUDE:

Nutrition Hotline The potential for transmission of mad cow disease

through dairy products

Note from the Coordinators

Letters to the Editors

Veggie Bits

Scientific Update

Notes from the Scientific Department

Product Reviews: Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Nuts and Nut Butters

Vegan Cooking Tips - From Chef Nancy Berkoff: Pizza, Pizza, Pizza

Book Reviews

Vegetarian Action: Dwayne DeRosario, by Brian Kluepfel

Read excerpts from back issues online at: <http://www.vrg.org/journal/>

The "Journal" features informational and recipe articles, product and book

reviews, news for vegetarian activists, and up-to-date information about

vegetarian health and nutrition. If you are not currently a subscriber to

the "Vegetarian Journal," why not subscribe today?

Subscriptions to "Vegetarian Journal" are $20/year in the US (please inquire

for subscription rates outside the US). Accepted forms of payment, in US

funds, are Visa, MasterCard, checks drawn on US banks, and postal money

orders. When joining please send us your name, address, phone number, and

e-mail address. If paying by credit card please include the card number and

expiration date.

If you join online at <http://www.vrg.org/journal/subscribe.htm> for $30 or

more, you will receive a FREE copy of the VEGAN HANDBOOK, a $20 value! (US

addresses only).

If you choose to join by mail, subscriptions should be directed to:

The Vegetarian Resource Group

PO Box 1463

Dept. IN

Baltimore, MD 21203

Phone: (410) 366-8343

Fax: (410) 366-8804

E-mail: vrg@vrg.org

6) CLUB VEG VEGAN NATURE TOUR OF COSTA RICA

Friday, February 15 - Sunday, February 24, 2002

This is the third Club Veg Vegan Nature Tour, and they have been fabulous

trips filled with great birding and wildlife viewing, hiking, snorkeling,

beautiful waterfalls and guided by expert naturalists from Costa Rica.

Already they have been told by past attendees that they plan on signing up

for this trip - so sign up soon! Contact Sawtelle Travel at 800-295-2222,

and ask to speak to Rick Marsi. If you have questions about food or other

vegan related questions, email clubveg@aol.com.

7) UPCOMING VEGETARIAN EVENTS AND CONFERENCES

***********************************************

DR. NANCY BERKOFF AND FRIEDA'S(r), INC. OFFERS UP EXPERT ADVICE FOR

VEGETARIAN AWARENESS MONTH

In celebration of Vegetarian Awareness Month in October, Frieda's(r), Inc.

is hosting a Q&A Internet information exchange at their website at

http://www.friedas.com. Frieda's has invited VRG's Foodservice advisor Dr.

Nancy Berkoff, an expert in the area of Vegan and Vegetarian cuisine as well

as soy products, to answer these questions and more. During the week of

October 1-7, 2001 everyone is invited to e-mail Dr. Berkoff at

friedas@aol.com with questions on Vegetarianism, Vegan, and soy and, with

the advent of the word wide web, their questions will be replied to

instantly!

Dr. Berkoff, R.D. is not only a registered dietitian, but has over 20 years

of experience working in the food industry. She has received awards from

the American Culinary Federation, California Restaurant Association, and the

U.S. Department of the Navy for Culinary Traning. In 1994 Ms. Berkoff was

named Chef of the Year by the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Culinary

Federation. Two of her books VEGAN MEALS FOR ONE OR TWO and VEGAN IN VOLUME

are available from our website at <http://www.vrg.org/catalog/>.

***********************************************

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL COMPASSIONATE LIVING FESTIVAL 2001

The 16th Annual International Compassionate Living Festival will take place

the weekend of October 5-7th, 2001. It will be held at Four Points Hotel

Raleigh Crabtree, 4501 Creedmoor Road (70 West) Raleigh, North Carolina

27612 Speakers include Tom Regan, Katherine Grier ("Pets in America"),

Jenny Stein and James Laveck ("Peaceable Kingdom"), Robert Cohen, Ray and

Jean Swingle Greek ("First Do No Harm"), Steve Hindi, and John Coetzee

("Disgrace: A Reading").

For more information on the event go to:

<http://www.cultureandanimals.org/iclf2001.htm>

For registration details go to:

<http://www.cultureandanimals.org/registration.htm>

Or contact:

The Culture and Animals Foundation

3509 Eden Croft Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612

(919) 782-3739; Fax: 919-782-6464

E-mail: njregan@nc.rr.com.

***********************************************

FARM SANCTUARY'S 2001 WALK-A-THON

The Farm Sanctuary's annual Walk For Animals will be taking place this month

in cities throughout the U.S. For the date and telephone number of a

coordinator near you, check the Farm Sanctuary's web site

<http://www.farmsanctuary.org/visit/walk2001.htm>.

***********************************************

THE SIXTH ANNUAL BOSTON VEGETARIAN FOOD FESTIVAL

The Sixth Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival will take place Saturday,

October 13, 2001 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. It will be held at the Reggie

Lewis Athletic Center 1350 Tremont Street (at New Dudley) Boston, MA

Stroll the aisles and graze on free samples of delicious natural, vegetarian

foods from exhibitors from across the country and locally. Learn about new

products, talk to food manufacturers, and enjoy "Show Special" discount

shopping. Admission is

FREE.

VRG will have a booth, staffed by volunteers Dina and Dan Aronson. Please

stop by!

This event is organized by the Boston Vegetarian Society For more

information contact:

(617) 424-8846

E-mail: BVS@ivu.org

<http://www.BostonVeg.org/foodfest>

***********************************************

VEGFEST DC ONE-DAY MINI-CONFERENCE

Vegetarian Society of DC plans are going strong for VegFest DC 2001 for

Saturday 13 October from 11 am to 7 pm. VegFest will be held at American

University's Ward Circle Building (lower level) in NW Washington DC and

co-sponsored by the American University Animal Rights Effort (AUARE).

VegFest is a day-long event with three separate plenary sessions to cover

the latest information in the areas of compassion, health, and environment.

Concurrent sessions will include talks, panels on 'medicine/nutrition' and

'why not meat, dairy, poultry, and fish', videos, and food preparation

demos. Vegan food will be available from various food vendors along with

information from other like-minded groups. Confirmed speakers include:

Karen Davis, Brian Halweil, Keith Akers, Alex Hershaft, Dr. Samuel DeShay,

Bruce Friedrich.

Be sure to stop by The Vegetarian Resource Group's booth and say hello to

Tamara Gabai and Jeannie McStay!

VegFest will be free and open to the public. For more information contact

VSDC at 202-362-VEGY or visit www.vsdc.org

***********************************************

GATEWAY TO COMPASSION ANIMAL RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM

The Gateway to Compassion Animal Rights Symposium will be held Saturday,

October 13, 2001 at Sheraton Westport Plaza Towers (900 West Port Plaza, St.

Louis, MO 63146; (314)434-5010; Fax: (314) 434-0140)

Topics of discussion include diet and health, factory farming, fur,

trapping, captive animals in circuses, zoos, and canned hunts, and exotic

animal auctions. Speakers include Ingrid Newkirk (PETA), Dr. Neal Barnard

(PCRM), Bradley Miller (Humane Farming Association), Dr. Elliot Katz (In

Defense of Animals), Richard Farinato (Humane Society of the U.S.), and

Camilla Fox (Animal Protection Institute).

Contact St. Louis Animal Rights Team at

PO Box 28501

St. Louis, MO 63146 (314) 851-0928

E-mail: stlouisanimalrightsteam@visto.com

<http://start.enviroweb.org/>

***********************************************

THE NINTH ANNUAL ANIMAL LAW CONFERENCE

The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund will host the 9th Annual Animal Law

Conference at Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College on Friday,

October 19th and Saturday the 20th. Numerous prominent attorneys and

legislators will examine the various ways that politics influence the

expanding field of animal law. The conference will feature constitutional

law scholar Cass R. Sunstein. He will speak about "Standing For Animals."

Oregon Supreme Court Justice Robert D. Durham will present the keynote

address at the Saturday evening banquet. Some of the panel discussions

include standing for animals from a practitioners view, tort damages,

enacting legislation, the endangered species act, civil rights and protest,

humane slaughter enforcement, and the freedom of information act.

For more information and registration visit SALDF's website at

<http://www.lclark.edu/~saldf>, or contact Matt Dunn or Karstan Lovorn at

saldf@lclark.edu or 503-768-6798.

***********************************************

THE SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR CONSCIOUS LIVING

EarthSave Chicago is hosting its second annual Conference for Conscious

Living at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, on Saturday,

October 20, 2001. They will be featuring speakers, including John Robbins,

Howard Lyman, Stanley and Rhoda Sapon, Robert Cohen, and James LaVeck and

Jenny Stein, who will be screening their documentary, The Witness.

They will be offering a vegan lunch, tables of information from local animal

advocacy, environmental and vegetarian organizations and the opportunity to

meet others with similar interests.

For more information, please contact EarthSave Chicago at 773-525-4032 or vi

sit their website at <http://chicago.earthsave.org>.

***********************************************

THE FOURTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON VEGETARIAN NUTRITION

The Fourth Annual International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition is being

held April 8-11, 2002 at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California.

Major conference topics include:

Vegetarian diets and longevity/mortality

Vegetarian diets: current issues

Vegetarian diets and bone health

High soy consumption: good, bad, and indifferent?

Vegetarian diets for all: a solution to the environmental crisis?

For more information contact:

Office of Extended Programs

Loma Linda University

School of Public Health

Loma Linda, CA 92350

(909) 558-7230

E-mail: icvn@sph.llu.edu

<http://www.vegetariannutrition.org>

8) JOB OPENINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES

INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE

Responsibilities depend on background, major if in college, and interest of

applicant. Tasks may include research, writing, and/or community outreach.

Internships are helpful for students working towards journalism, English,

and nutrition degrees. Business majors can obtain experience related to the

business aspects of a nonprofit. Activists can learn new skills and gain a

broader knowledge, as well as share their expertise. Positions open

throughout the year for all ages (including high school students if in

Baltimore). Internships are unpaid. Send resume and cover letter to VRG, Box

1463, Baltimore, MD 21203; vrg@vrg.org.

*************************************

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,

and book sales. The "Vegetarian Journal," a print magazine, is a benefit of

membership in The VRG. (For more information, please see the SEPTEMBER /

OCTOBER 2001 "Vegetarian Journal" online above or view back issues online

at <http://www.vrg.org/journal/>).

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

PO Box 1463

Baltimore, MD 21203

Phone: (410) 366-8343

Fax: (410) 366-8804

E-mail: vrg@vrg.org

Website: <http://www.vrg.org>

Donate: <https://skyport.net/vrg/donate.htm>

The contents of this newsletter, as with all The Vegetarian Resource Group

publications, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical

advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional.

ABOUT VRG-NEWS

VRG-NEWS is the monthly 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 the

list manager, Bobbi Pasternak, at bobbi@vrg.org. If you have any

suggestions, ideas, or corrections to VRG-NEWS, direct them to vrg@vrg.org.

Thanks!

If you are a new subscriber, you might enjoy reading past issues of VRG News

online at

<http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/index.htm>.

If you wish to cancel your subscription to VRG-NEWS, send an e-mail message

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Do not include the {} when you enter your name. The newsletter will be sent

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newsletter may be freely distributed in electronic or print form provided

its contents are not altered and credit is given to The Vegetarian Resource

Group, P.O. Box 1463,

Baltimore, MD 21203.

Vegan & Vegetarian FAQ

Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

(http://www.vrg.org/catalog/faq.htm)

vrg@vrg.org http://www.vrg.org

The Vegetarian Resource Group / Vegetarian Journal

P.O. Box 1463 / Baltimore MD 21203 US

(410) 366-8343

The VRG is a educational non-profit group providing information on

vegetarianism & veganism.