vegan potluck startups

[Guest guest]

I understand the frustration you’re experiencing. I don’t think apathy is

peculiar to vegans however. We’ve been running a monthly vegan potluck here

(Lexington KY) for nigh on to 15 years without missing a month. We’ve had lean

turnouts and we’ve had huge turnouts. Early on we kept in touch by phone and

usually had few regulars. Within months or the first year or two we started a

listserv that was used to keep people informed by email of the date and location

(we rotate among volunteer homes) of the next gathering. I think this more than

anything has helped attendance and participation. Everyone always enjoys the

food and can’t wait for the next one. Still, though there are more than 130

addresses on the Listserv now, we’ve never had more than about 50 (counting

each family member) show up.

 

 

 

After a potluck, once it’s decided where and when the next event will be, I

send an early announcement so those so inclined can save the date on their

calendars. Then early in the week of the potluck I send a reminder because

people tend to forget after so many weeks.

 

 

 

We also have a local EarthSave group that hosts an annual Turkey-Free

Thanksgiving Day event and that’s always sold out. We solicit local

restaurants for vegan contributions and we also have participants bring a

potluck dish. An after-dinner speaker with a relevant theme keeps things

interesting. We feel a sense of community.

 

 

 

I hope this helps.