Attendance: Annie, Kelly, Viorica, Allen, Robert.
Opening verse
Minutes of the previous meeting
Treasurer’s report: (Robert):
- Fundraising for Melody Miller to complete her speech training. $5,000 raised and sent to her.
The US visa application for Helena Syrovatkova has been approved with the Branch acting as the sponsoring organization. There was only a minor $15 cost to the Branch. Her actual visa should be issued shortly. Our work has also helped strengthen RongRong Ji’s visa application and we are hopeful she will receive her visa.
- We have about $500 in the checking account; I made a $400 donation to EWS to use the Eurythmy Room for First Class meetings. We also have a money market account that has $5,500 of restricted “rainy day” funds.
Community events:
Michaelmas celebration:
- We received a $250 grant to support our celebration. We need to provide photos and a short writeup to ASA. The celebration will be on Saturday, September 27, 1-4 PM at the Mays home. The theme will be Preparing the Way for the Christmas Imagination “Seeing the Sun at Midnight”. This will lead to a fuller celebration and eurythmy presentation of this Christmas theme during the Holy Nights (e.g. on December 26).
- In the program, we are combining the speech and eurythmy presentation Christina proposed (with a short introduction from me), with Bruce Kirchoff’s heart-centered Emergent Dialog on the theme. Here is the tentative schedule:
1:00 PM – Opening verse – Victorious Spirit. ~~ Melody Miller.
1:10 PM – Introductory remarks about the theme: “See the Sun at the Midnight Hour” and its relevance today, including recitation of the verse in English and German ~~ Robert Mays.
1:30 PM – Rudolf Steiner’s indications about the verse, the eurythmy form and gestures and their meaning ~~ Christina Beck.
2:30 PM – Brief break.
2:50 PM – Introduction to heart-centered Emergent Dialog ~~ Bruce Kirchoff.
3:00 PM – Heart-centered Emergent Dialog on the theme led by Bruce Kirchoff.
4:00 PM – Closing verse – Victorious Spirit. ~~ Melody Miller.
We will pay honoraria to Christina and Melody. Add references to the lectures to the flyer.
TODO: Allen will do the flyer. Annie will take pictures for the ASA.
Youth Gathering October 26-30, Multigenerational Gathering October 30-31 with James Dyson:
See their website https://www.healingencountersnc.com/
The Youth Group program is partially funded by the Los Angeles Branch ($1,000 grant) and a fundraising dinner ($35 on Saturday September 20th 5 pm, at Pearson-Moyers home, 3609 Pasture Rd. Hillsborough).
I have agreed that RSB-NC will be a sponsor of these events as we are a nonprofit Anthroposophical organization that can receive the LA Branch grant and also that we provide liability insurance for such gatherings. Their request is also that the RSB-NC Branch act as a guarantor if there is a shortfall (see later motion).
The Youth Group will be using the RSB-NC checking account to receive funds from ticket sales on their website via Squarespace. I can manage the funds and disburse them for reimbursement and honoraria payments. I have requested that they put together a detailed budget spreadsheet which they have done. So far, their financial plan looks good.
Discussion: The Branch board endorses these events as a sponsor. Annie and Allen will be the liaisons to the Youth Group.
TODO: Annie to contact Supreet to put on the website: These events are sponsored by the RSB-NC and the Los Angeles Branches of the Anthroposophical Society.
Motion by Robert, seconded by Kelly, that we agree to be a guarantor for these two Gatherings up to a maximum of $1,000 if there is a shortfall, assuming that all efforts were made to reduce the costs, including reducing or eliminating honoraria. Passed unanimously.
Report on the status of Branch activities:
Study groups: Philosophy of Freedom study group will start on October 11 at the Mays home, 2-4 PM. Other study groups: study at the Christian Community: Threshold study group with Claire — during afternoon at Judy Frey’s at least once per month.
Emerson Waldorf School: a new Director of Education has been chosen. New Parent Organization group. EWS will have a special Michaelmas school event to celebrate their 40th anniversary on Thursday October 9 10:30 AM, with the Founders.
Christian Community: Shepherds’ Play in December.
Other Waldorf initiatives: Raleigh Day School, Sun Star Farm, Rebecca’s group, etc. are working together.
Other initiatives:
Set date for next Board meeting:
Saturday November 8th, 5-7 PM on Zoom to discuss the experiences of the Youth Group and Conference at the end of October.
Closing verse, adjourn
