More than 100 members and friends of the Seattle Branch of the ESU celebrated the branch's 75th anniversary celebration on Dec. 19 at the beautifully decorated Sunset Club. ESU members are drawn from all parts of Seattle and Bellevue, with more than a dozen Queen Anne and Magnolia residents. The Gala Christmas Ball is always one of the highlights of the season for ESU members, but this year was extra special. I spent several weeks prior to the celebration putting together the history of the Seattle Branch, sorting through the archives and collecting pictures of Christmas pasts and all the beautiful people in their formal attire celebrating at the elegant Sunset Club.
The archives and events of the past 75 years were very fascinating. At this point, I can hear you asking, What does ESU stand for? No, it is not an Elderly Silly Uncle. The English-Speaking Union of the United States is a nonprofit, nonpolitical, educational organization that operates through a network of 76 branches throughout the country and shares a common mission with more than 50 ESUs around the world. The English-Speaking Union of Britain was formed in 1918 by a group of educators, and the English-Speaking Union of the United States was organized in 1920 with headquarters in New York. Early ESU presidents included Howard Taft and Dwight Eisenhower.
The ESU carries on a variety of language-based programs for both native and nonnative English speakers. Educational programs are supported by its unrestricted endowment, corporate and foundation grants, as well as by the generosity of its members. The ESU is a membership organization of about 10,000 people in this country. Members benefit greatly from the personal relationships and international exposure gained from activities and events. They also provide financial and volunteer support to sustain the educational, cultural and social programs.
Our local branch was founded on Dec. 9, 1928. The first president was Dr. Herbert Cowen, an Episcopal minister. Mrs. William Pitt Trimble, first vice president, was selected as the official founder by the national head-quarters in New York. Fifteen people attended the original meeting held in the Olympic Hotel. Representatives came from Tacoma and Spokane.
The branch took an active part in War Relief in World War II, raising $13,000 and contributing to a special program entitled Bundles for Britain. One member gave up the ballroom of her Queen Anne home to install sewing machines to make children's clothes for bombed-out British war orphans. The Seattle Branch has had many illustrious presidents, including Dr. Richard Fuller, Mr. Bernard Pelly, Bishop S. Arthur Hutson and Mr. John L Scott.
Over the years, our local branch has contributed to local education programs, awarded scholarships for teachers to study in England, hosted scholars from Britain and the Commonwealth to study the education system in our state and, for the past 15 years, has sponsored local high-school Shakespeare competitions. This curriculum-based program is designed to encourage students from public, independent and parochial high schools to develop their communications skills and appreciation of language and literature while providing them with a unique opportunity for personal achievement.
Through the program, students perform monologues and sonnets in three qualifying stages: school, community and national. Every spring, the winners of the branch competitions come to New York City to take part in the national contest. During the semifinals, all competitors get the chance to perform onstage at a prestigious New York theater. Our local winner receives $400 and a fully paid trip to New York, and the teacher of the winner receives $400; the runner-up receives $250 while the second runner-up gets $150.
The Shakespeare Competition is a highlight of the local branch activities administered by a hard working, 10-member committee that has sponsored workshops entitled Shakespeare in the Schools presented by Arne Zaslove. This year, for the first time, the Branch presented an in-depth Shakespeare workshop for teachers.
Over the past years, we have had several interesting speakers on a variety of subjects, awarded scholarships for students to study everything from deep-sea exploration to economy, music and law. The branch has awarded scholarships to high-school teachers to study Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre in London and various other educational grants for English as a second language to a $1,000 educational grant to Overlake High School Music Department as well as many social, fun and fund-raising events.
There are monthly receptions at members' homes as well as an annual garden party giving the ladies an opportunity to wear their fancy hats and summer finery. To date, there are more than 170 local members in the area who receive a monthly newsletter informing them of all the upcoming events.
The next event will be on Feb. 3 with a speaker from England and a dinner at the College Club.
So here's wishing the ESU a happy 75th Anniversary. May it continue to thrive, and many thanks to the people who make it happen.
TTFN!
Linda Greenwald, a.k.a. Linda of London, is a longtime resident of Queen Anne and consultant on all things British. E-mail her c/o rtjameson@ nwlink.com.
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