ADLOCVTIO
NEWSLETTER OF THE TWENTIETH LEGION
Vol. XVIII, no. ix, September 2008


ROMAN DAYS 2008

    The next Roman Days will be on the weekend of September 26-28, 2008 (not June!), at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.  Richard, Deb, Alec , and Dan have been hammering out the details--HUGE thanks to them for all work they've been doing!   The discussion is on the Roman Days list, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romandays/  Also see http://www.romandays.org, and participants should register at http://romandays.wikispaces.com/ .  You can also send inqiries to romandays AT gmail DOT com .

    To all reenactors out there, we want everything from the Iceman to the 5th century AD.  Romans, Gauls, Greeks, Iberians, Persians, Germans, Samnites, Etruscans, Thracians, Numidians, more Romans, and all the rest.  The focus as usual will be on general living history and public education, but there is growing talk about sparring with needlefelt weapons or other such activities.  The artillery range (the west field) is unfortunately smaller than we'd like, but we do plan to shoot there.  (We're hoping to talk George Mason into a larger space for next year!)  Bring your catapultae and ballistae!   There is plenty of space for all our tents and displays.  

    Participants should sign in when they arrive, and group leaders will pick up an information packet.  

    Remember, you do NOT have to be a reenactor to participate!  We can accommodate wargamers, scholars, and general enthusiasts as well.  A variety of kids' activities and educational displays are planned.

    The general public is certainly invited to attend on Saturday and Sunday!  Admission is $3 per person.  George Mason University students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with their University ID.  

    The new site is a pair of grassy fields at the intersection of Patriot Circle and George Mason Boulevard, at the north side of the main campus.  This is about 2 blocks east of Ox Road, VA Route 123.  From the Capital Beltway in Virginia, I-495, EITHER take Little River Turnpike Rt. 236 West about 5 miles, turn left on Ox Rd., then go about 2/3 of a mile and turn left on University Drive; OR take Braddock Rd. Rt. 620 West about 5 miles, turn RIGHT on Ox Rd., then go about 2/3 of a mile and turn RIGHT on University Drive.  Then go 2 blocks and turn right on George Mason Blvd.  Parking for participants is in the Lot H, on your left.  The site is straight ahead, one block.  Visitors should park just across Ox Road, by the field house, in Lot M, O, or P.

    Participants parking in Lot H should display a Roman Days parking flyer on their dashboard.  This is available to download and print from the Roman Days Yahoo group Files section (link above), or pick one up a the event when you sign in.

    If you are using Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, or some sort of arcane electronic GPS device to find your way to the Roman Days location at GMU the address you should use is:
 
George Mason Blvd and Patriot Cir, Fairfax, VA, 22030
 
If you just type in George Mason University you will be directed to somewhere on the south side of campus which is not where we will be.  The address above, on the other hand, will take you right to our site.  (Search Google Maps with the address 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030, and the pointer will be one block north and one block west of the fields.)

Handy map link:

http://eagle.gmu.edu/map/fairfax.php

    (Best to avoid the southern half of the campus, since the Ice Capades will be performing at the Patriot Center!  That means more casual visitors for us, of course, but also more traffic.)

    The Fairfax County Latin Teachers Association is heavily involved, and will be arranging for about 800 high school students to attend!  In fact they are coming on Friday from about 10 AM to 2 PM, so we are setting up a special program for that, involving whomever is available to participate.  We have also gotten a positive response from Eta Sigma Phi, the national Classics honor society (with chapters at a number of local colleges and universities).  So right off the bat we are sure to get a much larger audience than we have had in years past.  Many thanks for all the support!

    We will not have a food vendor for the public there, but there are many places to eat on campus.  Reenactors may certainly provide their own food, of course.  There will be a "break tent" for participants, screened off from the public, where we can lunch and snack as needed.  You can cook on stoves but no ground fires.  Building E has restrooms, right across the street.  Alcohol is only allowed if we have a permit from the Events Office.  Please do not carry any weapons outside of our camp and demonstration areas.

    There are also several good hotels nearby, for those far from home who do not plan to camp.  The local Holiday Inn offers a GMU rate of $89 per night.  Call the hotel directly and ask for the GMU rate and tell them you are doing an event at GMU.  

--Staying in the tents overnight is fine.

-- Small stoves are fine for cooking: no ground fires

--No weapons outside our area, please!!  If you wish to visit any other part of the campus,  leave your weapons in camp.

--GMU police sergeants will be alerted to us and check in during the night. Campus police non emergency: 703-993-2810

--Alcohol only if we get a permit from the events office.

--Be sure the missile range is clear of all people and pets before shooting or throwing!

    Whew, I think that covers the basics.  There are already as many participants signed up as we had last year, not to mention several times as many visitors!  This will be the largest Roman Days yet, so don't miss it!



FILMING, from David Smith

Friends, Romans, "barbarians," et al:

Salvete,

I have been in contact with a film maker who is interested in shooting a docudrama in Gettysburg-- probably the weekend AFTER Roman Days [or Oct. 11-12?].

This film maker is interested in "fit" and "accurate" Romans and "barbarians," including some civilians.

Details about pay/legal have not been worked out, but the film maker has asked me to coordinate personnel, equipment, etc.  When I get more information, I'll start contacting unit leaders for individual talent shots and resumes. The director wants me to stress two things:
 
1) Reenactors must be fit enough to look like active legionaries;
2) Reenactors must be willing to get their equipment wet and/or dirty.

The reason this project seems especially cool is that the director is willing to shoot narration/dialogue in Latin with English subtitles, and is interested in doing some battle sequences with "barbarians. "  Also, there would be camp scenes demonstrating aspects of daily camp life.  I have already suggested that this film maker visit Roman Days, Lafe, Pompeii II, etc. to get an idea of what we Romans can do.  Let's show the shiny boys of Ermine Street Guard that we Yanks have come of age!

Since there are already Revolutionary War and American Civil War docudramas out there, why not for Rome?

Please let me know if anyone is interested. This project will involve a screening of individuals, working with the casting director, so if you have a 'talent shot,' that would be great.

Gratias,
David
dsmith7070 AT comcast DOT net



MORE DISTANT EVENTS

-- REENACTOR FEST 5: February 5-8, 2009 at the Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel in Wheeling IL.

http://www.reenactorfest.com/ 



CALENDAR
   September 26-28-- ROMAN DAYS!
   October-- Rest…
   December-- Presumably Christmas Bethlehem shows at the Adventist World Headquarters, and Parkwood Baptist Church.  We also have an invitation for the Bethlehem Market Place at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Silver Spring.

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ADLOCVTIO is the Official Newsletter of the Twentieth Legion, supposedly published on the Ides of each month.  I am Quintus, aka Matthew Amt, the Legion's Commander and Editor of the Newsletter, matthew_amt AT yahoo DOT com, http://www.larp.com/legioxx/ .