Finding other vegans to support and befriend one another is an important part of growing a social network. But how do you find others who share your interests? Check out Meetup.com for a great way to not only find compatible people but to also organize and enjoy activities together.
If you haven’t done much with Meetup.com before, get to know this website that serves as a network of local groups allowing like-minded individuals to find each other and get together. Your free membership allows you to browse and join the various existing groups or, for a fee, start your own Meetup group. According to their website (www.meetup.com), there are over 9,000 groups to choose from. Looking for a hiking group? Just type it into the search box. Or how about stuff to do in Ottawa, Ontario, if you’re “silly” twentysomething? Join one of the other 499 “Silly People in their 20’s Who Like Doing Stuff”? There’s a Meetup group for everyone!
When I first joined my vegan Meetup group, it had only a few members. The original organizer stepped down from that role and asked for someone else to take over. Because I believed in what he’d started, I decided to step up and run it.
Since I’m never afraid to use the v-word, one of the first things I did was change the name from “Southern Tier of New York Plant Eaters” to “Triple Cities Vegans” which I felt was more succinct and easier to remember. It was also important to me that the group not be exclusive to vegans so I made sure the description encouraged vegetarians and omnivores to join. No sense preaching to the vegan choir if your goal is to spread veganism.
My second goal was to grow our membership. Meetup gives organizers tools to promote their groups so I took advantage of one which allowed me to print off customizable flyers with pull- off tags. I took these flyers to libraries, health food stores, naturopathic practices, yoga studios, and anywhere else with a community billboard. I also promoted the group on my personal and business Facebook pages and Tweeted upcoming events.
The result? We went from six members to 46 in just a few months and we continue to grow. At a recent Health and Wellness Expo I participated in, I had over 20 people enthusiastically take information on joining.
If you’re wondering what kinds of activities to plan for your group, it’s a good idea to keep your eye on other vegan Meetup groups to get ideas. I’m a member of the Albany Vegans and Vegetarians and even though Albany is a two-hour drive for me, I’ve gotten lots of good ideas from them for events for my own group.
It’s also smart to draw attention to other vegan groups that may be located within an hour’s drive. The Ithaca Vegans Meetup group is 50 miles from me but it organizes Vegan Drinks, as well as various presentations and events in that area. When I share their events with my group, it gives them the option of attending. Lots of people don’t mind traveling if it’s not too far.
Finally, once your group is up and running, it’s important to share pictures from your events on the Meetup webpage. It helps potential members understand the community they’re considering joining and demonstrates the kinds of activities that can be expected at each gathering. Whether it’s a potluck at someone’s home, a screening of a movie, or meeting up or carpooling to a local vegfest, you will find lots of other vegans eager to share the experience with one another.
This is a picture of the first potluck of 2015 held at our home.
Search your area for a vegan Meetup near you!
Christine Day is a Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (VLCE) living in Vestal, New York with her vegan husband, teenaged daughter, a retired racing greyhound and two cats. She is world traveler as well as a freelance writer and owner of A New Day Vegan Lifestyle Coaching. Check out her website at www.anewdayvegan.com
This is a great post. Good luck growing your group! My husband and I went to our first vegan meet-up last month. We shared a meal at a vegan restaurant with 30+ other like-minded folks of all ages and from all walks of life here in Tucson. The bond of veganism is profound and it felt great to be there. Tonight is our second dinner and they’re expecting nearly 40 people. Meet-up groups are a fantastic way to get connected. Thanks for putting that out there.