1988-1992 - regional progress amid global stagnation

The periods below run from the Congress, usually in the middle of the first year, to the Congress in the last year, hence four years.

1984-1988 - the global rot sets in as the regions begin.

The arguments began at the 1984 WVC, initially between the President and General Secretary, but spreading.
1986 congress almost cancelled, it went ahead but low attendance.
First European Congress in Italy 1985 leading to EVU. VUNA founded 1987 in Toronto.

1988-1992 - regional progress amid global stagnation

1988 WVC cancelled completely. General Secretary and President not on speaking terms.
1990 Congress very small with many disputes. New president elected, but the disputes became worse.
EVU and VUNA regional congresses continued in the years between WVCs, 1989/91, and with more success than the WVCs.

1992-1996 - near terminal decline of IVU

1993 WVC in India, very small, affected by riots in Mumbai, but also poorly publicised and reported.
New IVU Constitution adopted amidst objections, not well written.
1994 WVC degenerated into worse arguments with several societies cancelling their memberships
EVU website started in April 1995
1995 Euro Congress in Slovakia elected a new EVU General Secretary, bringing even more clashes with IVU.
1995 Vegan Festival in San Diego saw the last major activity by VUNA
- but also the first use of the internet around a major event. Email discussion groups and a temporary website were used.
IVU website started December 1995, attracted 1,000 page views in the first month.

1996-2000 - from near extinction to a new beginning

WVC at Johnstown PA, USA - rescued at short notice by NAVS, after Sydney cancelled, and went well, but it in reality was more Summerfest than WVC. Views have been expressed that if it had not been rescued then it could have been the end of IVU.
The first IVU Congress to have any kind of internet presence. There was temporary website, discussion on email groups before, during and after the congress, and a cybercafe at Congress. The IVU website had just started at the end of 1995 and expanded from just a few pages to something more significant as a result of this congress.
Maxwell Lee retired after 17 years as General Secretary, replaced by Francisco Martin
Surendra Mehta retired after 6 years as President, replaced by Howard Lyman with Maxwell as deputy.
ivu.org domain registered and the website moved - by this time attracting around 15,000 page views per month
ivu-c email group for IC started, but no voting allowed.
EVU declared independence from IVU at the 1997 European Congress in Bussolengo, amidst much animosity.
VUNA hosted its last event in DC in 1997.
IVU Online News, monthly email newsletter started December 1998. Congress email discussion group started in 1998.
1999 WVC at Chiang Mai Thailand, moved from Bangkok, almost cancelled, many arguments.
The responsibilities of the General Secretary were shared out amongst the new IC members.
It was agreed to allow email voting on ivu-c, and agreed to re-write the Constitution via an email group.
ivu.org now attractting almost 100,000 page views per month
Maxwell Lee elected the last President.
Asian Vegetarian Union founded but remained inactive.
EVU Congress in Switzerland, 1999, turned out to be the last regular Euro Congress, though not planned that way.
October 1999, the new IVU Constitution was agreed by an email ballot of all member societies.
Maxwell lee became first Chair of IC. Roles of General Secretary and Regional Secretaries abolished, replaced by Regional Coordinators with other work shared among IC members.
January 2000, the IVU webmaster became only the 2nd person in IVU's history to be paid a regular fee.

2000-2004 - a bit of peace and stability

2000 WVC at Toronto, 2002 WVC at Edinburgh - well organised events gave IVU a period of stability after many years of turmoil.
Kevin Pickard Chair of IC, then Tina Fox from 2002.
Communication with members agreed to be by email only
by the end of 2000 ivu.org getting 750,000 page views per month, by 2002 over 1 million
EVU 2001 Congress in Turkey cancelled, no more regular congresses planned (see 2005 for the next one).
AVU 2001 congress in Goa was almost entirely an Indian gathering, there were no more for the next five years.
The online database of IVU members and supporters started in 2002.
Regular grants program attempted for a while, but unsuccessfully.
Some Regional Coordinators became more established under the new constitution, others continued as if they were still just the old style regional secretaries.
IVU News published in print until 2002, with much expense and limited success. Promised issues after that never materialised.

2004-2008 - progress in the developing countries

2004 WVC in Brazil, first time in Latin America, UVLA founded and many LA groups joined IVU.
Decisions on subscriptions rates transferred from the GM to IC, subject to consultation with the members.
Decisions on WVC venues transferred from the GM to IC, subject to ratification by the members.
'Primary Purpose' of Member Societies added to the Articles. Associate Member category created for those with a primary purpose other than promoting veg*ism.
ivu-africa group started, as a copy of what had happened in Latin America, email groups and websites for all regions followed over the next two years.
EVU held a 20th anniversary Congress in 2005, then started 'EVU Talks' from 2006.
2nd AVU Congress in Bangkok saw the beginning of a more active phase for AVU.
IVU Manager role created.
google adverts started on the website, almost doubling IVU's income.
One issue of the proposed 'IVU Annual Report' was produced. Wrongly titled 'IVU News'. Less expensive than before but not high quality and ineffective.
2006 WVC in Goa, leading to major re-organisation in Asia.
ivu-life email group started for ongoing discussions between member societies, effectively an ongoing GM but without voting.
George Jacobs became editor of IVU Online News and brought in a big improvement.
Regional Coordinators now taking on much more proactive roles in their own regions.
Subscriptions reduced to flat-rate for all, with 25% in developing countries and zero in very poor countries. New local bank account in India.
2007 - 11th IVF in India; 3rd AVU Congress in Taiwan
December 2007 - 1st West African Congress, funded by IVU with donations from an email appeal

2008-2012 - ??

2008 WVC in Dresden.
First IC elections to use email voting.
George Jacobs Chair of IC
New agreement with EVU
ivu-cn and ivu-action-alerts groups started
Decisions on the Bylaws transferred from the GM to IC following email ballot of all member societies.
Resources section of the website created.
Asian regions renamed as 'Asia Pacific' and 'India, South & West Asia' - email groups and websites for India SW Asia merged.
First batch of Bylaws voted by IVU. Update more outdated Bylaws.
New one year agreement with VUNA, review in September 2009
Increase subs for Business Supporters and improve promotion of advertising on the website.
Review election procedures with possible proposal to transfer some items from the Bylaws to the Articles.
Develop the resources section of the website, initially with PDF leaflets about IVU.
Add more recipes to the website, in all languages, to increase hits and bring in more money from the google ads.
Discuss UN NGO status
Discuss election of Honorary President
Discuss budget for the 2009/10 financial year, with longer term financial planning where possible.
2009 - EVU Talks in Croatia;
- 12th IVF in Rio;
- 4th AVU Congress in Indonesia - AVU to consider whether to become more formally constituted, followed by discussions about the relationship with IVU.
- possible Health Expo in Mexico
2010 WVC in Indonesia
2011 - 13th IVF...?