January 2026
As we begin 2026, I extend to you my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and successful year ahead. The turning of the calendar is always an opportunity to recommit ourselves to our values and goals, and at the ESU it is also a moment to remember that our work—strengthening understanding, civil discourse and friendship through the English language—remains as vital as ever.
2026 holds special meaning for our nation and for our organization. As the United States celebrates its Semiquincentennial, we are reminded that liberty endures through open exchange of ideas, reasoned debate, and mutual respect. It is in this spirit that I invite you to the ESU Annual Conference, April 23rd through April 25, 2026, in New York City, under the theme United by Language, Inspired by Liberty. The Conference will bring together the ESU leadership and members from the 60+ national and international Branches for meetings, workshops and social and cultural activities at the ESU House, the nearby Shelburne Sonesta Hotel, and other partner venues throughout Manhattan.
Our gathering will be anchored by a commemorative event, Celebrate Legacy, Inspire the Future, on Friday night, April 25, marking the 25th anniversary of the ESU House as our national home. The evening serves as an important part of the ESU Capacity Building Campaign, helping to strengthen the operations that sustain our programs and ensure the ESU’s continued impact for years to come. The proceeds from this event will support the creation of a new Branch-focused role designed to drive membership growth, deepen Branch engagement, and expand the reach of our programs across the ESU community.
The event includes the formal unveiling of a plaque honoring ESU’s major supporters, student presentations, and remarks by two distinguished guests: Lady Caroline Emma Stanley, Countess of Derby, and Lady Henrietta Mary Spencer-Churchill. Their presence and perspectives will add historical
depth and transatlantic resonance to a weekend already rich in meaning.
One of the most anticipated moments of the conference will be the U.S. finals of the International Public Speaking Competition – ESU on Friday, April 24. Student finalists from across the country will present original speeches inspired by the legacy of Sir Winston Churchill and President Dwight D. Eisenhower (who served as Chairman of the ESU Board after he left office) reflecting on leadership, democratic values, and the importance of transatlantic cooperation. The winner will travel to London this July to represent the United States at the International Public Speaking Competition. Finals hosted by our sister organization, the ESU of the Commonwealth, competing against more than 50 finalists from countries around the world. Few experiences so clearly embody our belief in the power of language to shape confident leaders and engaged citizens—and few events are more inspiring to witness.
On Saturday, conference participants will have the opportunity to take part in Revolution in Old New York: Soldiers, Spies and Statesmen of the American Revolution walking tour, as well as a guided visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit, Art of the Gilded Age. The day will conclude with the
traditional National Patron Reception and Lecture at The Players, the oldest club in New York City still in its original location that serves as a gathering place for artists and arts lovers from theater, literature, music and visual arts. The program will feature a conversation with renowned historical biographer Flora Fraser and Doug Bradburn, President and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
The day will conclude with the traditional National Patron Reception and Lecture at The Players, the oldest club in New York City still in its original location that serves as a gathering place for artists and arts lovers from theater, literature, music and visual arts. The program will feature a conversation with renowned historical biographer Flora Fraser and Doug Bradburn, President and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
The conference week concludes on Monday, April 27, with the ESU National Shakespeare Competition 2026 National Shakespeare Competition Finals, to be held at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center. This signature event showcases the extraordinary talent of student finalists from across the country and stands as a fitting conclusion to the week’s events. Sponsorship packages for Celebrate Legacy, Inspire the Future include VIP access to the Shakespeare Competition Finals. A limited number of tickets to the finals will also be offered for purchase, depending on availability.
Additional details about the Annual General Conference and surrounding events are outlined in the registration packet, and I hope you will take a moment to review them. More importantly, I hope you
will join us in New York this April. There is nothing quite like gathering in person—with history at our backs, and with a shared confidence in what civil discourse can achieve.
On behalf of the National Board and the entire ESU team, thank you for your continued commitment to the English-Speaking Union. I look forward to seeing many of you in the April—and to a year worthy of
both our past and our future.
December 2025
As the holiday season draws near and the year winds to its close, it feels like the right moment to pause and look back at some of the special moments that defined the ESU’s work over the past twelve months. It has been a year rich in purpose, accomplishment, and connection—everything our organization has stood for since its founding 105 years ago.
One of the year’s brightest highlights was The National Shakespeare Competition April at Lincoln Center in New York City. Forty-two talented students from across the country brought the Bard’s words to life as they vied for the grand prize: the opportunity to attend the British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer Conservatory Program in Oxford, England.
We were also proud to award the Luard Morse Scholarship to another exceptional young leader, Olivia Abdalla. Abdalla is a journalism major at Hampton University and will spend the Spring semester of 2026 academic year studying in the UK.
We celebrated yet another cohort of dedicated educators who advanced their professional development through the ESU TLab program. Rebecca Donovan-Bain was announced as a finalist for Palm Beach Illustrated’s 2025 Educator of the Year. She leads her school in our National Shakespeare Competition, and was awarded a full scholarship to attend the ESU TLab intensive at Shakespeare’s Globe this July.
We’re happy to share that the Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center marked a milestone of its own by graduating its largest class ever—535 new immigrants from 35 countries—all taking confident steps toward building successful lives in the United States.
Our ESU Debate Programs engaged more students than ever, strengthening their skills in civility, reasoned argument, and public speaking. More than 1000 middle and high school students have participated in our Saturday fall semester debate tournaments thus far!
Our ESU community continued to flourish, with growing audiences for both the virtual ESU Happy Hour series and the in-person Evelyn Wrench Speaker Program, reflecting a renewed enthusiasm for learning and connection across our membership.
The ESU National Patron Tours also offered unforgettable experiences this year. In July, participants sailed from Naples to Malta aboard Sea Cloud Spirit, tracing Admiral Nelson’s dramatic course through the Mediterranean. Recently, twenty Patrons and friends enjoyed an extraordinary holiday weekend at Knowsley Hall, November 20–23, as guests of the Earl and Countess of Derby—a rare chance to experience life, art, and hospitality at one of England’s grand estates.
The year also brought meaningful improvements behind the scenes. We introduced a new CRM system (a membership and data management software), greatly simplifying membership sign-ups and renewals. This gives us more reliable and efficient reporting tools—an investment already strengthening our operations.
And earlier in the year, the Founder’s Award Gala, hosted in March by our Central Florida Branch, launched our Capacity Building Campaign, an important effort to help secure the ESU’s future.
At that gathering, I was deeply honored and humbled to receive the Founder’s Award, the ESU’s most prestigious distinction—an experience that underscored for me the importance of the work we all support. It was a moving evening and an inspiring beginning to a campaign that will continue into next year as we prepare to celebrate a major milestone: 25 years since the ESU moved to its current home at 144 East 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan – a place that houses our New York-centered programs, including English in Action conversations and the Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center. The ESU House also hosts various social events, as well as the New York Branch Shakespeare Competition and professional development programs for teachers.
The festivities will begin on a particularly fitting day—Shakespeare’s birthday, April 23—with a special weekend that brings together the National Shakespeare Competition, the ESU Annual General Meeting, and the 25th Anniversary Gala Reception at the ESU House. It promises to be a joyful celebration of history, union, and the enduring power of our mission.
As we enter this festive time, I extend to each of you my warmest wishes for happiness, good health, and a season filled with peace and joy. I hope to see many of you in the New Year as we continue our work together.
Finally, this is also a season of gratitude, appreciation, and generosity. I invite you to join in that spirit by making a year-end gift to the ESU, helping us sustain and grow the programs that make such a profound impact on the lives of students, educators, newcomers, and communities across the country.
September 2025
The disturbing events of last week compelled me to write this letter to express my deep concern, felt for some time now, at the general loss of civility and tolerance in our society. In moments like these, when our nation feels most divided, I am reminded how much the world needs the English-Speaking Union and the mission we serve.
This is evident in our Middle School Debate program, where students at a formative age learn how to engage opposing views with civility and calmness. The program equips young people with not only the skills to speak persuasively but also the wisdom to listen carefully and respond thoughtfully. It is also central to our international student and teacher exchange programs and scholarships, which broaden perspectives and build personal connections across cultures. And it fuels the International Public Speaking Competition, hosted by our sister organization, the ESU of the Commonwealth, in London every summer, which brings together students from more than 40 countries around the world, for a week of cultural exchange and public speaking contests.
James Raven, former Chairman of the ESU of the Commonwealth, put it eloquently in a recent interview: “The real challenge now, particularly for young people, is not just to have the confidence and ability to communicate but to be able to understand how you agree to disagree and how you come to a common understanding.” He also reminded us that “the ESU’s competitions and programs help young people to engage with the world and to understand other points of view. The ESU is an educational charity that sets out to transform lives and that transformation is about giving people an opportunity to think for themselves, to explore the world through communication.”
This is the essence of the English-Speaking Union: connecting people, bridging divides and fostering goodwill and understanding through the English language. At a time when the need for civility and tolerance has never been greater, the ESU stands proudly as a community dedicated to dialogue, mutual respect, and the building of a more inclusive world.
June 2025
June traditionally marks the time when I write to you—our loyal members and friends—to ask for your continued support by renewing your ESU membership, or, if you are not yet a member, to warmly invite you into our fold. This year, however, tradition is meeting innovation.
We are in the midst of implementing a new membership database—a modern system that will help us to stay better connected with you, provide more timely and personalized communications, and make joining and renewing simpler and more flexible than ever before. This new system will allow us to roll out several exciting upgrades to our membership program. As a result, this year the annual membership renewal process will start in October, when the new software will be fully implemented. But rest assured—this change brings with it new opportunities to better serve our members and to strengthen the bonds that unite our ESU community.
What’s new? Quite a lot, actually.
We introduced rolling renewals last year, allowing memberships to be active for a full year from the date of joining or renewal—no more worrying about the June deadline. The new system will make this process smoother, more reliable, and easier to manage for everyone.
You’ll also notice more flexible membership categories designed to reflect the diversity and vibrancy of our ESU family.
One particular welcome addition is our new Educator Membership, offered to teachers who have participated in the ESU’s hallmark programs: TLab, the National Shakespeare Competition, the International Public Speaking Competition, and the Middle School Debate. This special category comes with a lower membership fee and additional benefits designed with educators in mind, including:
- Exclusive professional development workshops
- Special curriculum resources and downloadable lesson plans
- Invitations to member events in New York City during the ESU National Shakespeare Competition Finals weekend
Exciting add-on experiences to TLab programs
These educators are the torchbearers of English language learning and global understanding, and we are proud to welcome them more fully into the ESU family.
Equally exciting is the newly reimagined Dual Membership—formerly known as Couple Membership. Recognizing that meaningful partnerships come in many forms, we’re expanding this category to include a friend, relative, child, or colleague—not just a spouse or partner living under the same roof.
All of these changes set the stage for something truly momentous.
In 2026, the United States will mark its Semiquincentennial—250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The ESU will celebrate with a commemorative campaign “The English-Speaking Union and the American Revolution.”
This campaign will be anchored by our Annual General Conference in New York City, taking place April 23-26, and coinciding with two major milestones: the 2026 National Shakespeare Competition Finals and the 25th anniversary of the ESU House. Together, these events will create a dynamic and inspiring gathering that highlights our mission, celebrates our history, and energizes our future.
The “ESU and the American Revolution” campaign will deepen engagement between members and Branches, welcome new supporters into our ranks, and raise funds for expanding programming across the country.
Additional highlights will include:
- A student essay writing contest inspired by themes of liberty, language, and legacy.
- America250 events hosted by ESU Branches nationwide—and here, we’re appealing to each of our Branches to participate by sponsoring a celebration in their community.
- These events can be held in person or virtually and will be open to local members as well as guests and members of other Branches who may wish to travel for the festivities. We’re thrilled to share that ESU Boston has already raised its hand and will host a celebration in the fall of 2026.
- A line of ESU/America250-branded merchandise and commemorative items to mark the occasion in style—perfect for celebrating this once-in-a-generation milestone and showing your ESU pride.
The United States Semiquincentennial is a unique opportunity for the ESU to reflect on our shared history, celebrate our mission, and bring people together through the power of our shared language. It’s a chance to learn, connect, and have fun along the way—and we hope you’ll be part of it.
So, while you won’t be receiving your renewal notice this month, I hope you’ll take this message as an early invitation to stay involved, stay inspired, and stay with us. Your commitment makes our mission possible.