News

CAA's Justin Leaf Appears on Vegan.com Podcast

Gil — 2008-05-13T19:12:38Z

Long-time CAA volunteer Justin Leaf was recently interviewed on Erik Marcus's Vegan.com podcast.

Justin and Erik talk about the upcoming TLOV conference as well as Compassionate Action for Animals' accomplishments in making the Twin Cities a veggie hotspot.

Listen to the interview here.

Update on “From Farm to Fork” and YouTube Videos!

Gil — 2008-04-24T18:09:31Z

Earlier this month, Gowri Koneswaran gave a compelling multi-media presentation on the environmental impacts of animal agriculture to a full auditorium of 180 attendees. If you missed the event, you now have a chance to view the presentation on YouTube!

Disclaimer: Some of the clips are of low-quality.

Find the links for the YouTube clips here:

CAA Wins an Award!

Gil — 2008-04-24T15:55:52Z

CAA's chapter at the University of Minnesota recently won an award at the Tony Diggs Excellence Awards Ceremony last week, which recognized outstanding student group achievements.

CAA received the award in the category of “Outstanding Program/Event” for our Veg Week 2007, a category reserved for the student group that has best demonstrated their efforts in planning and executing a program and/or event. In light of the over 702 registered student organizations, this is quite a feat!

Without all the wonderful support from our volunteers and donors, this would not have happened. Thank you!

Consider making a financial contribution today to support our efforts!

Learn more about the Tony Diggs Excellence Awards.

Update on CAA's 10 Year Anniversary Banquet

Gil — 2008-04-07T21:42:26Z

Compassionate Action for Animals held its fourth annual banquet on April 4, and it was a tremendous success!

Ninety attendees participated in a silent auction, enjoyed an excellent meal donated by restaurants, groceries, and individuals, and celebrated ten years of CAA's advocacy for animals. If you were unable to attend the banquet but would like to support our work, please make a donation (link to http://exploreveg.org/donate) !

The banquet's success depended on generous donations and discounts of food and auction items from dozens of restaurants and individual donors.

Food from the following restaurants

Common Roots http://www.commonrootscafe.com/
E Noodle Cafe http://www.vegguide.org/entry/3057
Espresso Royale http://www.espressoroyale.com/
Evergreen Chinese Restaurant http://www.evergreen-chinese.com/
J’s Restaurant in Burnsville
Hong Kong Noodles http://mnhongkongnoodle.com/
Muddy Paws Cheesecake http://www.muddypawscheesecake.com/
New French Bakery http://www.newfrenchbakery.com/
Pizza Luce http://pizzaluce.com
Singapore Restaurant http://www.vegguide.org/entry/102
Seward Cafe http://www.vegguide.org/entry/33

The following individuals and businesses also provided us with discounts or gift certificates:

Laurel Street Flowers http://www.laurelstreetflowers.com/
Black Duck Imports http://blackduckimports.com/
Espresso Royale
Kowalski’s on Grand http://www.kowalskis.com/kowalskis.cfm?PageID=1020
Mississippi Market http://www.msmarket.coop/
Savithry Nambudiripad
Joan Rolsky
Seward Co-op http://seward.coop/
John Thompson
Zipp's Liquors http://www.zippsliquors.com/

Please patronize them to show your support!

The silent auction donors:

Midori's Floating World Cafe http://www.floatingworldcafe.com/
Keith and Shelly Kemnitz
Hampden Park Co-op http://www.hampdenparkcoop.com/
Marly Cornell
Paul Busch
Pizza Luce http://pizzaluce.com
Posh
Jody Patton
Tribe of Heart http://www.tribeofheart.org/
Nicholas Johnson
Cosmos Vegan Shoppe http://www.cosmosveganshoppe.com/
Coffee News Cafe
Amanda Richardson
Arise Bookstore http://www.arisebookstore.org/
David Schmit
Fast and Furless http://www.fastandfurless.com/
Gabriele Kushi http://www.kushiskitchen.com/
Heidi Prenevost http://mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=135509
Justin Leaf
Karl Noyes http://www.paperonpaper.org/
Moo Shoes http://www.mooshoes.com/
Natural Salt Lamps http://www.natural-salt-lamps.com/
Pangea http://www.veganstore.com/
Pete Hoseth http://mnartists.org/artistHome.do?action=info&rid=124494
Quince Boutique http://www.quincegifts.com/
Shannon Kimball
Zenon Dance Company http://www.zenondance.org/
Origins

And thanks to the more than 30 volunteers who made this event a great success!

Volunteer of the Month: Mindy Gudmundson

Gil — 2008-04-02T17:53:11Z

Hailing from a small-town farm in North Dakota, Mindy Gudmundson made her way to the Twin Cities for college, most recently completing her MBA from the Carlson School of Management.

While studying at the nearby Hard Times Cafe, Mindy stumbled upon some literature distributed by CAA and knew she just had to "get involved somehow."

Through that involvement, Mindy has become a central volunteer in CAA's accounting and financial matters. On an almost weekly basis, Mindy comes to the CAA office to process donations and receipts to keep us in good standing. She has played an active role on our fundraising committee, and most recently has been a lead organizer for our 10 Year Anniversary Banquet, which is coming up this Friday.

Mindy’s volunteering is driven by her strong conviction. She says, "Although animals deserve representation, they can't really advocate for themselves. If I can be part of that representation, it makes me feel like I'm making a difference - however small or large that might be." But fun is certainly part of the equation as well. "I like the community the group builds and the support it offers, and how open and welcoming everyone has been,"Mindy tells us.

Feel inspired? Fill out a volunteer application today!

Special Registration Rates for “Their Lives, Our Voices”!

Gil — 2008-04-02T15:29:02Z

Join hundreds of others this summer at the Midwest's premiere animal advocacy conference, "Their Lives, Our Voices."

This conference is being hosted by Compassionate Action for Animals and will take place in Minneapolis at the Hubert H. Humphrey Conference Center from Friday June 6 through Sunday, June 8.

“Their Lives, Our Voices” focuses on animal advocacy efforts targeted at farmed animals and on practical ways to help animals in your community. We want as much attendee participation and networking as possible, so we're hoping you can come and make this a great event.

Register by April 18th, and get a special half-price registration deal! Register for only $50, or, if you’re a student, $20!

NEW SPEAKER: We just confirmed our fourth keynote speaker, Carol J. Adams! Adams is the author of the pioneering The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory and the more recent Living Among Meat Eaters: The Vegetarian Survival Guide

PLUS: Unique to this conference is our "Call for Speakers," which allows YOU

to share your expertise by presenting on a topic related to animal rights and activism. If your presentation(s) are selected, you will receive free entry. Learn more here: http://www.tlov.org/tlov2008/cfs.html

Visit our website now to learn more about the event and register at this special price! http://www.tlov.org

Wisconsin Leafleting Tour Wrap-Up

Gil — 2008-03-21T00:50:21Z

By Fred Tyler From Monday through Friday, March 10-14, I leafleted across Wisconsin on a tour sponsored by CAA. I passed out a combination of 'Even If You Like Meat' and 'Why Vegetarian' pamphlets that were generously supplied by Vegan Outreach.

With stops at UW Stout, UW Eau Claire, UW Oshkosh, UW Green Bay, and UW Steven's Point, I passed out a total of 3,390 fliers. In Eau Claire, I had my biggest day of leafleting ever, and reached 1100 interested students. In Green Bay, the students were very receptive, and I was able to talk with several who were already vegetarian or vegan.

Leafletting has the potential to reach hundreds of young people in just an hour or two, and the encouraging comments I received during the tour are testimony to its power. One student remarked, "I got one from you earlier. I read it, and I'm intrigued," while another stated, "I got one last semester and I support you." Even a poultry farmer told me I was ”doing a good thing by being out [there]."

I am always even more inspired to leaflet when I receive positive responses or hear that people have changed their eating habits due to information we distributed.
You can help us leaflet locally at some of the upcoming concerts listed on our online calendar. Just e-mail us at info@ExploreVeg.org.

Fall 2007/Winter 2008 Print Newsletter Now Online!

Gil — 2008-03-06T18:08:54Z

Take a look at some of CAA’s recent accomplishments as detailed in the online edition of our Fall 2007/Winter 2008 Highlights Newsletter.

In this newsletter you'll find exciting information about popular events and recent campaigns, and get a glimpse of how your donations and our volunteers have helped make a difference in the lives of thousands of animals. There's even an exclusive interview with Jim Mason, author and long-time animal activist!

Thanks to all of our hard-working volunteers and generous supporters , CAA has been able to make this past season a strong one for positive social change and animal awareness!

Read the full newsletter.

Volunteer of the Month: Alok Sharma

Gil — 2008-03-06T17:13:48Z

Alok Sharma, a life-long vegetarian, ventured to the United States in 2000 to pursue higher studies. After graduating, Alok’s job as a professional web designer and technical recruiter brought him to Minnesota, where he learned about CAA. Nearly two years later, Alok has remained a dedicated volunteer, seeking to promote awareness on animal issues.

Over the years, Alok has helped with a range of activities, primarily in the realm of graphic design. He designs CAA’s print newsletters––including the most recent one––and has also created numerous outreach flyers and event programs.

For Alok, his work with CAA is a labor of love and a cause dear to his heart. He says, “For me, every individual counts and every individual makes a difference in life...Everyone—whether human or non-human––should be treated equally, which is why animal activism is important. Any effort of mine that can create a difference for animals gives me great pleasure and joy, especially if I am helpful in eliminating any amount of animal suffering."

Feel inspired? Fill out a volunteer application today!

Wisconsin Leafleting Tour: Housing Needed

Gil — 2008-03-06T18:19:16Z

We are pleased to announce that throughout March, several CAA activists will be leafleting at various Wisconsin colleges!

These dedicated activists, who will be doing this tour on a voluntary basis, will need housing for 1-2 nights in (or around) the following cities:

Appleton
Green Bay
Madison
Milwaukee
Oshkosh

Our activists will be leafleting with "Even If You Like Meat" booklets which detail the plight of today's farmed animals while promoting vegetarian eating and empowering students to act.

If you—or someone you know at one of the locations—can help ensure the success of the tour by providing housing, please email us at info@exploreveg.org.

Or, if you want to help out in another way, consider making a special donation to help cover the minimal costs associated with the tour.

Fundraising Coordinator Hired!

Gil — 2008-02-20T16:38:50Z

Compassionate Action for Animals has always been fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers who generously donate their time and talent to our important work. In an effort to maintain this growth and increase our outreach on behalf of animals, CAA has hired long-time activist and co-founder of CAA, Unny Nambudiripad. He brings to the table years of experience in the nonprofit sector and over a decade of dedication to animal advocacy.

As fundraising coordinator, Unny will be responsible for ensuring our financial stability, developing our donor base, leveraging volunteer leadership in fundraising, and providing a long-term vision for our work. Through these efforts, Unny will maximize our funding and keep CAA a powerful force for fighting factory farming and creating respect and justice for animals.
Looking forward to his new role, Unny says, “I want to see the organization become more powerful and carry out our campaigns effectively—ultimately growing so we can help give animals the voice they deserve.”

Consider kick-starting Unny’s's fundraising efforts by making a special contribution today.

Volunteer of the Month: Suzanne Sorenson

Gil — 2008-02-07T17:49:01Z

Suzanne Sorenson became passionate about animal activism after an eye-opening scuba-diving experience. Witnessing the great multitude of sea life awakened her sense of interest in protecting creatures from the whims of humans.

Although Suzy works full-time as a registered dietician and diabetes educator, she spends much of her spare time advocating for animals.

Suzy has been involved with CAA for almost two years, lending a hand in various areas. This past summer, Suzy took the initiative to resurrect CAA's Book Club, which gathers regularly to discuss animal and veg issues in literature. She is also involved in planning for our annual banquet this April and our Midwest animal advocacy conference in June. Last November, Suzy joined CAA's board of directors and now assists with personnel.

Suzy's efforts are guided by her strong convictions: “I think that animals used for food are probably the most oppressed and abused in the world. With no voice of their own, they can't speak for themselves, making it vital for us to take action,” she says.

But volunteering with CAA has also opened up other doors for Suzy. “Working with the group has broadened my understanding of compassionate living, providing a good opportunity to learn from others and meet new mentors.”

Feel inspired? Fill out our online volunteer application today to get started!

Campaign Victory: The Bad Waitress Switches to Cage-Free Eggs

Gil — 2008-01-17T17:56:11Z

After working with Compassionate Action for Animals, the popular restaurant The Bad Waitress has officially made a switch to using exclusively cage-free eggs this past December.

The retro-themed restaurant wedged between Uptown and Downtown Minneapolis also runs the nearby, hip Spy House Coffee Shop. The Bad Waitress has implemented an exclusive organic, cage-free policy for all its eggs (including those used in baked goods at the Spy House Coffee Shop), which accounts for approximately 163,800 eggs per year.

"The Bad Waitress' decision to end our use of eggs from caged hens is in line with our commitment to stay on top of important social responsibility issues," said David Wiedmeyer, kitchen manager. "Our new cage-free egg policy is better for our customers and better for hens."

While cage-free hens do not live cruelty-free lives, may not be able to go outside, and are guaranteed to end up in the slaughter line; they are able to walk, spread their wings, stand on solid ground, and lay their eggs in nests—all instinctive behaviors permanently denied to hens confined in battery cages.

Learn more about our No Battery Eggs campaign and send us an e-mail at info@ExploreVeg.org to get involved!

CAA Makes University of Minnesota Most Leafleted College in the U.S.!

Gil — 2007-12-12T16:51:39Z

In fall 2003, Vegan Outreach, the makers of the "Why Vegan?" and "Even If You Like Meat..." pamphlets, started the nationwide Adopt-A-College (AAC) program to encourage activists to regularly leaflet at their local colleges.

Although CAA has been leafleting at the University of Minnesota and other colleges for many years, we have now topped the list with the U of M as the most leafleted school in the United States since the inception of AAC! Recently compiled statistics from Vegan Outreach show over 39,070 leaflets being distributed by at least 24 activists on 126 occasions! The U of M is the fourth largest university in the U.S., with an average enrollment of 50,000 students.

We’re very proud to have reached so many new individuals with powerful information on the animals' plight and positive alternatives.

Volunteer of the Month: Casey Nielson

Gil — 2007-12-05T22:08:02Z

Coming to Minneapolis from a small town in southern Minnesota was a big change for Casey Nielson in many regards.

She first went vegetarian after watching the infamous “Meet Your Meat” video about four years ago, but she didn't find much support in her community. Upon starting college at the University of Minnesota, however, Casey was thrilled to learn about Compassionate Action for Animals at the Fall New Volunteer Meeting.

Casey's involvement with CAA has progressed from helping to staff our recent Vegan Food Showcase and various Veg Week events, to a regular office assistant position. She now comes to the office weekly to work on various research projects, prepare the agenda for CAA planning meetings, fill online orders for Vegetarian Starter Kits, and make changes to the website.

Her dedication to advocating on behalf of animals is inspired by her passion for them. “I love animals and realize that it isn't right to eat them. And why should we? They're not ours to use and exploit,” she says. CAA has been a good vehicle for Casey's advocacy efforts “I like being able to meet like-minded people and feel like I'm making a difference.”

Get involved with CAA and become a volunteer today—just fill out our online application.