CLEVELAND EXCHANGES IDEAS AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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Bill Kennedy, President of ESU Cleveland, reported on the ESU National Conference in New Orleans in November.

We're a network of Branches. It was a pleasure to meet so many members from across the country who were interested in Cleveland and especially our Regional partners and strengthen good relations that our past officers had made. 

Administratively, the Branches sought and were promised more collaboration in National board decisions. ESU is a large organization with many activities. 

New ideas for Cleveland? 

Shakespeare Competition remains ESU's premium educational event. I reminded them that it was begun by the Cleveland Branch. 

Administratively National will investigate whether a $75 participation fee per school could be replaced with another way to cover shortfalls in National expenses. 

Live streaming of the Shakespeare Finals from New York, I suggested, could engage all the local participants, who often never hear the Finalist results. We and others might schedule a fund raising Finals viewing party. Your thoughts?

A Peace Prize for Poetry & Prose? This could be more inclusive and have a more lasting effect than the Shakespeare Competition. There is wide ESU interest in such a K-12 school program. Winners could be published in an annual book that could be sold and used in classroom settings. 

Administratively, many branch officers plan to try the idea and then build a system for Regional and National recognition. I am very enthusiastic about the potential for this program to complement the Shakespeare Competition. This would increase the visibility of Cleveland-ESU. Your thoughts? 

English in Action programs.  Other Branches are actively engaged in this beneficial program.  I want to make it happen here in Greater Cleveland. I hope to report on this soon. Your thoughts? 

Attracting young scholars as members? The Kentucky Branch sponsors a college scholarship to the UK and leveraged it to recruit previous recipients to become Board members. This is something we may consider to replace our Tlab scholarship program (Teachers Learning Abroad), which may have hit a wall. Further discussions are needed. Your thoughts? 

Return of the Wrench speaker? Sir Evelyn Wrench was the founder of ESU in England 100 years ago. The Wrench speaker series offers fascinating international speakers for local Branch programs. 

At the National meeting, the keynote speaker was Peter Giluvry presenting a history of the Oxford English Dictionary. English is a living language drawn from many languages that were used in Shakespeare's England, with more changes ahead! I am sorry we were not able to host him in Cleveland this year. 

We will host Darren Freebury-Jones, a lecturer in Shakespeare Studies. He will give us a comprehensive view of Shakespeare's life and work. 

ESU's Centennial Year ahead. I have been in touch with National's Development Department with event ideas for the Centennial year. More on that later. Your thoughts?

Wishing to hear from you anytime and see you at future events!

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