Upcoming Events & Announcements

Read this newsletter on our website.

Help CAA Find Office Space to Continue Helping Animals!

In educating Minnesotans about the cruelties of factory farming, Compassionate Action for Animals has been fortunate enough to have a home base office located on the University of Minnesota's campus. However, as a growing organization, CAA is seeking to expand, and would like to better accommodate our diverse volunteer base by finding a larger space where transportation and parking are easier. While we will retain our UofM office and are fully committed to that constituency, we are hoping to open another office in order to accommodate the growing needs of our volunteers and staff and further serve the greater Twin Cities community.

That's why we are asking YOU - our supporters - to consider donating open office space or helping to subsidize costs for such a space. Ideally, this new office space would be on or near bus lines, have accessible parking, and have meeting space.

As a nationally recognized organization that is growing in numbers and interest, it is our responsibility and our pleasure to spread the message of compassion. With better resources, we can advocate more effectively. If you know of any office spaces that CAA could use, or if you are interested in making a large donation to subsidize costs, please contact Ivan Martino directly at ivan@exploreveg.org.

We wish you a happy new year, and thank you for helping the animals!

-Compassionate Action for Animals

Become a Humane Educator and Attend Our Training Meeting!

Every year, CAA's humane education group, Bridges of Respect (Bridges) is invited into dozens of classrooms all across the Twin Cities to present on topics like animal ethics, vegetarianism, factory farming, and the environmental impacts of animal agriculture. As a volunteer educator, you'll get to present these issues to receptive middle school, high school, and college students through programs that Bridges has developed. Check out the full list of programs.

Training with Bridges is simple: you'll shadow in-class presentations, receive outlines and other materials, and attend a private practice session. If you are interested in bringing valuable messages to curious students, come to our introductory meeting on Wednesday, January 21.

We'll go over the basics of what we do and show you how to get started. If you can attend or if you would like to get involved with Bridges, please e-mail Shannon at shannon@bridgesofrespect.org.

What: Bridges of Respect Second Introductory Meeting
Time: Wednesday, January 21 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Shannon and Lisa Kimball's home, 9973 Austin St NE, Circle Pines, MN

Cooking Class: Tofu, Tempeh, and Tamari - Cooking with Soy Foods

Confused about all the different types of soy products listed in your vegan cookbooks or featured on grocery shelves? Our guest chef has a few tips to help you find joy in your soy!

Dunstan Pinlac, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate, has worked under various highly recognized chefs in the Twin Cities.

Take a look at our mouth-watering menu for this class:

• Sweet and Sour Tofu
• Fried Rice with Edamame Soy Beans
• Szechuan Pan-Fried Tofu
• Soy Pudding

This class is free (while similar classes can cost up to $50 or more!), but an RSVP to Lauren (gillm036@umn.edu) is required. You are encouraged to sign up soon, as space is limited to 25 attendees.

Time: Wednesday, January 21 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Van Cleve Recreation Center's Kitchen, 901 15th Ave S, Minneapolis

(Free street parking available.)

Article: City Health Chief's Food Fight Targets Meat

He encourages a vegetarian diet for January

By Deborah L. Shelton, as published in the Chicago Tribune
January 9, 2009

Chicago health commissioner Dr. Terry Mason has a message for Chicagoans who enjoy devouring meat in all its fat-dripping, artery-clogging glory: Don't do it.

As part of his campaign to slim down waists and lower blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol citywide, Mason is encouraging everyone to join him in going vegetarian for January.

"For the entire month, I'm not eating any meat," he has told listeners to his Sunday morning radio show, "Doctor in the House," on WVON-AM. "If it walks, runs, hops, flies, swims, crawls or slithers, I won't eat it. If it has eyes, I won't eat it. If it had a momma and a daddy, I won't eat it. . . . I'm going to focus on eating a healthy and delicious variety of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. . . . And I want you to do the same."

In a city famous for Italian beef, Polish sausage and deep dish pizza, his call for a meatless month may sound downright blasphemous. But Mason, a physician who has a medical practice in urology, appears undaunted, and for good reason.

Read the full article.