Recent Events
Annual Churchill Society events include lectures, movie night, Wine Wit and Wisdom, and celebrating Churchill’s Birthday with a dinner and lecture. Members and their guests are invited to attend all CSNO events.
Annual Dinner
December 3, 2024
The Society held its 150th-anniversary celebration of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill at the New Orleans Country Club. The event was attended by 111 members and guests, the biggest audience in the Society’s history.
Gregg Collins, the Society’s “Prime Minister”, welcomed the capacity crowd and showed a preview of the Netflix series, Churchill at War, during his opening remarks. He announced that Anthony Tucker-Jones, our featured author and speaker, was involved in its making and might well be in the docudrama, which was to be debuted worldwide the next night, December 4th, during the Orlin Russell Corey Lecture at the National WWII Museum. [See Orlin Russell Corey Lecture section below for more context.]
Members and their guests were entertained and thrilled by Bon Operatit, a New Orleans ensemble of opera singers who performed, among other selections, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square along with a rousing finish of Rule Britannia.
Anthony Tucker-Jones made his second appearance before the Society, presenting his newest and second book on Sir Winston, Churchill: Cold War Warrior. His first appearance was to present his book Churchill: Master and Commander in 2021. Anthony is an excellent speaker and provided context and a greater understanding of Churchill’s role in fighting the beginning of the Cold War. Churchill coined the term “Iron Curtain” and brought the attention of the world to the dangers of the Soviet Union’s expansionism in his Sinews of Peace (popularly known as the “Iron Curtain Speech”) at Fulton, MI in 1946. Tucker-Jones also observed the declining power of the British Empire which started during the Second World War, much to Churchill’s chagrin.
It should be noted that our Society, Prime Minister, Walter Wolf and Christopher Tidmore, among others, were honored by Anthony in his Acknowledgments of Cold War Warrior. Tucker stated that it was the warm reception given by our Society “for so generously embracing and championing” his first book, Churchill: Master and Commander, particularly noting his inspiration as coming from “the gallant Christopher Tidmore”, that led him to the writing of Cold War Warrior.
As a Society, we are having an impact, of which we should all be proud.
Anthony is also in the process of creating a Churchill pictorial book.
ORLIN RUSSELL COREY LECTURE
December 2024
The night after the very successful 150th anniversary dinner, The Society, in partnership with the National WWII Museum, presented its Orlin Russell Corey Lecture featuring Anthony Tucker- Jones. Gregg Collins was able to confirm that Anthony Tucker-Jones was a major narrator in the Netflix four-part docudrama, Churchill at War, along with the likes of George W. Bush, Lord Anthony Roberts, Sonia Purnell, Jon Meacham, Boris Johnson and Justin Reasch!
This was the fifth Corey Lecture and was presented to a large crown in the original D-Day building of the WWII Museum in an interview format with Anthony being questioned by Dr. Bradley W. Hart, the Museum’s Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy’s WWII Military Historian. Dr. Hart noted at the beginning of the interview that he was actually a graduate of Churchill College at Cambridge University and so was particularly interested in the subject. The interview compared, contrasted and gave perspective on two of Tucker-Jones’ books, Churchill: Cold War Warrior and Hitler’s Winter: The German Battle of the Bulge. This interview is archived on the WWII Museum’s website and can be viewed in its entirety by going to the site and looking under Events and then Event Recaps.
DECEMBER 9, 2024: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, MIKE JOHNSON CAPITOL SPEECH
In December of 2024, the Chief Speechwriter for the House Speaker contacted us about using language from one of our High School Essay contest winners’ submissions to include in a speech the Speaker was giving at the Capitol Rotunda on December 9th during the annual ceremony honoring Winston S. Churchill as the first Honorary Citizen of the United States. This was bestowed upon him by John F. Kennedy on April 9, 1963, saying Winston Churchill “.. mobilized the English language and sent it into battle” during WWII.
WINE, WIT & WISDOM-MAY 2024
On the evening of May 1, 2024 around 80 members and guests of the Churchill Society of New Orleans met in the Ballroom of the Andrew Jackson Condominiums to celebrate our second event of the year, Wine, Wit and Wisdom.
After a short period of conviviality with wine from The Wine Seller, soft drinks, and light hors d’oeuvres from Martin Wine Cellar, the formal meeting began with the announcement of our 2024 Essay Contest Winner Paul Sparacello, a sophomore at Jesuit High School. After Paul read his essay to the attendees, he was presented with the $1,500 First Prize check by Prime Minister Gregg Collins and Ben Capshaw, our tireless chairman of the Essay Contest Committee. Paul’s parents were in attendance, along with his teacher Wade Trosclair, who received a check for $500.
After the Award presentation, the members and guests began the Wit and Wisdom part of the evening by volunteering to share their favorite anecdotes, quotes, readings, or remembrances of The Great Man. Each person who had volunteered to speak was also allowed to choose a Churchill-themed book from among a selection which had been donated by members.
The formal meeting was adjourned after the last presentation, but many of the attendees stayed and continued to enjoy the remaining wine and refreshments
THE RIVER WAR- MARCH 21,2024
Our first event of the year 2024 was held on March 21st when James Muller, at the invitation of Hill Riddle, took us back to 1899 as he tells the story of the fighting and writing of “The River War: An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan”, in two volumes.
Professor Muller’s presentation was accompanied by a wonderful power point presentation showing pictures and maps of the Sudan, the charge and aftermath of Omdurman and many other as aspects of young Winston’s participation in the campaign. The room was full to overflowing at the Jackson Andrew Condominiums in New Orleans commencing at 6 pm with wine, soft drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The event was free to Members and their guests.
From the University of Alaska Website:
On April 5, 2021, University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) political science professor James Muller published the definitive edition of “The River War: An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan” by Winston Churchill after more than 30 years of meticulous work. This is the first time in over [sic] a century that the story has been told and published in its entirety. Muller’s book…is the first unabridged edition to appear since Churchill himself published the first edition in 1899.
From the International Churchill Society’s Finest Hour, February 2022:
This definitive edition is a contribution of monumental significance to the preservation and understanding of Churchill’s life and work. No praise is too great for Professor Muller, St. Augustine’s Press, and the International Churchill Society for their labors in the production of these remarkable volumes.
ANNUAL DINNER
November 30, 2023 at the New Orleans Country Club, the Society held its annual celebration of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill. The evening was attended by 110 members of the Society and their guests, one of the biggest crowds in the Society’s history.
HERSCHEL ABBOTT AWARD
Gregg Collins, the Society’s “Prime Minister”, presided. He was pleased to present the first “Herschel Abbott Award” to Dr. Brett S. Shufelt, who has not only been an inspiring teacher of Churchillian qualities at Copia-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi and at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, but for many years, had taken students to attend symposia conducted at the National WWII Museum by the Society in conjunction with the Museum. Dr. Shufelt and his wife were present, as were Herschel Abbott’s widow and daughter, Anne Abbott and Cathryn Jones who unveiled the Award.
The Victory Belles then performed, for the second year, a wonderful selection of songs, ending with stirring renditions of “God Save the King” and “God Bless America”.
Toward the end of the evening, our featured speaker, Michael Bell, a decorated Colonel (Ret.) in the United States Army, graduate of West Point and Director of the Study of War and Democracy at the National WWII Museum, spoke on “Churchill and Roosevelt-The Forming of the Special Relationship”, primarily about the first meeting of the two great men in December 1941.
Movie Night
September 13, 2023
On September 13, 2023, about 35 members and guests attended a screening of The Battle of Britain at Loyola’s Bobet Hall, and enjoyed the snacks (including popcorn!) Thanks to Walter Wolf, wines were again provided by Wine Sellers.
Wine Wit and Wisdom
May 2, 2023
A program of “Wine, Wit and Wisdom” took place at the large meeting room in the Andrew Jackson apartments, thanks to Jackie Gamble, starting at 6 p.m. Close to 100 members and guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, including sandwiches from Chez Nous and wine, water and soft drinks, and enjoyed hearing three of this year’s Essay Contest winners read their winning essays. After that, about a dozen of those in attendance spoke to the group with quotes from or about Churchill, which added to the “wit and wisdom” part of the evening. About 10 Churchill books were given away, with the essay-contest winners getting first choice.
Annual Dinner
November 30, 2022
About 100 members and guests attended a memorable dinner at the New Orleans Country Club, to celebrate Winston Churchill’s 148th birthday. President Gregg Collins presided. We enjoyed a delicious dinner, were delighted by a 20-minute performance of the Victory Belles of the World War II Museum, and elected by voice vote the members of the Society’s Board of Directors (also known as “the Cabinet”). Jon Gegenheimer, who besides serving as Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court, is also a Churchill buff, gave an entertaining talk on the imaginative book he is writing on “Churchill v. Hitler: the Golf Match that unmasked the Fuhrer and Saved the West”. Gregg introduced Nicole Spangenberg, a French resistance fighter during World War II, who attended with Anne Abbott.
Movie Night
September 20, 2022
About 40 people attended a screening of Ike: Countdown to D-Day, starring Tom Selleck as the chain-smoking grand commander, at Bobet Hall on the Loyola campus. Doors opened at 6, and those in attendance enjoyed snacks and beverages before the movie started. Churchill made a satisfactory appearance.
June 6, 2022
Emma Soames Speaks
Emma Soames, granddaughter of Winston Churchill, spoke at the World War II Museum on the book she had just published, Mary Churchill’s War, taken from her mother Mary’s wartime diaries. Members of the Society had the opportunity to meet with Mrs. Soames, who was (not surprisingly) quite charming.
Wine Wit and Wisdom
April 26, 2022
This year our Wine Wit and Wisdom event was held in the large meeting room at the Andrew Jackson Apartments, with sandwiches from ‘Chez Nous and wine from Wine Sellers. About 75 attended and about 15 spoke with quotations or stories of Churchill. Three Churchill-related books were awarded randomly to speakers (other than Cabinet members).
Nov 30th, 2021
The Churchill Society of New Orleans (USA) packed the New Orleans Country Club ballroom last night to celebrate Winston Churchill’s 147th. The evening began with a cocktail reception, followed by a dinner program with welcoming remarks by Churchill Society of New Orleans President J. Gregg Collins. Singers from the Loyola University Chorale, accompanied by Carole Rausch of the New Orleans Opera, sang a medley of WWI and WWII songs. A superb dinner with fine wines was served, followed by a captivating presentation from world-acclaimed military historian Anthony Tucker-Jones on his new book, Winston Churchill: Master and Commander, Winston Churchill at War 1895-1945 (Foreword by Andrew Roberts). Following the dinner program, Tucker-Jones delighted members by signing their copies of Churchill: Master and Commander.
May 18, 2021
The first gathering of Society members since the onset of the Covid19 pandemic took place on May 18, 2021. This was “Wine, Wit and Wisdom”, held in the open upstairs area of The Rink, at Washington and Prytania streets in New Orleans. About 100 people attended, and enjoyed edibles and potables and just being together after the long suspension of Society activities. The two students who won First Prizes in the 2019-2020 Essay Contest read their essays. Elizabeth Northup of International High School and NOCCA attended with her family to read her essay. Sam Chang of New Jersey attended by Zoom to read his essay. In addition, about ten members or guests spoke up to contribute bits of Churchill’s wit and wisdom.
September 19, 2021
The Society revived the annual summer “Movie Night” on September 19 at Bobet Hall on hte Loyola campus. Despite concern about a spike in Covid19 cases, about 30 people showed up, to enjoy wines and other beverages, and small sandwiches, prior to the screening of episodes 2 and 7 of a superb BBC production entitled “Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years”.
January 19th, 2020
Radio interview with Emma Soames, Churchill’s granddaughter
Listen here at IHeartRadio
The Founders Show
December 3rd, 2019
Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, the Founding President and CEO Emeritus of The National WWII Museum was our featured speaker at our annual Birthday dinner on December 3rd which was held at the New Orleans Country Club. He presented his book Everything We Have: D-Day 6.6.44.
In March of 2019, an interview was held at the WWII Museum with Dr. Mueller for the official launch of “Everything We Have,” which tells the American story of the Normandy landings through personal accounts, images, and artifacts from the collections of The National WWII Museum.
Offering rare insight into the experiences of the soldiers, airmen, and sailors who overwhelmed Hitler’s forces on D-Day, Dr. Mueller’s book tells the personal stories of the people involved in Operation Overlord in their own words, some for the first time.
October 23rd, 2019
Sonia Purnell , the featured speaker at the third Orlin Russell Corey Lecture, presented her book, A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win WWII , to a packed house in the Louisiana Pavilion at the National WWII Museum. The story of Virginia Hall, an American woman who had an amputation of one of her legs at a young age, was riveting as presented by Ms. Purnell. Virginia Hall, aka Diane, Germaine, was the first British SOE agent in her beloved France to organize the French Resistance into what became an effective fighting force as the Allies invaded the France beginning on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Ms. Purnell’s presentation was fascinating, riveting and poignant. A standing ovation revealed the audience’s appreciation of her talk.
May 16, 2019
The 2019 edition of Wine Wit and Wisdom took place on Thursday, May 16, at 6330 St. Charles Avenue. Churchill Society members were joined by other Churchill enthusiasts at that location which resulted in a standing-room only crowd. In addition to the usual interesting and entertaining quotes and stories from about a dozen members, and the wine and hors d’oeuvres, we enjoyed a revival performance of the “Interview With Churchill”, starring Herschel Abbott and Ted Martin. And the winner of the 2018-19 High-School Essay Contest, Rachel Leith, read her prize-winning essay to the audience entitled “Drifting steadily against our will: the dangers of appeasement”.
December 1, 2018
In 2018, the Annual Dinner of the Society took place on December 1, at the World War II Museum. Society members met for an hour by ourselves, and then joined those who were attending a seminar at the Museum, so that we could all hear a speech by Andrew Roberts, author of the recently published biography, Churchill, Walking with Destiny.
September 26, 2018
Movie Night:
Our annual summer movie night took place this year in Bobet Hall at Loyola University. We screened the recent prize-winning film about Churchill’s trials in May of 1940, Darkest Hour. In addition to the movie, those in attendance enjoyed sandwiches and drinks, and were treated to a reading by Baton Rouge student Alyssa Macaluso of her essay, “Operation Dynamo: An Unparalleled, Energizing Success”, which won first prize in the Society’s 2017-18 Essay Contest.”
May 31, 2018
Orlin Corey Lecture: At the National WWII Museum
Craig Lee Symonds, Author/ Speaker
April 25, 2018
Wine, Wit & Wisdom: At the home of Ms. Patricia Strachan
May 12, 2017:
CSNO hosted our annual Wine, Wit, and Wisdom, during which members enjoyed refreshments, then took turns speaking about Churchill, often in relation to current events. Our Essay Contest winner for 2017 received her award and read the winning essay.
August 22, 2017, Pol Roger Night:
Members and their guests gathered at Hoppers Wine to enjoy Churchill’s favorite champagne, Pol Roger. Board Member Walter Wolf spoke about the unusual relationship between Churchill and the Pol Roger label. It is estimated that Churchill may have consumed a box car worth of Pol Roger in his lifetime.
Fall 2017 The Birthday Dinner:
A formal reception and dinner, was held on November 30 at the National WWII Museum. After hearing songs from Gilbert and Sullivan presented by Loyola University students, professor and author Hal Klepak, spoke about his new book, Churchill Comes of Age, Cuba, 1895. We think that the Great Man would have felt very much at home on this grand occasion.
Year Round:
Lectures are held as the opportunity arises.
