Holiday Celebration Friends, Refreshments and Scholars

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Winning Writing Competition Students with Ruth Beckley
Holiday spirit was alive and well at the ESU Denver Holiday Tea and Award Presentation on Saturday, December 12. As the streets filled with snow, members gathered inside the Denver Women's Press Club, to share holiday cheer and honor the winning writers from the sixth annual Dr. Howard F. Beckley Writing Competition. These students read their entries based on this year's topic "What is Genius," for those in attendance. The 2015 winning students, all from Denver East High School were: First Place, Eric Dellavalle; Second Place, Nicholas Chavez; Third Place, Charlotte Thayer; Honorable Mention, Brendan Douglas; Honorable Mention, Zak Jacobs. These students' entries were evaluated by a panel of judges including high school and college educators; and outstanding members of the ESU community.

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BUSS Recognition Dinner

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Karen Kellogg-Fain, Polly Cox, Sue Stokley, Aimee Arens (BUSS scholarship recipient) and Michael Lopez

The annual British Universities Summer School (BUSS) Dinner is an anticipated event that never disappoints and this year's event was no exception. The evening, held on November 5 at Denver's University Club, began with a cocktail reception, providing a perfect time for members to mingle while chatting with the 2015 BUSS scholarship recipients and their guests. Following dinner, Chairperson of the BUSS Committee, Michael Thornton, introduced the honorees by reading excerpts from their scholarship applications. It was then time for the teachers to speak and their presentations were captivating.

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Summer Study in the UK

Event

Oxford, the Globe Theatre, the University of Edinburgh
FREE to local public high school English, Drama, and History Teachers 

Since 1957, 132 Denver-area teachers have studied in England. You may know some of the teachers who have received fellowships: Carol Hendry from Chaparral attended the University of Edinburgh, and Susan Stokley went to Oxford; Lisa Cillessen from Standley Lake High School and Brian Kurz from Grandview were in London at the Globe; DPS principal Nick Dawkins studied at Oxford as did Alan Martin and Mary Connelly.  Mary Davenport from Bruce Randolph attended the Globe, and Josie Papazis from South High School studied at Exeter College in Oxford.  Cindy Poinsett from Cherokee Trail High School and Timothy Reyes from Overland High School attended the Globe.  In 2015, Aimee Arens and Todd Madison of East attended Oxford.  Their experiences were memorable, and all agree that they are better teachers as a result. 

Best of all, the fellowships are FREE. 

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Packed House for A Genteel Captivity— A Centennial Remembrance

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On Thursday, September 24 in St. John's Cathedral,  Christiane Citron enthralled Denver Branch members and their guests with stories from the unpublished memoir of Sir Clive Morrison-Bell.  This 22-year member of Parliament, Personal Private Secretary to Winston Churchill, and internationally acclaimed author was also a World War I Prisoner of War.  Christiane shared stories of Clive-Bell's hard-to-believe experience over four years as a German POW in five different German POW camps, followed by a surprising internment in Switzerland.  Prior to the presentation, attendees socialized while enjoying wine, beverages and light appetizers.  Christiane lingered after she was finished speaking, answering questions and swapping stories with those in attendence. 

Christiane  Citron

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2015 Annual Meeting

Event Recap – Sunday, July 26

Sue Stokley, Ruth Beckley and Basil Carpenter

The Lakewood Country Club was host to the Annual Meeting of the Denver Branch of the English Speaking Union on Sunday, July 26.  It was a lovely day for a brunch overlooking the golf course and a perfect time for members to reconnect, share good food and drink and celebrate the previous year's Branch accomplishments. 

Following a brief reception, Kennedy Walters, winner of the 2014 Dr. Howard F. Beckley Writing Competition, treated members to reading of an original work.  Following brunch, the meeting was called to order by president, Bruce Haefner.  In addition to a President's report by Bruce, reports were given by Treasurer, Chuck Thompson and Committee Chairs, Michael Thornton, Susan Stokley and Cindy Poinsett.  Polly Cox, on behalf of the Nominating Committee, presented the nominees for the vacant Board positions.  Nominees included Aimee Arens, Everett Engstrom, Bruce Haefner, Karen Kellogg-Fain, Mary McLean, Bonnie Pritchett and Tim Reyes.  All nominees were approved by the membership. 

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