Members' Corner
from IVU News 2001

Doesn't seem that long since I wrote the last one yet it was over 6 months ago! I have not been inundated with information about what you are all doing so this will be a short report! Now that I have completed merging the USA records with the rest of the database, IVU now has around 300 fully paid up members and it is interesting that the business supporter group seems to be the fastest growing. In the period, we have had 42 new members broken down into 20 individuals, 5 new group members and 17 business or voluntary society supporters. I would like to give a particular welcome to the Asian Vegetarian Union and the European Vegetarian Union, both busy organizing congresses this year, and to the Vegetarian Movement of Bulgaria, the South East Scotland Veggies and the V'egan Society UK.

Since the last issue, the Mongolian Milk Dish Users Society seems to have disappeared so if anyone has an update on their whereabouts please let me know. Please also let me know if you move address or change e-mail contact as it makes it very difficult if our database is incorrect. This latter item is of particular importance, because as from July all voting of groups will be done via e-mail. Please ensure that you let me have an up-to-date contact address orwe won't be able to include you in the process.

We are now able to give an initial year of free membership to new and struggling groups, however, I am amazed at how many groups don't bother to fill in the necessary form to get their free membership! Indeed some interview me on the benefits of joining before they bother themselves even though it is a free no strings offer! And I thought we were in it together? Seriously though if you know of a new group who would benefit from a free subscription, pass their details onto me or my details to them,

I gather a lot of people had problems with the previous magazine October, which was sent out via India I do have some spare copies now so if you didn't receive it do let me know and I will send you a further copy.

I believe the twinning project between Vegetarian Society of UK and the Armenian Vegetarian Society is working well with material and news flowing fairly freely both ways. I haven't had any other enquiries however, either to twin or to be twinned. Any other groups want to take up this idea?

If you want to contact me the best way is via e-mail at memsec@ivu.org or materials can be sent to me via the address in the magzine.

Finally, I hope to be meeting some of you in Turkey later this year at the EVU congress. Please do come and say hello!

Till next time,
All the best, Timia Fox

Bursaries for the World Vegetarian Congress
If you represent a vegetarian vegan society which is a member of I\'U. you could be eleigible for financial support to send a delegate to Edinburgh in July 2002.

This support has been made available by Sir Paul McCartney. Patron of The Vegetarian Society UK, and is available to society delegates only, not to individuals.

For full details see: http.//www.ivu.org/congress 2002/bursary.html