Friend sent me this, missed the first event, will try the next. Good networking event.
After a gap of some years, the English-Speaking Union (ESU), www.esu.org, is being re-established in Finland.
The Union, an educational service organisation founded in 1918, aims to promote global understanding through the
shared use of the English language, and has almost 40 branches in the United Kingdom and over 50 international
branches throughout the world.
The royal patron is Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has been President since 1957.
Former Chairmen include Sir Winston Churchill. The newly elected co-chairmen of the ESU Finland will be
Richard Lewis, Chairman of Richard Lewis Communications and Ulla-Ladau Harjulin, F.R.S.A., Lecturer at
the Swedish School of Economics – HANKEN.
The Finnish branch will promote international friendship and a fresh angle on current affairs through an exciting
array of speakers prominent in the UK in politics, education, business, the media etc.
The opening will be hosted by the British Ambassador Dr Valerie Caton on Tuesday 30 September
2008 from 6.00 p.m. to 8.45 p.m. at the Ambassador's Residence and our guest of honour is the
Director-General of the ESU, Mrs. Valerie Mitchell O.B.E.
The speaker for the evening is Sir Eldon Griffiths, National Patron of the World Affairs Councils
of America. Sir Eldon is a former government minister in the UK, editor of Newsweek, author,
and has hands-on experience in world affairs over four decades. A more detailed CV is enclosed.
Programme
6.00 p.m. Reception and welcoming cocktails at the British Ambassador's Residence
6.30 p.m. Talk by Sir Eldon Griffiths – The Road Ahead for the Atlantic Alliance as America Changes Gear (British Embassy Conference Room)
7.30 p.m. Buffet dinner and drinks at the Residence
8.45 p.m. Close
The ESU is a non-profit organisation, but has to cover its costs through membership fees and
donations. The annual Finnish membership fee, payable on attending your first event, is EUROS 50
per person, (EUROS 35 for students and O.A.Ps.). To become a member please send an e-mail
with your contact information to info@esu-finland.org
Once you have become a member we will send you an official invitation to the opening event.
We have an impressive array of speakers and topics lined up between now and summer 2009. In
addition to Sir Eldon Griffiths these include:
Professor Roger Ainsworth, Master of St. Catherine’s College, Oxford – on what makes
Oxford unique and shared British and Finnish challenges in higher education
Lord Plant of Highfield, Labour Peer and leading political philosopher – on transnational
citizenship in a changing Europe
Mr. Peter Knowles, Channel Director, BBC Parliament – on coverage of politics by the
media, and EU challenges
We do hope that you will join what should prove to be a stimulating new forum for ideas and
debate in English in Finland, and hope to see you at our opening.
Michael Gates
Director of Operations, The English-Speaking Union of Finland
+358 40 751 7299
The English-Speaking Union of Finland
reg.number 199097
The English-Speaking Union of Finland ry
Länsituulentie 10, 021 00 Espoo
tel: +358 9 4157 4700
fax: +358 9 466 592
web: www.esu.org
e-mail: info@esu-finland.org