About Us & Activities

HONORING BOB & JO BRAND

The February 18, 2017  English-Speaking Union event celebrates the 30th Central Pennsylvania Branch Shakespeare Competition. It acknowledges the Honorable Robert A. Brand who retired to State College, PA after a career as an Assistant Secretary of State under the Reagan Administration, as US Counsel for General to the UK under Margaret Thatcher, and as Captain of the First Infantry Division in WWII, when he had the privilege to meet Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the Queen "Mum".  Additionally, he had held the position of president of the Washington Branch of the English Speaking Union (ESU), and in 1986, with his wife, Josephine M. Brand, Robert (Bob) founded the Central Pennsylvania Branch of the English Speaking Union (ESU).

The pilot program for an ESU Shakespeare Competition began in the New York City schools in 1983.  As a National ESU board member, Robert Brand was instrumental in establishing the Shakespeare Competition as a National ESU event featuring competition among winners from all ESU branches across the United States.  The first Central PA Branch Shakespeare Competition was held in 1987, and our branch had the distinction of being one of the first branches whose high school winner participated in the first annual National Shakespeare Competition in New York City.

The high school students, who over the 30-year history of the event have benefited from the opportunity to compete for a spot to represent the Central PA Branch of the ESU at the National ESU Shakespeare Competition in New York City each year, owe the pioneer, Robert (Bob) Brand, a debt of gratitude.

For details about the ESU Central Pennsylvania Branch or to join the Branch please visit https://www.esuus.org/centralpa/

Contact:  Bonnie M. Resinski
Central PA Branch Shakespeare Coordinator,
814-472-6774

Founded in 1920, The English-Speaking Union is a non-profit, non-political educational organization that employs English as a catalyst to foster global understanding and good will through educational and cultural exchange programs.  The ESU carries out its work through a network of 58 Branches nationwide along with affiliates in the United Kingdom and 60 other countries. For additional information about the English-Speaking Union, please click here