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WELCOME TO JASNA-SOUTHWEST

The Jane Austen Society of North America, Southwest (JASNA-SW) is a region of the Jane Austen Society of North America.

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WHAT'S NEW

It's Time to Elect a New JASNA-SW Governing Board

Voting deadline is Sept. 1; results will be posted here and announced at the Winter Meeting. Click here to download your ballot.

Note: You don't have to be on the board to become more involved with this group of Janeites. JASNA-SW invites anyone who wants to volunteer in some capacity to contact any member of the governing board. There's a place for you!


JASNA-SW has a new email announcement service

Jana Bickel, our email coordinator, has just sent out the first set of announcements to all JASNA-SW members who have provided us with their email addresses. These announcements include a monthly calendar of events, including the latest on reading group meetings, special screenings, and other events that you won't want to miss. If you'd like to be in the loop, please contact Jana Bickel and provide her with your email address. (Click on Join/Contact above to contact Jana.)

 

Consider Taking the Jane Austen Survey

Your responses will help create a nuanced profile of current Jane Austen enthusiasts. Results will be presented at the AGM in October 2008.

The survey appears to be the first of its kind, and is open to all Austen enthusiasts, not just JASNA members. Won't it be interesting to find out if our community fits the popular stereotypes of Janeites – or not?

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and may be accessed online at janeaustensurvey.org/ (or as a link from the JASNA website).

To request a paper copy, or for more information, write to the survey administrator, Jeanne Kiefer, 34522 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85262; or email her.


ABOUT JASNA-SW:

We are a region of the Jane Austen Society of North America.

JASNA-SW is a non-profit organization with a diverse membership: From admirers to aficionados, students to scholars, book purists to film fans, what brings us together is our love of Jane Austen.

Through local reading groups and events that are both entertaining and informative, we celebrate the work and life of Jane Austen, the world of her books, and her influence in popular culture.

We have two yearly events with imaginative programs that usually include a variety of speakers on Austen-related topics; entertainment such as music, readings, or plays; contests; a delicious meal; and lots of laughter.

* Our Spring Meeting takes place in May.

* Our Winter Meeting takes place in December, which is our way of celebrating Jane Austen's birthday and ushering in the holiday season.

We have five local reading groups located throughout the region. Our region includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Ventura counties.

Members receive two newsletters a year, which include news about our local reading groups, reports on the fascinating programs at JASNA-SW meetings and JASNA Annual General Meetings, news of Jane Austen in popular culture, Austen-related book reviews, and more.

Why You Should Join JASNA-SW (it's only $15)

In addition to discounted admission to our already affordable Spring and Winter Events, your $15 membership:

* allows our Region to contribute to the restoration of Jane Austen's house and church at Chawton.

* provides food and drink to our holiday season reading group teas.

* allows us to keep our biannual meetings affordable. For example, our last two meetings cost 30% and 55% more, respectively, than what they brought in. Therefore, your $15 membership helped cover the cost of bringing in speakers, the food, and the venues.

* helps cover miscellaneous costs, such as printing and mailing out our newsletters and web hosting for this site.

In addition, members are the first to hear about special screenings and other Austen-related events. Some of these events are open to JASNA-SW members only.

Membership in JASNA-SW is only $15 per year. Please consider joining today.

 

All roads lead to Austen. (photo by Diana Birchall)


In Memoriam
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of beloved JASNA-SW member Gloria Sybil Gross, who passed away on September 10, 2007.

Please click here to read Diana Birchall's tribute to Gloria.