Jane Austen Society of North America Metropolitan Kansas City Region
Annual Planning Meeting
Saturday, September 6, 2025, 2-4 p.m.
Plaza Library, 4801 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri
Twenty-six members in good standing attended, providing a quorum to elect next year’s Co-Regional Coordinators and to conduct other business. Executive Committee members attending were: Leah Wilson and Christie Kennard, Co-Regional Coordinators; Jan Lewis, Regional Secretary; Victoria Hackworth, Regional Treasurer; and Jenni Frangos, Past Co-Regional Coordinator.
Additional Attending Members: Cate Bachwirtz, Becki Bardin, Sabrina Bartholomew, Cathy Blake, Joy Brooks, Alisha Moore Cole, Gaye Stevick Foutch, Amy Gamble-Martin, Melanie Hayden, Kara Hensley, Valerie Hodges-Sporn, Nancy Kincaid, Diana Kornfeld, Michelle Knoll, Emma Ledford, Becky Malomo, Linda Mannering, Kimberly Murphy, Dorothea Paiva, Jenny Rytting and Juti Winchester.
Call to Order: Christie Kennard called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.
Election: It was moved by Juti Winchester and seconded by Sabrina Bartholomew to vote by acclamation and elect Christie Kennard and Melanie Hayden Co-Regional Coordinators. The motion was approved unanimously. Their terms will begin on December 16, 2025. In addition, Christie announced that the Executive Board has appointed Leah Wilson to serve as Membership Chair and that Diana Kornfeld would continue her role as Social Media Coordinator.
Minutes: Jan Lewis presented the minutes from the previous annual planning meeting held August 17, 2024. They were accepted with one correction: listing Jenni Frangos, Past Regional Co-Coordinator, as a member of the Executive Board.
Financial Update: Victoria Hackworth, Regional Treasurer, presented the financial report from September 2024-August 2025. Starting cash for the year was $31,941.19 and ending cash was $28,451.53. Annual revenues totaled $5,767.67 and expenses totaled $9,257.33, including a $5,000 speaker sponsorship donation for the 2025 AGM in Baltimore, MD.
2025 Remaining Events
- September 20: Box Hill Picnic, Home of Nancy Kincaid, 16525 Orchard Lane, Stillwell, KS 66085, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Members and their families are welcome to enjoy dancing and other activities. Please bring food to share and dress casually or in Regency attire.
- October 10-12: JASNA Annual General Meeting in Baltimore, MD.
- November 8: Discussion led by Sabrina Bartholomew: “How Jane Austen Changed My Life”, 2-4 p.m., Jewish Family Center, 435 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64110.
- November 15: Participation in Annual British Faire, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Community Covenant Church, 15700 W. 87th Street, Lenexa, KS 55219. Members will host a table to sell Jane Austen items and publicize the organization.
- December 6: Pride & Petticoats, 2-4 p.m., Johnson County Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212. The library has asked JASNA to participate in the event, which will include a Regency-era tea, games, costume promenade, dances and demonstrations of dance card making, letter folding and the language of fans. Our contact for the event is Carrie Worth at 816-918-3058 or worthc@jocolibrary.org.
- December 13: Jane Austen 250th Birthday Tea, Wandering Vine, 12401 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS. The exact time and cost will be determined, although the Board has discussed having members attend for free or a reduced cost, with guests paying full price to attend. In advance of the 205th celebration, JASNA-KC would like to promote Jane Austen’s legacy and our organization with media outlets such as KCUR and KKFI. Melanie has agreed to do interviews.
Tentative 2025 Programs and Events (Primary Contact Appears in Parentheses)
NOTE: The 2026 JASNA AGM theme is The Bath Novels: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. A suggestion was made to read and discuss (via Zoom) one of the novels mentioned in Northanger Abbey and written by Jane Austen’s contemporaries, such as Belinda by Maria Edgeworth, Evelina by Frances Burney or The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe. No decision was made on the novel to read or dates when it would be discussed.
- January: Possible Zoom presentation with Devoney Looser on her recent book Wild For Austen, held in conjunction with a local bookstore, such as Rainy Day Books. Date and time to be determined. (Christie Kennard)
- February 15: Galentine’s Day celebration of Jane Austen with book exchange, time to be determined, Jewish Family Center, 435 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64110. (Melanie Hayden)
- March: Zoom or in-person presentation with Damienne Scott on “Colorism in the Regency”, date and location to be determined. This presentation could occur in conjunction with the season four release of Bridgerton on Netflix. (Christie Kennard)
- April: Jane Austen Regency Ball, date to be determined, open to public, tentative location Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1700 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO 64111. In addition to dancing, it will feature a cream tea service with scones. Volunteers are needed to help with the event. (Leah Wilson)
- May: Tour of Regency-era collections led by docent and JASNA-KC member Pam Hoelzel, date and time to be determined, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. (Christie Kennard)
- June 6: Lavender field harvesting event in Amish country east of Hartford, KS (near junction of I-70 and I-75 about one hour and 15 minutes from Kansas City). The owner will provide tea and opportunities to purchase lavender. (Joy Brooks)
- July: To be determined.
- August: The annual Georgette Heyer novel discussion, led by Gaye Stevick Foutch and Valerie Hodges Sporn for several years, may be discontinued in 2026.
- August: JASNA-KC annual planning meeting, date and location to be determined.
- September: Annual Box Hill picnic, date and location to be determined.
- October 30-November 1: JASNA Annual General Meeting in Tucson, AZ.
- November: To be determined.
- December: Jane Austen Birthday Tea, date and location to be determined.
Adjournment: Christie adjourned the meeting at 3:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Lewis, JASNA-KC Regional Secretary