The VRG's Maryland Newsletter by Laura McGuiness
June, 2014
- VEGAN VIDEO SCHOLARSHIP 2014: ONE $500 AWARD, TWO $250 AWARDS!
- "BRING THE WORLD IN" BY HOSTING AN EXCHANGE STUDENT
- VISIT VRG AT THESE OUTREACH BOOTHS
- VEGAN FOOD TRUCK IN BALTIMORE
- MARYLAND AREA EVENTS
- APRIL 2014 OUTREACH RECAP
- A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS
- ESTATE TAX
- OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN MENU OPTIONS
- VRG BOOTH AT THE CHARLES VILLAGE FESTIVAL
- JOIN VRG IN ATLANTA, GA FOR AN ALL VEGAN DINNER
- EXECUTIVE CHEF JOB OPENING
- JOIN VRG'S YAHOO PARENT'S GROUP
- AMAZON SMILE: PURCHASE THROUGH AMAZON AND MAKE A DONATION TO VRG
- DONATE YOUR CAR TO A GOOD CAUSE
- BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR FOR VRG
- VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS
How Many Teens are Vegetarians, Non-Leather Orthopedic Shoes, Nabah Seeds, Healthy Eating on Budget, and more…
- ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP
1) VEGAN VIDEO SCHOLARSHIP 2014: ONE $500 AWARD, TWO $250 AWARDS!
In a further effort to help young people think creatively about vegetarian
and/or vegan advocacy, The Vegetarian Resource Group is pleased to be offering
the Vegetarian Video Scholarship Contest again in 2014! We will be offering
one $500 award and two $250 awards. The deadline for this scholarship is July
15, 2014.
Applicants should create and submit a video relating what they want to tell
others about veganism.
Some possible topics include: food, nutrition, your feelings about veganism,
water usage and veganism, veganism and animal rights, or other vegan topics
which appeal to you. Humor and feelings are appreciated. All videos should
be positive, not be critical of anyone, and not include any footage of animal
cruelty. You may submit a video you have already made.
Click here to find out more about scholarship rules and how to apply.
[ http://www.vrg.org/videoscholarship.php ]
Not sure where to start? Check out past winner, Noam Lautman’s, “NO MORE
MEAT” below or browse other past winners’ videos.
[ http://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php ]
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2) "BRING THE WORLD IN" BY HOSTING AN EXCHANGE STUDENT
PAX is a non-profit educational foundation dedicated to providing exchange
opportunities to teenagers around the world by matching them with placement
in a U.S. high school and host family. Host families come in all shapes and
sizes and include: single parents, retirees, 'empty nesters', young couples
with small children, as well as two parent families with teenagers. As the
Baltimore County Community Coordinator for PAX, I am presently seeking host
families for two Vegetarian female students from Spain and Germany for the
2014-2015 school year. To accommodate school placement, I am looking for host
families that live in Northern Baltimore City or in Baltimore County, areas
North and Northwest of Baltimore City.
To find out more about this wonderful opportunity, please contact: Meredith
Safford at 410-382-5359 or email at [email protected].
For more information on PAX, visit: [ http://www.pax.org/ ]
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3) VISIT VRG AT THESE OUTREACH BOOTHS
- MARYLAND AREA OUTREACH EVENTS
Waverly Farmers Market, Saturday, July 12, 2014
- NATIONAL (OUTSIDE OF MARYLAND AREA) EVENTS:
-
If you would like to volunteer at any of these events, contact Nina at [email protected].
If you would like to donate towards our veggie outreach, donate at:
[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]
.
Donations can also be sent to
The Vegetarian Resource Group
P.O. Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203.
Or call: (410) 366-8343.
You can join at [ http://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php ]
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4) VEGAN FOOD TRUCK IN BALTIMORE
By Samantha Gendler
At the beginning of this year, Baltimore and the DC metropolitan area welcomed
Sexy Vegie food truck, which sells vegan food at festivals, concerts, farmers
markets, college campuses, and more. Sexy Vegie was formerly a grilled cheese
truck, but when owner Ashwini Persaud went vegan herself, she realized that
no one was offering much in regards to healthy, plant-based vegan choices
in the Baltimore food truck scene.
The menu is updated weekly, but the two mainstays are The Sexy Vegie, a chickpea
burger with apple cilantro slaw, lettuce, tomato, and habanero chipotle aioli,
and The California, a black bean burger with avocado, red onion, lettuce,
tomato, and west chili. The meat substitute sandwiches, the Creamy Curry Chick'n
Salad, and the Porkless Piggy Banh Mi, are popular items, too. I recently tried the banh mi and thought it was one of the best vegan
sandwiches I've ever had.
You can find Sexy Vegie at WTMD First Thursdays Concerts in the Park, Baltimore
Bike Party (last Friday of each month,) and some food truck gatherings. All
of the truck's daly locations can be found on their website sexyvegie.com,
Facebook, and Twitter.
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5) MARYLAND AREA EVENTS
- VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN MEET-UPS IN BALTIMORE, MD
The Vegetarian Meet-up happens at Mango Grove, located at 8865 Stanford Boulevard,
in Columbia, Maryland 21045, on the first Sunday each month at 12:30 PM. The
Vegan Meet-up takes place at Mr. Chan Szechuan at 1000 Reisterstown Rd. in
Pikesville on the third Wednesday every month at 7 PM. If you are vegan or
vegetarian and would like to eat great food while socializing with others
who share your interests, attend a meet-up!
For more information about EarthSave's Vegan and Vegetarian Baltimore Meet-ups,
- JOIN EARTHSAVE FOR A VEGAN POTLUCK
Held on the last Saturday every month at the Learning Center of Your Prescription
for Health, 10210 S. Dolfield Rd. in Owings Mills, EarthSave presents a vegan
potluck and presentation. They eat first, make announcements, vote and present
awards for their favorite dishes, and then have a presentation. This month,
on June 28th from 6-9PM, Earthsave will feature a live presentation on "The
Family Vegan" by Greg Brown and Naijha Wright, proprietors of "Baltimore's
Best" vegan restaurant, "The Land of Kush," which recently became one of Stevie
Wonder's favorite eateries. Greg and Naijha will share some success stories
and helpful ideas and strategies for introducing children, family members,
dates, and others to the vegan way of eating.
Dinner guests may choose to either bring a dish without animal products (to
serve 8) plus a $5 donation, pay $12 to enjoy dinner and a presentation; or
pay $5 for presentation only. Let us know in advance, if possible, if you
plan to pay for dinner rather than bring a dish. RSVP by calling 410-252-3043,
or emailing [email protected].
- SPEND YOUR TUESDAYS DISCUSSING CURRENT ISSUES IN WHOLE-FOOD PLANT-BASED NUTRITION
Held at 7:00PM on the second Tuesday of every month at varying locations,
The Baltimore Whole Food Plant-Based Nutrition Meet-Up meets to discuss some
of the current topics and issues in whole-food plant-based nutrition.
Meet-up fee is $5.00 per person.
For more information, visit:
[ http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Whole-Food-Plant-Based-Nutrition/ ]
- MONTHLY COOKING CLASSES
Takes place in Fairfax Station, VA. Past classes have included some of the
following: homemade mayo, Mediterranean pasta salad with feta cheese, two-grain
sesame salad, quinoa tabour, black bean fiesta salad, zesty three-bean salad,
chicken-free salad w/ Beyond Meat, oil-free sweet bulgar salad, teriyaki kebabs,
marinated grilled vegetables, rice paper spring rolls, filled potato salad,
caesar salad, cole sale, kim chee, organic lemonade, salad dressings (including
bleu cheese!), chocolate chip snacking' cake, and brownies.
No meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, or honey. $55/person; $100/two people;
$50/VSDC, VRG, or COK members. Demonstration classes include recipes, organic
food samples, manufacturers' samples coupons. Gift certificates are available
for purchase.
Email [email protected] or call 703-643-2713 for space availability. Make
checks payable to Mimi Clark and mail to 9302 Hallston Ct., Fairfax Station,
VA 22039. Sorry, no phone or e-mail reservations and no walk-ins. Seventy-two
hour cancellation policy for refund or credit. Class subject to cancellation
if minimum enrollment is not met.
Check website for monthly class updates:
[ http://www.veggourmet.wordpress.com ]
- RAFTING WITH THE VEGETARIAN SOCIETY OF DC
Join VSDC and
vegan meet up friends for an exciting rafting adventure on the
Potomac River.
The total price per person is $65.00 for VSDC members (you must have a valid
VSDC membership card) or $70.00 for all others. This rate includes the entrance
fee to the park, the bus transport to Great Falls VA, the rafting trip between
Great Falls VA and Carderock MD, and a vegan lunch (and also the paypal fee).
For more information, see:
[ http://www.meetup.com/Vegan-DC-MD-VA/events/178193082/ ]
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6) APRIL 2014 OUTREACH RECAP
By Nina Casalena, VRG Outreach Coordinator
Spring is a particularly busy time for groups such as The Vegetarian Resource
Group engaging in educational outreach. Thankfully, we have had an amazing
team of volunteers eager to represent VRG at various events during the month
of April!
We started the month off exhibiting at Worcester VegFest in Worcester, MA
on April 6th. Our amazing volunteers, Eric Sharer MPH RD, Reed Mangels PhD
RD, and Arnie Alper MD, engaged with a steady stream of visitors and talked
about the many benefits of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, offered a variety
of vegan cookbooks for sale, and handed out tons of great educational materials
to vegetarians and omnivores alike!
Later in the month, on April 24th, we switched gears and exhibited at the
PA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Meeting in Bethlehem, PA. Our
wonderful volunteer and registered dietitian, Nora Allen RD, LDN, took full
responsibility for representing VRG at this professional conference, and acted
as a wonderful advocate for healthy and nutritional vegetarian/vegan diets.
Nora was a previous Vegetarian Resource Group scholarship winner. See
[ http://www.vrg.org/student/2007winners.htm. ]
April 26th was a particularly busy day for VRG as we exhibited at two events
in Baltimore: the Spring Into Good Health Festival in Pigtown, as well as
Greenwork's EcoFest in Druid Hill Park. The Spring Into Good Health Festival
was sponsored by Paul's Place, a community outreach center in Southwest Baltimore,
and aimed to promote strategies for health and wellness for local residents.
VRG was the only vegetarian group on site and many patrons took interest in
decreasing the amount of animal products in their diets. This booth was particularly
special because it allowed volunteer, Matt Baker RN, and staff member Nina
Casalena, to better reach those from low-income backgrounds, who may have
limited access to information about plant-based eating and the vegan lifestyle.
At Greenwork's EcoFest, volunteers Mark Rifkin MS, RD, LDN and Chris Dietrich
engaged with environmentally conscious patrons about how vegetarian and veganism
can be an important aspect of sustainable living. Mark even brought his own
visual display on the impact of animal agriculture on the environment and
global climate change.
April was a wonderful month for booths and I anticipate the rest of the season
will bring many more amazing opportunities for veg outreach. I would just
like to thank all of our incredible volunteers again for all of their patience
and hard work! Everyone here at VRG feels extremely lucky to have each and
every one of them on our team.
To volunteer at VRG outreach booths, please contact Nina at [email protected].
To support VRG outreach, please donate at www.vrg.org/donate.
To join The Vegetarian resource Group, please go to:
[ http://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php ]
.
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7) A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to the following volunteers for helping with responding to 2013-2014
scholarship entrants:
- Ryan Andrews
- Matt Baker
- Whitney Blomquist
- Priscilla Broadwater
- Nina Casalena
- Chris Dietrich
- Kristi Fecchio
- Sonja Helman
- Karen Homann
- Melissa Krol
- Susan Petrie
- Jenny Saccenti
- Will Snyder
- Amy Vaughn
If you want to volunteer to help judge next year, please contact
Sonja at [email protected]
Donations towards VRG scholarships and internships can be made at www.vrg.org/donate
The next deadline for scholarship entries are February 20, 2015. See
[
http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]
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8) ESTATE TAX
On May 15, 2014, Governor Martin O'Malley signed a bill that gradually raises
the Maryland estate tax exemption amount to match the federal estate tax exemption
amount. The estate tax exemption amount is the amount that can transfer at
death to an individual who is not the decedent's spouse or a charitable organization
without being subjected to estate tax. Neither Maryland nor the federal government
imposes an estate tax on transfers to spouses or charitable organizations.
This new law is intended to keep aging Marylanders from establishing residency
in other states in order to avoid Maryland estate tax. The current exemption
from Maryland estate tax is $1 million.
Beginning in 2019, the Maryland exemption from estate tax will be identical
to the federal exemption from estate tax. Two significant differences will
persist between the federal and Maryland estate tax systems. First, Maryland
will continue to impose an inheritance tax of ten percent (10%) on transfers
at death to non-relatives and more distant relatives. Second, Maryland will
not impose a gift tax on lifetime transfers that exceed the estate tax exemption
amount even though such tax is levied under federal law.
See: [ http://www.law360.com/articles/522070/md-gov-expected-to-raise-estat-tax-exemption ]
This is not tax, legal, or financial advice, which you should obtain from
your legal, tax, or financial advisor.
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9) OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN MENU OPTIONS
By Jeanne Yacoubou, VRG Research Director
Outback Steakhouse opened its first restaurant in 1988 in Tampa, Florida.
Today there are approximately 760 restaurants in most states as well as in
other countries. To find a location, visit:
[ http://wwww.outback.com/locations ]
.
The VRG contacted Outback Steakhouse in March through May 2014. We communicated
with two nutritionists by phone and e-mail about vegetarian and vegan menu
options. They told us that they had screened menu items "…for eggs, dairy,
honey, meat, animal fats, animal rennet, and gelatin." They did not screen
for insect-derived colorings.
According to the Outback Steakhouse dietitians, the following menu items are
vegetarian defined as not containing "animal meat, fish, shellfish, or animal
by-products." They could contain eggs or dairy.
VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AT OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
- House Bread and Butter
- Steakhouse Salad without Sirloin
- Aussie Cobb Chicken Salad without chicken or bacon
- House Salad
- Fresh Steamed Broccoli with seasoned butter
- Fresh Steamed Mixed Vegetables with seasoned butter
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Baked Potato without bacon
- Sweet Potato with honey butter and brown sugar
- Grilled Asparagus (cross-contact with grill; see below)
- No Rules Parmesan Pasta without protein options
- Mini Milkshakes (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, oreo)
- Sweet Adventure Dessert Sampler Trio
- Classic Cheesecake
- Carrot Cake
- Chocolate Thunder from Down Under
The vegan options at Outback Steakhouse are defined as those that do not contain
"…animal meat, fish, shellfish, or animal by-products, eggs, dairy, or honey."
VEGAN OPTIONS AT OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
- House Bread
- Fresh Steamed Broccoli without seasoned butter
- Fresh Steamed Mixed Vegetables without seasoned butter
- Plain Baked Potato or Sweet Potato
- House Salad without cheese and croutons
The nutritionists at Outback Steakhouse noted that "the grilled asparagus
comes in contact with the same grill that is used to cook animal and seafood
proteins. Other items do not typically come in contact with non-vegetarian
or vegan ingredients. It is recommended that a guest specifies that he/she
is placing a vegetarian or vegan order and discusses the order with the server
and manager."
The VRG also contacted a Baltimore area Outback Steakhouse through the restaurant
chain's website contact form asking the manager if and how he could accommodate
a vegan. Within a day we received this reply."
"I greatly appreciate your reaching out to us…We can create any vegan meal
either grilled vegetables, baked sweet potatoes, or baked potatoes. We will
do what is necessary to make…[a vegan] feel comfortable."
The manager of the Baltimore area Outback Steakhouse also mentioned that he
was connected to Carrabba's Italian Grill (another restaurant chain owned
by Bloomin' Brands Inc.) and could accommodate a vegan through them.
The contents of this posting, e-mail, VRG website and our other publications,
including Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical
advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional.
We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements.
It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people
have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment
about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research
or confirmation on your own.
For more information on restaurants, visit:
To support The Vegetarian Resource Group, join at
[ http://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php ]
or
[ https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565 ]
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10) VRG BOOTH AT THE CHARLES VILLAGE FESTIVAL
By Devylyn Perugini, VRG Intern
Over the weekend, May 31st to June 1st, The Vegetarian Resource Group held
a booth at the 18th annual Charles Village Festival in Baltimore, Maryland.
This is a yearly festival filled with live music, vendors, crafts, a 5K race,
and the Charles Village Garden Walk.
On Saturday, we worked with Mark Rifkin, a vegan dietitian. Mark was able
to give professional opinions to people with health concerns. Mark was a reliable
source who was taken seriously. Chris Dietrich worked with us on Sunday. Chris
is an animal rights activist. He was very passionate about promoting vegetarianism
and it showed through his enthusiastic conversations. Chris suggested an alternative
to meat called, Beyond Meat, which a lot of people seemed to be interested in.
My experience with working at the booth was truly amazing. I realized that
I love talking about vegetarianism and could do it all day long! I felt like
I truly made a difference for a good amount of people visiting the booth.
For example: There was an older man who was hesitantly approaching us. I offered
him one of our Journals and asked if he had any questions. He told me that
he had tried to be vegetarian but had a difficult time. He was hungry and
couldn’t make it affordable. I showed him the My Vegan Plate informational
paper and pointed to the protein section. I explained to him that he could
buy beans and rice in bulk and experiment with different types of tofu and
alternatives. He didn’t know that there were different types of tofu and
seemed excited when I told him that they’re easily found in grocery stores.
I had an in-depth conversation with him and his wife. They both were pleased
and seemed relieved that they had new information to assist them. Before they
left, the man thanked me and told me that he was going to try being vegetarian
again. He was happy and it was rewarding to see that.
In short, I really enjoyed working at the booth. I felt so proud to stand
with The Vegetarian Resource Group.
If you would like to volunteer at VRG booths, contact Nina at [email protected]
If you would like to intern at VRG go to
[ http://www.vrg.org/student/index.php ]
If you would like to support VRG outreach, donate at www.vrg.org/donate
To join VRG go to
[ http://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php ]
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11) JOIN VRG IN ATLANTA, GA FOR AN ALL VEGAN DINNER
The dinner will be catered by Soul Vegetarian Restaurant. They will be serving:
crisp vegetable tray, garden salad and prince dressing (house dressing made
with soy milk), dinner rolls, cornbread, tender greens, sweet potatoes, herb-baked
potatoes, green beans, southern style baked BBQ tofu, smothered steak with
gravy and onions, cheesy-spinach-tofu lasagna, Mediterranean cauliflower with
couscous, apple or vanilla cake, and lemonade.
The dinner will be taking place at Morehouse School of Medicine, GA and the
payment will be $25 before September 1, 2014 and $30 if seats available after
that date.
For more information, look at:
[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2014/04/02/vegan-dinner-in-atlanta-georgia-sunday-october-19-2014/ ]
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12) EXECUTIVE CHEF JOB OPENING
Job Opening for Executive Chef at Sublime in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, located
10 minutes from beach and downtown. This vegan restaurant has received countless
accolades for decor, food, and service. Locals, celebrities, and politicians
dine at Sublime. Sublime's rooftop garden is one of two Sublime gardens supplying
some ingredients.
Salary commensurate with ability. Send resume to: [email protected].
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13) JOIN VRG'S YAHOO PARENT'S GROUP
Are you or someone you know raising a vegetarian or vegan child? If so, you
may want to join a network of parents interested in exchanging ideas on various
vegetarian/vegan topics including: finding a vegan summer camp, vegan dining
options at Disney World, what can I pack in my child’s lunchbox, how have
you and your child dealt with the dissection issue in school, can you recommend
a veggie-friendly pediatrician or dietitian, is there a veggie children’s
group in my area, etc.
For more information on this online Yahoo Group see:
[ https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/vrgparents/info ]
- See more at: [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/#sthash.5FYvbZEF.dpuf ]
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14) AMAZON SMILE: PURCHASE THROUGH AMAZON AND MAKE A DONATION TO VRG
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases
to Vegetarian Resource Group whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same
service.
Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at
[ http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1279034 ]
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15) DONATE YOUR CAR TO A GOOD CAUSE
A free, convenient service for converting that extra car, truck, or RV into
a tax deductible donation benefiting The Vegetarian Resource Group. You can
donate online or call 877-999-8322 to make your donation.
Start now by clicking on "Donate Now" below. If you are not ready to donate,
find out about donating your vehicle by browsing all the valuable information
and links on our site at:
[ http://www.v-dac.com/org/?id=52127903. ]
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16) BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR FOR VRG
The Vegetarian Resource Group greatly appreciates the support given by our
monthly donors. You can join our monthly giving group with a minimum gift
of just $10 a month by going to www.vrg.org/donate. You will be part of a
network of givers who support our outreach efforts on an ongoing basis. These
donations allow us to continue vegan education in a wide variety of venues
including schools, doctor and dietitian offices, libraries, various professional
conferences, animal rights events, health fairs, environmental festivals,
and much more. Thank you for your support!
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18) ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP
Our health professionals, activists, and educators work with businesses and
individuals to bring about healthful changes in your school, workplace, and
community. Registered dietitians and physicians aid in the development of
nutrition-related publications and answer member and media questions about
vegetarian diets. The Vegetarian Resource Group is a non-profit organization.
Financial support comes primarily from memberships, donations, bequests, and
book sales. The Vegetarian Journal, a print magazine, is a benefit of membership
in The VRG. (For more information, please see the Vegetarian Journal online
at:
[ http://www.vrg.org/journal/ ]
).
To sign up for the The Vegetarian Resource Group national email newsletter,
please visit:
[ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/. ]
We are also on Facebook and Twitter!!
If you would like to make a donation, become a member, volunteer, or find
out more about The VRG, contact us at:
The Vegetarian Resource Group
P.O. Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
Phone: (410) 366-8343
Fax: (410) 366-8804
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: [ http://www.vrg.org/ ]
To donate:
[ http://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?Action=GC&CID=1565/ ]
Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2014 The contents of this newsletter,
and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, are not intended
to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from
a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient
information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about
a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can
be made. Please use your own best judgment about whether a product is suitable
for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.
If you were forwarded this message and would like to sign up for our monthly
local email newsletter, please see our website:
[ http://www.vrg.org/local/ ]
.
If you do not wish to receive the Local Email Newsletter, visit
[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-maryland_lists.vrg.org ]
Instructions for unsubscribing will appear at the bottom of the page.
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