A Message from the Portland Branch President

Welcome Message

Dear ESU Member or Prospective Member,

The Portland Branch of the English-Speaking Union is dedicated to making sure members receive benefit for their membership both in terms of social interaction as well as learning.  Our branch participates every year in the Books As Envoys Program, the Walter Hines Page Scholar Program, and the Shakespeare Competition.  In 2000, our Shakespeare Competition finalist was the national winner. In 2012, our winner, Cyler Winnie from South Salem High School, placed second in the ESU's National Shakespeare Competition."

Additionally, Portland was the second branch to begin an English In Action Program, a program that has continued here on a weekly basis for almost thirty years.  In the fall, an Evelyn Wrench (Evelyn Wrench was the founder of ESU) speaker comes to the West Coast and speaks to all the branches in Region VIII.

The branch meets monthly September – June.  We also hold an annual picnic in August, another longstanding tradition.  We strive to have meetings that will be enriching.  Many of out meetings explore the history of the Pacific Northwest, an area of this country that required incredible commitment from pioneers attempting to live here.  Our weather and topography were challenging and the resulting stories are compelling!

In changing times, an organization has to reassert itself in order to meet challenges.  At the Portland Branch of ESU US, we are doing just that.  Every one of us is or can be an important part of the ESU mission. Join us.  Become part of the energy. 

Most sincerely,

Susan Matheson Ferris
President
Portland Branch
ESU US

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