Courier - English-Speaking Union of the United States

Philadelphia Branch of the English-Speaking Union
Courier
215 S. 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 January 2012
Wednesday, December 7 – Annual Holiday Party
As always, a wonderful time was had by all at our Annual Holiday Party, held this year at the
City Tavern Restaurant. Included in the evening’s festivities was the presentation of the
English-Speaking Union of the United States Merit Award for 2011 to our current treasurer,
William J.D. Jordan. Will became a member of the Philadelphia Branch of The English-
Speaking Union in 1972 as part of our young members group. He was a member of the Junior
Committee from 1972 to 1988. Over these thirty nine plus years, Will has been on countless
committees for countless events. He was chair of our English in Action Program from 1983 to
1985 and a Board member of ESU Philadelphia for three six year terms. Will became Treasurer,
for the first time in 1989 and served until 1992. He then became president (1992 to 1995)
and again agreed to be Treasurer from 2001 to present. Will’s expertise and tireless devotion
to the Philadelphia Branch of the ESU is to truly be celebrated. The entire membership of the
ESU congratulates Will on this momentous occasion.
Wednesday, February 8 – Pub Night – CSI meets ESU, again……
Thank you members for making our first Pub Night such a HUGE success last year!!!
With that in mind, we are pleased to bring back the members of the Vidocq Society
once again to entertain us with their true stories of murder and intrigue.
Join us on Wednesday, February 8 th as we turn McGillin’s Olde Ale
House into The Murder Room. Have a pint and enjoy the sumptuous
dinner buffet as the men and women of the Vidocq Society get together
to tell us how they solve cold case murders.
Our evening starts at 5:30 with the cocktail hour – open bar – followed
by our presentation and dinner. Cost for the evening is $55
and will include an open bar all evening with a dinner buffet. Dress
is khaki casual. Your invitation is included with this newsletter.
Monday, February 20
25 th Annual Shakespeare Competition
Members of our Branch are invited to attend all or part of
the 25 th Annual Shakespeare Competition to be held at the
Arden Theatre Company,
40 N 2 nd Street, Philadelphia. This year’s competition will
be held on Monday, February 20, 2012 beginning at 9:30 AM,
and ending mid-afternoon. Our chair for our event this year is
board member Suzanne Lavins. There is no charge for admission.
We expect to have over 25 local high schools represented
from the Greater Delaware Valley including the 5 county area
and southern New Jersey. Our competition format remains the
same but we will be providing wonderful additions to the
day’s festivities including a short workshop on acting provided
to our participating students by the Arden Theatre Company.
Please consider joining us for an exceptional experience.
Sunday, March 4 th
Shakespeare Competition Awards Ceremony
Arden Theatre has again graciously invited us
to host our Shakespeare Awards Ceremony in
their reception space at 40 N 2 nd Street in Old
City, Philadelphia. Thanks to board members
Pat Bushyager, Geni Klein and Peg Mertz
who will be organizing our sumptuous reception.
Invitations will be sent out shortly for
this wonderful, not to be missed occasion.
Cost for the cocktail reception: $25.
For more information, please call the office at
215-545-3619.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Kelley and David Casper
Dorothy Hocker
Carol Koerbel
John K. Runnette, Jr.

Philadelphia Branch Courier January 2012
President’s Column
President’s Message -
We have had a very busy and productive year.
I am glad to report that the Philadelphia Branch
of the ESU continues to prosper with all of our
events AND programs continuing to finish in the black. Hours of
planning go into providing our calendar throughout the year to provide
our membership with programs that are interesting, entertaining
and cost effective.
I’d like to sum up the events and programs over the past calendar year and
recognize those who have given so generously of their time.
EVENTS
January – The Murder Room/Vidocq Society– Gail Tomlinson and Stanley
Olkowski
March – Wrench Speaker, Cathey Leitch at the Restaurant School
April – Mask and Wig
April – Royal Wedding Reception – Debbie Webster, chair, with Lyn
Marinchak, Geni Klein, Gail Tomlinson and Stanley Olkowski, Leslie Kase
and Andrew Swinney and the students from the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
June – Queen’s Birthday Garden Party – Julie Christoph and Gail Tomlinson,
chairs, Susan Dupee, Geni Klein and Sheila Leith co chairs, David
Richards who provided the beautiful toast to the Queen and Frank and Dottie
Giordano who were our hosts.
October – Annual General Meeting of the English-Speaking Union and Annual
Meeting of the International Council of the English-Speaking Union –
Debbie and Andy Webster, chairs, with George and Ronna Tyndall, Matt
and Susan Dupee, Judy and Don Rosato, Bob Hanrahan, Will Jordan, Julie
Christoph, Steve Holt, Lyn Marinchak, Gayla McCluskey and David
Humphrey, Diana Evans, Jim Munnis, Suzanne Lavins, Sheila Leith.
PROGRAMS
Ongoing Books as Envoys – Chuck Gupta
BUSS – Mary Darlington
Feb and March – Shakespeare Competition and Awards Reception - Pat
Bushyager, chair of competition, Peg Mertz and Michael Lynagh,
(reception) Philip Mossburg, Edwin Probert, Carole Mablekos (cold readings)
and our wonderful MC Steve Holt
Our programs continue to benefit from the generosity of our supporters.
I would like to give special thanks to the Shakspere Society of Philadelphia,
Arden Theatre, who have really enhanced our Shakespeare Competition, and
to our benefactors for our scholarships – Nancy and Maurice Webster – for
their continued generous support.
Thanks also to Don and Judy Rosato and Matt and Susan Dupee for their
continued financial support.
We have our ongoing connection with the Royal Oak Foundation through
the Union League with wonderful programs that are amazingly well attended
by our membership.
President’s Message Cont.
A special thanks to the executive committee for their
monthly commitment to meetings to keep our branch
running as smoothly as it does. And, I would like to
thank the best Managing Director anyone could possibly
have, Judith Francis.
We on the board hope that you all enjoy your experience
with the ESU and we welcome new ideas or suggestions
for keeping our vibrant organization growing.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year,
Debbie Webster
ESU International Director-General Peter Kyle, OBE CCMI
at Dartmouth House – October 31, 2011
ESU thanks McNeil Designs for Brighter Minds, Inc.
for co-sponsoring our gifts to this years Shakespeare
Competition Contestants.

Philadelphia Branch Courier January 2012
Tuesday, January 10 – Intimate Dinners
Our first in a series, “Intimate Dinners” is designed to give our members and guests the opportunity to interact directly
with the speaker of the evening. Questions are ncouraged at any time and all will be sitting together in an
intimate dining venue. Seating for this dinner is limited to 18 people.
Featured this month is Lynmar Brock, ESU member and author of numerous books including Must Thee Fight, In
This Hospitable Land, and his latest, Genevieve. In This Hospitable Land, our featured book for this evening, has
been named one of the 18 “great war books” on Amazon. This impressive list includes, among others, authors Ernest
Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Kurt Vonnegut.
In This Hospitable Land, was inspired by the true story of a Belgian family who actually
survived the Holocaust while living in the South of France.
Join us at Bellini Grill, 220 S 16 th Street, Philadelphia (across the street from the Racquet Club) starting at 6:30. The evening
includes a three course dinner, red and white wines, and of course, the wonderful company of your ESU friends and
guests. Costs are $55 for members and $65 for non members. No invitation was sent – email notices only. So, if you’d like
to join us, call the office asap to reserve your space at 215.545.3619.
Monday, February 27 – Royal Oak Foundation at the Union League
Glorious Goodwood: A House of Ducal Splendour – James Peill, Curator
James Peill, Curator of the Goodwood Collection, will explore the history and art collection at Goodwood House in West Sussex, the
seat of the Dukes of Richmond & Lennox for over 300 years. This lecture will tell not only the history of a grand house and its resplendent
contents, but also present a lively account of an aristocratic family often in the forefront of the intellectual life of the day.
The 1st Duke of Richmond was an illegitimate son of King Charles II and his French mistress, Louise de Keroualle who purchased the
original house as a hunting lodge in 1697. His descendants have lived at Goodwood ever since; among them are the famous Lennox
sisters including Emily, Duchess of Leinster and Louisa Conolly of Castletown. The 3rd Duke is responsible for the first horse race
that took place in 1801. Today the racing tradition
continues with the annual “Glorious Goodwood”
festival. Each year, Goodwood also plays
host to the Festival of Speed and the Goodwood
Revival, motorsport events that attract a worldwide
following.
All programs are at the Union League of
Philadelphia, 140 S Broad Street, and start at
6 p.m. with Cocktails (cash bar), 6:30 p.m. program
and 8 p.m. optional dinner. Dinner reservations
are non-refundable and must be made by
the Friday before the lecture. Cost: $25 program
only, $75 program and dinner with wine. Reservations:
Call Beth De George at The Union
League Library, 215-587-5594 or Library@unionleague.org
Thursday, March 29 – Mask and Wig – A Reptile Dysfunction
Just when you thought the stocks couldn't get any worse, Mask and Wig catapults you back to an era when money was tight and the
thumbscrews were tighter in its 124th Annual Production, A Reptile Dysfunction. Enter a totalitarian kingdom where it's the last straw
for a town of revolutionary peasants hungry for change — or at least more straw. When the king finally un-ignores the townspeople's
misery, he does the only reasonable and prudent thing he can: stage a fake dragon-slaying to dupe the masses into accepting a world
where fairy tales exist and everyone lives happily ever after. Brace yourselves – double entendres abound!
The performance starts at 8pm at the Mask and Wig Clubhouse, 310 South Quince Street, Philadelphia. Please contact the box office
directly for ticket purchases - multiple dates are available from January 27 th through March 30 th .
Tickets: 215.586.3729 or tickets@maskandwig.com.

Philadelphia Branch Courier January 2012
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Honorary Governors
Hon. Oliver St. Clair Franklin, OBE
Mrs. Joseph S. Lord III
Charles E. Mather III
President
Deborah Smith Webster
Vice Presidents
James J. Munnis, Esq.
Dr. Donald J. Rosato
Ms. Gail Tomlinson
Secretary
Mr. George Tyndall
Treasurer
Mr. William J.D. Jordan
Governors
Ms. Patricia Bushyager
Ms. Julie Christoph
Ms. Jean Conroy
Mr. Robert E. Cumens
Ms. Mary E. Darlington
Ms. Susan N. Dupee
Ms. Diana Lola Evans
Mr. Stephen W. Holt
Mr. Rollin Iles
Ms. Geni Klein
Ms. Gene Kosich
Ms. Suzanne Lavins
Mr. Michael Lynagh
Ms. Sheila Leith
Ms. Harriet Margolis
Ms. Lyn Marinchak
Ms. Gayla J. McCluskey
Mr. Edward Mengel
Ms. Marguerite Mertz
Mr. Philip Mossburg
Mr. Edwin N. Probert
Managing Director: Judith K. Francis
Calendar of Events
January 10 – Intimate Dinners
February 8 – Pub Night at McGillin’s Olde Ale House
February 20 – Shakespeare Competition
February 27 – Royal Oak – Glorious Garwood: A House of Ducal Splendor
March 4 – Shakespeare Competition Awards Reception
March – Chinese New Year Dinner
March 27 – Royal Oak – That Woman: the Life of Wallis Simpson
April 17 – Wrench Speaker Dinner/Restaurant School with Jonathan Foyle
May 7 – Royal Oak – Westminster Abbey: A Place for Royal Celebration
May 15 – Royal Oak – A Great Number of Useful Books: Country House Library
June 10 – Annual Queen’s Birthday Garden Party
Our Strange Lingo
When the English tongue we speak.
Why is break not rhymed with freak?
Will you tell me why it's true
We say sew but likewise few?
And the maker of the verse,
Cannot rhyme his horse with worse?
Beard is not the same as heard
Cord is different from word.
Cow is cow but low is low
Shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose, dose, and lose
This was written by Lord Cromer, published in the Spectator of August 9th, 1902
Please remember to drop off your
new/like new books at the ESU
office for our Books as Envoys
program. Hardbound books of
ANY subject are needed – fiction,
novels and dictionaries especially
appreciated – and will
now be sent to either St Xavier’s College
in Mombai, India and Tongren
Middle School in Tibet, China.
And think of goose and yet with choose
Think of comb, tomb and bomb,
Doll and roll or home and some.
Since pay is rhymed with say
Why not paid with said I pray?
Think of blood, food and good.
Mould is not pronounced like could.
Wherefore done, but gone and lone -
Is there any reason known?
To sum up all, it seems to me
Sound and letters don't agree.
The English-Speaking Union . 215 S. 16th Street, Suite 14 . Philadelphia, PA 19102