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2022 ESU Annual Conference

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Join us virtually for the Annual General Conference
November 13th - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST

The ESU Annual Conference is taking place in Charleston, South Carolina from November 11th- 13th. For those unable to attend in person, we highly encourage you to attend the virtual Annual General Meeting on November 13th from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST.

Limited space remaining: Join us for the 2022 ESU Annual Conference in Charleston, South Carolina

our first in-person Annual Conference since 2019

The English-Speaking Union welcomes its members to Charleston, South Carolina, for the 2022 ESU Annual Conference. The conference, under the theme of "Setting the Stage for Growth," will cover diverse and enriching approaches for organizational growth in the ESU's second century of programming. The conference program will include the ESU 2022 Annual General Meeting, social events, including receptions and meals, breakout sessions, panel discussions and local tours. We invite you to partake in the camaraderie and help us to advance our programs that support teachers, students and recent immigrants.

Want to renew your membership to the ESU? Click here to renew.

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2022 ESU Gala

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Monday, Oct 3, 2022 - The English-Speaking Union of the United States had the distinct honor of hosting Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at the organization's headquarters in New York City, followed by a beautiful gala at the Cosmopolitan Club on Monday, October 3rd, 2022. Princess Anne is President of the English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth, and her visit to the English-Speaking Union of the United States marks the organization's centennial and celebrates the two sister organizations' century of commitment to strengthening bonds between nations and cultures through the power of the English language. 

 Photo by Joy Malone

Her Royal Highness' visit commenced at the ESU's headquarters in Manhattan, where she was greeted by staff and constituents brought together from across the globe. Princess Anne toured the ESU's building, lovingly referred to as the ESU House, and met with beneficiaries of its numerous public programs. Three students from ESU's Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center (ARNIC), Dieudonné Ndje Bayi Seh of Cameroon, Niurka Meléndez-Vázquez of Venezuela, and Maria Pyaterneva of Russia, engaged in a conversation with the Princess about the impact of ESU's programs on their newfound lives in New York City. 

 Photo by Joy Malone

Additionally, she spoke with school teachers, such as Valentin Dumitrascu of the Marvelwood School of Kent Connecticut, who are recent recipients of the ESU's TLab scholarship (Teachers Learning Abroad) - a summer program that sends teachers from around the country to study at the University of Oxford, the University of Edinburgh, and Shakespeare's Globe. She also met with the 2022 winner of the National Shakespeare Competition, Sasha Fedderly of Lycée Francais de New York High School, and was presented with a beautiful nosegay by our youngest program beneficiary, Middle School Debate student Cole Corper, 2021-2022 member of the ESU New York Debate League's Championship Team from the Dalton School. 

 Photo by Joy Malone

The evening's gala program at the Cosmopolitan Club celebrated voices from across the organization who have dedicated themselves to the advancement of the cause.The Princess Royal acknowledged the inaugural 2020 Princess Royal Award Honorees and bestowed the 2022 Princess Royal Awards upon Dr. Loveday Conquest, Mrs. Natalie Pray, and Dr. Julia Churchill Van de Water, for their numerous contributions to the English-Speaking Union in its wider global setting. Additionally, the audience enjoyed a performance of Shakespeare by the 2020 National Shakespeare Competition People's Choice Award recipient, Max Mester, and a piano concert of Single Petal of A Rose from The Queen's Suite by Duke Ellington, performed by ESU Chairman Dr. E. Quinn Peeper.

Impressed by the numerous people who dedicate their time to the organization, Princess Anne noted in her address that "all of these things are done by people who have just taken a little extra time and interest to make somebody else's life work better." Indeed, the Princess Royal's visit to the English-Speaking Union of the United States was a marked celebration of the organization's century worth of commitment to fostering global understanding and goodwill. 

 Photo by Joy Malone

Founded in 1920, the English-Speaking Union of the United States is a national membership organization with more than 4,000 members organized in 65 Branches across the country. ESU members and volunteers are the pillars of our educational and cultural programs as they work in their local communities to carry the ESU mission forward.

For 100 years, the ESU educational and cultural programs have enriched the lives of American students, teachers, English language learners and ESU members. The English-Speaking Union employs English as a shared language to foster global understanding and goodwill by providing educational and cultural programs for students, educators, English language learners, new immigrants and members.

Download the official press release here.

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In Memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

National News

It is with admiration and profound respect that we pay tribute to the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty served as Patron of the English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth since granting it a formal Royal Charter in 1957. She served alongside her husband the late Prince Philip who was President of the English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth from 1952 to 2011. The Princess Royal, Princess Anne has since taken the mantle as President of the English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth. 

Queen Elizabeth II's reign spanned 14 American Presidencies, beginning in 1952 with Dwight D. Eisenhower, later Chairman of the English Speaking Union of the United States. Emblematic of her reign was her care in fostering a special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, the principle upon which the English-Speaking Union was founded. She was a fierce champion for charity, education, and goodwill around the world.

Queen Elizabeth II speaking at an ESU event at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, 1957. Seated right is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (President of the English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth from 1952 to 2011)

As Patron of the English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II traveled extensively and served as an ambassador for peace. The English-Speaking Union of the United States was fortunate to honor and host her, as well as His Royal Highness Prince Philip, on multiple occasions. Among pictures in the ESU's collection are images from her visits to New York in 1957 and 1976, where she spoke at ESU-US-sponsored events at the Waldorf Astoria. 

His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (left),  Her Majesty The Queen (center), and Lewis Douglas, ESU Chairman from 1951-1959 (right) pictured at the ESU-hosted dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in 1957.

Queen Elizabeth II demonstrated steadfast leadership and integrity during her 70-year reign - qualities which we honor and emulate as an organization. We are thankful for her unwavering, life-long support of the English-Speaking Union's mission to foster global understanding and goodwill through the power of the English language.

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ESU message on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

National News

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II served as Patron of the English-Speaking Union since granting our Royal Charter in 1957. We send our deepest condolences to her family at this time.

We will commemorate the passing of our Patron in the days to come.

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A Message from the English-Speaking Union of the United States

National News

On behalf of the National Board of Directors of The English Speaking Union of the United States and our entire community, I express our deep concern about the news from Buckingham Palace.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Her Majesty the Queen and her family at this time.

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