{"id":396,"date":"2023-02-23T14:20:03","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T14:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esustage.wpengine.com\/kansas-city\/?page_id=396"},"modified":"2025-09-21T15:44:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T15:44:53","slug":"our-community","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/centralflorida\/who-we-are\/our-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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– Jan McClure, Central Florida ESU Branch President<\/h5>\n

We’re Proud of Our Community! <\/h2>\n

For over 100 years, the E-SU in the United States has been part of an international society to create opportunities for our members to maintain their passion for lifelong learning, using the English language as a bridge between cultures. The vision and objectives of the Central Florida E-SU are dedicated to supporting educational opportunities for local teachers, students, and our members through inspirational and financial support.\r\n\r\n2025-2026 promises enriching experiences at the Central Florida E-SU, and we sincerely hope that you will become a new or renewing member. Still the least expensive of any of the 65 US branches, we have not raised our dues in over 20 years, while increasing our offerings to members, a fact of which we are very proud.<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Become a Member.<\/h2>\n

Please consider joining or renewing your membership dues at $45 for a practicing teacher, $55 for a single, or $100 for a couple. Beginning November 1, you may join with a credit card. If you prefer to pay by check to The English-Speaking Union, you may do so at the Sign-in Table at any of our meetings or events. We will send your check to ESUUS for you. Contact Rose Gregorio, Membership Chair, vinrose1063@embarqmail.com or Gilda Gomez, Executive VP, at gilda.gomez@yahoo.com if you have any questions. If you are a current member, they can tell you if your dues are current, past-due, or lapsed.<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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What Do Your Dues Support?<\/h2>\n

Remember that by joining us, you will have the opportunity to participate in our Branch’s\r\nengaging activities. We have a wonderful year planned. Check out our lecture series below! Your membership dues will support E-SU national educational and cultural exchange programs, too. In April, regional winners of the Student Shakespeare Competition will compete at Nationals in New York. As a member, you may attend our Regionals at Orlando Shakes at no charge next February. <\/h3>\n See Our Lecture Series!<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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We Invest in the Community! <\/h2>\n

Next summer, we will send several Central Florida teachers to the UK as part of \u201cTeachers Learning Abroad.\u201d You may also choose to virtually mentor recent immigrants around the US, opening a world of opportunities through a national program called English in Action: Conversations. We also have grant agreements with Opera Orlando and Orlando Shakes to make tickets to their productions available at a deep discount. These initiatives have a lasting and profound impact on the lives of students, teachers, English language learners, and our Central Florida members as lifelong learners. We look forward to adding you to our branch roster for a year of intellectual engagement and community involvement. We encourage you to become actively involved. Be a decision-maker!<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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English-Speaking Union<\/h5>\n \n

Central Florida Branch<\/h2>\n \n

Central Florida ESU Officers<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
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Jan McClure 
\nPresident<\/em><\/p>\n

Gilda Gomez
\nExecutive Vice President<\/em><\/p>\n

Gilda Gomez 
\nTreasurer<\/em><\/p>\n

Rebecca VanHorn 
\nSecretary<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n

Central Florida ESU Directors <\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
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(2023-26)<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Cindy Abeel<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Rose Gregorio<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Jane Tracy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    (2024-27)<\/span><\/p>\n

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    • Renee Anduze<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Linda Hobby<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Audrey Howard<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      (2025-28)<\/span><\/p>\n

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      • Jan Bowman<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Natalie Hill<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Ovid Vitas<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n

        Advisory to the Board<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
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        Socky O’Sullivan, Past President<\/p>\n

        Donna Miller, Parliamentarian  <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

        Vice Presidents\/ Committee Chairs <\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
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        Brett Carrier
        \nCommunications<\/i><\/p>\n

        Cindy Abeel
        \nCommunity Relations<\/i><\/p>\n

        Barbara Hughes
        \nDrey Endowment<\/i><\/p>\n

        Rose Gregorio
        \nMembership<\/em><\/p>\n

        Elaine Laegeler
        \nPrograms <\/em><\/p>\n

        Kristina Thompson 
        \nScholarships  <\/i><\/p>\n

        Brett Carrier  
        \nShakespeare Competition<\/i><\/p>\n <\/div>\n

        Past Presidents<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
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        Jan McClure
        \n2024-Present <\/i><\/p>\n

        Maurice (Socky) O’Sullivan 
        \n2022-2024<\/i><\/p>\n

        Barbara Hughes<\/span>
        \n2018-2022<\/i><\/p>\n

        Frank Paul Barber<\/span>
        \n2015-2018<\/i><\/p>\n

        Michael Kakos<\/span>
        \n2012-2015<\/i><\/p>\n

        Diane Sandquist<\/span>
        \n2010-2012<\/i><\/p>\n

        Kenneth Hubble <\/span>
        \n2008-2010<\/i><\/p>\n

        Ben Aycrigg <\/span>
        \n2006-2008<\/i><\/p>\n

        Joan Leslie<\/span>
        \n2002-2006<\/i><\/p>\n

        Roger W. Dixon<\/span>
        \n2001<\/i><\/p>\n

        Donna M. Miller<\/span>
        \n1999-2001<\/i><\/p>\n

        Alice Britton<\/span>
        \n1999<\/i><\/p>\n

        Ann MacArthur Sherman<\/span>
        \n1996-1999<\/i><\/p>\n

        David W. Stonecliffe<\/span>
        \n1993-1996<\/i><\/p>\n

        Walter W. Tolson<\/span>
        \n1990-1993<\/i><\/p>\n

        Roger W. Dixon<\/span>
        \n1987-1990<\/i><\/p>\n

        Robert F. Wilkinson<\/span>
        \n1982-1987<\/i><\/p>\n

        Hugh F. Leahy<\/span>
        \n1976-1982<\/i><\/p>\n

        Jerome J. Donnelly<\/span>
        \n1975-1978<\/i><\/p>\n

        Jessie E. Drey<\/span>
        \n1970-1975<\/i><\/p>\n

        Richard F. Trismen<\/span>
        \n1969-1970<\/i><\/p>\n

        J. Aubrey Sutton<\/span>
        \n1967-1969<\/i><\/p>\n

        Louis W. Ingram<\/span>
        \n1965-1967<\/i><\/p>\n

        J. Sherwood Foley<\/span>
        \n1963-1965<\/i><\/p>\n

        Warren R. Beatty<\/span>
        \n1960-1963<\/i><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n