If you are interested in joining the 2024 Vegan Chili Cook-Off Planning Committee, contact Tamuno Imbu at tamuno@exploreveg.org.
The Vegan Chili Cook Off is back again in 2024
About the Cook-Off
In February 2024, we’ll host our 13th Annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off in Coffman Union! It’s an evening of delicious chili and friendly competition, showing how delicious vegan eating can be, raising awareness about the lives of farmed animals, and helping to build our community of support.
Contestants will enter their original chili recipes into a competition judged by the attendees. Winners will receive cash prizes and the coveted chicken trophy! We had about a hundred people attend in 2023 and we expect at least that many people to attend this year.
About the Planning Committee
We’re looking for about 8 people to help plan this event. The general expectations are that committee members will attend regular weekly 1 hour meetings and correspond over phone and email.
Benefits
Create a fun, welcoming event that inspires people to move toward a more compassionate lifestyle.
Work with food! Encourage cooks to present creative, tasty, and healthy vegan food for the public.
Gain skills and knowledge in advertising, event planning, and communications.
Collaborate with like-minded animal advocates.
Committee Positions
These are the general positions, but we are happy to modify these roles based on the skills and knowledge you bring.
Promotions Coordinator – Design advertising materials such as posters, flyers, website content, and press release; coordinate advertising distribution; engage audiences on social media; update our website.
Volunteer Coordinator – Create volunteer positions; determine the number of volunteers needed; recruit volunteers; coordinate volunteers on the day of the event.
Logistics Wrangler – Design the cook-off contestant procedure; determine and execute day-of procedures; plan for and keep track of supplies needed for event, including food donations.
Qualifications and Time Commitment
Basic computer skills (especially email and a willingness to learn to use CAA’s internal wiki)
Ability to manage a to-do list, set deadlines, and meet goals
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Available 3 to 5 hours per week in January and February (with additional hours in the two weeks leading up to the event)
Want to help bring new vegan dishes to restaurants and increase interest in vegan dining? We need YOU to make the next Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge a roaring success!
What is the challenge?
The Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge (TCVCC) brings new vegan foods to Twin Cities restaurant menus each year during the month of August. Diners visit the restaurants and rate the dishes, and chefs vie to become the champion. It’s a win-win!
Most importantly, animals are spared through the addition and promotion of vegan options, and more people learn about and enjoy delicious vegan food.
How can I get involved?
Join the committee! Committee members will meet together for one hour every week starting in mid-May. Most meetings are hybrid. The only requirements are reliability and teamwork, and the willingness to share a few hours of your time each week! Responsibilities include:
Restaurant outreach — All committee members pitch in for this role, recruiting restaurants to compete! Together, we email and mail challenge information to local restaurants, and follow up as needed. We also sometimes visit restaurants near us to deliver publicity materials.
After we’re done with restaurant outreach, we split up into different roles:
Restaurant follow-up volunteers — These volunteers make sure restaurants have submitted necessary materials (names of dishes, food photos, etc.), track what materials have been submitted, and organize the materials in Google Drive.
Influencer coordinator — reach out to social media channels and influencers about getting a free meal in exchange for posting about the challenge on social media. Then, connect the interested influencers via group chat with restaurants to schedule their visit. After their visit, share the link to the influencer’s post!
Ratings volunteer — Track and dedupe votes, and use Google Sheets to calculate results and determine the TCVCC Champion. They also help determine the awards for all participating restaurants.
Social media admins — These volunteers put posts on social media pages (Instagram, Facebook), and help plan social media strategy.
While most meetings are hybrid,a few meetings are in-person (like a meeting where we organize all our voting materials together). If you can only volunteer remotely, that’s totally ok!
Interested in learning more? Read on, and please contact Breanna Knutson, festival chair, at info@tcvegfest.com to get involved.
CAA is planning the next Twin Cities Veg Fest. Organizing this event takes place over nine months, starting in January. Committee responsibilities begin in March. Committee members are responsible for specific tasks related to the festival.
Twin Cities Veg Fest is a one-day event focused on vegan food and outreach. The goal is to attract at least 5,500 people during the course of the day. The event includes exhibitors, speakers, and entertainment.
General Requirements and Responsibilities
Everyone on the committee needs to have strong organizational skills with the ability to keep track of many tasks over several months. All committee and sub-committee members need to have basic computer skills and be comfortable using email and other online tools. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are also required.
Committee members are expected to attend three to four whole group committee meetings, document and report on the progress of their tasks, and respond to group communication on a regular basis. Subcommittee members will have the same responsibilities but will attend fewer meetings.
Typically, the time commitment ramps up over the course of the planning period. Initially, it will require two to three hours per week. Later, the time requirement may increase to four to six hours per week. The last few weeks before the festival may require as much as five to ten hours per week. This time commitment varies based on requirements of the specific role.
Know what needs to gets done when and what is most important to do at any time during the planning
Make sure the entire committee is on track for success
Create timelines and to-do lists for every step of the event, including planning, day-of, and post-event tasks
Assign tasks (with due dates) to committee members or other volunteers as appropriate
Check in with committee members on a regular basis to make sure that they have all the resources they need to complete their tasks
Create meeting agendas
Schedule meetings and send meeting reminders as needed
Facilitate meetings
The Committee Chair must be a detail-oriented, responsible person with excellent written and verbal communication skills. They need to be able to keep track of both short-term and long-term plans simultaneously, and they need to be willing to pitch in to help as needed.
The Committee Chair’s workload will be fairly consistent. Closer to the event, the work will ramp up, especially if unexpected things happen.
Assistants to the Chair (2 positions available)
These subcommittee members will take on tasks assigned to them by the chair. They will also coordinate supplies. Their duties will include the following:
Assist in the ordering of t-shirts, and checking the order
Arrange for printing, distribution, and collection of surveys
Assist the executive director in survey follow-up
editing forms to tabulate results
sharing of results,
adding to email list
contacting interested volunteers
Purchase raffle prizes for surveys
Distribute raffle prizes for survey
Take inventory of festival supplies stored at the CAA community space
Arrange for the purchase of supplies as needed
Work with the committee to make sure that all necessary supplies are brought to the festival and properly distributed
Assist the executive director in supply organization after the festival
Assist the chair in other duties as assigned
The Assistants should be a well-organized, detail-oriented people who are comfortable with spreadsheets. The assistants will need to attend general committee meetings.
Food Vendor Coordinator
The Food Vendor Coordinator must have excellent written and verbal communication skills with an understanding of commercial sales, including an idea of what target sponsors and exhibitors most value. They must be comfortable with phone and in-person outreach to potential exhibitors. They should also be capable of conduction comprehensive online research in order to successfully identify the greatest number of potential sponsors and exhibitors.
The Food Vendor Coordinator will do the following:
Recruit food vendors to sell on site vegan meals. We seek to provide a wide variety of cuisines, and to ensure representation from diverse communities.
Create exhibitor recruitment materials based on past templates
Coordinate outreach to potential exhibitors based on past templates using mass emails, personal emails, phone calls, and some in-person visits
Use an online system to ensure food vendors provide any materials needed, including text and logos for the event website and exhibitor fee (often requiring multiple interactions with each exhibitor)
Ensure that electricity needs for food vendors are met
Make sure that food exhibitors are aware of guidelines
Coordinate shipping exhibitor supplies from/to food exhibitors as needed
Thank food exhibitors after the event and ask them to provide feedback for us on their experience
Be the primary point of contact for all food exhibitors on the day of the event, and assist in leading the load-in and load out processes
Help develop special offerings such as a “fast pass” and samples in collaboration with the chairs and executive director
Exhibitor Recruitment Coordinator
The Exhibitor Recruitment Coordinator must have excellent written and verbal communication skills with an understanding of commercial sales, including an idea of what target sponsors and exhibitors most value. They must be comfortable with phone and in-person outreach to potential exhibitors. They should also be capable of conduction comprehensive online research in order to successfully identify the greatest number of potential sponsors and exhibitors.
The time commitment for this position will be more extensive in the first few months of planning for the festival.
Recruit exhibitors to sell or distribute pre-packaged food, clothing, art, information, or other goods. We seek to provide a wide variety of vegan and/or animal friendly exhibitors for attendees to browse, and to ensure representation from diverse communities.
Create exhibitor recruitment materials based on past templates
Coordinate outreach to potential exhibitors based on past templates using mass emails, personal emails, phone calls, and some in-person visits
Use an online system to ensure food vendors provide any materials needed, including text and logos for the event website and exhibitor fee (often requiring multiple interactions with each exhibitor)
Ensure that electricity needs for food vendors are met
Make sure that food exhibitors are aware of guidelines
Coordinate shipping exhibitor supplies from/to food exhibitors as needed
Thank food exhibitors after the event and ask them to provide feedback for us on their experience
Be the primary point of contact for all food exhibitors on the day of the event, and assist in leading the load-in and load out processes
Help develop special offerings such as a “fast pass” and samples in collaboration with the chairs and executive director
Media Outreach Coordinator
The Media Outreach Coordinator will do the following:
Collect contact information for local media and relevant blogs
Write and distribute press releases to all relevant media
Get the event listed in local calendars, both online and in print
Be the first point of contact for the media (though it’s fine to send requests for interviews to another committee member as appropriate)
The Media Outreach Coordinator must be a good writer who can develop interesting tactics for getting media attention. They must also be capable of online research to identify local media outlets and the contact info for them.
The Media Outreach Coordinator will be most busy a few months before the festival, since it’s not effective to do media outreach too far in advance of the event. However, research for this outreach should start at least six months before the festival date.
Advertising Coordinator
The Advertising Coordinator will do the following:
Work with a graphic designer to create advertising materials (alternatively, the Advertising Coordinator can do the design themselves if they have the skills to do so)
Research advertising opportunities in local media, blogs, Facebook, and Google (includes gathering requirements, costs, and deadlines for all these forms of advertising; may be shared with the logistics coordinator)
The Advertising Coordinator should be familiar with modern graphic design tools and formats to communicate clearly with a graphic designer, print shops, and online ad hosts. They also must be a very clear communicator, able to clearly articulate requirements, especially when working with an external graphic designer.
The Advertising Coordinator will focus on coordinating designing and printing at first, and then shift focus to the distribution of printed materials.
Advertising Logistics Coordinator
The Advertising Logistics Coordinator will do the following:
Organize the distribution of print materials, such as flyers and posters (requires identifying the best places to distribute materials, working with volunteers to distribute the materials, and keeping track of where materials have already been placed)
Researching advertising opportunities in local media, blogs, and on Facebook and Google (includes gathering requirements, costs, and deadlines for all these forms of advertising, as directed by the advertising coordinator, committee chair, or executive director)
Social Media Coordinator
The Social Media Coordinator will do the following:
Create an overall social media plan and communicate that plan to social media team members, tracking overall social media performance
Manage the Twin Cities Veg Fest Facebook page, creating and posting content as well as sharing related content
Coordinate social media efforts to engage directly with bloggers, sponsors, exhibitors, and other interested parties (with the goal to have them share and comment on the Twin Cities Veg Fest content)
The Social Media Coordinator should be a good writer who understands how each of the relevant social media sites works. Ideally, they will be online often enough to effectively engage in discussion on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Social Media Coordinator will be more busy as the festival approaches. The frequency of social media posting can start at just once a week about six months before the festival, and it should gradually ramp up to every day in the last few weeks before the festival.
Festival Logistics Coordinator
The Festival Logistics Coordinator will do the following:
Arrange for parking as directed by the chair or executive director
Arrange for shuttle buses as directed by the chair or executive director
Create clear exhibitor guidelines for ALL exhibitors based on past templates
Write clear exhibitor instructions for ALL exhibitors that identify where and when to unload and load, where to set up their exhibit, how many attendees to expect, etc.
Communicate extensively with the Food and Sponsorship coordinators
Plan the festival layout to make sure that all exhibitors get what they need, including the correct number of tables and access to electricity if needed
Create a map of festival layout
Work with the venue and vendors on electrical and equipment needs
Work with the venue to coordinate waste management
Work with the committee on the event layout and electrical needs for exhibitors
Work with the Speaker Coordinator and Cooking Demo Coordinator to make sure that the venue meets our needs
Plan signage as appropriate for the venue
Festival Electrician
The festival electrician works with the logistics coordinator to ensure that electrical needs of exhibitors are met. This position begins work in August.
Ensure all permits are received
Review electrical needs of exhibitors and rent equipment needed to meet their needs
Assist with electrical set up in the day(s) prior to the festival
Assist with connectivity and electrical safety on the day of the festival
Exhibitor Recruitment Coordinator
The Exhibitor Recruitment Coordinator will do the following:
Make sure non-food exhibitors (such as animal advocacy groups and vendors of dry goods) provide any materials needed, including text and logos for the event website and exhibitor fee (often requiring multiple interactions with each exhibitor)
Make sure that non-food exhibitors are aware of guidelines
Coordinate shipping exhibitor table supplies from/to non-food exhibitors as needed
Thank non-food exhibitors after the event and ask them to provide feedback for us on their experience
Identify potential non-food exhibitors, including national and local businesses and organizations
Create exhibitor recruitment materials based on past templates
Coordinate outreach to potential exhibitors based on past templates using mass emails, personal emails, phone calls, and some in-person visits (working with at least two other volunteers)
Be the primary point of contact for all non-food exhibitors on the day of the event
The Exhibitor Recruitment Coordinator must have excellent written and verbal communication skills with an understanding of commercial sales, including an idea of what target sponsors and exhibitors most value. They must be comfortable with phone and in-person outreach to potential exhibitors. They should also be capable of conduction comprehensive online research in order to successfully identify the greatest number of potential sponsors and exhibitors.
The time commitment for this position will be more extensive in the first few months of planning for the festival.
Exhibitor Support
The Exhibitor Support will provide support to the Exhibitor Recruitment Coordinator as needed and should possess many of the same skills. This subcommittee member will not need to attend committee meetings.
Sponsorship Coordinator
The Sponsorship Coordinator will do the following:
Identify potential sponsors and exhibitors, including national and local business, using leads provided by CAA
Working off of past templates, create sponsor and exhibitor recruitment materials (including a persuasive single sheet prospectus outlining the benefits of sponsorship or exhibiting)
Coordinate outreach to potential sponsors and exhibitors using mass emails, personal emails, phone calls, and some in-person visits (working with at least two other people)
Coordinate with other committee members to ensure sponsors receive all benefits, such as advertising and social media mentions
Follow up with festival sponsors to collect the information needed to include them on the event website, including a blurb, website link, and logo
Ask sponsors to fill out the exhibitor application form if they are planning to exhibit
Follow up with sponsors to collect any additional materials, such as items for putting into swag bags or ads for programs (multiple email reminders may be required)
Make sure that the volunteers coordinating the bag stuffing are aware of what sponsor materials need to go in the bags
Ensure that sponsors have all materials they need (tables, chairs, etc.) on the day of the event
Thank sponsors after the event and ask them to provide feedback on their experience
The Sponsorship Logistics Coordinator must have excellent writing skills, as most of the communication with sponsors will be through email.
This process begins in October, many months before the festival. This Sponsorship Logistics Coordinator is also responsible for sending a number of reminders to the sponsors as the event approaches.
Sponsorship Subcommittee Member
The Sponsorship Subcommittee Member assists the Sponsorship Coordinator in recruiting sponsorships and making the event great for sponsors throughout the process.
Volunteer Coordinator
The Volunteer Coordinator will do the following:
Determine how many volunteers are needed for every aspect of the festival, including pre-event, day-of, and post-event tasks
Update descriptions for each position
Create a complete schedule for all volunteer shifts, noting where shift leaders are needed and determining how many volunteers are needed for each position
Recruit and schedule volunteer leaders through individual emails and phone calls
Arrange for each volunteer leader to receive the training they need through either a phone call or an in-person meeting with the volunteer coordinator or another committee member
Recruit volunteers for all positions through mass emails and social media posts, as well as individual emails, phone calls, and text messages
Assign interested volunteers to positions based on their availability, skills, and preferences
Along with other committee members, check volunteers in as they arrive on the day of the festival, direct them to their volunteer leader, and give them a Twin Cities Veg Fest t-shirt (if appropriate)
The Volunteer Coordinator should be a friendly, well-organized person who is comfortable reaching out to people directly. They should be good at working with others on the committee to compile volunteer instructions. They will also need to have excellent verbal communication skills in order to effectively train volunteer leaders and direct volunteers when they arrive at the festival.
The time commitment for this position becomes more extensive in the last three months before the festival.
Volunteer Support (2 positions)
The volunteer support team assists the coordinator in responding to volunteer inquiries, keeping updated records, and providing volunteer support on the day of the festival.
Speaker Coordinator
The Speaker Coordinator will do the following:
Research and recruit speakers to speak at the event through mass emails, personal emails, and possibly phone calls
Work with speakers to come to a mutually acceptable agreement regarding travel reimbursement and speaking fees
Make sure speakers know when and where they are speaking
Help speakers coordinate travel if they are coming from out of state (finding volunteers to take them to and from the local airport, train station, or bus station)
Make sure the speaker room has the appropriate A/V equipment
Make sure speakers know what equipment they are expected to provide
The Speaker Coordinator should be a friendly person who is well organized and comfortable contacting well-known figures in the animal advocacy community.
The beginning stages involve recruiting and vetting speakers. Closer to the event, the position includes arranging for travel and other logistics.
Webmaster
The webmaster will do the following:
Keep the event website updated, coordinating with other committee members to identify what changes are needed
Add new sponsors and exhibitors to the website in a timely manner, ideally at least once a week
The Webmaster should be comfortable with content management systems like WordPress. Basic HTML and CSS experience is also extremely helpful.
This position has a moderate time commitment. The Webmaster will be most busy when first launching the site (six to nine months before the festival date) and then again in the last month leading up to the event, updating the exhibitor and sponsor listings.
Cooking Demo Coordinator
The Cooking Demo Coordinator will do the following:
Research and recruit chefs to speak at the event through mass emails, personal emails, and possibly phone calls
Work with chefs to come to a mutually acceptable agreement regarding travel reimbursement and speaking fees
Make sure chefs know when and where they are doing their demo
Help chefs coordinate travel if they are coming from out of state (finding volunteers to take them to and from the local airport, train station, and bus station)
Make sure the chef room has the appropriate equipment, including a station for preparation as well as video projection so the audience can see what the chef is doing
Make sure chefs know what equipment, ingredients, supplies, and pre-made samples they are expected to provide (CAA will provide basic equipment, including knives, cutting boards, and bowls)
On the day of the festival, coordinate volunteers to prepare food, distribute samples, and assist with the chefs as needed
The Cooking Demo Coordinator should be a friendly person who is well organized and comfortable contacting well-known figures in the vegan food community.
The Cooking Demo Coordinator will start with recruitment and getting materials (such as photos of the chefs) from the chefs for promotions. Closer to the festival, their focus will be on presentation details and securing on-site equipment.
CAA Tables Coordinator
The CAA Tables Coordinator will do the following:
Plan the CAA information, pay-per-view, virtual reality, and food giveaway tables, including volunteer instructions, supplies, layout, based on past templates
Work with the Volunteer Coordinator to ensure volunteers are recruited for the table
Work with the Supplies Coordinator to make sure that we have the necessary supplies for the tables
Manage these tables on the day of the event
The CAA Tables Coordinator should be a friendly, well-organized person who is good at leading volunteers.
The person who fills this position does not need to come to more than one planning meeting. This position is substantially less work than most other positions.
Waste Coordinator
The Waste Coordinator will do the following:
Come up with a plan for minimizing waste, focusing on effective composting and recycling
Work with the Venue Coordinator on waste management
Work with the Exhibitor Logistics Coordinator to make sure that exhibitors bring compostable items
Come up with a day of plan to ensure that compost and recycling are not mixed or contaminated
Accessibility and Welcome Coordinator
Ensure that festival grounds, parking, and activities are accessible to people with disabilities
Ensure that the festival is welcoming to people from a range of demographic groups from the Twin Cities
Review and gather feedback from community members
Work with other committee members to create plans and/or policies that will create accessibility and welcome
The Accessibility and Welcome Coordinator should be a friendly person who is well organized and has contacts, or is willing to make contacts, with diverse figures in the community.
Community Building Coordinator
Create a plan for community building activities at Twin Cities Veg Fest that support CAA’s strategic goals
Recruit and support leaders for these activities
Identify what volunteer support may be needed for these activities
Identify what materials will be needed to support activities
Arrange for needed materials to be at the festival
Support the outdoor games coordinator
The Community Building Coordinator should be a friendly person who is well organized and has contacts, or is willing to make contacts, with diverse figures in the community.
The Community Building Coordinator will start with planning and recruitment. Closer to the festival, their focus will be on presentation details and securing on-site equipment.
Outdoor Games Coordinator
The Outdoor Games Coordinator assists the Community Building Coordinator through the organization of outdoor games.
The concert coordinator should have previous experience in organizing an outdoor concert. They need to be organized, willing to document their work, and comfortable spearheading a new project.
Family Area Coordinator
The family area coordinator will plan and lead children’s activities, including art and games, for children and their grown-ups. Activities will fit the festival theme.
Plan activities
Create supply list
Purchase materials as needed (will be reimbursed)
Create activity timeline
Provide leadership of activities and direction for support volunteers on the day of the festival
If you’re interested in joining the planning committee, please contact Nathan Gaut and Lillie Gardner, co-chairs, at info@tcvegfest.com.
Prospective board members should attend and participate in at least one board meeting before they will be considered for board membership. After that, the board will ask you to fill out the questionnaire for prospective members. We may also ask you to attend a few more meetings before voting on whether to add you to the board.
If you are interested in joining the board, please email info@exploreveg.org to find out when our next board meeting will take place.
Are you a college student in the Twin Cities who wants to help farmed animals? Or do you want to try out eating veg? Come to our weekly meetings, enjoy food and conversation, meet other animal advocates, and learn how you can get involved. We have active groups at the University of Minnesota and Macalester College. (Students from other colleges and high school seniors are welcome, too!)
At the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Weekly meetings for the University of Minnesota student group will be held in Spring 2024 in the Memorial Union (CMU) Room 302.
Meetings will be held weekly on Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm weekly.
(It’s a long meeting! You don’t have to stay for all of it! Arrive any time, leave any time)
During the first part of meetings, we will focus on discussions and activities designed to build community. During the second part, we will focus on projects like campus guides, and campus surveys so students have resources to go plant-based on campus.
Other On-Campus Events
We don't have any upcoming campus activities, but please check back later!
What does it take to help farmed animals? Thoughtful planning and a variety of committed teams to make those plans a reality. One of those vital teams is the development committee.
To effectively advocate for animals we need an office space, staff members, communication resources, and volunteer support. These things cost money, and the development committee helps to raise funds that enable CAA to fulfill its mission.
The committee reports to the executive director. We also welcome volunteers who will work on only one of the activities listed below. To whatever extent you’d like to be involved, please contact the executive director at info@exploreveg.org.
Development Committee Member Duties
Collaborate to develop the annual development plan and support other committee members’ work
Meet every other month to support planning and track progress
Demonstrate leadership in philanthropy through personally helping reach annual goals (e.g., establish a monthly gift or increase total annual giving)
Committee members will work with each other and the executive director on one or more of the activities outlined below. Please note that committee members do not need to do all of these activities. For example, a current member is sending monthly letters, helping with general planning, and helped plan and execute the donor appreciation party.
Development Activities
Create an annual development plan
Thank donors who participate in campaigns within 24 hours by email or phone
Send thank you and tax receipt letters monthly
Help plan or host the annual donor appreciation party, which takes place in February
Plan annual events, including:
Annual Banquet
Twin Cities Veg Fest fundraiser
Year-end campaign tied to Give to the Max Day
Provide matching funds
Invite friends to participate in giving events through one or more strategies, including:
Invite friends to giving events (e.g., annual banquet)
Share online fundraisers
A personal fundraising page on GiveMN
A birthday fundraiser on Facebook
Speak at a fundraising event
Meet with donors
Identify potential corporate or foundation support
Assist in the development of proposals to corporations or foundations
Participate on the Twin Cities Veg Fest sponsorship subcommittee, which begins working each October