About EVEN
Upcoming EVENt
Attention:
No July Monthly Gathering!
Because of the Independence Day holiday, there will not be the usual first-Monday presentation on 7/7/08.
No Meeting!
Have a great holiday!!
Upcoming EVENt
The Vegan Lifestyle --- It's For Real!
Dr. John Gobble,
DrPh, MPH, RD, LD, CHES
Monday, 6/2/08, 7p, McNail-Riley House, 601 W. 13th (at Jefferson), Eugene FREE - Map
Veg Spotlight
Worth - EVEN Member
Veg Wisdom
I take vitamins daily, but just the bare essentials not what you'd call supplements. I try to stick to a vegan diet heavy on fruit, vegetables, tofu, and other soy products. - Clint Eastwood
Become a Member
Veg Spotlight
Veg Wisdom
You put a baby in a crib with an apple and a rabbit. If it eats the rabbit and plays with the apple, I'll buy you a new car. - Harvey Diamond
About EVEN > History
History
In 2002 we were excited to retire to Eugene, a city whose reputation for liberal thought was well-known. We were somewhat disappointed, however, to find no Vegetarian Society.
To shake us further, we found the local celebration for Earth Day 2003 had not a single exhibitor to present information about the impact on the planet from our daily food choices. We were confused. Here we were in Eugene, and here it was "Earth Day", a celebration designed over 3 decades earlier to show respect and honor for Mother Earth, and everything imaginable was being talked about---except food choices!
Food---the individual choice all of us make each day that impacts the health of the planet more than anything else, and there was no table, no booth, not a single pamphlet, to educate people about why their food choices are important. Was it really Earth Day? Were we really in Eugene? So we grimaced, but assured ourselves that it was an oversight and that "next year it will be different."
But in 2004, when there still was no vegetarian information available, we pretty much figured we'd have to take care of it, and we promised ourselves that we would do it at the next year's Earth Day. And so we did.
With a veg group still absent in 2005, we organized EVEN, the Eugene Veg Education Network, in time to table at the University of Oregon Earth Day and the City of Eugene Earth Day 2005. We distributed over 3000 various pieces of literature---in just two days! However, the Earth Day effort that we initially anticipated would be only a one-time, short-term event evolved---much to our shock and amazement---into a full-fledged, full-time commitment of both our retirement time and budget.
The literature we disseminated free to everyone instigated hundreds of phone calls and emails over the months that followed Earth Day. We found there was no end to the number of people wanting more information on veg'ism*, what it was, how to do it, what to eat, how to cook, where to shop. And, of course, our favorite, why? The questions poured in.
The void that had cried out to be filled was now being satisfied. So in hindsight it was only natural that EVEN would expand its educational and networking efforts to the limits of the energy and finances of its two gray-haired founders.
EVEN has turned out to be much more than we bargained for. Today its demands keep us busy beyond a full-time job which is far from what we imagined when we used to hear the word "retirement"!
Thanks to local and national support from individuals, non-profits and businesses, EVEN is thriving. This website embodies both our history and the message we have been spreading.
Peace to all,
Lin Silvan
Robert Jacobucci
* veganism and vegetarianism
About the Founders
EVEN owes its existence and direction to one extremely dedicated individual, my wife, Lin Silvan. Because of her commitment and drive, EVEN has made substantial inroads in the vegan community locally and beyond. While Lin never likes putting her name on any of EVEN's publications, she is unquestionably the reason that all of this exists.
Lin is reluctant to talk about herself ("EVEN is not about me. It's about truth."), so I have taken it upon myself to interview her and write these bios for both of us. Robert Jacobucci
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Lin Silvan spent her entire professional career in Corporate America as a Management Consultant, Corporate Trainer, and Employee Relations Director with several Fortune 500 companies and various international consulting organizations.
During her career, Lin provided over 2,000 personal and vocational counseling sessions and conducted over 15,000 interviews and skills assessments. As an Executive in Leadership Training, she has trained over 23,000 executives, managers, supervisors and employees in all areas of managerial, interpersonal communication, and problem-solving techniques.
She holds a BS degree and post-graduate certificates in Behavioral Management, Organizational Development, and Psycho-Educational Processes. She earned numerous professional certifications in her field, has won many accolades in business, and is a long-time member of MENSA.
Lin retired in 1991 to travel and she went veg at the same time! She has a passion for nature, walking, writing, and dance, and has received awards in Theater and Ice Dancing. She is a Lane County Master Recycler and a certified Foster Parent. She has been in Eugene Oregon since 2002 and enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Robert, and her favorite canine, Toby.
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Robert Jacobucci is a retired physicist-turned-environmentalist whose goal in his senior years is to make a positive impact on the earth and the human condition. Before turning to environmentalism, he spent decades working in the semiconductor industry for various Fortune 500 companies across the country.
In the mid-80's, Robert began to delve into ecology and, as the natural wonders of interconnectedness began to unfold before him, a new awareness emerged, and his life took a 180° turn. After meeting Lin in '87 and turning veg together in '91, they searched for ways to use their skills for the good of the planet.
Robert, known to his friends as BJ, is also a Master Recycler for Lane County. He has offered a series of lectures on Sustainability and Deep Ecology in the Eugene area. For the past several years he has volunteered his time teaching high school students math, science, ecology, and most importantly of all---how to make wise life decisions.
His passions include ping pong, dance, writing, tai chi, photography, chess, and working with young people.
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Lin and BJ have been together over 20 years. After retirement, they traveled extensively in the US and selected Eugene as their city of choice. They co-founded EVEN and are dedicating this part of their retirement to advocate the benefits of living in harmony with our earth and our non-human friends. They have been utilizing their skills and experience for causes in which they believe---peace, compassion and sustainability.