Ann D. Brown, Secretary
abrown1927@aol.com
SAVE THE DATES
Sunday 28 September, 2008
5:00pm, The Field Club
A cocktail reception is scheduled with performance by KATE HURNEY singing on the subject of "Jane Austen's Music". Kate will be accompanied on the piano singing songs Jane liked and of her time.
October 2008 - date to be announced
A daytime excursion is being arranged by bus to New York for a private tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lunch will be provided for members at the Museum.
Tuesday 18 November 2008
12noon, The Greenwich Country Club
A luncheon featuring A CELEBRATION OF BRITISH UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS, with anecdotes from Eleanor Ritch, Greenwich recipient of the Lillian Butler Davey fellowship to study at Oxford this year. Special guest will be historian John Savage, who will speak about the evolution of the Engish language.
Friday 12 December 2008
12noon, The Field Club
A Christmas luncheon for members and guests will feature a special performance by Lyric Spinto Soprano JODI KEOGAN accompanied on the piano. Jodi made her debut in an Italian Opera house in 2002, singing the role of Adina in Donizetti's L'ELISIR D'AMORE., Other operas Jodi has performed include LA TRAVIATA, CARMEN, PAGLIACCI, FAUST, NABUCCO, MEDEA, TOSCA, TURANDOT, MADAME BUTTERFLY. Jodi's performance for ESU members will include opera arias and Christmas songs.
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Sir Alan Collins, British Consul General in New York; Natalie Pray, Co-President, Greenwich Branch; Lady Collins; William R. Miller OBE, National Chairman of ESU
The Greenwich Branch invites you to open the door to global understanding.
Welcome to the Greenwich Branch of the English-Speaking Union, which was established in 1983 and now has a membership of over 200 area residents. The Greenwich Branch supports the worldwide ESU goal of advancing the effective use of the English Language in an expanding global society. It's mission to foster the many uses of the English language is expressed through the varied programmes offering international speakers and cultural events. The Branch is committed to their annual educational programmes and competitions for high school students and fellowships for high school teachers. The members of the Branch support the national programme of “Books Across the Sea” by underwriting a selected series of books to be shipped to our affiliate in Serbia Montenegro.
Recent event: Garden Party, Sunday 22 June 2008
The Greenwich Branch celebrated the 82nd Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen with a garden party at the home of Natalie and Malcolm Pray. Sir Alan Collins, KCVO, CMG, the British Consul General and Lady Collins were Guests of Honour. Sir Alan addressed a large group of members and friends who raised champagne glasses in toasts to The Queen and the President of the United States. The three Shakespeare winners from Greenwich, Caroline Kitchener, Marguerite McHale and Olivia Harding, performed their winning monologue or sonnet for guests. Alfred Vanderbilt, President of Shakespeare on the Sound, briefed members about the presentation of JULIUS CAESAR in Greenwich from 4 through 13 July 2008. Mr. William R. Miller, OBE, National Chairman of the ESU, expounded on the ESU mission of advancing global understanding through the use of English, and the importance of supporting our education and scholarship programmes.
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Special Announcement
A new program, EiA, "English in Action" is being offered by the Greenwich Branch of the ESU to local residents. It is designed to help adults for whom English is a second language or who possess the basic skills in using English. EiA helps to bridge the gap between learning English in the classroom to using it in daily life. We are seeking volunteers who will act as a tutor once a week for one hour to converse one-on-one with a student. For more information, contact Mac Gibbons at 203-869-4614.
Students
In March, The ESU, the Smith College Club and the Greenwich Library co-sponsor the annual Shakespeare contest for public and private students in grades 10th-12th. In April, the local winner participates in the national finals held at Lincoln Center in New York City. The national winner is awarded a summer course in England.
In May, the Lillian Butler Davey Student Communications Awards, supported by Greenwich ESU, are held at Greenwich High School.
The John Douglas Public Speaking Award, in honour of our first president is presented to a senior at graduation. Over 200 students participate and the 25 winners receive awards in seven categories covering academic essay, journalism, public speaking, poetry, drama and video.
Teachers
We offer Fellowships to local High School teachers in English, Social Studies and Creative Writing to pursue summer courses for three to six weeks at Oxford University, the Globe Theatre and Edinburgh University.
The Walter Hines Page Scholarship supports a programme for ESU members here to host a British teacher who wishes to travel to the United States.
Members
We offer programmes from September through June with speakers selected from the British Evelyn Wrench Speakers Bureau, cocktail receptions with international guest speakers, the annual Christmas party and tours to museums.
The annual Garden Party celebrating The Queen's Birthday is held in June with the British Consul-General the Guest of Honour. At this event we introduce the winners of the local Shakespeare Competition and the recipients of the Teacher Fellowships.
All members have access to Dartmouth House in London, the Headquarters of the ESU Commonwealth. Accommodation is available at area hotels which offer reduced rates to members.
Maxfield S. Gibbons and Natalie T. Pray
Co-Presidents of the Greenwich Branch
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