fellowship group forming for veg*ns/aspiring veg*ns/animal rights activists

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

 

Regarding the discussion on the BAV list about the need for social support

for aspiring veg*ns, maybe this could be of help:

 

Mat Thomas (www.AnimalRighter.org <http://www.animalrighter.org/>) a writer

for In Defense of Animals and VegNews, and I have been discussing the idea

of getting a group together as sort of a support/venting/strategizing group

for veg*ns as well as aspiring veg*ns and animal rights activists. Although,

I've been vegetarian and vegan now for about 17 years and Mat for about 10,

we still feel we could benefit from something like this and thought others

out there would too.

 

Basically, the premise is: how to live as a vegan/vegetarian in a

non-veg*n/speciesist world.

 

I know a lot of us deal with the frustrations of our non-veg friends and

family thinking we are wierd, not " getting " us, making fun of us, asking the

annoying questions, getting defensive with us, refusing to listen to us and

learn about the issues etc, etc.

 

Not to mention how hard it is seeing animal cruelty/speciesism on a daily

basis anywhere and everywhere you go, such as seeing your coworkers

excitingly devouring their dead animals, the family member who breeds dogs

and sees nothing wrong with it, the friend you've had for 27 years who

happily loves to tell you at every opportunity she gets how animals were put

on this earth for us to use, or the other friend who tells you she can " get "

why you became vegan but it doesn't have to become your " identity, " (yes my

wonderful friends), etc.

 

So, we thought we might try to get people together to talk about the

issues. We would like this to be a productive group and one that will enable

us to help one another in a supportive way.

 

Mat has a background in psychology and I am a Licensed Clinical Social

Worker (LCSW). However, I thought I might add that this would, in NO way be

a " formal " support group or " therapy " group. Though, Mat and I will, in a

way, be co-facilitating it (as well as being a part of the group) neither he

nor I will be doing any sort of " therapy. "

 

We were thinking of meeting in San Francisco one time per month or every 6

weeks or so, possibly on a Sunday afternoon. I'm in the South Bay, but we

thought SF would be a good centralized location for people in the South Bay,

North Bay, East Bay, etc. We could meet at a restaurant, at someone's house

if they are willing to offer or maybe even in Golden Gate Park.

 

Does this interest anyone? Let us know. After we get some feedback from

folks, we'll pick the first date as well as where it will be.

 

You can reply to me at this email, vegan4animals, or write to Mat

at:

ma<http://us.f820.mail./ym/Compose?To=mathomas (AT) gmail (DOT) co\

m>

..

 

Thanks!

 

Melissa