Guide for Local Vegetarian Groups

How to Start, Maintain, and Expand Your Local Vegetarian Group

Introduction

There are many vegetarian groups at the present time, and there is a need for coordinated efforts among both large and small groups to further vegetarianism generally, and to further the spread and increase the strength of local vegetarian groups. That is the purpose of this guide. Our goal in VUNA is not merely to spread the vegetarian word, but to help you and others to spread the vegetarian word as well.

No one group, in North America, has sufficient resources at the present time (1995) to go into an area and organize a local group on more than an occasional basis. That is one of the reasons why the vegetarian movement in North America has not developed as a single large group which then established local branches. Rather, vegetarians in many areas have established independent local vegetarian groups using their own resources -- sometimes with assistance from one or more of the larger groups, but largely using local talent.

To establish a local group, there must be local support there already, and the bulk of the effort and the organizing must come from the local area itself. The primary ways in which VUNA and VUNA members can help is through

1. providing information, such as this guide
2. providing contacts with people who live in the area who are interested in various vegetarian activities, and
3. providing limited logistical support activities (perhaps organizing an initial event, a conference, or something like that).

There is another important aspect of local organizing, and that is strengthening groups which already exist. Local vegetarian groups need a certain level of support to maintain their basic activities. We as a movement need to identify and find ways to support struggling groups, as well as help medium-size groups become larger and larger. It is our goal to establish viable and expanding vegetarian groups in every metropolitan area of North America. If we can do this, we will be able to present our case to the public in North America and throughout the world.