DUES  DUES DUES!!!
       Yes, it's that time of the millenium again, time to pry open the old arm purse and fork over the denarii.  ACTIVE MEMBERS ONLY need to pay the usual $5 (FIVE DOLLARS), payable to The Twentieth Legion, and send it to your humble Commander, Matthew Amt.
       If you are an ASSOCIATE MEMBERS/mailing list, etc., and still receiving this rag on paper, I'll let you know if your stamps are running low.  Do NOT  send money or stamps unless I tell you to!  If you are not sure if you are an Active member or not, ask!
       Now, as a new kink in our financial matters, I was considering raising the dues this year, because the bank account is about dry and we have almost no paying events (sometimes a demo at one school).  So the Legion's only income is dues money.  The major expense, however, is food for events, so it may just be easier to make some changes in the way we feed ourselves.  Officially the Legion has been supplying all the food for lunch and breakfasts at events--I buy it and bring it.  But other people have also been bringing edibles, usually paid for out of their own pockets or even made with their own talented hands.  Furthermore, there is usually a lot of food left over.
       So we have a couple options.  We can have the food brought by members who like to cook or buy food, and reimburse them either out of Legion funds or simply have the other participants at that event fork over a couple bucks for the privilege of eating.  This would work well with Richard and Allison Campbell's plan for building a portable caupona (street front eatery) at which the troops could eat.  OR we can require each soldier to supply his own rations of salt pork, hardtack/flour/wheat, and lentils.  OR we can double the dues and keep on going as we have been.
       Let me know what you think!  Whatever we decide, though, you WILL pay your dues.

AFTER-ACTION REPORT--Bethlehem events
       Actually, one of these is over while the other still has several nights left to run.  Fun as usual!  The St. Luke's Lutheran Church show brought in nearly 700 visitors over two days.  The only really strange bit was that one of the kids collecting food donations at the front door borrowed my cloak, not a problem until he took it home!  It came back the next day, though, so no harm done.  Live and learn.
       The Adventist show is a little bigger this year, with an extra twist in the village street at the end.  And they are getting one to two THOUSAND visitors each night!  We do our best to oppress them all.  Thanks to all who came out!

SURF'S UP!
       I've been doing some work on the website lately.  The "Hints" pages for Belts, Hamata, and Scutum are now gone, their information incorporated with their respective main pages.  That makes fewer places to look for what you need.  Both the "old" and "improved" scutum presses are now on the Scutum Press page.  New pages have been added for Lorica Squamata, and Leatherworking Tips (linked from the Handbook Intro and the pages dealing with leather items), and linked to the Lorica Segmentata page are new pages concerning the Kalkriese lorica and the Segmented Armguard (Manica).  Did a few adjustments to the Newstead lorica page, too, notably a drawing of the hinges.  Oh, and for you gladiatorial types, there is a new addition to the Links, Ludus Gladiatoria in England.  (Hey, no marching gear--hmmm…)
       So surf on over to the world's best Roman website and take a look!

CAVEAT EMPTOR
       Unfortunately, the quality of the caligae sold by Osprey Trading Company seems to have taken a sudden downturn.  Several people have reported problems such as the back seam being laced instead of stitched, and carpet tacks for hobnails!  On top of the short tabs and the leather being too stiff, which we already knew about, they just aren't worth it any more.  I have removed them from the Suppliers List and will now recommend against ordering from Osprey.

CALENDAR 
 December 6, 9-10, 14, 16-17 --The annual Walk Through Bethlehem at the Seventh-Day Adventist headquarters.
 January 6, 2001 --Monthly Muster/Workshop at Roger Moskey's.
 February 17 --Feast of Lupercalia at Roger and JJ Moskey's.  Probably pot-luck.  No kids or pets, other details to follow.
 April 21-22 --Marching Through Time, Marietta Mansion
 April 28-29 --Universal Soldier, Fort Washington
 June 9-10 --ROMAN DAYS, Marietta Mansion
 September 2001--Large timeline event in Paris, France.  Contact Bruno Dienot.  (This isn't an official Twentieth Legion event, but
a number of people have expressed interest.)
 October 4-6, 2001--ROMEC XIII at Vindonissa, Switzerland.  For more info, see http://www.unibas.ch/arch/ROMEC/index.html

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Directions to the monthly workshops/musters at Roger Moskey's house:
 From I-495 Capital Beltway, take Exit 12 B Route 267 Toll Road West towards Dulles Airport.  After paying toll (50 cents), take the first exit--Exit 16 Route 7 Leesburg Pike West for about 11 miles.  Go past Cascades Parkway, and at the next light take a right onto PALISADES Parkway, then an immediate left onto "Triple 7" (Route 777).  Pass Calvary Temple on right, take the next right onto Regina Drive; follow it to the end and take a right onto Markwood Drive.   At stop sign take a left onto Terrie Drive (culdesac).  #304 is just to the right of the middle.
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Well, here it is for real, folks, THE MILLENIUM.  And it really does seem like the end of the world, because for the first time in my life I am SICK for the SECOND TIME in a MONTH!!  Just choked on my cough syrup, too, which doesn't help...  Of course, we Romans know that it's really just the year 2753 Ab Urbe Condita ("From the founding of the City"), but hey, we can party anyway.  Bring your own decongestants.
 ADLOCVTIO is the slightly dopey newsletter of the Twentieth Legion, and is published on or about the Ides of each month (15th of March, May, July, and October, 13th of all other months).  The Editor (sniff, coff) is Matthew "Quintus" Amt, guru to screaming millions, and his mountaintop is at 9416 Rhode Island Ave....  The Legion Website (best on the Net!) is http://www.larp.com/legioxx/index.html.  Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Valete, et cetera!