At this time of the year it is appropriate to reflect on the past and to look forward to the future. We may ask ourselves if we have fulfilled our hopes and expectations in the past year. It is timely to verify if our membership dues (individual and/or societal) to EVU are up to date and get things in order for the past, present and the new year. Our secretary, assistant secretary, and treasurer need your assistance. Have you sent your annual report or did you write or sent materials for publication in the marvellous EVU-News, our quarterly journal? We like to hear from you, even small facts and notes on your work, ideas on strategies to promote and propagate vegetarianism are of interest to all of us. The past year was again full of challenges, particularly with respect to the development of the EVU V-symbol as a registered trademark for vegetarian products, goods and services, as well as for divulging the European Vegetarian Union at large. Thanks to the persevering efforts of several members of the EVU board we are making progress and soon we shall be able to further develop EVU and its member societies. Time, work and money spent by several of our council members are highly appreciated. Our Swiss member society (SVV), particularly SVV President Renato Pichler who also happens to be the EVU assistant secretary, has produced an impressive CD-ROM, containing ample information about the vegetarian lifestyle in Europe and worldwide. It may also show our sincere efforts to collaborate effectively with the International Vegetarian Union. Hans Van Boven has accepted to function not only as our liaison council member in Holland, but he also is the newly appointed honorary marketing officer for EVU. Of course, Sigrid De Leo, the EVU secretary-general, and Hildegund Scholvien, the EVU treasurer, have done and continue to do the administrative and secretarial work in the EVU, which is an enormous task for two persons who have a full-time professional job as well as many other obligations. This kind of involvement is the only way that EVU has been able to be successful in serving our membership.

Prof. dr. em. Marcel Hebbelinck Laboratory of Human Biometry and Biomechanics Vrije Universiteit Brussel Faculty Phys. Ed. & Phys. Ther. Pleinlaan 2 1050 Brussel Belgium Tel.: +32-2-629.27.29 (31) Fax: +32-2-629.27.36

However, our voluntary workforce should be really much more than just the few members of the EVU council. You and the rest of the 67 member associations and the many individual members are the real force of EVU. Maybe you can also provide some extra time and, some special information or even an extra financial contribution. Jump in to be a part of the active EVU membership. Offer some of your time, your expertise and help to accommodate the needs of the EVU membership. For next year we have our biannual European Congress in Switzerland. It promises to be a big cultural, social and spiritual gathering, with a lot of interesting meetings, lectures, work-shops, sports activities and last but not least the joy of meeting old friends and making new acquaintances. We should never lose sight of the main thing, the vision-our purposes. Our "main thing" in EVU is to improve the quality of life for all living creatures through better understanding, better lifestyles with more compassion and tolerance. In order to accomplish these "things" we have to be also practical and gain strength for EVU by increasing the membership and by offering activities open to vegetarian groups of neighbouring countries. There is no magic "big bang" solution for developing vegetarianism in Europe and world-wide. I believe that we must continue to encourage, cajole and motivate ourselves and all EVU members to take responsibility for achieving excellence in our work and for promoting the advantages and ethics of a vegetarian lifestyle effectively and continually. Again, who is EVU? It is all of us! Marcel Hebbelinck © European Vegetarian Union - http://www.ivu.org/evu