2024 Section Conference / San Francisco Information

“The Youthful Poet Dreams” by William Blake

SATURDAY LOCATION
Swedenborgian Church
2701 Lyon Street

SUNDAY LOCATION
SF Waldorf High School
470 West Portal Avenue

Arrival Time for Saturday: 8:30-9:30. Coffee and snacks will be available.

Start Time for Saturday: 9:30.

The Swedenborgian Church, a National Historic Monument, is located in Pacific Heights, near the Presidio. On weekends, street parking is not regulated in Pacific Heights and is much more available than during the week; however, the hills are quite steep. You might want to consider übering to the Church, back and forth. (Or if you are signed up for Waymo in SF, you can use the app to have a self-driving car pick you up.)

Why are we using the Church? Because it is an outstanding and premiere example of the arts and crafts architectural movement in America at the end of the 19th century. The people who freely assembled to build this Church were artists and visionaries. The Church is a surviving link to an older spirit-visioning of America.

In case you are not familiar with the Church, here is an introductory video by storyteller-poet John Gaul, who was a member of the Church for many years until his death recently.

Is there room for last minute registrations in San Francisco?
Maybe . . . I need to be mindful of the space. And I am erring on the side of caution. But let me say that anyone who has a heartfelt destiny connection to the Section and its work should not hesitate to get in touch with me directly. And very soon.

Do I need to make my own arrangements for overnight in San Francisco?
Yes. Rachael Staudt, a member of our conference planning committee, has recommended the Holiday Inn Express in MIll Valley.

What is happening on Sunday morning?
Sunday morning has been given the name “Muffins, Museums, and Meetups.” There are four options at the moment:

• You can kick back and enjoy the morning in San Francisco howsoever you see fit.
• You can join a biography workshop organized by Karen Gierlach that will take place (if there are enough persons) at the San Francisco Waldorf High School. Please confirm if you are interested. Contact Karen directly for more information at pkgierlach@gmail.com
• You can join a group that will be meeting at the Legion of Honor art museum to view art, eat brunch in the cafe, and share conversation. Please confirm if you are interested to Rachael Staudt at rachaelstaudt@gmail.com.
• You can attend the service at the Swedenborgian Church, which starts at 11:00. I believe there is a meditation at 10:30. Service is followed by snacks and coffee in the Parish House. No need to confirm.

Is it possible to buy a ticket to only the Sunday eurythmy performance of the Michael Imagination from Rudolf Steiner’s Last Address?
No.

Is there still time to register for Toronto?
Yes! Absolutely! This is a North American conference, and I encourage anyone with a destiny connection to the Section (who has the means and the time) to travel to Toronto. This conference is a moveable feast. To experience it fully, you will need to be in both locations. But if you can’t be in both locations, no problemo—either one is fine. To view the current schedule for Toronto, click this sentence. The conference fee for Toronto is now only $125 US. Click this sentence to register for Toronto.

What is happening on the Literary Field Trip to Big Sur following the weekend in San Francisco? (September 9-11)
A small group will tour the Tor House and Hawk Tower of poet Robinson Jeffers in Carmel, the Henry Miller Museum in Big Sur, and we will investigate the literary spirit of this very significant location in Alta California. The group is fully subscribed, but contact me if you want to be on a waiting list. Percipants need to have their own transportation and make arrangements for food and lodging.

How do I become a “member” of the Section?
The Section is part of the School for Spiritual Science. Therefore, you first become a member of the School. To do that, you need to contact your local class reader. For information on the First Class of the School for Spiritual Science, click this sentence. The class reader will explain how things work and what you need to do. Once you are a member of the First Class of the School for Spiritual Science, you become a member of the Section by introducing yourself to someone on the Section Leadership Team (me, for example, or anyone on the team). Introduce yourself and let us know that you feel a destiny connection to the Section and its work. You can introduce yourself in a friendly, collegial way by phone, email, letter, or personal contact. We like to assume that as a member of the Section you will contribute to the Section’s work by sharing news of what you are doing, joining events, and by donating to the Section as a free deed of collegial support. Currently, we do not have “dues.”

But can I affiliate with the Section and participate if I am not a “member” of the Class?
Yes. Obviously. This Conference, for example, is a Section Conference for friends and members. All Section meetings to date that have originated in Northern California have been for friends and members. But what you wont’ be able to do if you are not a “member” is to participate in future Section events that specifically concern themselves with the First Class of the School for Spiritual Science. In that case, you will need a blue card to show that you are a member of the Class. You do not need a blue card for this conference.

What is a “blue card”?
Briefly stated: a “blue card” is a signatory document that acknowledges that a certain individual has freely chosen to affirm a destiny connection to the School for Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland.

Suppose I have other questions?
Ping me or anyone else on the North American Section Leadership Team. Or talk to Christiane Haid at the Conference. Christiane is the leader of the Section at the Gotheanum.

8.14.24