03/18/2020
Minutes of the Expo's 3rd organizational meeting:
Hello Plant-Based Advocates!
In this document:
• Message from the Founder
• The Expo and COVID19
• Minutes from last planning meeting 3/11/20
• Tentative Day of Event Schedule
• Mission of the Event/Call to Action
• NEXT meeting details via ZOOM
• A poem to INSPIRE!
SCROLL DOWN THRU RED HEADINGS FOR INFO OF INTEREST TO YOU
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
Our THIRD planning meeting for the Plant-Based Power Expo was on Wednesday March 11, 2020. THANKS to all who attended (our biggest gathering yet!) and to all who said they wanted to come but couldn't on that particular night. We look forward to hopefully seeing you at the FOURTH meeting, date to be decided. Given COVID-19, we are very likely to do it over ZOOM.
As I’ve said previously, thanks to all who are already collaborating and figuring out what you uniquely have to give… and to those of you who have not yet chimed in, we welcome your feedback and input, no matter how small. Let us know you’re out there if you haven’t already. The Expo is a chance to make a contribution to life that feels meaningful to YOU. Keep the words CREATIVE and FUN in mind, as you think about what you might have to share. We have lots of needs, including digital marketing skills, volunteers, mini-projects with fun themes like how to bring medical doctors to this event!, outreach to 7th Day Adventists (big fans of plants!) right here in our ‘hood, how to connect with those suffering from diabetes and cancer, and many more meaningful pursuits detailed below.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT COVID-19.
It strikes me that in light of the pandemic, our event is more needed than ever! I believe the pandemic is a reflection of our overall relationship to the Earth and to animals. Educating the public about what they’re choosing to eat and how that affects our one and only home is now more obviously imperative! I love the saying: “There is no Planet B,” which is a simple phrase that embodies this truth. I’m more determined than ever to bring that idea alive at the Expo. A poem recently written in response to the pandemic that, to me, says it all is on the last page of this document with the hope that it moves you too. Obviously at this point we don’t know what the future holds in this very unpredictable time. My decision, and our event planner’s Kim’s decision, is to keep pressing forward with a hope and prayer that by October we’ll be able to gather together again—in large or small groups. Won’t that be wonderful?! Time will certainly tell. My motto during this time is “hope is love in action,” and it will feel better to me to continue to take action around this event rather than sink into despair—easy to do with all the loss around us. I hope you’ll join me in holding that hope up by continuing to contribute towards the manifestation of 10/10/2020 in whatever ways you are able and find enjoyable.
MINUTES FROM THIRD MEETING 3/11/20
Here are minutes of the third meeting, and briefly what has happened since....
Present: Elise & Max Rivers, Angela Moore, Kim Wright, Jeff Rider, Suzanne McAllister, Sheryl Richman, Judy Lemco, Theresa Culmer, Jim Harris, Zipora Schulz, Josh Black, Khennan Newton, Lamar Smith, and Carla Mariani.
The third meeting, as with the first two, bubbled with palpable enthusiasm. It began with the introduction of Kimberly Wright, a professional event planner, who was hired by Elise after interviewing several, who is personally and professionally READY to mastermind this event with our help. FROM HERE ON, except when specified, email Kim your ideas and thoughts. She will be the master tracker so we can stay organized!! Kim is currently getting vendor and sponsor packages for distribution. It was clear from the dialogue of the evening that we all seem to have our hearts in this, and there’s a lot of excitement and anticipation for what could be created as we create together! One loyal participant, Judy Lemco commented (and I paraphrase): I can’t wait to see how this event unfolds! It’s come so far already it’s amazing! When I asked how many present would show up that day as volunteers—almost everyone raised their hand! Yay for co-creation!
ONE BIG CHANGE: We’re going to charge a nominal admission, for a variety of reasons that made sense to the group. After much debate, we decided on $15 in advance, $20 at the door with some tickets made available as gifts, and some made available to those who want to attend, but cannot afford $15. We may even ask some folks if they wish to sponsor the attendance of others….It was agreed that Friday night would be free for everyone.
Here’s some additional and new details on the great ideas that are continuing to be put forth.
Friday Night Energy Building Party—the event will open on Friday night with music and art that will define and shape the experience. We are currently considering a band whose music is about the theme of love and compassion (our subtheme). They could be the main act, or just one of several. If you have ideas about how this evening could look, or know some musicians in alignment with our mission, have them sign up on the website. We were reminded of Mt. Airy’s Folk Factory as a way of finding some of these performers, and the band Justice Seekers is interested in performing. We’re also in need of a DJ who can fill the vendor space with uplifting music on Saturday. Touching people’s hearts with music and lyrics is the intention, and giving them a great time in community. We’re also thinking about having some vendors for Friday night, for the interest and exposure…maybe have Friday night be an “arts night” that expresses our plant-based theme in a non-academic way. We are also talking with Dr. Kim Williams about an opening ceremony that night, and still considering trying to get Malcolm Jenkins (a vegan former Philadelphia Eagle) for Friday night. (If you have a connection to him or to reach his people, email us!).
Vendor/Sponsors—Kim Wright is currently creating the vendor/sponsor pricing tiers and packages; they will be ready for distribution soon. We have many, many potential vendors and some sponsors to reach out to in the coming months. We have a good head start, but your ideas are so welcome! Of primary interest is local providers in the holistic health business, plant-based restaurants or those with good options, medical doctors, 7th Day Adventists, Millennials (our future), food/lifestyle coaches, nutritionists, chefs, farm sanctuaries, vegan friendly non-profits, etc. All possible sponsors, including big sponsors, like Whole Foods & Trader Joes. Email Kim ideas on how to effectively find and/or reach those groups/institutions needed, as well as places that have books or literature that furthers plant-based education and all that’s connected to it, to donate or sell.
How to use our 5 break out rooms—with 5 more rooms besides the speaker sanctuary space, we have lots of opportunity to share more about a plant-based world. Some of the ideas that now have staying power are: cooking demos, private healing sessions (chair massage & nutrition consult mini-sessions: diabetes/heart disease/cancer), a “game room” where in a fun way people learn about plant-based eating and local resources, an opportunity to be educated about and sign up for a 7 day challenge of eating plant-based, a tasting room “Is it Vegan?”, a video room, with snippets of our favorite vegan education clips, a focus room or rooms for those come to the event through the environmental or animal welfare track to learn more. In the weeks to come we’ll be refining this list and then creating the day’s schedule accordingly.
Post-Expo Goodies to take home to keep the momentum going—providing participants with take-aways, such as local resources, community and restaurant guides, festival schedules, meetups, on-line apps, movies to watch, meal deals, plant-based nutritionists, cooking classes and more would enable attendees to follow up on their learning from the day. Doing one or more raffles for a vegan restaurant coupon book with discounts as well as other valuable treats with a drawing at the end of the day to keep raffle ticket buyers around for the day. We need help identifying and gathering these goodies and finding free literature donations to include for the purpose of education after the event is over.
SATURDAY’S TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Doors open for registration 8am
Vendor browsing from 8-9am
9am-10am Dr. Kim Williams
Vendor/Breakout Rooms 10am-10:45*
11am-Noon Dr. Michael Klaper
Vendor/Breakout Rooms/Lunch 12pm to 1:45*
2pm Dr. Michael Greger
3:15pm Recovery Panel (vegan lifestyle life-changing testimonials) (several people have already volunteered)
(may be moderated by Chuck Carroll of Physician’s Committee)
4pm Event concludes…building must be emptied by 5pm
*vendor browsing and break out rooms also active while speakers are presenting if speakers not of interest to the attendee
WHAT’s HAPPENED SINCE THE THIRD MEETING on March 11
• Elise and Kim are still working on connecting with New Covenant’s in house digital marketing team to make a video and craft a Facebook message for their 1000+ person congregation and do other creative marketing.
• Kim has created lots of spreadsheets to keep all our data shareable and organized!
• In light of social distancing, Kim will soon be touring the event site without the group we’d hoped to bring to figure out the best use of vendor space and plan accordingly.
• Weaver’s Way has agreed to be one of our fine sponsors, contributing in a variety of wonderful ways from volunteers, to food, to helping us identify appropriate vendors, and more.
• Josh Black of Urban Black Vegan generously offered to provide our vendor/sponsor package to his list when it is ready.
• Elise has arranged to be interviewed on Germantown Radio in their show “The Power of Food” as a lead up to the Expo (one or more episodes). The first interview is March 23, 2020
• Our website has been significantly expanded by Max Rivers to include lots of additional sign up lists for: volunteers, attendees, people with dramatic stories to be on our testimonial panel, restaurants that are vegan or have vegan options that want us to share about them at the expo, sponsors and music and comedy acts who want to audition for the event. There’s also 2 minute videos from each of our keynote speakers. Check it out! More to come!
THE MISSION
I heard someone say, "being vegan isn't just a lifestyle, it's an awakening."
If you too feel called to support and foster public education on this topic and helping people learn how to transition to a more plant-based lifestyle, please collaborate in creating the Expo. Any role you play, no matter how small, is gratefully received. PLUS, as collaborators, we're going to have a lot of fun manifesting something magnificent that will affect so many--not just those who come to the Expo--but their friends, family, children, the world--that's how it works! And then of course, there's the after party, Saturday night, when we can celebrate our great accomplishment together!
If you're interested in helping to create this event, please tell us NOW, by visiting plantbasedpowerexpo.org (which also details some of what we need help with) and providing your contact information in one of the 4 areas indicated: Sponsors, Vendors, Volunteers and Attendees. That will keep you in the loop as we create committees and plan meetings in the year ahead. Let's SHARE THE LOAD, so no one feels like they're taking on too much. That's the goal!
NEXT MEETING & CONTACT INFO
We’re not sure of the date of our next meeting, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted. It will likely happen via ZOOM in this new world we live in right now. ZOOM is accessible to anyone with a phone, tablet, or computer. We’ll be sending out a link that enables you to meet with us from wherever you are.
Email Elise if you’d like to in on that ZOOM meeting and ALSO do register on the website, as indicated above, so we have your contact info in one convenient place.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. --Margaret Mead
We CAN change our world for the better right here from Mt. Airy! Let's do it together!
Love, Elise
AND, here’s the poem that moved me so profoundly, and speaks to the import of this event…you may have seen it on Facebook, but if not…
An Imagined Letter from COVID-19 to Humans
Stop. Just stop.
It is no longer a request. It is a mandate.
We will help you.
We will bring the supersonic, high speed merry-go-round to a halt
We will stop
the planes
the trains
the schools
the malls
the meetings
the frenetic, furied rush of illusions and “obligations” that keep you from hearing our
single and shared beating heart,
the way we breathe together, in unison.
Our obligation is to each other,
As it has always been, even if, even though, you have forgotten.
We will interrupt this broadcast, the endless cacophonous broadcast of divisions and distractions,
to bring you this long-breaking news:
We are not well.
None of us; all of us are suffering.
Last year, the firestorms that scorched the lungs of the earth
did not give you pause.
Nor the typhoons in Africa, China, Japan.
Nor the fevered climates in Japan and India.
You have not been listening.
It is hard to listen when you are so busy all the time, hustling to uphold the comforts and conveniences that scaffold your lives.
But the foundation is giving way,
buckling under the weight of your needs and desires.
We will help you.
We will bring the firestorms to your body
We will bring the fever to your body
We will bring the burning, searing, and flooding to your lungs
that you might hear:
We are not well.
Despite what you might think or feel, we are not the enemy.
We are Messenger. We are Ally. We are a balancing force.
We are asking you:
To stop, to be still, to listen;
To move beyond your individual concerns and consider the concerns of all;
To be with your ignorance, to find your humility, to relinquish your thinking minds and travel deep into the mind of the heart;
To look up into the sky, streaked with fewer planes, and see it, to notice its condition: clear, smoky, smoggy, rainy? How much do you need it to be healthy so that you may also be healthy?
To look at a tree, and see it, to notice its condition: how does its health contribute to the health of the sky, to the air you need to be healthy?
To visit a river, and see it, to notice its condition: clear, clean, murky, polluted? How much do you need it to be healthy so that you may also be healthy? How does its health contribute to the health of the tree, who contributes to the health of the sky, so that you may also be healthy?
Many are afraid now.
Do not demonize your fear, and also, do not let it rule you. Instead, let it speak to you—in your stillness,
listen for its wisdom.
What might it be telling you about what is at work, at issue, at risk, beyond the threats of personal inconvenience and illness?
As the health of a tree, a river, the sky tells you about quality of your own health, what might the quality of your health tell you about the health of the rivers, the trees, the sky, and all of us who share this planet with you?
Stop.
Notice if you are resisting.
Notice what you are resisting.
Ask why.
Stop. Just stop.
Be still.
Listen.
Ask us what we might teach you about illness and healing, about what might be required so that all may be well.
We will help you, if you listen.
- Kristin Flyntz
