Joint JASNA/JABC "Box Hill" Picnic in Syracuse, Sat., June 9

Now it can be told:  The joint JASNA Syracuse/Jane Austen Book Club-CNY “Box Hill” end-of-season event will be a potluck picnic, hat extravaganza, book swap, and Diamond Jubilee toast at the home of JASNA Regional Coordinator A. Marie Sprayberry in Syracuse, Saturday, June 9, at 12 noon! 

All members of JASNA Syracuse and those seriously interested in joining JASNA, as well as all members of the JABC, are welcome.  A few members of JASNA Rochester may make the trip as well, so let’s hope for a real Upstate Janeite convocation!

The picnic will be held outdoors if the weather permits, or indoors if it doesn’t.  And, in addition to the food and drink, we propose to enjoy various diversions.

First, in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, please wear some form of appropriate headgear (QEII, of course, never leaves the palace without a hat!).  Check out the "Mad Hattery" website for inspiration, or wear your favorite Regency bonnet, or just put some fresh trim on an old chapeau (“I hope Mr. Bingley may like it, Lizzy”).  Gents, please do the best you can in corresponding masculine fashion.

And we’ll drink a loyal toast to the Queen as well.  A tour of Marie’s British royal commemoratives collection will be available for those who are interested.

Other entertainments will include a book swap:  Please bring a few titles (Austen-related or otherwise) that you are ready to part with and think other attendees would enjoy, and come prepared to take away a few.  VHS tapes and DVDs are welcome as well.

And JABC-CNY coordinator Heather Elia proposes a letter tile game along the lines of the one played in Emma.  Can you spell “Dixon” and “blunder”??

If you plan to attend the picnic (and only if; no need to respond if you can’t make it), please send an RSVP to Marie no later than June 2 at the email or phone number given for her under "Contact Us" in the right-hand column.  Directions to Marie’s home will then be provided.  (It’s on the east side of Syracuse, near Le Moyne College.)

Also, if you know definitely what you’re planning to bring as a dish to pass, please let Marie know (though if you don’t know yet, that’s OK).  Utensils and an assortment of nonalcoholic beverages will be available.  (Please indicate your choice of beverage in your RSVP.)

Hope to see you on June 9!