Thoughts from Present & Past VRG Volunteers
By Amy Burger
The Vegetarian Resource Group, initially known as Baltimore Vegetarians, sent out its first newsletter in October 1982, and hosted its first public event, a pre-Thanksgiving potluck, the following month. Since then, numerous volunteers and employees have helped the organization become what it is today. In honor of this milestone 40th anniversary, seven past volunteers and employees reminisced about their favorite VRG moments and memories.
Sue Babich began working with The VRG in the 1980s and says "I have enough wonderful memories to last a lifetime." She remembers a funny incident from the 1990s in which The VRG was an exhibitor at the annual meeting of the American Dietetic Association (now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). The VRG's booth, which attracted a crowd, was situated next to a pork industry booth, which didn't [have many visitors]. Sue says, "We later heard that the women at the pork booth complained to conference management about being placed next to the vegetarians. Whoever did that had a great sense of humor!"
Phil Becker, VRG member since 1985, remembers meeting VRG coordinators Charles and Debra at a festival in the mid-1980s. They invited him to volunteer with them at an event in Baltimore. Despite leaving early from his home in Philadelphia, Becker arrived late, walking in to see Debra, Charles, and other volunteers cleaning up the room. "They stopped and looked at me, asking "What happened?' Charles then said, "Well, better late than never!' and kindly invited me to join them at the post-event dinner for the volunteers who had worked so hard that day! I gladly obliged and explained over dinner what had happened."
Ruth Blackburn, RD, the organization's first volunteer Registered Dietitian, says, "my favorite memories are hanging out with Debra and Charles at American Dietetic Association meetings along with members of the Vegetarian Dietetic Practice Group, which was founded by several VRG volunteers."
Keryl Cryer, former Senior Editor of Vegetarian Journal (now Vegan Journal), who today serves as one of its editors, remembers VRG's Pre-Thanksgiving Potluck in 2009: "My cousin and his family came up from Alabama to spend Thanksgiving week with me. My cousin, who refused to eat vegetables, was not keen on going to the vegan event" His wife promised that, if he went to the event, we'd pick up a hamburger for him on the way home. Halfway through the potluck, my cousin's wife stood up to get seconds, and he asked her to bring him some more of that chili over there. We both looked at him in disbelief. He said, "Well, good food is good food!' "
Longtime member Barbara Lovitts says her favorite VRG memories include "Friday night vegan basketball games and going out for vegan eggplant subs afterwards" It was just one big happy family, quirky members and all. Everyone was accepted and supported. We got together frequently for potlucks at people's homes and at restaurants, and everyone pitched in to staff booths at fairs and meetings."
Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, is a nutrition adviser for The Vegetarian Resource Group, and nutrition editor for Vegan Journal. She says one of her favorite VRG memories involves its office. When the organization first started, it was run out of its founders' home, which Mangels describes as "warm and welcoming," though she adds, "I imagine it was challenging to share your house with staff and volunteers." When The VRG moved into a new space, Mangels says, "It was exciting to see an office with workstations, a storage area, and a library. I felt like we had grown as an organization."
Whitney McVerry, former intern, says, "My favorite VRG memory is when I got to catalog all of the Vegetarian Journal issues. Being able to look back on years past of VRG work was a wonderful and educational experience."
We also asked each former volunteer or employee to share their favorite vegan food from when they first became vegetarian, and their current favorite food.
Sue Babich: I loved soymilk until, after years of drinking a lot of it, I developed an intolerance to soy! I was also hooked on anything made with seitan. I've since moved on to coconut milk, and am crazy about homemade kale chips, too.
Phil Becker: Favorite vegan foods initially: French fries, tofu hot dogs. Favorite vegan foods now: yakisoba with edamame and tofu, Beyond Beef veggie burgers made-up 'Whopper' style, and pasta with a meat analog (like veggie sausage or crumbles).
Ruth Blackburn: Favorite vegan food was and still is tempeh. I like that it originated in Indonesia, and is just cooked soybeans wrapped in banana leaves and set out to ferment. I like how versatile it is and even served it at my wedding in a shallot and white wine sauce!
Keryl Cryer: That was in 2001 when I was living in New York City. My favorite restaurant was Veg-City Diner, so it would have been something like the "Chicken" Parmigiana or the Open-Faced "Turkey" Sandwich. Now, it's the Rico from Carmo in New Orleans (my hometown), a grilled plantain patty topped with vegan pulled pork, avocado, melted vegan cheese, salsa fresca, and tangy "Rico" sauce.
Barbara Lovitts: Hard to say, but it has become sooooo much easier to be vegan. Back then, I had to schlep to downtown Baltimore to get powdered soymilk and mix it with water—and it was usually lumpy. We never thought we'd see soymilk, tofu, or other vegan items as standard fare in mainstream supermarkets.
Reed Mangels: When I first became vegetarian, in the late 1970s, I didn't know what a vegan food was. I ate a lot of peanut butter, so I guess a favorite vegan food was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I really like food, so choosing one favorite is almost impossible. One of my favorite vegan meals is a hearty soup with homemade sourdough bread and a kale salad. Dessert would be warm apple crisp with vanilla frozen dessert.
Whitney McVerry: My favorite vegan food that I discovered early on was seitan. Today, my favorite vegan food is a tough one but probably a Beyond Meat burger with vegan mayonnaise and cheese! The progress that's been made from when I went vegan 10 years ago up to now is amazing.
