Minutes of the OxVeg Committee Meeting, Thursday 6^th August 2009, 7pm

Venue: Panel Room, Oxford Town Hall

Present: Paul Appleby (PA), Paul Freestone (PF).

Apologies: Heather Shepherd (HS), David Huish (DH), Sue Tibbles (ST), Pam Hopcraft (PH), Rachel Foster (RF).

Observer: Susan King (SK).

1.     Reports and update from previous meeting:

• HS: Wrote and distributed minutes of the June committee meeting.
• PA: Chaired the meeting.�  Edited and distributed the August edition of OxVeg News, and a new edition of the newsletter for our ‘offline’ members (now posted).�  Purchased 4 discounted copies of Complete Vegetarian at £4 each for resale (approved by PH).�  These comprehensive (500 pages) and attractive recipe books (colour photographs throughout) are ideal for new vegetarians and can reasonably be priced at £8-£10 each.�  They can also be presented to schools requesting talks.�  PF took the books home for storage until required.
• DH: Has sent £80 donation towards the cost to staging the Vegan Food Fayre, as agreed following the previous meeting.
• PF: To publicise the Vegan Food Fayre PF has given an interview on Heart FM (formerly Fox FM) and a photoshoot for the Oxford Mail.�  He will be interviewed on BBC Radio Oxford on Sunday 9 August (from 1.15pm) and on Monday 10 August (from 11.15am) with RF.
• PH: Reported that only 2 copies of the Members Questionnaire have been returned thus far.�  Printed copies have now been posted to our ‘offline’ members.
• RF: Busy preparing for the Vegan Food Fayre, which has already attracted considerable media interest (see below).
• ST: Has made various suggestions by email and is willing to run the OxVeg stall at the Vegan Food Fayre.

2.     Expenses

The decision to pay PF’s expenses for attending the premiere of The End of the Line at the Phoenix Cinema in June had been queried, some committee members feeling that they should be able to claim travel expenses attending meetings etc.�  PA suggested that committee members are entitled to claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, but should be mindful of the financial position of OxVeg.�  In particular, projected expenses above a ‘threshold’ level (to be set by the treasurer and approved by the committee) must be referred to the treasurer.�  DH to draw up a proposal for the next meeting.

3.     Forthcoming Events

Oxford Vegan Fayre – Saturday 15^th August, 12 noon to 4pm, Wesley Memorial Hall

RF has been busy preparing for the Fayre, including preparing a flier featuring the OxVeg logo.�  OxVeg have donated £80 towards the cost of running the Fayre, at which PF is giving a talk on the history of vegetarianism and cookery and juicing demonstrations.�  ST has offered to run the OxVeg stall.�  DH or PH to deliver the OxVeg stall.�  Helpers please contact RF to coordinate activities.

Stall at Elder Stubbs Festival – Saturday 22^nd August, 12 noon to 5pm, Rymers Lane, Cowley

Helpers please contact PH to coordinate activities.

Dining Out Club meal at The Star Inn, Stanton St John – Friday 18^th September, 7.30pm

Should the committee have more say in running the DOC, which seems to revisit the same eating places each year?�  PA suggested that the DOC could pay a ‘thank you’ visit Tiffins Tandoori restaurant in Kidlington, which has again been very generous in its support for the Vegan Food Fayre.

AGM – Thursday 15^th October, 7.30pm, Panel Room, Oxford Town Hall

This will be the next OxVeg committee meeting unless a meeting is held in September.� PA suggested that members attending the meeting should be able to vote against as well as for election candidates to prevent persons voting themselves onto the committee.

4.     AOB

Meatless Mondays

PA suggested that OxVeg could promote theMeatless Mondays campaign being run by Animal Aid in the UK (with support from Sir Paul MacCartney), targeting Oxford City Council in particular (can ST provide contact details for Green Party councillors?).�  PF reported that VERO student supporter Ellie Hale is hoping to found an Oxford University vegetarian society and hopes to promote Meatless Mondays in the colleges.�  To be discussed at next meeting.

Celebration Buffet

PA suggested holding a celebration buffet aimed at our elderly and long-standing members who are unable or unwilling to attend DOC meals.� Coventry-based Green Garden Café can provide a vegan buffet at £5 or £6 per head and are willing to travel to Oxford (but would charge 40 p/mile for delivery – about £20 one-way).� To be discussed at next meeting.

Talk at VERO meeting

PF will give his new talk on the history of vegetarianism at the first VERO meeting of the autumn term in early October.�  PF to circulate details when available.� 

5.     Next Meeting

It was decided that there will be no committee meeting in September unless a majority of committee members (i.e. at least 4) contact PA to request a meeting, in which case PA will book a room at Oxford Town Hall.� Please indicate your wishes, and list any Thursdays when you are unavailable.