This is the last blog post I’ll be writing as Regional Coordinator for JASNA Syracuse, since I will be stepping down from this role at Midsummer. As explained in the April 22 post, JASNA Syracuse and JASNA Rochester are being merged over the next few months into a new Region, JASNA Central and Western New York (JASNA CWNY). It’s been my pleasure and privilege to serve you as your RC for the past six years.
But as Betty the cat (your RC and her Regency Beau’s new feline) illustrates, this isn’t the end of everything for JASNA in the old Syracuse Region by any means: Like Betty herself, we’re just getting a “New Home”! The indefatigable Lisa Brown will be serving for at least the next two years as RC for the new CWNY Region. I will be assisting Lisa on the CWNY Executive Committee, along with Celia Easton, Rochester’s retiring RC; the new CWNY treasurer, Marie McEneaney; the “blogmaster” for the new Region, Chris Cassidy; and, we hope, anyone else from the old Syracuse and Rochester Regions who wants to join us in planning for a bright future for CWNY.
Chris has already gotten the blog for JASNA CWNY up and running, and he’s doing a fine job with it. Please bookmark it for future use (http://jasnacwny.blogspot.com) Both the old Syracuse and Rochester blogs are available as archives on the new blog, and I plan to contribute guest posts from time to time.
I also plan to continue holding meetings in parts of the old Syracuse Region for at least the near future: a Michaelmas meeting at the Liverpool Public Library on a Saturday toward the end of September (exact date TBA) at 2 pm; an All Hallows meeting at RiverRead Books in Binghamton on Sat., Nov. 7, at 2 pm; and future meetings as interest is expressed. And meetings will continue to be held in Rochester on the former schedule (third Saturday of each month at 1 pm at the Pittsford Barnes & Noble, unless otherwise noted).
Although there will be no full Regional meetings over the summer, there are still JA-related events to note on your calendar:
Wed., June 3, noon: Registration opens for the JASNA Annual General Meeting in Louisville, KY. The theme this year is “Living in Jane Austen’s World,” which is sure to be a popular topic. So if you plan to attend, don’t delay in registering (go to this link for more information). Remember that you must be a JASNA member to attend the AGM.
Sat., June 6, noon: Lisa Brown will be presenting a Jane Austen Era fashion show at the Rochester Central Library in downtown Rochester (go to this link for more information).
Sun., June 7, 1 pm: A planning meeting for JASNA CWNY will be held at Celia Easton’s home in Rochester. I’ll be attending this and will be glad to give a lift to any other JASNA members who would like to attend from the Syracuse area.
Sat.-Sun., June 13-14: War of 1812 Bicentennial and Jane Austen Weekend at Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford (go to this link for more information).
So goodbye to JASNA Syracuse--and hello to JASNA CWNY!
Yours in Austen,
A. Marie Sprayberry, outgoing Regional Coordinator, JASNA Syracuse
Good site.
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