Brian Taylor, ESU Portland, Oregon, Newsletter Editor and Webpage Administrator.
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Founding of the Portland branch
The Portland branch of the ESU was founded in the late 1920’s. Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Strong had visited Great Britain where they met members of the ESU. On their return, the Strongs assembled the first ESU group in Portland. | Recent Events
The 2007 ESU National Conference in Richmond, Virginia, October 31 to November 4
Lois and Ardeth Colliver were the Portland Branch delegates to the conference and they attended the business meetings. They report that after some discussion the proposed changes to the national bylaws were tabled until the next national board meeting. The Denver Branch is now in Region 8 and will host the 2008 regional meeting. The national merit award for Art & Aileen McNett was approved, recognizing their contributions to English in Action.
Pat & Brian Taylor joined Lois & Ardeth at the conference and found the whole experience enjoyable and stimulating. Here are some of the highlights from the 4 days they were there:
• The venue itself, the historic Jefferson Hotel, built in 1895, with its Rotunda providing a spectacular setting for receptions and afternoon tea.
• The tour of Jamestown, celebrating its 400th anniversary, and Colonial Williamsburg on a cloudless day, and self-guided tours of the Capitol and Hollywood cemetery with its monuments to 2 Presidents and thousands of Confederate soldiers.
• The Shakespeare Festival, whose theme was “Shakesfear and How to Cure It”, where the audience was entertained by a number of Shakespeare experts as well as the winner of the National Shakespeare competition and the finalist from the Richmond Branch. Students from a high school in St. Petersburg, Russia presented sonnets in English and Russian.
• The Churchill Symposium where 3 highly knowledgeable speakers, including Churchill’s granddaughter, Celia Sandys, shed new light on the achievements and character of the great leader, and related stories of his visits to Richmond, not all of them flattering!
• All the lunches and dinners, with entertainment ranging from Ceremonial Drummers of the Virginia Indian Tribes to a fascinating presentation on the history of Jamestown by Lord Watson of Richmond, England, to excerpts from “Twelfth Night” in Russian! The Gala Dinner held in the foyer of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts was outstanding, with everyone dressed to the nines!
• Being with about 300 interesting people from all over the U.S. and several other countries and having ESU membership in common.
• The Richmond Branch’s organization of this huge event was most impressive. With several activities happening each day, some requiring transportation to different locations, timing was everything and they had it down to a tee.
Congratulations to Richmond Branch on a job well done!
Annual Christmas Party, December 9, 2007
Many thanks to our kind hosts Diane Plumridge and Art Dodds for another splendid party!
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