In today’s Free Press is a story on Prof. Warhol-Down’s involvement with editing the text Women’s Worlds: The McGraw-Hill Anthology of Women’s Writings, which came out in December 2007.
Prof. Warhol-Down, guest speaker on the subject of Jane Austen’s Narrative Refusals at JASNA-Vermont’s inaugural meeting on 30 March 2008, was given a ‘thank-you’ membership to JASNA, thereby becoming our chapter’s eighteenth member.
Deb has been busy gathering and posting information, merchandise offers from JASNA regions, and she’s also fleshed out the EVENTS area to give a fuller picture of JASNA-VERMONT happenings, local activities of Austen interest (dancing!), and a few upcoming JASNA lectures held within driveable distance.
I want to point out the information on the next three Annual General Meetings. AGMs are only open to JASNA members in good standing (and a mere 550 of those!); invitations for Chicago will reach mailboxes sometime in May. I want to encourage Vermont JASNA members to seriously think of attending Philadelphia’s AGM in October 2009. This is the closest it will get to us for the next few years (the 2010 AGM will be in Portland, Oregon). And we are lucky to have two members (Nancy Charkes, who summers in Fairlee; Lorraine Hanaway, who summers near Littleton, New Hampshire) who are involved in the Eastern PA chapter that will be hosting!
Anyone with questions about AGMs in general, please direct them to Deb. She has attended many in the past, and also plans to attend Chicago’s.
[just a mention: some papers given at AGMs are submitted to Persuasions and Persuasions Online; look over past issues to get an idea of the types of varied breakout sessions you’ll be able to attend!]
In today’s email, a notice from PBS that Sense and Sensibility (the newest BBC production) is being offered for 20% off. The Small Print: you must purchase the two-production S&S/Persuasion 3 disk set, and buy it through BBC America’s webshop. Email me if you want the promotion code for this offer (which expires 30 April 2008).
Just a quick word to say WELCOME to all our readers. Only one installment left – the 2nd part of Sense and Sensibility – before PBS’s Austen season comes to an end. So it will soon be time to re-open the books, and also dip into other film versions.
Prof. Warhol-Down spoke quite enthusastically (except as regards those last eight minutes…) of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. So it would be nice to hear from Vermont Austen-lovers about the recent TV adaptations, as well as vote on your favourites from the past. One of our hopes for an upcoming meeting would be a viewing, which you know means lots of discussion (pro and con) afterwards!
Looking over the JASNA website, I am reminded to mention The Jane Austen Survey, being conducted by Jeanne Kiefer. She is gathering information in order to present her findings at the Chicago AGM. So check out the survey. If you have limited internet access or are more comfortable doing the survey by putting pen to paper, contact Kelly or Deb for a PAPER copy.
Another bit of news: THIS WEEK (March 30-April 5) Pemberley is beginning a group read of Austen’s Emma (chapters 1-9). Subsequent chapters are discussed through mid-May. Check out the schedule then click on the Group Read Board for the actual discussions.
Also, PBS has scheduled Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford for May 4, 11, and 18. By all UK reports, this is a very good adaptation!
Jane Austen in Vermont 
