FVA in Action - Qtr. 2, 2024
Dear FVA members, friends, and readers, again we share with you our FVA meetup events! We now have over 4686 signed up as ‘interested’ in our group & activities. As you can see, we continue to have a variety of opportunities for you to become involved. WHERE ARE YOU? Please join our Meetup, please sign up for events that interest you, then PLEASE attend the events and help the animals! (If for some reason you find that you are unable to attend, please be kind enough to change your RSVP. This will help us to better know what attendance to expect at our events and plan appropriately.)
FVA in Action - Qtr. 2, 2024
Dear FVA members, friends, and readers,
Again, we share with you our FVA meetup events! We have over 4693 signed up as ‘interested’ in our group and activities. As you can see, we continue to have a variety of opportunities for you to become involved. WHERE ARE YOU? Please join our Meetup group, sign up for events that interest you, then attend the events and help the animals! (If for some reason you are unable to attend, please be kind enough to change your RSVP. This will help us know what attendance to expect at our events and plan appropriately.)
FVA in the Community /Tablings:
4/4, 5/2, 6/6 - Vegan Support Groups held this past quarter. Our monthly meetings are Open Forums, held virtually via Zoom. You can join great discussions with some regular attendees and new ones each time. No pressure to chat, but we always like everyone to introduce themselves. Join our hosts: Kimberly Gronemeyer, Psy.D., Myriam Parham, RD, CDCES and Cathy Unruh, Journalist, Author and Animal Advocate.
4/5, 5/5 and 6/7 - Karaoke and Potluck Nights at Universalist Unitarian Church, a new monthly event organized by Trevor and Collette Chin. Those who attended enjoyed sharing yummy vegan foods, meeting new people, and had fun singing or listening to those brave ones who did.
4/20 – Earth Day Eco Fest at MOSI- FVA once again was well represented at our booth at this annual event. Thanks to Trevor Chin for coordinating it. Thanks to Collette Chin and Dani, who helped staff the booth.
5/21 – Cider Press Vegan Gastropub Social – Among other delicious vegan entrees, several of us enjoyed an amazingly generous and incredibly tasty eggplant parmesan dish with pasta. The leftovers were just as tasty the next day. Plan to join us at other social gatherings around Tampa Bay to feast on local vegan food, support our vegan establishment and get to know each other better. We will plan these several times throughout the year at different restaurants. We will also plan some potlucks at parks or other locations. Organized by Kim Gronemeyer. Attendees included: Cathy Unruh, Myriam Parham, Diane Koon, Suzanne House, Jack Norris, Jenn Underhill, Pam Bickett, Lawrence Levesque, Paul Murphy, Kimberly Follin, Truddie Reif and Joe, Laura Pennington, Ron Gray, and Jeanette.
5/25 – Al Lopez Park Quarterly Cleanup – We had 10 amazing helpers! Diane Koon, Laura Pennington, Ron Gray, Suzanne House, Lawrence Levesque, Laura Pennington, Myriam Parham, Brent and Dani Hall, Tom Bird, and Anne Marie Cansio. THANKS to all!!
Al Lopez Park Year-Round Feral Cats feeding, trapping for medical care and/or sterilizations- Coordinated by Tom Bird, volunteers take turns once a week making sure the cats are fed. Thanks to Tom, Suzanne House, Ron Gray, Laura Pennington, Amy Anderson, Gustavo Delavilla, and Kenny Echezabal for doing this 365 days a year. Total dedication!
6/15 – Laughing Pig Sanctuary (LPS) Volunteer workday. Eighteen wonderful and hard-working volunteers joined us at LPS to build a pen for two new rescued pigs, clean pig pens, rake up pig poop, pet and feed gentle senior pigs, one curious and delightful ewe named Pickles, and enjoy the outdoors at a wonderful pig sanctuary. All who attended were greatly appreciated. The owner and primary caregiver Annette was very grateful for all the help provided. We will plan another workday there in the fall. Please plan to join us. There is much to do to help at this incredible sanctuary. Thanks to Kim Gronemeyer for coordinating the details! Thanks to our volunteers: Jim Janolek, Barbara Acosta-Janolek, Annie Trognitz, Jack Norris, Trevor Chin, Myriam Parham, Laura Pennington, Ron Gray, Jen Underhill, Mikael Roldsgaard Nielsen , Annika, Dani Hall, Noel, John, Zoey, Rick, and Bre! After all our hard work most of the volunteers met at Vine Vegan in Brandon to enjoy some delicious vegan food and fellowship!
Media and Other Activities:
Melissa Zepeda and Myriam Parham were interviewed for an upcoming article for Creative Loafing on the proposed Amendment 2 which will be on the ballot this November. We are asking everyone to Say “No to 2” on the ballot. This amendment is very misleading. It says to vote for Fishing and Hunting rights, which people already have. The ramifications of this amendment becoming law is that just about any protection that fish and wildlife may now have to protect them could be jeopardized in the name of the “right” for the hunters or fishermen. To learn more about this amendment please go to Noto2.org. According to the website, Amendment 2 is a threat to wildlife, marine populations and private property rights.
Quote from World Animal Protection:
"This dangerous and misleading amendment will strip Florida citizens of their power to protect and conserve wild animals. It’s designed to trick voters into allowing some of the cruelest forms of hunting and prevent citizens, scientists, and agencies from protecting wildlife in the future. World Animal Protection says a resounding “no” to Amendment 2."
FVA sends donations to local shelters - Sanctuary Monthly Donations:
Apr. - $200 donated to the Friends of the Pelicans, need money for land and a rehab facility.
May - $200 donated to pay for medical bills for a Feral Cat from an FVA fed colony.
June – $200 donated again to help pay for one of the Feral Cat medical bills at an FVA fed colony.
PLEASE consider helping us with our feral cat colony medical bills fund. This also goes to help sterilize any cat that joins any of the colonies.
Please check our FVA meet-up calendar to join us at events like these and more so we can get to know each other. Finally, PLEASE support vegan restaurants in your area. Most need your support to survive these difficult times. If you can’t dine in, order take out!!! We hope to see you soon!
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