English-Speaking Union -
Cincinnati Branch Branch Notes-
Spring 2006
Editor, Margaret Whiting - Phone (513-241-6070) - email: mpwhit @aol.com
Message from the New President, Dolly Kohls
Welcome Spring!
ESU members and guests have traipsed through rain, snow and ice these past
several months to enjoy fine dining and interesting programs. Queen City Club
continued to serve fabulous fare, under the direction of ESU member Ann Schrimpf,
tailoring the menus especially for us. Cy and Ann continue to sponsor us.
This year we've had a special program introduction, courtesy of ESU member
Rev. David DeVore to C.S. Lewis and his kingdom "Narnia", a kingdom
our children and grandchildren discovered long before. Martin Sirot-Smith,
Chief Curator of George Washington's ancestral home, held us captive as he
presented the ancestors of George Washington and the awesome events which
brought to America the first leader of the free world! Cincinnati Theatre
is making its mark nationwide -- and Shakespeare was at his best in February.
After dining at the Phoenix, we walked to Shakespeare Festival Theatre and
spent the evening under the spell of the Bard. A special thanks to Mary Gimpel
and Eileen Knollman for arranging all the details. Prof. Alan Williams, former
member of Parliament, gave us much to consider and debate about events preceding
the Iraq war. Questions abounded -- we could and would still be discussing
and debating - but alas, Prof. Williams had other plans. Future programs are
noted elsewhere in this publication-- mark your calendars! Special thanks
to Terry Grundy, 1st Vice President and Chairman of our Program Committee.
Terry has spent hours in our quest for diverse and interesting programs. If
you have suggestions for a topic or speaker, please let him know.
A main thrust of our organization is scholarship programs. We are awarding
three travel study grants this year! In addition to broadening their education
and life experiences, the recipients will bring back and share with others,
the knowledge and experiences afforded by these ESU grants.
Bob Amott and Janice Flanagan, gave us yet another great Shakespeare Competition.
This year's winner, Brooke Howard, delighted us with a brief performance at
our March meeting. She was presented a check for First Place in the Competition.
All ESU members are invited to next year's competition -- in late February
2007. This a great way for you to be directly involved with our ESU mission.
Eighteen new members have joined ESU Cincinnati Branch this year. Thanks to
members who invited their friends to join us and to Membership Secretary,
Martha DeMar.
A special thanks to Linda Rhoads & Jane Anderson for the annual Prospective
New Member Reception. Jane graciously invites members to bring guests to her
lovely home to hear about ESU. Linda, Jane, and their crew, create quite an
event in August - hope you'll watch for the date and plan to share ESU with
your friends. The venues are splendid; culinary experiences divine; and programs
are stimulating.
As the saying goes: "Always be interested and you'll always be interesting
Recent New Members….To April 2006
Marianne Beard
Tracy Bennett
Dr.Gary & Bonnie Carothers
Dr. John & Shirley Chewning
Susan Faeth
Laura Hobson
John Kohls
Audrey Kemper
Gregory Land
Sylvia Reid
Martha Seaman
Connie Trounstine
George & Ann Smith
James & George Ann Wesner
Program Highlights…Which
was your Favorite?
| The October lecture on England's Sulgrave Manor by Martin Sirot-Smith, Director of the Manor, (who arrived in costume) was memorable. Pictured below are Rick Vogel, Eileen McCarthy, Martin Sirot-Smith and Robert McCarthy. |
The March 30 Program: Professor Alan Lee Williams, Director of the Atlantic Treaty and Professor at Queens College, London with ESU new member, Martha Seaman, Sylvia Benjamin and Terry Grundy. The lecture promoted a "spirited" discussion. |
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| The holidays brought a Victorian Christmas celebration with the music of the Christopher Alan Carolers. | In their holiday finery: Dick and Margaret Soike with Ann and Bill Nolan. |
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| In January a professional theatre company, Friends of the Groom, presented "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". This tale of love, faith, and courage by C.S. Lewis was introduced by Rev. David DeVore. | Enjoying the C.S. Lewis production were John and June Coldiron, Kathy Luttmer and John Chewning. |
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February Brings Shakespeare
| Once again, our special thanks to Janice Flanagan
and Bob Amott for their continuing work with the ESU annual Shakespeare
Competition for the area high schools. As in the past 10 or so years, they have, again, had a successful year. Eighteen area high schools participated in the February semi-finals at the Playhouse in the Park. Six students were selected to participate in the finals at the Shakespeare Festival Theatre. |
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Winner this year was Brooke Howard from Seven Hills School. Brooke attended the March ESU dinner where she received the winner's $1000 check from Bob Amott. Brooke will be traveling to New York with her parents and her "coach" for the National Shakespeare Competition in April. Her coach is Gina Cerimele-Mechley, ESU member, who was also the coach for the National ESU Shakespeare winner of 2004, Cincinnati's Joe Sofranco from Walnut Hills. A good luck omen? |
| Our thanks, also, to the many individuals who have served as judges for the competition during the past years. This year the judges for the semi-finals are pictured below: Left to Right: Giles Davies (Shakespeare Festival Theatre), Ed Stern (Playhouse in the Park), Eileen Knollman (ESU), Emily Detmer-Goebel (NKU Asst. English Professor) and Tony Davis from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. |
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ESU Cincinnati Branch said hello to Will when we attended the opening performance of Julius Caesar on February 16 at the Shakespeare Festival Theatre. We began the evening with a delicious filet mignon and salmon dinner at the Phoenix. ESU Chair of the Evening was Mary Gimpel. Pictured at left: Mary Gimpel with Brian Phillips (Artistic Director of Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival Theatre) and Rebecca Bowman (Managing Director). |
| Attending Julius Caesar that evening were: Bonnie Carothers, Lee Cain and George Ann Wesner |
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Don't Miss!!
Thursday, April 20: There is a lecture and dinner at the University Club. This is a combined presentation by the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Branch ESU. Reserve early for the "History and Future of the English Language" as discussed by Seth Lerer, Professor at Stanford University. He has taught medieval literature and history of the English language for 25 years.
Thursday, May 18: Wear your Scotch plaids and attend our lecture and dinner at the Queen City Club. Our ESU member, Keith Stewart (Scotch descent, naturally), will speak on "Bonnie Scotland"… everything you wanted to know about Scotland and its traditions.
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Sunday, June 11Our annual business meeting will be held at Coldstream Country Club. Also, as is our tradition, John LaFreniere will introduce our 2006 award winners for our Travel Study Program. We owe a vote of thanks to the chair, John LaFreniere and his committee for devoting their time and effort in evaluating the numerous applications that we received for this award. Committee members are: Rev. Christopher Armstrong, Susan Hansel, Judi LaFreniere, Sarah-Theresa Murakami, Linnea Nadel, and William Rhoads. The photo: John and Judi LaFreniere |
While we are handing out Kudos….!
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We have one for SUZANNE AND STEPHEN SCHWELLER for their chairing of the Page Scholar program……one could say, "year after year." This year our guest was Maureen Fenton from Lancashire, England. She is a Lecturer in English and Communication Studies at Accrington & Rossendale College, England. The Schwellers, as hosts, planned an informal reception and dinner at the Mariemont Inn that included: Susan Hansel, Eileen McCarthy, Robert McCarthy, Suzanne Schweller, Maureen Fenton, Stephen Schweller and Eileen Knollman |
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Kudos also to ANN AND CY SCHRIMPF and SYLVIA BENJAMIN. They received Annual Merit Awards from ESU National Headquarters at the Annual National Conference in San Diego this year: |
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Eileen Knollman, 2005 President, presented awards to Sylvia, Cy and Ann. |
Editor, Margaret Whiting - Phone (513-241-6070) - email: mpwhit @aol.com
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Special Photo Story - ESU 2002 Christmas Party
Revised - 05/29/06
