The English-Speaking Union of the United States – Central Florida Branch

SEPTEMBER MEETINGSEPTEMBER MEETINGSEPTEMBER MEETINGSEPTEMBER MEETING

Monday, September 12, 2016

3:30 p.m. Reception; 4:00 p.m. Program

The University Club of Winter Park

Professor Ed Cohen, Rollins College

presents

H olmes as a reader of clues; Watson as a misreader of clues; the range of

Holmes’s published works; Watson’s roles as narrator and putative author of Holmes’s adventures; Arthur Conan Doyle’s talent for parody and the nature of purpose of the embedded texts in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Program Leader: Jackie Littleford

P. O. Box 758, Winter Park, FL 32790-0758 Website: www.E-SUus.org/centralflorida • E-mail: centralfl@E-SUus.org

September 2016 Issue #1 – 2016-2017

President Frank Paul Barber

Executive Vice President Barbara Hughes

Vice Presidents Ginger Bryant Gisela Davis Reta Jackson Donna Miller

Ovid Vitas

Treasurer Lorre Davis

Secretary Jan McClure

Past President Michael Kakos

Directors Judy Beck John Snow Julie Rankin Elaine Barnes Sandra Powers Dot Cline Elaine Laegeler Maurice O’Sullivan Mary Rosette

Advisory Council Diane Sandquist

Parliamentarian Kenneth Hubble

Historian Bob Pittman

National Patrons

President’s Circle

Frank Paul Barber Ken Hubble Michael and Aimee Kakos

National Sustainer

Donna Miller

Sponsor

M. Elizabeth Brothers Robert Pittman Ralph Rogers

Donor

Jackie Abrams Constance L. Cox Frances S. Pignone Julia S. Rankin

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Hello to all our ESU Central Florida Branch Members,

H ope you all had a great summer and are looking forward to our new programs for the coming year! The Program Committee chaired by Ovid Vitas, has lined up programs that are varied and interesting. Of course, the ever popular Elliot Engel will end our programs for the year. You will see the schedule of programs in the soon to be

published Year Book.

Our big event for this year is the hosting of the ESU US National Annual Conference. It will take place on October 14, 15 and 16, 2016. John Snow chaired the National Con-ference Committee that selected the venues for the events to include the Sheraton Mait-land Hotel, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College and Blu on the Avenue Restaurant. The initial Committee consisting of Barbara Hughes, Jackie Abrams, Julie

Rankin, Gilda Gomez, Judy Beck and Wendy Simpson will need some volunteers to host at some events. Please let us know if you are available. You are encouraged to attend the complete conference or you can select one event that you will enjoy. Due to the cost involved, the previously announced local participation in the Gala Dinner was can-celed. We will have our fall Black Tie Dinner in November 2016 at the Winter Park Racquet Club with details in

the October newsletter.

The event you can participate in is a Sunday Brunch at Blu on the Avenue Restaurant. After a delicious Brunch in a private room, we will walk to the Morse Museum for a guided tour by Club member Ann Murrah. The details for the Brunch are noted in an accompanying flyer. Join us if you can for the Annual Conference and learn so much

about our international organization.

The change of our organization to an LLC has been approved by your Board of Directors and pertinent documents were sent to ESU National for implementation. There are no changes that will affect our local method of opera-tion. Our status as a not-for-profit organization will not be affected so your contributions are still tax deductible. Let me thank our National Patrons that have contributed to our Branch within the three levels of giving: the President’s Circle, Sponsor or Donor. Please consider increasing your commitment to our local Branch by making a contribu-

tion.

In the transition to an Limited Liability Corporation, one of the concerns your Board of Directors had to deal with was the safety of the Drey Endowment. Due to the generosity of Jessie Drey, this endowment makes our Branch one of the most successful in the United States in sponsoring programs of the ESU. In the event a branch ceases op-erations, the Bylaws are written so that the funds of the branch would go to National. On the advice of attorney David Torre, ESU member, and thanks to Elizabeth Brothers, who was a personal friend of Jessie Drey, Elizabeth stated in an Affidavit that it was the wish of Jessie Drey that the Endowment funds should always remain in Central Florida. This and a Memorandum of Understating with National and one other thing to do, secures local control of

the funds if our Branch ceases operations. Special thanks to Elizabeth Brothers!

One of our many programs is granting BUSS Scholarships to local teachers who spend part of their summer break studying in England. When they come back, they are energized and are better teachers due to their experiences in the UK. Reta Jackson and Jan McClure held the first of what we hope will be an annual reunion of BUSS Schol-ars. At that meeting teachers offered to be involved in other projects of our Branch. Read more about that in this Newsletter. For high school students, we have the Shakespeare Competition organized for the past few years by Ginger Bryant. If you were present for the last competition, you know it may have been the best one in recent years

due to the high level of student performances.

In this Newsletter you will find the budget and description of our activities funded directly by the Endowment Funds. Our Branch owes an enormous thanks to Donna Miller, Vice President of the Drey Endowment, who chairs

the Committee and who has ably administered these programs for a number of years.

Frank Paul Barber, President

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SUMMER INSTITUTE 2016

O n June 15 and 16, our Branch Education Committee sponsored a Summer Institute for Teachers at the Or-lando Shakespeare Center. Twenty-five area teachers attended “Using Performance to Teach Shakespeare and other Literature,” a program designed and directed by 2015 BUSS Summer Scholar, James Brendlin-ger. James is the chair of the communications department and theater teacher at Lake Howell High School. Assisting James were other BUSS alumni, Brett Carrier (2013), Janine Papin (2015), Michelle Kee (2015), Sarah Porter (2015), and Sondra Dunlap (2012). James designed an interactive two days for the Secondary English and Drama teachers from Orange and Seminole school districts. They started with a bang on Wednesday morning by attending a performance and fire show by Phantasmagoria, the Gothic storytelling troup directed by John DiDonna of Valencia College. John gave the teachers a short version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which served as the content for a culminating performance by five teacher groups on Thursday afternoon. During Wednesday and Thursday, the groups were coached by consultants Beverly Blanchette, herself a BUSS alumna from South Florida, and noted producer and theater coach Beth Marshall. The teachers learned strategies to teach literature through performance. Our BUSS alumni served as group coaches and leaders. A notable sidelight was a behind the scenes tour of the Shakespeare Center by Anne Hering, Director of Education.

Jan McClure

Institute Coordinator

Fire show by

Phantasmagoria

James Brendlinger

conducting

program

Anne Hering

taking teachers

on backstage

tour

John DiDonna,

Valencia College

The groups

at the end

of final

performances

Coach Beth

Marshall

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THE YOUNG COMPANY AND SHAKESPEARE WITH HEART

WOW AUDIENCES WITH THEIR SUMMER PRODUCTIONS

T wo projects supported by ESU Education Scholarships offered summer camp experiences at Orlando Shakespeare Theater. The Young Company presented three performances of As You Like It with impressive talent. In the students’ words:

In just a few weeks, TYC has shown me so much! I have been blessed to

be able to learn and work with such talented actors and directors, and

know that TYC is a one of a kind opportunity that I am lucky to be a part

of. Sara

TYC was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had, and I am

forever grateful for the opportunity! Jeremy

Thank you all so much for what you do…J! Aubrey

From the students in the Shakespeare with Heart summer camp:

Thank you, ESU, for making it possible for us to learn Shakespeare and

put on our production of Two Gentlemen of Verona. We couldn’t do it

without your generous contribution, and we’re having so much fun!

Thank you! Thanks so much!

Shakespeare with Heart

Thank you, ESU! This camp couldn’t happen without you!

Shakespeare w/Heart

Donna M. Miller

V.P. Drey Endowment

Michael and Aimee Kakos attended the London ESU annual “Tea” at the House of Lords in London in July. The Rt. Hon. Lord Paul Boating, Chairman of the International ESU was the host and presided.

Central Florida Branch Members

Attend ESU Annual Tea at House of Lords

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DREY EDUCATION BUDGET 2016-2017 ($87,942)

Battle of the Books: A “brain bowl” style competition is held for middle school students who have read books from a given list. The nationally based program is sponsored by school-level Media Specialists to increase literacy. Orange County: $1,500 Seminole County: $500 Total: $2000

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages): Awards are given to top achieving students in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs. The teachers of the programs in Orange and Seminole County middle and high schools as well as adult education and community college centers choose recipients. $8,000

Florida Council of Teachers of English: This statewide organization of English teachers conducts a writing competition for stu-dents. At their Fall Conference, winning students along with their parents and teachers are honored at a special session. The grant money sponsors a well-known writer who shares the creative experience of writing with the students and teachers attending the conference. Students often have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with other authors of adolescent literature or participate in a workshop with the author/speaker. $3,000

The Young Company Scholarships: This program is designed for teenagers by the education department of the Orlando Shake-speare Theater in partnership with the University of Central Florida. Focus is on developing communication skills and personal development through the study of language, social issues, and characterization in Shakespeare’s plays. Activities are linked to Flor-ida’s competencies and benchmark expectations. $12,500

The Wild Horse Tales Literacy Project: Orange County Title I elementary students in grades 1, 2, 4 and 5 participate in a literacy program based in part on Walter Farley’s book, The Black Stallion. The program is coordinated with the Wild Horse Rescue Center for 1st and 2nd grades. Classroom and extracurricular activities lead to improved reading, writing, and speaking skills.$5,000

Page Scholar: An educator from England visits several locations in the U.S, including Central Florida. The educator is hosted by a Central Florida Branch member and is provided transportation to local schools and/or colleges, meals, and entertainment. $600

ESU-CFB Shakespeare Summer Institute: Central Florida teachers participate in this two-day project. The program brings in professional consultants and local talent to lead teachers in activities related to teaching Shakespeare as performance. $9,000

NCTE 2016 CONVENTION SCHOLARSHIPS: This national convention offers presentations by renowned educators as well as extended session workshops. Four scholarships will be offered to secondary teachers who are NCTE members in Orange or Semi-nole County, two having completed a second year of teaching or no more than three years. The other two are open to any secondary English teacher NCTE members. Applications will be reviewed and grants awarded by the Drey Education Committee. $8,000

EXPLORATORY DEBATE PROGRAM: Local middle and high school debate programs in the tri-county area are surveyed and funds supplied for teachers and students to participate in debate competitions and related activities. This project will be coordi-nated, in part, with the Central Florida Debate Initiative organization. $5,000

WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ESU ORGANIZATION: This student organization is a sub-group of our ESU Central Florida Branch. Projects vary from year to year. $250

SHAKESPEARE WITH HEART: This OST Education Department project offers students with cerebral palsy the opportunity to work with non-disability students in a series of physical and mental activities culminating in a fully staged performance of a Shake-spearean play. This grant will fund scholarships for students in financial need. $600

OCPS ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM: This grant is a continuation of the A2S StrengthsFinder2.0 program for purchase of books and related materials for students throughout the year 2015-2016. $4500

NEW/OTHER PROJECT(S):

Hannibal Square History Center: Project focuses on young students exploring the area’s community culture and history. $5,000

Literacy League $10,000: One on one instruction for learners of the English language stresses clarity of communication and flu-ency.

Recreational Writing Program – Library based: The purpose of this program is to encourage individuals to write from their personal history and experience as well as from their imagination. $500

Florida Humanities Council – East Central Florida Program: This well-established organization creates and leads in-depth study and discussion on a specific subject or theme. $5,000

Field Trip to OST for Alternative Education Students: The purpose of this project is to introduce students to the arts commu-nity in order to strengthen their awareness of cultural events, an area unknown in their present lives. $5,000

BOARD ROOM RENTAL: $30

MISCELLANEOUS/CONTINGENCY: $3,962

TOTAL: $87,942 Donna Miller, VP Drey Endowment

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The English-Speaking Union

Central Florida Branch

Post Office Box 758

Winter Park, FL 32790-0758

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THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION

CENTRAL FLORIDA BRANCH

Membership Application

I wish to become a member of the English-Speaking Union, Central Florida Branch.

I wish to renew my membership of the English-Speaking Union, Central Florida Branch.

Please send a check for $45 (single membership) or $60 (couple membership) to the English-Speaking

Union, PO Box 758, Winter Park, FL 32790-0758.

Name and Spouse’s Name _____________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________ City ___________________State ____ Zip _______

Phone, Fax, and Email ________________________________________________________________

Visit the E-SU Central Florida website at www.E-SUus.org/centralflorida for more information.