OxVeg Committee Meeting 11 February 2010

Place: Panel Room, Oxford Town Hall

Agenda:

1. Update from last meeting:
2. Membership recruitment - Double-up-for OxVeg
3. Constitution
4. Donations to information charities (who provide information leaflets)
5. Next events
6. AOB
7. Next meeting

Attendees: Rachel Foster (RF), Paul Freestone (PF), Pam Hopcraft (PH), David Huish (DH) , Heather Shepherd (HS), Denise Watt (DW)

Apologies: Andy Shepherd (AS)

Denise Watt chaired the meeting.

1. Update from last meeting:

2. Membership Recruitment – Double up for OxVeg

HS raised suggestion put forward by Paul Appleby, to give members 1 year’s free membership for a friend upon renewal of their own membership. Current membership is 108. It was agreed to implement this. AS to put notice on all renewals sent out. HS will request mention in newsletter.

3. Constitution

HS has begun drafting a constitution, taken predominantly for pre-existing constitutions for other societies. Paragraphs 1-6 were reviewed, and HS will make amendments and email round the whole document to the committee for further discussion at next meeting. DH will draft wording for an expenses paragraph (HS will forward on Vegan Society Articles of Association to assist him).

4. Donations to Information Charities (who provide information leaflets)

HS raised concern that much fundraising was being done, but resources for stalls were given to OxVeg for free. HS suggested making donations back to these charities (e.g. Vegan society, Vegetarian Society, Animal Aid). HS advised that Vegan Society leaflets/brochures cost 2p/10p to produce respectively.

DH advised that the charities already had the leaflets paid for from their membership fees, and felt that any donation from us would be insubstantial, and more effective uses for our funds could be found locally.

PH felt that we give our time to promoting the causes of these charities, and didn’t believe money donations would be necessary in addition.

RF raised concern that we shouldn’t ‘hoard’ the funds. She suggested possibility of annual donations, e.g. £100.

PF advised that these charities have paid office workers, and giving our time is more important than our money. He also reminded us that we need to maintain a sufficient balance to ensure the future of OxVeg should income decline (e.g. with lower membership numbers).

It was suggested that we would like to spend the money in involving members in our activities (while appreciating that many are happy to donate money to OxVeg, but not time), and also on outreach work, discussing vegetarianism/veganism with the public (e.g. vegan fayres).

After much discussion, it was agreed that donating for leaflets was not necessary, but that we should discuss in future meetings ways of spending the funds, whilst ensuring sufficient reserves for future.

5. Next Events

• PF advised of film due out for release – Food Inc . Will let us know when released.
• RF is organising a free food stall on Cornmarket street on 19^th February
• Spring ‘garden’ party, with author, Jonathan Balcombe talking about his new book (27 or 28^th March). HS has requested in latest newsletters for members to contact her if they are interested in attending. Only two members have responded so far. PF advised that VERO could possibly bring 10 attendees. Suggested hiring All Saints Church Hall in Headington, £12/hour. Coventry Garden Café can cater for £5/6 per head, plus travel expenses (approx £40?). If sufficient interest shown over next week from members, HS will organise.
• National Vegetarian Week is 24^th-30^th May. Committee will discuss this next meeting, all to think of ideas.
• HS will ask Vegetarian Society to post recruitment leaflets to DH for stall, as they are having a recruitment drive.
• International Women’s Festival – 13^th March (see above for discussion)
• Further ideas/dates:
• • Meet-free Monday – this is being pushed forward by the student group, campaigning for colleges to be meet free on Mondays. So far, only one college has accepted. HS will speak with Sue Tibbles about discussing Meet-free Mondays with the council.
  • Mother’s Day is 14^th March.
  • Earth Day 20^th March
  • Earth Hour, 8.30pm on 27th March
  • World Water Day 22^nd March
  • 24^th April is the march for laboratory animals (17^th-24^th is World Week for Laboratory Animals)
  • Vegan Society is taking up the theme of Food Security for the year.
  • World Environment Day – 5^th June
  • World Ocean Day – 8^th June

HS advised we need to try to plan events three month’s in advance to get published in, eg Vegetarian magazine.

6. AOB

PF to send photos for uploading to website. HS requested articles written to go with them, as she felt PF was better at doing this than her!

RF would like the next newsletter to mention a thank you to Redwoods for donations from the stalls. HS to ask Paul Appleby to include.

HS advised that due to family commitments, she and AS will be moving to Manchester in August. They will step down as Secretary and membership secretary in June at the latest, though happy to help out on stalls until move. Posts to be advertised in next newsletter

7. Next meeting

HS will arrange for 18^th March and confirm by email.