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Mid-Hudson Vegetarian Society, Inc.
38 East Market Street, Rhinebeck, New York 12572 USA -
845-876-2626
Vegetarian - Vegan - Animal Rights - Health - Nutrition - Environment
The mission of the Mid-Hudson Vegetarian Society, Inc. is to promote the vegetarian ethic in the Mid-Hudson (New York) region, educate the community and aid anyone in the pursuit of a totally vegetarian (vegan) cruelty-free and healthful lifestyle.
Newsletters
Winter 2002-2003 Edition
President’s message
As I write this I feel as if I am in a centrifuge with Thanksgiving swirling all around me. Yet by the time you read this, the 18th annual Thanksgiving Dinner will be a pleasant memory. With all the work yet to be done I am thankful that obtaining multiple turkey carcasses and deciding the manner of cooking them is decidedly not part of our tasks. Even though most people consume animal products on holidays none is as associated with a particular holiday as Thanksgiving is with the turkey.
"Do you think it is right to use the images of animals to promote the eating of themselves" is my mantra during the fall season. Sometimes I see that little spark in the back of someone’s eyes that signals a minor "a-ha". And most of us get hit with that seasonal question "How do you have Thanksgiving without a turkey?" but at least it supplants the often asked, "Where do you get your protein?"
Next year we have a prefect opportunity to reach out to the 96% of the population who eat meat and ask them to consider not doing so on Thanksgiving. Why next year? Because of the rhyme, of course:
BE TURKEY FREE IN 2003
I would like MHVS to take this on as a project and welcome your input on ways to promote a vegan Thanksgiving. Call or e-mail us with your ideas.
Our Fall activities were varied and successful. In September Rae Schlecht and I did a tabling at the Marist College Health Fair and at the Dutchess Community College Fair. We held a potluck at our Headquarters in Rhinebeck which was attended by 25 people. October featured a dinner at the Stissing house in Pine Plains and a Halloween event sponsored by Joan Zacharias and the Columbia Greene chapter of MHVS, held at the Manna Dew Café in Millerton. Joan’s husband Tom greeted all guests costumed as the Grim Reaper, and Joan was a self-proclaimed tavern wench. Joan brought in Michael Gregor, M.D. to speak about Bovine Spongeform Encepalophy (Mad Deer disease)
Dr. Gregor explained how the disease has spread from wild to domesticated animals. He also informed us that there can be an extremely long incubation period and anyone who consumes either hunted or farm-raised deer meat is at risk. Some food pantries have even stopped accepting deer meat, which hunters sometimes donate, because of the threat of Mad Deer disease. Nonetheless, many people find it difficult to accept that there is a real risk of this disease because hunting is such an accepted part of our culture.
At the Halloween dinner, a surprise visitor, Dora of the Dairy council, challenged Joan’s costume, insisting that she was a milk maid, not a tavern ench. We had an evening of serious education, good food, fun and some live music provided by MHVS member Eric E playing original guitar compositions.
E-Mail Up-Date List
MHVS sometimes contacts its members by e-mail, because it is the fastest and most convenient way to be in contact. Rest assured, howeer, that we do not share our list, so we urge you to please give us your e-mail address. Send your current e-mail address to robbie@mhvs.org . Include your full name and in the subject line write "e-mail confirmation".
Please support as many of our Upcoming events as possible. The holiday party will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Kingston on Saturday December 28 at 5:00 PM. Full information on page _. Please RSVP ASAP.
Check the list of upcoming event on page – for our activities through March and plan to join us for as many as possible.
May you holidays be a delight. Roberta Schiff, President
We look forward to
hearing from you
