The Great Lakes Branch - Ann Arbor

 

Great Lakes Branch

Who We Are
Within the Anthroposophical Society in America, the Great Lakes Branch is a group of people who work together to study, understand, nurture, and give expression to the worldview of Rudolf Steiner. In other words, the Branch aims to further anthroposophy - to facilitate the connection between the spirit in human beings and the spirit in the cosmos. The Great Lakes Branch works in the geographic region of the Great Lakes and, in particular, the greater Ann Arbor area of Michigan.  Established in the 1980's, the Great Lakes Branch was formed from a group of anthroposophically-oriented people, who were were (and are) among those who gathered around Professor Ernst Katz.  Dr. Katz and his wife Katherine, brought anthroposophy to Ann Arbor when they emigrated from the Netherlands in 1947.

In each calendar year, the Great Lakes Branch typically works to present festivals (Easter, St. John’s, Michaelmas, Christmas), traditional observances (Holy Nights, Three Kings, Rudolf Steiner’s Birthday), regularly scheduled lectures on a broad range of anthroposophical topics, special lectures, presentations, and gatherings. The Branch also supports with money and/or volunteer time, the efforts of anthroposophists and anthroposophical organizations. The Branch communicates regularly with its email list and maintains this website. Within the Great Lakes Branch there are study groups organized and conducted by individual initiative, which are typically open to newcomers. We enthusiastically welcome your interest, involvement, and questions!

The physical home of the Great Lakes Branch is in Ann Arbor at the Rudolf Steiner House, the headquarters of the Anthroposophical Society in America. Many of the Branch’s events take place at the Rudolf Steiner House. The House includes a lecture hall, administrative offices, kitchen, dining room, and a reading/lending library containing most of the titles of anthroposophical literature. The Branch’s study groups may schedule their meetings at the Steiner House. The Ann Arbor anthroposophical community includes the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor (preK-12), the Rudolf Steiner Health Center, Community Supported Anthroposophical Medicine, and the Community Farm of Ann Arbor, one of the oldest community-supported biodynamic farms in the nation.

Branch Involvement
To be a recipient of the Branch’s emails and/or to participate in Branch activities, there is only one requirement: you must express your wish to do so by notifying a Branch board member, or by sending your name and contact information to the Branch’s general email address (contact@greatlakesanthroposophy.org). Within the Branch community, we loosely refer to everyone as a “member” regardless of their financial contributions to the Branch and regardless of their membership in the Anthroposophical Society.

There are specific formal requirements for being a voting member, or to being a member of the Branch's board of directors. Formal membership requirements are, in addition to expressing your wish to be a member of the Branch: being a member in good standing in the Anthroposophical Society and being current in your annual financial contribution to the Branch. The amount that you contribute to the Branch in any year is not a fixed amount; rather it is the amount that you determine to be right, taking into consideration your resources and the value that you attach to the work of the Branch. If you would like to further explore Branch membership and/or if you would like to be part of the Branch's email list, send an email request to contact@greatlakesanthroposophy.org.

Tax Information.
Your contribution to the Great Lakes Branch is an eligible charitable deduction on your federal income tax return in accordance with the fact that the Branch qualifies as a tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For its tax exempt status, the Branch relies on the IRS’s published rule that, if an organization such as the Great Lakes Branch meets all of the 501(c)(3) conditions, it may operate with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status without a determination letter from the IRS provided that its average annual gross receipts are at or below $5,000. This rule is from IRS Publication 557.

Directions and Contacts

Many, but not all, Great Lakes Branch events take place at the Rudolf Steiner House, located near downtown Ann Arbor at 1923 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-1797. Please contact the designated event contact person for information on a particular Great Lakes Branch event. For general Branch questions, email: contact@greatlakesanthroposophy.org.  

For questions that do not pertain to the Great Lakes Branch but do pertain to the Anthroposophical Society in America, contact the Anthroposophical Society (reception@anthroposophy.org).  

For School of Spiritual Science or Christian Community inquiries, contact the Great Lakes Branch (contact@greatlakesanthroposophy.org).

On-going Events

Monday

There are currently two evening study groups that meet on alternating Mondays.  One of the Monday evening groups meets by Zoom.  For information on this group (subject matter, dates, times, etc.) contact Michael Gratsch (michaelgratsch@gmail.com).  The other Monday evening group is a Mystery Dramas Study Group that meets in person; the facilitator and contact for information is Marke Levene (markelevene@gmail.com).

Wednesday

Weekly, by Zoom 7:30-8:45 pm

This group is the Katherine and Ernst Katz Study Group (formerly the Wednesday Night Study Group). The group is currently reading Rudolf Steiner's 1924 Karmic Relationships lectures. For information contact Stephen Price (doctorprice@mac.com).

All Other Events

For information on all other events and activities associated with the Great Lakes Branch, the best source is the Branch's email list. To add your name to the list send a request by email to: contact@greatlakesanthroposophy.org. You will then receive every announcement that is sent to the members and friends of the Great Lakes Branch. There are no charges and no obligations. You may choose to leave the list at any time by sending a request by email to the same address. Note: persons on the Great Lakes Branch email list do receive the Branch's annual request for membership donations (usually sent in February) but no one is required to donate.