Fall 07 ESU Newsletter

English-Speaking Union -

Cincinnati Branch Branch Notes-
Fall 2007

Editor, Margaret Whiting - Phone (513-241-6070) - email: mpwhit @aol.com

From the President:

TDear Branch Members, A new ESU program year begins and what a splendid year it looks to be!

To kick off the new year, Patron-level members came together for a gala evening of cocktails, dinner and companionship at River High, the lovely Hyde Park estate of Melody Sawyer Richardson. It was a beautiful event and the Board bestowed on Mrs. Richardson the title "Patron of the Branch" and a year of complimentary membership in the Branch as a way to thank her for her hospitality.

Thanks to the hard work of Jane Anderson, the programs for 2007 are set, starting with our September 11 dinner at the Taft Museum, complete with a tour of this magnificent house museum by new director Eric Lee. Events to follow include an October dinner with Oliver Everett, Librarian Emeritus at Windsor Castle; a November dinner with the Lord Watson of Richmond, past chairman of the worldwide ESU movement; and our holiday gala dinner on December 11 with the Catacoustic Consort, one of America's most highly regarded early music ensembles. All of these are events not to be missed so plan to come and bring your friends!

Our educational activities are off to a flying start. Bob Amott and Janice Flanagan are revving up for the annual high school Shakespeare Competition, John LaFreniere and his team are laying plans for another successful Travel Study Grant competition, and Suzanne and Steve Schweller are poised to welcome this year's Walter Hines Page Scholar from the U.K. Please give your full support to these important programs and please attend the events associated with them.

Ginger Pohl and Nancy Clagett have given me valuable advice on our proposed new high school debate program. This is still a "gleam in my eye," as it were, but many of us feel sure it's a program worth piloting, based on the good success U.K. branches have had with it.

I want to thank all of you who renewed your memberships for the upcoming year and welcome the new members who have joined since we were together in June. Remember that our Branch will continue to be one of the strongest in the country only if each of us takes responsibility for attracting new members.

My thanks go out to our 2007-2008 Board members who work so hard behind the scenes to make all our ESU events and programs go smoothly. Special thanks this time of year to Jayne Floering who just completed our budget and is finishing our tax filing and to Margaret Whiting who creates these Branch Notes. Finally, I want to say thanks to Dolly Kohls and Nancy Clagett who have agreed to represent our Branch at the Annual General Meeting of the U.S. ESU in Richmond, Virginia at the end of October. They'll be there with Eileen Knollman, a member of the National Board, and will bring back lots of information and ideas that we can use to make our Branch even more successful.

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon… Terry Grundy, President

Save The Dates:

This promises to be a special fall !

September 11, Tuesday Meet at the Taft Museum. Eric Lee, new Director, speaks on "Taft's British Collections."

October 3, Wednesday Evelyn Wrench speaker discusses "Windsor Castle: The Fire and Restoration."

November 6-7-or 8 The Lord Watson of Richmond will schedule a special visit from London.

December 11, Tuesday Holiday Gala with the special Catacoustic Consort.

The Patron Reception:

The Annual Patron Reception was held on August 18, 2007 at the lovely home of Melody Sawyer Richardson. The Cincinnati Branch of ESU is most grateful to Melody for hosting this reception. The sun was shining, the view was fabulous, and the home was incredibility beautiful. But the whole day was made perfect by our charming hostess, Melody - from her gracious greetings at the door to her lovely dinner served on the patio. Our many thanks.

MELODY SAWYER RICHARDSON WELCOMES HER GUESTS


THOSE FANTASTIC HYDRANGAS WERE EVERYWHERE---EVEN PLACED ON THE "SIGN IN TABLE"

EVERYONE CHATTTED, SMILED AND THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT ALL


	FOR THE GRAND FINALE: DINNER ON THE PATIO AND THIS MAGNIFICENT VIEW OF THE OHIO RIVER

ESU Cincinnati Branch... Past Presidents:


Past Pres. Thomas Galloway and Mrs. Galloway	Past Pres. Melanie Hunt

Past Pres. Cedric Vogel	Past Pres. William Helton

Past Pres. Ethan Stanley and Mrs. Stanley	Past Pres. Vern Corbin and Mrs. Corbin

Past. Pres. Dr. Frank Walsh and Mrs. Walsh	Past Pres. Dr. Robert Kemper

Past Pres. Stephen Schweller	Past. Pres. William Rhoads with Mrs. Rhoads

Left to Right - Past Presidents Dolly Kohls 2005-2007 Nancy Clagett 1996-1998 Eileen Knollman 2002-2005	Deceased Past Presidents: John Sunnenberg '77-'79, Mrs. Charles Puchta '85-'87, John Anderson 87-'89, Joyce Holmes '89-'91

Cincinnati ESU Education Programs:

The English-Speaking Union is much more than just a social organization. There is an important educational component as to who we are and what we do. Indeed, the stated mission of the ESU is to promote scholarship and the advancement of knowledge through the effective use of English in an expanding global community. In our Branch, we currently pursue this goal through the following education programs.

TRAVEL STUDY GRANT - The Cincinnati Branch's Travel Study Grant program, begun in 1976, is designed to assist worthy individuals who are active in the fields of Liberal, Fine or Applied Arts or the Humanities, and wish to study or conduct research either in the United States or in one of the countries of the British Commonwealth. Currently, and for several years, this project has been chaired by John LaFreniere and his committee. The current budget has $4000 available to award to worthy applicants. Last year there were two recipients. Photo: John LaFreniere announcing the awards at our June 2007 meeting at the Queen City Club.
WALTER HINES PAGE SCHOLARSHIP - This scholarship is one of the original ESU programs. It promotes the exchange of educational ideas by bringing British scholars to the U.S. to study practices and developments relevant to their own specialized fields. Thanks to the continued work and support of Suzanne and Stephen Schweller (see photo at right), this program has been flourishing for several years. Both Suzanne and Stephen put much effort and thought into making contacts and appointments for the visiting scholars. They need to meet the appropriate people at the proper schools so they are exposed to the information they desire/need. The Schwellers also host them for dinner in their home. This is an educational experience for the scholars as well as for the Schweller boys (who love the experience). The Cincinnati Branch provides room and board for these guests (appx. $400 in the current budget).
SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION in greater Cincinnati high schools is one of our major programs. It was established in 1987 and chaired for several years by Patricia Overbeck. The chairmanship was then assumed by Janice Flanagan. She was later joined by Robert Amott as co-chairman. For many years they have handled this complex program with skill and efficiency. Students and their teachers, participating in the program, have a chance to earn cash awards totally $2500. The photo at the Right: Janice Flanagan and Patricia Overbeck.
BOOKS AS ENVOYS PROGRAM - This is an ESU program whereby selected books (THE AMBASSADOR BOOK AWARD) indicative of American life and more are sent to ESU branches in other countries for placement in educational facilities. We continue to send our books to our "twin branch" in Auckland, New Zealand. The annual cost of our participation in this program is around $200.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Our ESU member Sarah-Theresa Murakami will have a solo piano concert on October 14, 2007 at 3:00 pm at the Church of the Redeemer, 2944 Erie Ave., Hyde Park. All are invited.

Editor, Margaret Whiting - Phone (513-241-6070) - email: mpwhit @aol.com

Archives:

Branch Notes: Spring, 2007

Branch Notes: Fall, 2006

Branch Notes: Spring, 2006

Branch Notes: Oct, 2005

Branch Notes: June, 2005

Branch Notes: February, 2005

Branch Notes: August, 2004

Branch Notes: April, 2004

Branch Notes: December, 2003

Branch Notes: August, 2003

Branch Notes: June, 2003

Branch Notes: March, 2003

Branch Notes: Nov. 2002

Special Photo Story - ESU 2002 Christmas Party

Revised - 11/02/07