SF Pride--update & Q&A on why we should have veg outreach

March 7, 2004

Hi folks,

We'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to this campaign to bring veg info to the SF Pride festival. So far we have raised $150 of the $500 needed for booth space at Pride on 6/26-27.

Additionally, we've had a couple of questions that we wanted to answer so thought we'd just address them publicly.

Why do you want to table at Pride?

This is a wonderful opportunity to reach a large audience with progressive views. Additionally (and most importantly) many are non-vegetarians. Tabling supports the two primary goals of Bay Area Vegetarians: (1) connect the veg and animal rights community (2) promote activities & events which encourage and educate the community on the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Isn't it easier to just pay for this yourself instead of asking for money?

Sometimes it is easier (in the short-term) to accomplish something individually than to work with a group on it. We already spend money (out of our own pocket, every month) on BAV's website hosting, materials for tabling, etc.

From a long-term perspective, the survival and success of Bay Area Vegetarians as a group depends on all of us. We all benefit from having a stronger vegetarian community, that's why we are asking for your support. We all found our path to vegetarianism and veganism -- let's give that same opportunity to other people.

To put this $500 cost in perspective, it cost $180 for a booth at a one day veg event with about 5,000 people in attendance, whereas Pride (over the course of 2 days) gets close to a million people, most of whom are not vegetarian.

For full information (including photos from last year's event), please see:

http://www.bayareaveg.org/vegpride.htm

Please support the continued growth of vegetarianism within the Bay Area by donating some $$ for a booth at the SF Pride festival. If just half the people reading this sent $1, we would have enough funds for the booth space.

Cheers,

Tammy & Chris Bay Area Vegetarians