{"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":"2025-09-17T15:12:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T15:12:20","slug":"our-community","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/who-we-are\/our-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n President’s Message <\/div>\n \n \n
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Welcome to the webpage of The New Orleans Branch of the English-Speaking Union of
\nthe United States! We\u2019ve been an active Branch for more than 30 years, have over 100
\ncurrent memberships, including singles, couples, and the largest number of National
\nPatrons of any ESUUS Branch. <\/p>\n

Again, this year we are planning a full schedule of in-person events September through
\nJune, including the highly successful and interesting virtual ESUUS Happy Hour
\nprograms series organized by ESUUS Branches nationwide and broadcast monthly by
\nESUUS headquarters in New York City. <\/p>\n

The New Orleans Branch played a vital kickoff role in this program with its origins during
\nthe initial COVID lockdown period, thanks to our previous Membership and Media Chair,
\nJulie Jardine. Julie served on the national planning committee and when the shutdown
\noccurred, quickly pivoted to provide the first virtual speaker, Robin B. Williams, Ph.D.,
\nwho had been scheduled for an in-person presentation to the New Orleans Branch on
\nRegency and Gothic Revival Architecture. Another New Orleans-sponsored speaker, Liz
\nWilliams, Founder of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, holds the record for
\nhighest attendance for her program on the origins of Creole cuisine.<\/p>\n

Other events planned for the season include our annual Patron Party, the ever-popular
\nChristmas Tea, the National Shakespeare Competition, and the King\u2019s Birthday Brunch.
\nSee our Photo Gallery for pictures of prior years\u2019 celebrations.<\/p>\n

As always, our principal focus remains our educational programs, in particular the
\nNational Shakespeare Competition for high school students and the Teach and Learn
\nAbroad scholarships for high school teachers. In fact, our 2024 Branch NSC winner,
\nMalachi White, went on to win the National Finals in New York City, and a participating
\nNSC teacher was awarded a scholarship by our Branch to study at The Globe Theatre,
\nLondon in the summer of 2025.<\/p>\n

-Bruce Gordon, President, Board of Directors<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n
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\n
The English-Speaking Union<\/h5>\n \n

New Orleans Branch<\/h2>\n \n

New Orleans ESU Officers<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
\n

Bruce Gordon
\nPresident<\/em><\/p>\n

Benjamin Karp
\nSecretary<\/em><\/p>\n

Leonard Caruso
\nTreasurer<\/em><\/p>\n

Preston Valois
\nMembership <\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n

New Orleans ESU Board of Directors<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
\n

Leonard Caruso<\/p>\n

Rennie W. Culver<\/p>\n

Amanda Gordon<\/p>\n

Bruce Gordon<\/p>\n

F. David Grissett<\/p>\n

Michael Harold <\/p>\n

Benjamin Karp<\/p>\n

Haydee Mackey<\/p>\n

Benjamin Morrison<\/p>\n

Rick Normand<\/p>\n

Mimi Schlesinger<\/p>\n

Preston Valois<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

Past New Orleans ESU Presidents<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
\n

Walker Ronaldson: 1992-2002<\/p>\n

Dr. E. Quinn Peeper: 2003-2013<\/p>\n

F. David Grissett: 2014-2025<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n