Sounds to me, as if the current VP has proven that position and herself unnecessary. Since your group is small and rather informal, why not just let one of the other (regularly attending) officers fill in as acting VP, if you should be absent. Since she has so much trouble attending, she should be more than happy to have the burden lifted from her shoulders. A VP is actually supposed to help the president, not just show up uninformed, in case of an emergency.
Is it necessary to announce beforehand, when freebies will be up for grabs? Could they be gathered and held, then brought out during random meetings?