By Cynthia Eckersley, Tribute Grant 2023 Recipient
Here is Part 1 of our 2023 Tribute Grant Award Recipient, Cynthia Eckersley's account of her JASNA Denver AGM experience told in 3 parts:
While a truth may be universally acknowledged, it is always better understood when in the company of clever, well-informed friends who have a great deal of conversation to be shared.
The truth is that Jane Austen has captivated many readers of all ages with her wit, charm, and determination in describing and dismantling the social mores of the 18th Century.
My journey to the Jane Austen Society and the culmination of a trip to its AGM (Association General Meeting) in Denver, Colorado, began during Covid-19 in 2021.
Living in isolation, withdrawn from society and wondering what to do for social and intellectual stimulation, I picked up an annotated version of Mansfield Park to read. In addition, looking for some fun music to entertain myself, I ordered a book of music to play at the piano--the music of Pride and Prejudice along with several pieces from Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion.
Suddenly it occurred to me that I was living a life very similar to the author, Jane Austen though in the 21st century. My research on the World Wide Web took me to the U.K. website for Chawton House, the museum and foundation for Jane Austen fans from around the world. I discovered that there was an American organization that had local regions which one could join for only $40.00 per year (or less if one chose the digital only option). The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) published an annual publication, held meetings and could be my answer to social isolation during Covid. It seemed like a bargain to me, and worth trying. I signed up and looked forward to my first JASNA meeting virtually on Zoom with my new local region.
I was soon cavorting with other people from the Northwest region (Northern Oregon and SW Washington) over zoom. Eventually, I met many of them face to face while re-enacting the historical Battle of Prague performance at our region’s Spring Tea in Vancouver, Washington.
Meeting topics ranged from “Dueling During the Regency Period” to “Theatricals in Jane Austen’s family,” as well as the book, Sister Novelists by Devoney Looser in which we discussed such topics as women in poverty and men in debtors prison which affected women’s lives. Jane Austen’s writings apparently only earned 600 pounds in her lifetime, an astonishing fact given how widely known she is today.
The JASNA Oregon-SW Washington Region announced a Tribute Grant for $1500.00 to attend the AGM (Annual General Meeting) in Denver, Colorado for fall 2023. Being the procrastinator that I am and having social anxiety from three years of Covid isolation, I did not give attending the conference much thought. There were many reasons why it did not excite me, foremost being that I am an introvert. Attending the AGM would require flying on an airplane and I would need a ball gown for a banquet and a Regency themed ball afterward. I wouldn’t know anyone, and there would be no way to return home early if I didn’t like it. I prefer an exit strategy for social events, just in case there are problems. Here, I wouldn't have an exit strategy.
Also, hotels are often lonely and expensive, as everything seems to be these days. Even with the Tribute Grant, if I should win, my estimate of the cost of the trip exceeded my travel budget, as my spouse and I had already gone to Quebec in the Spring for a two week stay. All said, there were many reasons why staying home seemed like a good idea.
Two days before the deadline, the application appeared to be a long shot. I would need to answer 5 questions in essay form. I looked over the email and determined it wouldn’t hurt to try.
However, my desktop computer had aged out long ago (2005) and wouldn’t turn on when I tried to power it up!
My laptop was in the shop, due to functional issues that we couldn’t resolve. This meant going to the library to use a computer, but what the heck? I drove to the library, signed up for a computer, and proceeded to answer the questions. Two hours later, the computer started blinking... “You have 3 minutes. You have 3 minutes...please download your materials onto an external device, you have 2 minutes”. I panicked because I didn’t have a USB file, my cell phone was dead, and getting into my Gmail account to mail off the application required a 2-part authentication.
Technology was requiring more from me than I had anticipated. Remembering that I had a 2nd email account through Portland Community College (which I seemed to be able to access without requiring the blood of my first-born child), I quickly attached my application and sent off an email to the committee address.
Whew!!
Then came the waiting. Sitting on our davenport, reading Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, I checked my email daily for a response, expecting to get a denial any day. It was nerve wracking, but the anticipation of a response was a mixed bag. If I won, I would be committed to going to Denver. If I didn’t win, then I was sure someone more deserving would be able to travel to the AGM and I could stay home in the comfort of my living room and the companionship of my spouse.
Finally, the dreaded email arrived. I had won the grant, after all!
My husband had previously read my application and had no doubt that I would win, but my self-confidence in my writing was shaky. The Oregon-SW Washington JASNA committee were very supportive and reassured me that I was the winner.
My journey to Denver began with a successful application for the Tribute grant. This grant was dedicated to a couple, Bill Boyd and Marna Tisdel, who had selflessly contributed to the local region and were well known within JASNA circles.
Truly grateful, I was introduced as the winner at the 2023 Spring Tea, affirming that my efforts were appreciated and acknowledged. The AGM theme of Pride and Prejudice: A Rocky Romance seemed appropriate given the Denver setting next to the Rocky Mountains.
I was going to need to start sewing or looking for a dress. What did those Regency gals wear anyway?
While a truth may be universally acknowledged, it is always better understood when in the company of clever, well-informed friends who have a great deal of conversation to be shared.
The truth is that Jane Austen has captivated many readers of all ages with her wit, charm, and determination in describing and dismantling the social mores of the 18th Century.
My journey to the Jane Austen Society and the culmination of a trip to its AGM (Association General Meeting) in Denver, Colorado, began during Covid-19 in 2021.
Living in isolation, withdrawn from society and wondering what to do for social and intellectual stimulation, I picked up an annotated version of Mansfield Park to read. In addition, looking for some fun music to entertain myself, I ordered a book of music to play at the piano--the music of Pride and Prejudice along with several pieces from Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion.
Suddenly it occurred to me that I was living a life very similar to the author, Jane Austen though in the 21st century. My research on the World Wide Web took me to the U.K. website for Chawton House, the museum and foundation for Jane Austen fans from around the world. I discovered that there was an American organization that had local regions which one could join for only $40.00 per year (or less if one chose the digital only option). The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) published an annual publication, held meetings and could be my answer to social isolation during Covid. It seemed like a bargain to me, and worth trying. I signed up and looked forward to my first JASNA meeting virtually on Zoom with my new local region.
I was soon cavorting with other people from the Northwest region (Northern Oregon and SW Washington) over zoom. Eventually, I met many of them face to face while re-enacting the historical Battle of Prague performance at our region’s Spring Tea in Vancouver, Washington.
Meeting topics ranged from “Dueling During the Regency Period” to “Theatricals in Jane Austen’s family,” as well as the book, Sister Novelists by Devoney Looser in which we discussed such topics as women in poverty and men in debtors prison which affected women’s lives. Jane Austen’s writings apparently only earned 600 pounds in her lifetime, an astonishing fact given how widely known she is today.
The JASNA Oregon-SW Washington Region announced a Tribute Grant for $1500.00 to attend the AGM (Annual General Meeting) in Denver, Colorado for fall 2023. Being the procrastinator that I am and having social anxiety from three years of Covid isolation, I did not give attending the conference much thought. There were many reasons why it did not excite me, foremost being that I am an introvert. Attending the AGM would require flying on an airplane and I would need a ball gown for a banquet and a Regency themed ball afterward. I wouldn’t know anyone, and there would be no way to return home early if I didn’t like it. I prefer an exit strategy for social events, just in case there are problems. Here, I wouldn't have an exit strategy.
Also, hotels are often lonely and expensive, as everything seems to be these days. Even with the Tribute Grant, if I should win, my estimate of the cost of the trip exceeded my travel budget, as my spouse and I had already gone to Quebec in the Spring for a two week stay. All said, there were many reasons why staying home seemed like a good idea.
Two days before the deadline, the application appeared to be a long shot. I would need to answer 5 questions in essay form. I looked over the email and determined it wouldn’t hurt to try.
However, my desktop computer had aged out long ago (2005) and wouldn’t turn on when I tried to power it up!
My laptop was in the shop, due to functional issues that we couldn’t resolve. This meant going to the library to use a computer, but what the heck? I drove to the library, signed up for a computer, and proceeded to answer the questions. Two hours later, the computer started blinking... “You have 3 minutes. You have 3 minutes...please download your materials onto an external device, you have 2 minutes”. I panicked because I didn’t have a USB file, my cell phone was dead, and getting into my Gmail account to mail off the application required a 2-part authentication.
Technology was requiring more from me than I had anticipated. Remembering that I had a 2nd email account through Portland Community College (which I seemed to be able to access without requiring the blood of my first-born child), I quickly attached my application and sent off an email to the committee address.
Whew!!
Then came the waiting. Sitting on our davenport, reading Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, I checked my email daily for a response, expecting to get a denial any day. It was nerve wracking, but the anticipation of a response was a mixed bag. If I won, I would be committed to going to Denver. If I didn’t win, then I was sure someone more deserving would be able to travel to the AGM and I could stay home in the comfort of my living room and the companionship of my spouse.
Finally, the dreaded email arrived. I had won the grant, after all!
My husband had previously read my application and had no doubt that I would win, but my self-confidence in my writing was shaky. The Oregon-SW Washington JASNA committee were very supportive and reassured me that I was the winner.
My journey to Denver began with a successful application for the Tribute grant. This grant was dedicated to a couple, Bill Boyd and Marna Tisdel, who had selflessly contributed to the local region and were well known within JASNA circles.
Truly grateful, I was introduced as the winner at the 2023 Spring Tea, affirming that my efforts were appreciated and acknowledged. The AGM theme of Pride and Prejudice: A Rocky Romance seemed appropriate given the Denver setting next to the Rocky Mountains.
I was going to need to start sewing or looking for a dress. What did those Regency gals wear anyway?