JASNA Eastern Pennsylvania Region

Program of Events

The Region holds four meetings per year: one per quarter, alternating Saturdays and Sundays. Our regular meeting dates are the last Saturday in March, the first Sunday in May, the last Saturday in September, and either the first or second Sunday of December. Due to scheduling difficulties, conflicting holidays, weather emergencies or other circumstances, the date may fluctuate by a week or two. We announce all meeting dates and programs at the beginning of the calendar year; detailed information about the 2008 program will be available by January 31, 2008.

The meeting dates for 2008 are: Saturday, April 5; Sunday, May 4; Saturday, September 27; and Sunday, December 7.

N. B.: The March 29 spring meeting has been changed to April 5.

The Proposed 2009 meeting dates will be: Saturday, March 28, 2009; Saturday May 2, 2009; Saturday, September 26, 2009; Sunday, December 6 or 13, 2009.

2008 Events

Spring Program

Event: Dr. Claudia Johnson of Princeton University will be the guest speaker for our first meeting of the year. Author of Jane Austen: Women, Politics, and the Novel and Equivocal Beings: Politics, Gender and Sentimentality in the 1790s, Dr. Johnson has also edited many editions of Jane Austen novels, in particular the Norton edition of Mansfield Park. A plenary speaker at the Tucson AGM, she was designated the North American Scholar. Please review Persuasions (28) to read her keynote address, titled "Jane Austen's Relics and the Treasures of the East Room."

Location: The Rittenhouse, 210 West Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 215.546.9000

Date: Saturday, April 5, 2008

Time: Noon to 3:00 p.m.; Tea to be served promptly at noon.

Directions: Please visit the hotel's website for detailed directions.

Menu: Tea, scones, an assortment of tea sandwiches, and dessert.

Reservations are required to attend this luncheon event. The reservation form will be provided in the February issue of "Bits & Scraps," the regional newsletter. If you do not subscribe, please send a check for the appropriate amount to "JASNA Eastern PA Region" to the Regional Coordinator by March 22, 2008 after the e-mail for reservations has been sent. (See contact page for the address). This event is not limited to JASNA members ($45) in good standing and their particular guests ($55).

"Summer" Program

Event: Dr. Paula Marantz Cohen, author of Jane Austen in Boca and Jane Austen in Scarsdale, Or Life, Death, and the SATs, will share her views on keeping Austen contemporary with a talk entitled "How Jane Austen Taught Me to Write Fiction." Dr. Cohen is Distinguished Professor of English at Drexel University and will be a speaker at the Chicago AGM in 2008. This is Dr. Cohen's first visit with our region.

Location: Sheraton Society Hill Hotel (Hamilton Room), 1 Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 215.233.1234

Date: Sunday, May 4, 2008

Time: 11:30 AM to 3:00 p.m.; Luncheon to be served promptly at noon.

Directions: Please visit the hotel's website for detailed directions.

Menu: Select (1) Sesame Seed Crusted Salmon with Sundry Cranberry Sauce ($44 for JASNA members; $54 for guests); (2) Chicken Breast Topped with Rock Shrimp Sauce ($44 for JASNA members; $54 for guests); (3) Vegetable Lasagna Roulade with Tomato Basil Sauce ($40 for JASNA members; $50 for guests).

All luncheon entree selections are served with salad, seasonal fresh vegetables, warm freshly baked petite pan rolls, dessert, and freshly brewed coffee, brewed decaffeinated coffee and tea selections.

Reservations are required to attend this luncheon event. The luncheon reservation form will be provided in the April issue of "Bits & Scraps," the regional newsletter. If you do not subscribe, please send a check for the appropriate amount to "JASNA Eastern PA Region" to the Regional Coordinator by April 25, 2008 (see contact page for the mailing address) after the email request for reservations has been sent. This event is not limited to JASNA members in good standing and their guests.

Autumn Program

Event: We will tour the Rosenbach Museum and Library, home to many Jane Austen first editions, as well as a wonderful rosewood chest that once belonged to the Prince Regent. The tour will be conducted by staff of the Rosenbach. We have arranged for a curatorial tour and a special presentation of additional first editions of novels admired by Jane Austen.

Location: 2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia PA 19103, 215.723.1600

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. The tour duration is two hours. Luncheon is on your own, following the tour. There is a wonderful choice of restaurants in this area.

Directions: Please visit the museum's website for detailed directions.

Reservations are required to attend this event. The reservation form will be provided in the August issue of "Bits & Scraps," the regional newsletter. If you do not subscribe, please send a check for the appropriate amount to "JASNA Eastern PA Region" to the Regional Coordinator by September 15, 2008 (see contact page for the mailing address). This event is limited to JASNA members in good standing and their guests (Members: $15; Guests: $15).

Winter Program

Event: We gather to celebrate the 233rd anniversary of Jane Austen's birth by making merry with fellow Janeites, good company and good cooks. What devilish and challenging game awaits us this year? Please join us to delight in each other's company as we cavort merrily and behave in ways "most profligate and shocking."

Location: Ellerslie at Crosslands, Kennett Square, PA 19348

Date: Sunday, December 7, 2008

Time: 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM

Directions: Follow Route 1, north or south depending upon one's starting point, to Route 52 north. Turn onto Route 52 north, then follow Route 52 north, until turning onto Route 926 east. OR follow Route 3, east or west depending on one's starting point, then turn onto Rout 926 west. Turn into Crosslands parking lot from Route 926.