In our last edition, the Mid-Hudson Vegetarian Society
announced the creation of an advisory board consisting of friends and
colleagues of MHVS who have unique expertise and experience in several
distinct fields related to choosing and living a vegan lifestyle. Now
let’s learn a bit more about them:
Harold
Brown was raised on a cattle farm in Michigan and spent half of his
life in agriculture. As Outreach Coordinator for Farm Sanctuary, Harold
coordinated a campaign to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable farming
practices, and he hosted the
AskFarmerBrown.org website. He also appears in Tribe of Heart’s
documentary, “Peaceable Kingdom,” where he tells the powerful story of
his transformation from beef farmer to vegan farm animal advocate.
Currently, Harold is beginning a new farm animal
advocacy organization called Farm Kind. Look for more on this
organization in coming months.
Jenny
Brown is the director of the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Prior
to that Jenny had been an activist for over a decade, shooting
undercover video for PETA and Farm Sanctuary while working in film and
television production. It was during a trip filming undercover at
stockyards in Texas that she decided to give up her TV career and
dedicate her life to helping the most abused animals on the planet —
farm animals. After a year of experience working at Farm Sanctuary, she
moved to Woodstock, NY, in 2004, and with her husband Doug Abel founded
the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. A haven for critters and people
alike, the sanctuary allows visitors to get to know farm animals up
close and personal while tying in essential lessons about the horrors of
factory farming. Since opening its doors in 2006, the sanctuary has
become a popular tourist destination and is now home to over 100 rescued
animals and has been involved in the rescue and placement of hundreds of
other farm animals in need.
Years
ago Frank and Mary Hoffman became aware of the cruelty involved
in the raising of veal, and out of compassion decided not to eat veal.
By 1987, Mary and Frank were vegans. Through the Mary T. and Frank L.
Hoffman Family Foundation, the web site
www.allcreatures.org and
many other activities, Frank and Mary are involved in helping others to
become aware of the health, compassion, and environmental benefits of a
vegan lifestyle. The Hoffman's are life members of the Mid-Hudson
Vegetarian Society and provide web host services at
www.mhvs.org.
Matt and Mary Kelly are cofounders of the
Berkshire Vegetarian Network, a neighboring regional vegetarian group.
Berkshire Vegetarian Network is an organization presenting potlucks and
other programs in the Berkshire region. They bring in nationally know
speakers to events at least twice each year. Matt and Mary also
frequently come over the river and through the woods to attend MHVS
events.
Milton
Mills, M.D. is associate director of preventative medicine at the
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). He has been
instrumental in PCRM’s campaign to highlight the dairy bias in the
U.S.’s Dietary Guidelines, particularly in the context of lactose
intolerance and racial differences. Milton is the lead plaintiff in
PCRM’s class action lawsuit that asks for warning labels on milk. Milton
is available to provide several excellent presentations on topics
including “Are we Designed to Eat Meat”, “Preventing and Curing
Diabetes” and “The Biology of Disgust.”
Kathy
Stevens is a former English teacher and lifelong animal lover who
was raised on a horse farm. As founder and director of Catskill Animal
Sanctuary, she has combined her passion for education with her care for
critters. Catskill Animal Sanctuary has rescued over 1,200 animals and
introduced uncounted visitors to horrific histories of abused animals
and the inspirational healing of those who have been rescued. Its
programming includes on-site tours, field trips for schools and other
community-based organizations, presentations at schools, churches, and
conferences, and vegan cooking classes. Kathy is author of “Where the
Blind Horse Sings: Love and Healing at an Animal Sanctuary.”
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