Barrie ON

Huronia Branch

Contact:

Janine    705 728-1443.


Description:

HURONIA BRANCH

ANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN CANADA

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE:

            The Huronia Branch of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada has been in existence since 1995.  Anyone who is interested in studying and working with the legacy of Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy is welcome to join our meetings.

FORMAT OF OUR MEETINGS:

            The format of the meetings attempts to create a balance by dividing our time into three segments: study, artistic work, and executive decisions.

STUDY SEGMENT:

            After a special verse that always opens our meeting, and a different verse that a volunteer brings, we start the discussion on an aspect of Steiner’s writings that we have all prepared ahead.

            In the past we have focused on esoteric studies, spiritual biographies, the three-fold social order, current cultural trends, and other topics inviting an anthroposophical approach.  We were very interested, at one time, in taking turns giving individual presentations on special subjects.  Some of our members have been very knowledgeable, and had interesting points of view.  In addition, the challenge of preparing and delivering a presentation was good training for all of us.  More recently, however, we have come to feel that lectures given by one person while the rest listen is not sufficiently active.  So, for some time, we have chosen a series by Rudolf Steiner (mostly later works) and, after individually working on a chapter at home over the previous month, we discuss it during the meeting.  Currently, this seems to be more engaging for everyone.

ARTISTIC SEGMENT:

            Through the years, we’ve been lucky to have artists in the Branch to act as facilitators for our artistic segment, although anyone can present an artistic session.  The emphasis tends to change, depending on the skills of the current members.  We’ve done painting, sculpture, music, eurythmy, poetry, mini-dramas, and nature observation and drawing.  We currently have three eurythmists and a musician in the Branch – so we’ve had lots of music and movement recently.

BUSINESS SEGMENT:

            Lastly, we have a brief business meeting to address future action, practical logistics, and any financial considerations. The meeting closes with a repeat of the verse that had been contributed in the beginning.

SOCIAL GATHERING:

            After the meeting we all gather in the kitchen and dining area of Natura for coffee and cake and a chance to catch up on each other’s doings since last month, or for various extensions of the earlier discussion.

NEWSLETTER:

            Newsletters, plain or fancy, have come and gone over the years.  Currently we’re mostly sending out just the minutes, along with announcements of special activities around Huronia and Toronto.

BYLAWS:

            We have worked up a set of bylaws, and would be glad to share them with any similar group to whom they might be helpful.

THE HURONIA LIBRARY FOR ANTHROPOSOPHY

            The Huronia Library for Anthroposophy was initiated in 1996, and is located at the Natura Medical Arts Centre, 105 Toronto Street, in Barrie, Ontario.  It contains books by Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophical authors, along with some other authors on related subjects.  It contains about 600 volumes, not counting periodicals.  Except in special circumstances, the books are available only to Branch members.  We do not mail out books at this time.

‘FIRST CLASS’:

            ‘Class’ meetings are held at the Natura Medical Arts Centre on the first Saturday of every month except July and August.  Contacts:  Werner: 705 424-3574, or Ute: 289 597-5616.

MEETING TIMES AND LOCATION:

            We’d be happy to welcome you at our meetings – either as a visitor or a member.  Meeting sizes in the past have ranged from six to twenty six.  Currently, we have about seven to twelve people at a meeting.

WHERE?

            We meet at the Natura Medical Arts Centre, at 105 Toronto Street, in downtown Barrie.

            Barrie is on Lake Simcoe in Ontario.  That’s the big lake north of Toronto and east of Lake Huron.  It’s about 63 kilometres (40 miles) north of Rutherford Road and the 400 Highway in north Toronto (Vaughan), and takes about 30 to 40 minutes to get here from there.

TO GET HERE:

            Coming north from Toronto on the 400 Highway, take the first Dunlop Street exit after you reach Barrie.  Continue east on Dunlop Street for two to three minutes.  Turn left at the fifth traffic light onto Toronto Street.  Number 105 is on your right.  On weekends there’s lots of free parking across the street, and some beside the building.

WHEN?

            We meet at 2PM on the third Sunday of the month.  The exception is during July and August, when we have a picnic meeting in a country setting.

CONTACT: Janine at 705 728-1443.