President’s Message

Welcome to the webpage of The English-Speaking Union US, New Orleans Branch! We’ve been an active Branch for more than 30 years, and have over 100 current memberships, including singles, couples, and the largest number of National Patrons of any ESUUS Branch. 

Fortunately, we have returned to a full schedule of in-person events September through June plus being supplemented monthly by the highly successful and interesting virtual ESUUS Happy Hour programs series organized by ESUUS Branches nationwide and broadcast monthly by ESUUS headquarters in New York City. 

New Orleans Branch played a kickoff role to this program, with its origins during the initial COVD period, thanks to Membership and Media Chair Julie Jardine being on the national planning committee and pivoting to provide the first virtual speaker, Robin B. Williams, Ph.D., who had been scheduled for an in-person presentation to the New Orleans Branch on Regency and Gothic Revival Architecture. Branch member and Founder of the National Food and Beverage Foundation, Liz Williams, provided another virtual program for the series about Creole Food: America’s Oldest Cuisine. Also, Jeopardy contender, Penn State professor and Moby Dick expert Hester Bloom was another fascinating Happy Hour speaker sponsored by our Branch.

The English-Speaking Union

New Orleans Branch

New Orleans ESU Officers

Bruce Gordon
President

Ben Karp
Secretary

Leonard Caruso
Treasurer

Preston Valois
Membership 

New Orleans ESU Board of Directors

Leonard Caruso

Rennie W. Culver

Amanda Gordon

Bruce Gordon

F. David Grissett

Michael Harold 

Ben Karp

Haydee Mackey

Benjamin Morrison

Rick Normand

Mimi Schlesinger

Preston Valois

Past New Orleans ESU Presidents

Walker Ronaldson: 1992-2002

Dr. E. Quinn Peeper: 2003-2013

F. David Grissett: 2014-2025

New Orleans Branch