Torch: U.S. LXVIII Spring 2019 | Page 23

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The Louisiana JCL chapter has just finished holding two certamen tournaments for the Northern and Southern regions! Various school chapters represented by various team levels participated in both events, allowing LJCL members to have a fun and rewarding experience of what a real certamen tournament is like. Between rounds, tournament participants played icebreaker games- such as a rock-paper-scissors competition and a game called "Connection" where you connect with each other's quirks- in order to promote bonding and fellowship among fellow league members. Officers also hosted a questionnaire in order for members to "get personal" with each of them. The tournaments were held in order to prepare students for the- drumroll, please- upcoming Louisiana state convention! This year's convention will be held from March 15-17, which coincidentally happens to fall upon National Artichoke Hearts Day, but more importantly, also St. Patrick's Day, and even more importantly, the Ides of March! Officers are now busy in preparation for this busy and exciting event.

by VIVI LU

GEORGIA

The Georgia JCL has been busy throughout the season with upcoming national exams, local chapter meetings, and board planning for the much-anticipated state convention in April. Students across the state are preparing for the National Roman Civilization Exam, National Latin Vocabulary Exam, and especially the National Latin Exam, carrying on the state’s dedication to the classics. Among other JCL activities, the GJCL has been celebrating Roman festivals like Saturnalia and Lupercalia with movie nights and Valentine’s Day card-writing. Meanwhile, our state’s successful and long-running Photo-of-the-Month Contest continues with GJCL Historian Jason Juang.

Although the GJCL is in the midst of a hectic second semester, we can’t wait for the coming months and the activities they have to offer! The countdown to state convention is underway, and the JCL festivities have only just begun.

STATE UPDATES

The VJCL has been hard at work over the past few months. In November, we had our state convention in Richmond, at which we saw plethora of bee-related puns and presentations. There were elections, a canned food drive, and a very functional karaoke machine.

December was a month of certamina: the DCJCL invited many Virginia schools to Basis D.C.’s certamen, and the VJCL’s very own Hayfield held a street certamen to promote the competition among novice students who don’t have all the obscure academic knowledge that competitive certamen players do (and for anyone of any level who just wanted to have some fun with the VJCL). Woodgrove HS invited students to go bowling while clad in togae. Students from all over Virginia gave up valuable time right before exams in order to attend a Yorktown’s Saturnalia celebration, which featured gladiator fights (with foam swords) and karaoke in Latin!

January saw Flint Hill’s certamen and the first Council Meeting of the 2018-2019 Executive Board. We discussed the 2020 National Convention at the University of Richmond, and we began planning our promotional video to be shown at NJCL this summer. As a result of the meeting, we have restarted the VJCL Photo of the Month contest (look for the winning photos on Instagram at @officialvjcl) and have seen some fantastic entries from clubs across the state.

We’re all excited for Nationals, and we’re looking forward to learning from NDJCL how to be good hosts for 2020!

GEORGIA

VIRGINIA

LOUISIANA

by CALVIN LUCIDO

by winnie ng