MINUTES of THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF
THE RUDOLF STEINER BRANCH (NC)
OF THE ANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA
MARCH, 26, 2022 2:00-4:00 pm
IN THE EMERSON WALDORF SCHOOL EURYTHMY ROOM
OPENING VERSE — The American Verse
May our feeling reach
To our heart’s inmost core,
And seek to unite in love
With human beings of like aims,
With those Spirits who, full of grace,
Look down on our earnest heartfelt striving,
Sending strength out of regions of light,
Bringing light into our love.
~ Rudolf Steiner
ATTENDANCE
Robert Mays, Suzanne Mays, Kelly DiPietro, Viorica Comaniciu, Allen Barenholtz, Joanna Carey, Eve Olive, Ben Bingham, Jenny Bingham, Leni Covington, Buddy Smiley, Christopher Coffey, Kathleen Wright
WELCOME by RSB-NC President, Kathleen Wright
REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LAST YEAR
Paul Jackson – June 20, 2021
VERSE FOR THE DEAD:
Feel now how we gaze lovingly
Into heights that now
Call you to other work.
May your power reach out
From Spirit realms
To the friends you left behind.
Hear our soul’s request
Sent to you in confidence.
We need here, for our earthly work,
Strong power from Spirit lands –
We thank our friends now dead for this.
~Rudolf Steiner
REPORTS
President’s Report for 2021 (Kathleen Wright)
Last year was the second year of the Pandemic. While 2020 ‘s restrictions crippled our outer work, this past year we learned to be more creative, in order that our work might continue in new forms. We had a conference in early November with Andrew Linnell which we were able to offer both in-person and on Zoom (24 people signed up.) . Next week we are hosting a Mystery Drama Workshop with Barbara Renold which so far has 18 people attending. This will be our first event without masks in two years! We have continued to share with our members all notices about online Zoom Talks and conferences of which there have been many. Our Community offered to be a “Host” Center for the national Anthroposophical Society’s AGM in October, meaning that persons could gather here to view the AGM Zoom meetings together and then have live discussions with one another about the various talks. Very few people signed up for that idea, but then Robert Mays suggested that we open his home to all who wanted to hear Michaela Glockler’s opening talk and that was very well attended.
We Board Members were disappointed that no one volunteered to be on the Board this year. Our By-laws allow up to 9 and we had that number for many years. We only have four now. We are concerned for the future of the Branch because most of our members are over 70. Another ever-growing concern in our community is the decreasing number of our members. This year we lost Paul Jackson, who crossed the Threshold on June 20. Edward Schuldt moved to Missouri to be near his daughter and new Grandson. Lisa Stauffer moved to Devon, PA. While our membership list included 36 members, which is 6 more than the previous year, there were several people who paid dues who live far away from here – Italy and Atlanta, to name a couple, and there are some people on the list whom we do not know. We appreciate their financial help, but we need active members even more. Two young men have joined our community and have attended some of the festivals this past year. We just got word that there is a couple who currently work at the Minnesota Camphill Village who intend to move here in July. So there is much to be hopeful for in spite of some setbacks!
Last month I was invited by the Eastern Regional Council to give a report on our branch via a Zoom meeting. My report prompted a discussion among the other attendees about various issues that we all seem to be facing. The other branches are also concerned about declining membership and lack of young people, but there were some very inspiring thoughts given as well. One man said that we need to stop thinking of our community as just our location. Because of all the new communications we are all part of a global community now and we need to consider it great for us too when we hear that the anthroposophical movement is growing exponentially in places like China, India and Africa. Also when we think of the future, it should not mean that we are trying to bring what we had in the past forward, but rather we must develop new forms to meet the needs of the future.
We hope and pray that there will not be a resumption of the Pandemic restrictions and that all previous traditions will re-commence, such as branch meetings. We are planning to have one in May. The exact date will be announced soon. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the burning of the Goetheanum and we hope to have a large Commemoration evening on December 31. Also our local Eurythmists have applied for a Grant to do a performance here for the public and we hope to sponsor that.
TREASURER’S REPORT (Robert Mays)
As of December 31, 2021, the balance of our cash assets is approximately $44,200, in the following funds:
-
- Unrestricted:
- BB&T / Truist Bank: $1,386
- Self-Help Money Market: $2,928
- Restricted:
- Self-Help CD Building Fund: $27,329
- Folsom Bequest: $10,465
- Heart Fund/Care Fund: $546
- Outreach Fund/Meetup: $1,590
- Scholarship Fund: $0
For 2021, most activities were limited or constrained by the requirements of the pandemic. We had a total of 31 members join or renew their membership donations which totaled $1,240. We had general donations of $197 and a Heart Fund donation of $100. Our savings accounts earned $141 interest.
The MysTech Workshop by Andrew Linnell on November 5-6 was attended by 24 people and brought in $795. The registration was done by Eventbrite. Expenses included travel reimbursement, honoraria to the speaker and eurythmist, and Eventbrite charges. There was a small net loss of $170.
There was a major unanticipated expense of $700 to move the RSB-NC website to a different server. In addition, a Heart Fund donation of $390 was made. Overall, there was a net loss of about $1,200 for the year.
WEBSITE UPDATE (Robert Mays)
The RSB-NC website is now finally stabilized with good response time. In addition to the move of the website, the Branch listserv was also moved to a more reliable and manageable Google Group platform. So far there are 74 members on the new RSB-NC-list and the list has proved to be quite active.
SCHOOL OF SPIRITUAL SCIENCE (Judy Frey)
Currently the School of Spiritual Science in our area has 33 members. Some of those live out of town, as far away as Tammy Hughes in Hong Kong, and others in out of state locations much closer to home. A small core group of 5 to 8 people kept the monthly meeting alive during the virus shutdowns except for one or two months early in the pandemic, meeting in various homes and in the Eco Heal Center. Our last meeting for this season will be in April.
Dr. Steiner established the School of Spiritual Science after reading an autobiography of Henry Ford. Of course there were other reasons for establishing this School. But importantly he was moved by Ford’s comments at the end of the book. Despite all the accomplishments Henry Ford had made as an inventor he admitted that something was lacking in his life, something that lies beyond the ordinary giving and absorbing of information but is alive and waiting to be discovered. Yet, unhappily, discovering this unknown something eluded him. Dr. Steiner compared this to someone knocking at a door but has no means to open that door. Behind the door awaits Anthroposophy. For this reason, among others, the School was established: that Anthroposophists who feel so called can find appropriate ways to open the door and introduce Anthroposophy to those waiting for it to enter their lives. To do this the members of the School must not primarily prepare lectures, seminars and the like, but rather prepare their own souls to be true representatives of Anthroposophy in all that they do in their private time and in all their interactions with others. This and only this is what draws people to the door.
The School of Spiritual Science was not a secret and is not a secret today. Dr. Steiner wrote several articles about it in the Weekly News Sheet of the AS. It is here in our community for you to seek out if you feel the desire to deepen your understanding of esoteric matters in a meditative and imaginative way. If you have any questions please ask Ben Bingham, Suzanne Mays or myself. Ben, Suzanne and I would like to thank the board members for their continued support of the Class. — Judy Frey
FESTIVALS (Joanna Carey)
Festivals which were held last year included:
Holy Week – at Ecoheal Center. Jenny provided the esoteric material. Emil Bock’s book on Holy Week was read each day. Good Friday was held at the Bingham’s.
Whitsun 2021 – Sunday May 23rd. – We met at the Ecoheal Center. Joanna Carey gave a talk on 2 lectures by Rudolf Steiner on the work of the Angels and our need to raise ourselves to the Spirit in our daily lives. There was eurythmy with Bride McWilliam and speech artist Melody Miller for the beginning and the end. There was also lyre music. We engaged in a solo concentration exercise with writing/drawing and then shared with a partner who we didn’t know. We heard a pertinent fairy tale and shared as a larger group our impressions throughout the afternoon.
Michaelmas 2021 – was a 3 day event at the Ecoheal Center featuring various people from the community including Kathleen Wright and Ben Bingham and Jenny Bingham. As I was ill and unable to attend I am only able to give a brief overview of this festival event:
Wednesday September 29th: “Understanding Kaspar Hauser and the Archangel Vidar and what they seek to achieve in our time and onward into the future…in the spirit of Michael”. This was a lecture by Jenny with a group conversation/sharing. This was held at the Bingham’s residence in Hillsborough.
Saturday October 2nd: “Unraveling the Mystery of Evil in the Age of the Consciousness Soul: its origin, development and manifestation in our time: how to cope with it, how to transform and redeem it”. This was a talk given by Kathleen Wright with a short conversation afterward. Joanna Carey was meant to give an additional talk on: “The Healing Power of the Questions – a Michaelic Gesture in the Consciousness Soul Age.” There was also an eurythmy offering by Bride Alona McWilliam with accompanying Speech from Melody Miller.
Sunday October 3rd: Ben Bingham spoke on “Uncovering the Threefold Social Order at work; a Michaelmas Challenge with some conversation, song, and poetry to heal our times”. This event was also held at the Ecoheal Center in Chapel Hill.
The four Sundays of Advent were celebrated in the home of Joanna Carey. The title: “Meeting Advent Through Semblance to the Sacred”
November 28th: the Mineral Kingdom and the Physical Body – Stones, bones and shells.
December 5th: The Plant Kingdom and its relationship to the Etheric Body through pictures and plants.
December 12th: The Animal Kingdom and the Astral Body – Animal stories
December 19: The Human Kingdom and the Ego-Being within us: Biography work. We had lyre music and rich, intimate conversation,
The Festival for the Unborn – February 20th, 2022. This was a new festival brought into this community to acknowledge the blessed Unborn.
This time was chosen as to be equidistant from Christmas as our Celebration for the Dead is to Christmas. We wanted to bring deeper awareness of their role in our lives on earth as well as to provide an opportunity for us to strengthen our awareness of their brave and courageous journey back to the earth. We met at the home of Bride Alona McWilliam and Christopher Coffey. We had lyre music, eurythmy and a verse. We heard 7 poems on pre birth spoken by different people. The poems were all written by Eve Olive. Joanna Carey gave a talk based on Peter Selg’s book titled: Unbornness. She spoke of the Sistine Madonna- its history and its mystery in the light of the Unborn. She also spoke of the journey of the Dead through the planetary spheres and support for the Unborn during the time when souls begin to become the unborn as we journey and discover how we will create our future lives. We also began to enter into the mysteries of embryology as explained by Rudolf Steiner. We then had a quiet reflecting time with writing and drawing followed by a deep and abiding sharing among the group.
Study Groups (Joanna Carey)
We are currently about to begin a 4 -week study on The Mysteries of Easter. We will read from a number of sources and engage in dialog together. This is in preparation for Holy Week when we hope to meet each morning for an hour of contemplation which can then guide us through our days during that week. We would love to have a real Easter Celebration as well although this may be only a questionable possibility. It always depends on who is willing to participate. I would like to stress that these events happened in person during a pandemic and also with a number of young people, many of whom participated either with their artistic offerings or their thoughts and their help in setting up, etc. We are drawing people from further afield who are young and middle aged. They all bring much to offer to our wider community.
Readings for the Dead Group: We have been meeting for the past 12 years. Over the past year and a half we have chosen to meet each week. We have also experienced an increase in attendance from a few people in areas further out from the Durham area including a few younger people. This has been a most gratifying group to be a part of. Our dialog and group thinking endeavors have created a productive and holy environment for all who attend and all those in the spiritual world who engage with us in our conversations and study.
EMERSON WALDORF SCHOOL (Viorica Comaniciu)
The students are back in their classrooms on the main campus. Optional masking indoors and outdoors makes it a joy to teach since we see the students faces and can hear each other better. The teachers continue to be passionate about teaching while creating a safe environment for the students – conducive to learning and supportive of their social and emotional needs.
We began the year with large cohorts (kindergartens, 1-4, 5-8, 9-12), which was a welcome change after a year of individual class cohorts. This year grades1-8 had two rotating schedules based on teachers’ cohorts and strictly delineated areas for recess. After the October break the transition to eliminate these boundaries began. Now, during recess, all the grades are reunited on the main campus playground.
Enrollment shows an increase in inquiries over the past year. This year we have 270 students enrolled in nursery (1 class), kindergartens (3 classes) and grades 1-12. The growing enrollment allowed us to restore and create many programs which were not possible last year due to decreased enrollment. Here are a few examples:
-
- Gardening teacher- full time
- Counselor- tried to hire a full-time teacher- we have a consultant at this time
- Music – in the lower grades
- Instrumental music- high school
- Woodwork, blacksmithing blocks in middle school and high school
- Afterschool programs for kindergarten and grades
- Athletic program for middle school and high school: basketball, volleyball, Frisbee
- Robotics team led by Gareth Dickerson – high school (The Icosahedrons robotics team made it to the State Championship in Greensboro in their rookie year.)
Behind the scenes of what is visible on campus every day, Emerson’s faculty and staff are hard at work preparing for the next re-accreditation visit, which will occur in about a year in October 2022. This visit is the culmination of our multi-year process of self-study, goal setting, and continual school improvement. This includes strengthening programming across the grades and dealing with the staff changes due to retirement, relocation, sabbatical leave, etc. We have a few positions posted and we are looking for Waldorf trained and experienced teachers who can collaborate well and strongly carry the mission of our school.
Parent Involvement: The EWS Board continues to support the work of the teachers and carry the school financially and legally. The board hired a new marketing director- Brad Porter who is an exceptional addition to the staff team. The Finance Committee created an endowment, which represents a big step in the maturation of EWS and will allow other opportunities for fundraising and development. This initial $1 million investment is in a socially responsible portfolio. The Board formed a Salary Compensation Task Force in spring 2021 to look at short and long-term actions to improve the compensation (salary and benefits) of the faculty and staff at EWS.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan Committee was formed in late winter 2021 to provide input into the strategic planning process and work on a draft contract with Biwa, a racial equity consulting firm. The Board and the College have committed to begin work with Biwa in the Fall of 2022. The Campus Planning and Farm Committees continue to respond to the everchanging needs of indoor/ outdoor learning. Their new priority is to offer better bathrooms on the farm.
The EWS community strongly supported the Emerson Fund even in unpredictable and challenging times. After a year of isolation, the parents’ organization called Parent Teacher Collaboration (Heads, Heart and Hands) came back in full force to support each class teacher, organize meals for teachers every Wednesday, sponsor talks for learning diversity (ADHD, Autism), support the festival life of the school, etc. There are a few other parent initiatives that host a monthly get-together to connect, share and build community (Tea on the Porch, EWS Dads’ Group, etc.) or give feedback to the faculty on the impact of adopting the CDC regulations (Whole Child Advocacy).
NEW WALDORF INITIATIVES
THE UNITY SCHOOL (Leni Covington)
The Unity School is a Waldorf®-inspired school located in SE Raleigh, and aspires to bring Waldorf® education to Wake County by becoming the county’s first AWSNA recognized Waldorf® School there. Currently, they offer Early Childhood in 2 classrooms with 14 students. Heather Power is a fully trained Waldorf Kindergarten teacher and the Faculty Chair. Jamie Kelly is in training. Bridget Liebold is the assistant to both classes.
Grade 1 now has 6 students and is taught by Tricia Minick. She is mentored weekly by Leni Covington and will continue her training this summer. Leland Rayner, fully trained, is the second grade teacher with 10 students. TUS is searching for a new grade 1 teacher for next year and has begun to interview.
They are also searching for an aftercare teacher, M-F, 12:15-4:15 to finish out this year and if possible to continue next year.
The school began last year with outdoor classrooms and relocated this year by renting space from St Mark’s Episcopal Church on New Hope Road in Raleigh.
Board members include Lucy Chartier, Board Chair; Tommy Dalton, Lydia Johnson, Silvia Gallo, Heather Power, and Leni Covington. Three new board members were elected to begin May 1: Bridget Leibold, Tara Sumanaseni, and Trish Mueller, Treasurer.Activities are posted on their website and Facebook and Instagram accounts.~ Leni Covington
SUN STAR FARM (Kelly DiPietro)
Sun Star Farm is a Waldorf-inspired farm school for babies in diapers all the way through 4th grade and will grow to a 5th grade next year. They are at max enrollment capacity now with about 75 students.
There are at least three trained Waldorf Teachers there including myself (Kelly DiPietro). Heidi ( from South Africa), and Don Watkins are the owners and managers of the school and farm. The program has been all outdoors for two years of Covid but is currently indoors for portions of academic lessons. They have circle, story, puppet shows, bread making and they celebrate Michaelmas with a dragon pageant each year, Martinmas, Candlemas, Advent spiral, Pumpkin Path ect. I personally teach an extra math class for the 4th graders and various special art classes. We work with the Norse Myths and the 4th grade Waldorf Curriculum.
They run all summer camp programs as well. Children are exposed to many aspects of Waldorf curriculum and attracts families from the Jordan Lake area (Apex mainly).
Shannon is opening her own school at her home next year called Ms. O’s Folk School. I will continue to work part time at Sun Star Farm as it is thankfully close to my home.
BIODYNAMIC GROUP (Kelly DiPietro)
The Biodynamic Group meets seasonally to make the BD Preps and to study Biodynamic Agriculture. After their meetings the members spray the preps in their home garden s and in areas of their neighborhoods. The group is led by Jon Lyerly.
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Our local affiliate has been mostly meeting at Camp New Hope and averages about 23 people per Service. Our priest, Matthias Giles visits about 5 times per year. This April we will have a Confirmation with children from – Texas, Georgia, Asheville Washington D.C. and from our own group. In April Lenker Craig Wiggins will be joining us for the Confirmation. The Carrying Group of the CC consists of Buddy Smiley, Sarah Smiley, Diana Haynes, Robin Haynes, Martha Kelder and Kathleen Wright. Lisa Stauffer was a member of the Carrying Group but has moved to Devon, PA. Lisa also provided the Music for services. Ben Bingham will be taking charge of the Music and leading the Choir since Lisa left. The biggest highlight of last year was the St. John’s Festival which the Christian Community sponsored. After the Act of Consecration and a talk about St. John, the Congregation gathered in a park for a delicious Pot Luck luncheon followed by some to the most beautiful singing our Congregation has ever done. We also played a game, led by Matthias’s wife, Rev. Emma Heirman. That same weekend, the couple presided over the funeral of their dear friend and our branch member, Paul Jackson, who had passed on June 20. Emma had been a student of Christina Beck (Paul’s wife) and was the flower girl at their wedding.
This year (2022) is the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Christian Community. There will be a big celebration in Germany for it. Buddy Smiley has been attending the Seminary long-distance program for the past three years. This year he and Sarah will be presenting a talk at the Seminary. This year’s new Seminarians are 8 women, no men. It is amazing how times have changed! The Congregations in Chapel Hill, Atlanta and Nashville are going to be united into one region and it is hoped that this region will have its own priest in the near future, as the number of Priests will soon outnumber the number of established Congregations. ~ Buddy Smiley and Kathleen Wright
AMARANTH EURYTHMY THEATER REPORT (Christina Beck)
December 2020: Fairy Tale “Star Money” prepared for presentation with four eurythmists and Melody Miller as speaker. Rehearsals and beginning of group stage work.
Due to Corinne Horan moving to Atlanta, this therapeutic work, fruitful as it was, had to end January 2021-now. Quiet solo and duo ongoing rehearsals during the past two years of Covid conditions.
-
- Small performance presentations, individual sessions, group classes in private homes.
- Small presentations of eurythmic elements within the Mystery Drama reading group.
With restrictions loosening more looks possible. I start adult classes at EWS again on March 30th. Classes will be on Wednesdays 5:15-6:30 pm. Stand alone workshop Saturday April 16 10-12am. Contact me directly at cbeck.river@gmail.com for more info. Warmly welcome.
Individual Member Reports
Bride Alona McWilliam
I now write to you from Emerson College in Forest Row, where I have begun my first week of a three year part-time training in Eurythmy Therapy. I feel a whole new orientation to Eurythmy beginning to open and it is very exciting. I hope soon to be able to serve the community with the fruits born from this training. I am in the process of creating a Go-Fund-Me to help realize this goal.
Last year brought Eurythmy and speech with Rachael, Melody and my self around the Festivals of Whitsun, Michaelmas, Advent and The Unborn. Eurythmy served as a way to open and close a extraordinary space to hold these celebrations. A duo collaboration for Christmas began and then due to illness could not continue.
In November I led Eurythmy for the MysTech conference with Andrew Linnell. I strove to bring a introductions to the ethers and a relationship of light and darkness in the human being (time permitting). In February I gave a day of classes to the community in Floyd, Virginia. Ages 4-7, teenagers 15-19 yrs. and a public class for Adults (there was 10 people). We worked with a Easter verse, colors and planets. This was a vibrant day full of Eurythmy, singing, conversation, and important meetings for all. We hope to continue this on a monthly basis.
As I look forward into the coming year it is clear that my focus now is shifting toward new learning and a growing over time into Therapeutic Eurythmy. The path is still unknown, though will be increasingly demanding and require my traveling to different places gaining experience from a variety of different Therapists. It will take me twice a year to England, one month at a time in Spring and Summer for 3 years. When possible I would still hope to bring Eurythmy to the Festivals in Chapel Hill and create other opportunities to share this art.
Christopher and I were very grateful to have hosted the Unborn Festival in our home. Looking forward to continuing creations and learning, ~ Bride Alona
Lynn Jericho
I continue to do my one-to-one anthroposophical counseling. I am close to 30 years of these conversations.
The Equanimity Workshop: I have been working with a group for 18 months on the mystery and complexity of equanimity. I will begin a new cohort this fall.
My Inner Christmas Messages supported 200 anthroposophists through the inner work of the Holy Nights around the world this year. It was my 18th year. This Spring I have two new programs:
-
-
- Beyond 63: the Art of Aging Anthroposophically will begin after Easter.
- A Gathering of Selves is a membership program for those who seek a community devoted to the mysteries of Selfhood.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the programs I offer, please email me at: lynn.jericho@gmail.com
Leni Smith Covington
Kenyon Avenue Press, an independent publishing company, located in Durham, NC, is a new individual initiative launched by Leni Smith Covington in 2021. The mission of KAP is to publish multicultural fairy tales, retold for Grade 2-3 vocabulary and comprehension development. I conceived of this idea when I taught second grade in the Charlottesville, VA Waldorf School in 1985 and found a dearth of suitable reading material. I had read in my teacher training books that Rudolf Steiner suggested reading material be based on the oral lessons of the previous grade. Since fairy tales are the essence of Grade 1 Main Lessons, I chose to retell fairy tales in a reading level from Fountas and Pinnell, Level M, which is the standard goal for the end of Grade 2 classes across the United States. Of course, some children will be reading at this level during grade 3.
The illustrator of the first book, a retelling of the Brothers Grimm THE SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES, is an artist who worked at the Lakota Waldorf School in Kyle, South Dakota and has served in many volunteer capacities at the Charlottesville Waldorf School. Book signings were held last spring: one in Charlottesville, Virginia and 4 in Massillon, Ohio. It is now available on Amazon. A Spanish edition was printed in early spring, 2022, and is currently available. A Mandarin edition is in the works.
A second book, KOSNATI AND THE DRAGON, will be published in early summer. It takes place in KwaZulu-Natal in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa. Any and all suggestions for marketing will be appreciated. Writing these books has been my personal dream for 33 years and it is exciting to see it come to fruition.
Robert and Suzanne Mays
We gave a Zoom talk about our NDE (Near Death Experience) research and its relation to Anthroposophy through the Front Range Anthroposophical Café in Boulder, Colorado this past January.
Allen Barenholtz
Allen belongs to a Men’s Group that has discussions. He shared a humorous anecdote about a discussion on death they had and the reflections of an 80-year-old man in the group.
DISCUSSION
What do you envision for the future of our branch? This discussion has been tabled until our next Branch Meeting which will be in May, as we ran overtime and needed to clear the room for another event.
CLOSING VERSE — “The Motto of the Social Ethic”
The healthy social life is found
When in the mirror of each human soul
The whole community finds its reflection,
And when in the community
The virtue of each one is living.
~Rudolf Steiner
