Saturday, August 29, 2026, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Johnson County Central Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, Kansas
Twenty-six members in good standing attended, providing a quorum to elect next year’s Regional secretary and treasurer and to conduct other business. Executive Committee members attending were: Melanie Hayden Christie Kennard, Co-Regional Coordinators; Jan Lewis, Regional Secretary; and Victoria Hackworth, Regional Treasurer.
Additional Attending Members: Cate Bachwitz, 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 11:18 a.m. and recognized Valerie Hodges-Sporn who started the region in 1994.
Minutes: Approved as written
Election: Twelve absentee votes and elected unanimously. to vote by acclamation and re-elect Jan Lewis as Regional Secretary and Victoria Hackworth as Regional Treasurer. The motion was approved unanimously. Their terms will begin on December 16, 2026. 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.
New Fiscal Year: Approved unanimously.
Financial Update: Victoria Hackworth, Regional Treasurer, presented the financial report from September 2025-August 2026. Starting cash for the year was $28,451.53 and ending cash was $27,948.63. Annual revenues totaled $7,133 and expenses totaled $7,635.90. The financial report was approved unanimously. Christie thanked member Laurie Pitts for providing food for the Regency Ball in April at her cost and indicted Laurie would do the same thing for the 2027 Regency Ball.
Fiscal Year Change: Victoria asked that the regional bylaws be updated so they do not specify September as the end of the fiscal year. Instead, they should be changed to align with JASNA’s fiscal year set by national? I believe we have to have this voted on by everyone before we can change the bylaws, it can’t just be done by the board.
Purchase and Reimbursement Policy Reminder: Melanie reminder members of the purchase and reimbursement policy outlined in the bylaws. All expenses need to be cleared by the Regional Coordinator(s) before money is spent if members expect to be reimbursed. Receipts must be provided. If expenses will exceed $200, they need to be approved in advance by the Board.
Member Survey Results: 52 responses outlined by Melanie. One craft activity a year. Some people gave suggestions. If go to AGM and hear great speaker let us know or a book that you particularly like. Asked if people like book discussions by Zoom or in person. There were a mix of answers, Zoom may be better in the winter. Most members like meeting in person. Hybrid can be hard to manage. By Zoom we could involve another region. If we have just one speaker, then Zoom is well. Can join up to three regions when renewing membership. The virtual region is a good one to join. Kem is an historical costumer and might be interested in doing a program. She works with Maffafie Stagecoach? She knows about wigs and hairpieces. Could we do a fashion show or sewing event.
AustenPodSquad: a member is one of the podcasters.
STL AGM wants us to help with AGM. Christie has agreed to help. JASNA has hired AGM conference planners who will take charge every other year. They will need volunteers to help with staffing tables.
One member suggested Regency music programs.
Remaining Events for 2026
- Saturday, September 12, 2026: 11 am-4 pm (eat between noon and 1 pm), Box Hill Picnic, Home of Nancy Kincaid, 16525 Orchard Lane, Stillwell, KS. She will provide cups, napkins, utensils and drinks. Members will be asked to bring savory and sweet items to share. Please RSVP to Nancy at briarkin@aol.com or call her at 816-863-3914. There will be dancing, games and perhaps a Darcy or two. Christie will ask Martine Roesel if she would be willing to organize the dancing. (SEE NANCY’S HANDOUT. HER BIRTHDAY IS 9/13. Can’t offer boat rides because of liability.)
- Saturday, September 19, 2026: Cozy Fest: A Jane Austen Affair, 1-7 pm, Alexander Majors Historic Museum & Barn, 8201 State Line Rd., Kansas City, MO 64114. Tickets must be purchased for this event featuring authors, books and other vendors. $15 tickets. JASNA had a ball there several years ago.
- Saturday, October 10, 2026: Ann Rowland, Associate Professor of English, University of Kansas, speaking on Northanger Abbey, Persuasion and Gothic novels, 2-4 pm, Plaza Library, Large Meeting Room, 4801 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64112. Refreshments will be served and brought by board members.
- October 28-November 1, 2026: JASNA AGM, Theme: The Bath Novels, Tucson, AZ. Julianne is presenting on food history and the Bath Food Scene at AGM. Will be a lunch and learn session and serve Regency foods. The Martha Lloyd book and second addition is done but will not be available at this year’s AGM. John Mullen is doing the forward for the second addition.
- Saturday, November 14, 2026: JASNA-KC booth at British Faire, 10 am-4 pm, Village Presbyterian Church, Antioch Campus, 14895 Antioch Road, Overland Park, KS 66221. Lots of vendors and organizations that overlap with JASNA. Tea tickets go on sale Sept. 12 and go fast. We will sell fans, book marks and items in the $10 range and under. Brits and Better Cheddar there. Dancers are there. If want to try to have a JASNA table for the tea, Becky will organize.
- Saturday, November 21, 2026: 2 pm, Zoom Book Chat with Christie Kennard to discuss Northanger Abbey andPersuasion and to share highlights of AGM presentations.
- Saturday, December 12, 2026: Jane Austen Birthday Tea, The Wandering Vine, 12401 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS 66216. Time to be announced.
Cate has asked for Hallmark Holiday Market bookmarks. She recommends “Christmas in Austenland”. Everyone who buys a book will have it inserted. Every weekend in KC starting after Thanksgiving and going until the weekend before Christmas. Cate showed some other Austen off-shoot books and a book of Persuasion that includes letters and other documents associated with the book.
Topics for 2027 will try to follow what members indicted in the survey regard their interests. If have ideas or see events that are Austen adjacent, let Christie or Melanie know.
Tentative 2027 Programs and Events
NOTE: The 2027 JASNA AGM will be held in St. Louis, and the theme is Emma at the Arch.
- January 2027: Jenny Rytting AGM Presentation
- February 2027: Galentine’s Day Gathering
- March 2027:
- April 17, 2027: Regency Ball, Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W.13th St., Kansas City, MO 64105
- May 2027:
- June 2027:
- July 2027:
- August 2027: JASNA-KC Annual Planning Meeting
- September 2027: Box Hill Picnic
- October 21-24, 2027: JASNA AGM, St. Louis, MO, Emma at the Arch
- November 2027:
- December 2027: Jane Austen Birthday Tea
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned the meeting at 12:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Lewis, JASNA-KC Regional Secretary