Organizational Charter of Vegetarians/Vegans at Amherst (VeVA)
Amherst College lacks any sort of alternative eating group on campus. A group of this kind can reflects the concerns of students that their everyday actions are consistent with their central belief systems. We wish to form an alternative eating group on campus focusing primarily on vegetarian and vegan diets, although students who have made other eating decisions would be welcome.
Purpose
The purposes of this group would be many. Primarily, we want to educate the campus as to the socio-political, economic, health, environmental and moral reasons supporting vegetarian/vegan diets. This organization would also provide a support network for experienced and newer alternative eaters. The group would provide an excellent means of information exchange, especially along the lines of nutrition, which has occupied more and more headlines as researchers are discovering effective prevention of many maladies lies in our eating habits. Alternative eaters could acknowledge each other on campus, and be able to discuss diet-related issues. Presently, an alternative eater feels isolated because there is little mutual recognition of such eaters.
Because Amherst lacks a group like this one, we would fill a very needy void- a practical and easy source for nutritional and other types of information, a community of alternative eaters, and educating force on campus. In short, we would give voice to a previously silenced cause.
Method
Because eating encompasses such a broad range of topics and
issues, we will use many methods of reaching our goals. To educate the campus, we plan to: run a table at Valentine every other month or so with information on eating choices, host speakers for the campus about twice a semester, periodically post fliers around campus detailing food-related facts, compile a working booklet of the available vegetarian/vegan foods in local restaurants and caf
s, and to plan other appropriate activities. (A campus-wide vegetarian/vegan day is plausible.) Since our primary goal is education, we will also rely on the suggestions and ideas of our members for effective methods of reaching the entire student body.
Structure
The primary officers of the club will be the president, the vice-president, and the secretary-treasurer. The function of the president will be to run meetings and be the liaison with outside interests. The vice-president will assist the president in his/her leading duties, and coordinate on-campus activities. The secretary-treasurer will be responsible for maintaining the organizational records and controlling cash flow. Other temporary positions will be appointed as necessary.
The group will meet weekly to plan activities and to discuss food issues. Group decisions will be voted upon, and all members will have equal say.