Vegan Community Plantluck

A lazy summer Vegan Comm Plantluck will be held on Saturday, August 21, from 4:30 to 8 pm at the Lake McBride, Sailboat Shelter #1. The shelter is located in a pleasant, shady area for relaxing or playing games. Ample parking is located nearby. The shelter has been reserved for the entire day, so you’re welcome to come as early as you would like to enjoy the lake’s amenities, such kayaking, walking trails, and a prairie area. All are near the shelter. (Driving instructions are below.) This site is handicap accessible.

 The social hour will begin at 4:30 with the plantluck following at 5:30 p.m.

RSVP:  https://www.meetup.com/Vegan-Community-of-Eastern-Iowa/events/279450669/

For the plantluck, please bring: - A vegan dish that provides 8-10 servings. Bring hot foods in a crockpot or other similar appliance, if possible. Gluten-free options are appreciated. (If you are new to veganism, the term ‘vegan’ means no animal flesh or fat, dairy, eggs, or honey) - Recipes for the dishes you prepare so that others can duplicate them, if they would like to do so. - Please plan to bring a $5 donation, if possible, to assist with defraying the cost of the shelter rental fee and plantluck supplies. - A lawn chair or blanket and lawn games, if desired. We will be observing the following the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines: - Please stay home if you have symptoms of COVID-19 (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, etc.), are waiting for COVID-19 test results, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, if or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. - For everyone’s safety, we prefer attendees be vaccinated (except for children under age 12). Maintain some distance from people who do not live in your household. Wearing masks is most important when social distancing is difficult. Please refrain from physical contact such as handshakes and hugs with people not from your household. - Unvaccinated adults and children should wear a mask except when eating and observe social distancing (6’). - Bring supplies to help you and others stay healthy—for example: masks, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content, and your own drinking water. - We will be collecting attendee information to facilitate COVID contact tracing, if needed at a later date. - A handwashing station will be located at the beginning of the buffet line (a spigot water container, liquid soap, and paper towels); use of a hand sanitizer is also an option. Please be attentive to hand cleanliness before eating and when touching common surfaces. If you would like to come but transportation is a challenge for you, let us know. It is likely one of our participants lives nearby and will be happy to pick you up and take you home. If you make a reservation but find you will be unable to attend, please change your reservation to "Not Going." We respectfully request that all participants assist with cleanup before leaving our events.  Directions to Lake MacBride Sailboat Shelter #1: From Solon: Take 180th St NE west out of Solon to Cottage Reserve Rd NE. Watch for the Veg Comm sign. (If you cross the earthen causeway, you’ve gone too far). Turn right onto Cottage Reserve Road NE and continue for approx. ½ mile to a T intersection; continue right onto Sailboat Rd. NE to the lake and Sailboat Shelter #1. From North Liberty: Take Mehaffey Bridge Rd NE (F28) east; cross the Mahaffey Bridge over the Coralville Reservoir; continue on until you drive over the earthen causeway that crosses the South branch of Lake MacBride (1-2 miles). Watch for the Veg Comm sign. Turn left onto Cottage Reserve Rd NE. (immediately after the causeway) and continue for approx. ½ mile to a T intersection; continue right onto Sailboat Rd. NE to the lake and Sailboat Shelter #1.

To the Vegan Community of Eastern Iowa friends—

The VCEI Board of Directors has been discussing what needs to be done to create a safe space for our dine out and plantluck events. According to Amelia L. B. Slaichert, MPH, Johnson County Health Department, “Our number of positive cases has been rising over the past few weeks, and it is certainly possible that we could reach a level of substantial or high transmission in the near future.”  With this information in mind, along with Ms. Slichert’s recommendations (and in consideration of the CDC guidelines), the Board has decided to exercise an abundance of caution and require that all participants in VCEI activities either be fully vaccinated, or if unvaccinated, present documentation of a negative COVID test result within 48 hours of the event.  We will continue to record the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of everyone who attends our events, which will facilitate notifications if a break-through, positive COVID test is reported.

The wearing of masks or face shields is encouraged for those who feel more comfortable with an added layer of protection.

We hope this vaccination requirement does not inhibit your participation with the wonderful members of our vegan community, and instead, causes you to feel more comfortable with us being together.

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VCEI Board of Directors