Lives that change the world.

We send our sympathies to the family of Marion Friedman. Marion was a past recipient of The Vegetarian Resource Group Ruth E. Caring Award. Marion became an ethical vegetarian at the age of 11 in the 1930s. Though strong in her beliefs, she was a positive person who often expressed her views in ways that didn't alienate others. Marion remembered her mother teaching morals such as, "Treat everyone alike, whether they are janitors or teachers; they're all human beings." You can read more about Marion and why she received this recognition at <www.vrg.org/journal/vj2001nov/2001novcaring.htm>.

The Ruth E. Caring Award is an honor bestowed upon an individual who promotes vegetarianism while displaying empathy and support for others. The nominee might work under less-than-ideal conditions and can see several sides of an issue. Send your nominations to VRG, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

Most vegetarians want to make the world better. Nevertheless, sometimes, animal rights advocates and new vegetarians in their zeal can attack others' views and make their relatives and friends feel uncomfortable. This contradiction--wanting to improve the world but appearing insensitive towards others--is common across all causes on the left, right, and middle.

We chose to promote vegetarianism and to work with VRG because we wanted to bring about a better world by helping people in a positive way. It is not easy. Supporting negative action has a strong emotional appeal. However, when people are responsible and helpful, they can become extraordinarily effective.

Kudos to Carol M. Meerschaert, RD, who is setting up a fund to sponsor health professionals speaking on vegetarian topics. See page 5.

Thank you to Brad Scott who was up at 3 in the morning working on our website. Thanks to the dietitian who, while in chemotherapy, used the time to complete her vegetarian volunteer work. Thank you to Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, who sent her articles in to us, even while finishing up her teaching semester and putting on a bas mitzvah for her daughter. Thank you to Keryl, our Senior Editor, who managed to finish several issues of Vegetarian Journal on time, even while dealing with family who lost their homes in New Orleans.

Thank you to Bobbi Pasternak and Stephanie Schueler, who have spent many years quietly assisting us with our website. Also, thank you to Sarah Ellis, MS, RD, who generously donates her time and knowledge to provide the nutritional analyses for each recipe in the Journal and many of the ones in VRG's books. We greatly appreciate our staff members who completed their jobs, even when dealing with deaths in their families. There are many of us who complain about the world, but thank you to those positive people who are truly responsible for making it a better place. If you would like to volunteer and add to all their great work, please send us a note about your interests and skills at <[e-mail]>.