Present at the meeting:
Barbara Saylor Rodgers (UVM), Cliff Timpson (BFA St. Albans), Jacques Bailly (UVM), Jeanne Valley (UVM) June Sargent (Mt. Abraham UHS), Leanne Goulette (CVU), Mark Usher (UVM), Mary Ann Chaffee (Essex HS), Noralee Cartier (Burlington HS), Philip Ambrose (UVM), Robert Rodgers (UVM), Robert Slayton (Mt. Mansfield HS), Shane Becksted (UVM).

The date for the Twenty-Fifth Annual Latin Day had been agreed upon at the Annual Meeting of the VCLA on October 20, 2000.  Susan Brown of Thetford Academy reported in the meantime that the Vermont State Drama Festival would begin that same day.  With no other dates open, we have decided to adhere to the original date of April 6, 2001.

The HORARIUM ET AGENDA for Latin Day 2001 were modified, primarily to allow for more time for all the students attending to view the displays:
9:00-9:20
ASSEMBLE at the UVM Patrick Gymnasium
BRIEFING of the "Microphone Masters" of each delegation with the UVM Stage-Manager to learn how to use the stage sound equipment for the skits.  (A very important effort to solve the difficulty of hearing the skits!)
REGISTRATION at the Registration Desk
SET UP EXIBITS on the tables in Patrick Gym

9:20-45
OPENING CEREMONIES including introduction of each delegation.  When called upon, each delegation will stand, saying HIC SUMUS, and remain standing long enough to be judged for its COSTUMES! (An innovation this year:  there will be a prize for the best COSTUMES!  The Latin responses and the Welcomer's greetings will be reduced in time.)

9:45-55
SPECIAL AWARDS:
Largest Delegation, Highest per capita Enrollment, School Traveling the Farthest,
CANE Writing Contest Vermont Winners, Vermont Latin Sight Translations Test Winners, Largest Increase in Latin Enrollment, First Attendance at Latin Day

9:55-59
CANTICUM NOVUM:  CAESAR'S TRIUMPH (to the tune of Clementine, named for a Caesarian virtue!)

Ecce Caesar nunc triumphat qui subegit Galliam,
Civiumque multitudo celebrat victoriam.

Gaius Iulius Caesar noster, imperator, pontifex,
Primum praetor, deinde consul, nunc dictator, moxque rex.

En victores procedentes, laeti floribus novis,
Magna praeda sunt potiti et captivis plurimis.

Exsultantes magna voce Io triumphe! concinunt,
Dum auratum ante currum victas urbes praeferunt.

Legiones viam sacram totam complent strepitu,
Capitolinumque collem scandit Caesar in curru.

O sol pulcher, o laudande! Caesarem recepimus,
Et corona triumphali honoratum vidimus.

10:00-30
MAXI-PROBATIO For JUNIOR AND SENIOR TEAMS in the Gymnastics Room
(see below under Problems and Particulars).
10:00-15
MINI-PROBATIO:  The Spectatores remain in the stands for a short viva voce Probatio, while the teams are participating in the Maxi-Probatio.  IACULATIO OSCULORUM for RESPONSA PROPRIA!!!!
10:15-10:30
VIEWING THE DISPLAYS:  The Spectatores will have time for a short view of the Displays both at this time and after the Skits.

10:30-11:45
SKITS on the Theme of ROMAN VIRTUE AND VICE (see below, Problems and Particulars).

11:45-12:15
DISPLAY VIEWING

12:15-25
AWARDS for the Silver Bowls (for a combination of Displays, Maxi-Probatio Juniorum, and Skits) and Senior Probatio Plaque and Ribbons for the Skits and a Special Award for BEST COSTUMES.

12:25-30
ClOSING CEREMONY with singing of first and third verses of Gaudeamus Igitur.

Problems and Particulars

1.  There were reports from all quarters that there remain auditory problems.  Therefore, a) there will be three or four cordless microphones available for the Skits, in addition to the usual standing mikes, and b) there will be a training session at 9:00 a.m. with the UVM Stage Manager for a person from each delegation assigned to handle the microphones for the skit.  [After the planning meeting, Jeanne Valley spoke with Barbara Mercure, who assures us that she can improve the sound in the upper tiers of the stands.]

2.  It was agreed by all that there was too little time for the students to view the many fine displays.  The following measure were decided upon to deal the with problem:  A) We will cut down on the time for the Opening Ceremonies, to assure that we adhere to the time allotted;  B) the formal Probationes Juniorum et Seniorum will take place in another room (the Gymnastics Room) in a written format as in the past, allowing the Spectatores  1) to have their own Mini-Probatio (of only 10-15 minutes) with the reward of the traditional Iaculatio Osculorum for right answers and 2) to spend about 10-15 minutes to view the Displays;  and C) as a final effort to keep to schedule, we will adhere strictly to the time allotted each school for the Skit. There will be one minute to get on Stage, and four minutes to perform the Skit and to clear the stage.  Judges will make substantial deduction of points for any overage of time.  Remember that the stage props and other paraphernalia are to be placed in advance on either side of the stands, teams will be warned when to come to the wings to get ready to go to the stage.  It may be prudent to avoid any kind of stage prop that is so cumbersome as to require extra time for installment.  Keep also in mind that the stage as provided will have absolutely nothing upon which to hang anything.  All these pointers should help keep the Skits within the time limit.

3)  Readings for the Probationes will be put up on the UVM Classics Department Web site as soon as possible.  They will include lists of Latin virtues and vices, a selection of proverbs, and brief paragraphs in prose on proverbial wisdom.  Already installed, just as an example of ancient proverbial writing, are the sayings of Publilius Syrus (1st century B.C.), thanks to Barbara Saylor Rodgers!

4)  In keeping with the theme Roman Virtue and Vice, it was decided to that the Skits should have the following common tripartite format:
a) A Titulum  (title) consisting of a Virtue or a Vice (on a large placard) b) an Exemplum (example) drawn from Greco-Roman History or Mythology illustrating the Virtue or Vice of the Title, and c) a Dictum (proverb/motto), like the Title, on a large placard, but held up at the end of the Skit, that sums up the Virtue or Vice as illustrated in the Exemplum.

Even given the three parts of the common format, there is great liberty in the construction of the Skit.  It may be entirely without script (except for the Title and Dictum), it may take the form of the Ars Vivenda used several years ago consisting of pantomime, or it may include song and dance and dialogue.  As in years past the Skit will be judged on conception, costume, and clarity of representation, and text (optional).  If there is a test, a copy for the Judges should be presented at the Registration Desk first thing in the morning!

5)  It was agreed that any school transportation problems should contact the UVM Classics Department for possible assistance.

6)  The packet of materials will be sent out to all the schools in mid-January.