Tessera

Volume I, Number 13 December, 2007

Avete, Comilitiones.

December News/Events:

Happy New Year! I hope that all of you had a happy holiday season and extend my best wishes for a rewarding 2008.

Not may events scheduled for this past month, which was a good thing considering it’s always a busy one in the Gibbons’ household due to the season. Our two main activities, the workshop and One Night in Bethlehem, were scheduled, but unfortunately we were only able to execute the former. Chris Stewart had a great suggestion – to combine the December workshop with the Saturday of ONIB – and I intend to sustain that in the coming years. So, we had a great gathering at Chris’ house, with our host, me, Alex Kyrychenko, Chris Damour, Alex Matras, Brian Lauthen, Jesse Bailey, and new member Brad Addona in attendance. Most of our focus was on scuta, and we were able to get 3 blanks completed along with associated handles and bracing cut for them. In addition, we spent some time assisting Brian Lauthen in altering his segmentata so that it fit him much better – it was too long, and we removed two of the girth plates to make it the correct length. We also were able to turn over four more shields to our wonderful artist-in-residence, Jennifer Cook, for painting. Two clipei (one for Jesse Bailey’s cavalry impression and one for the loaner kit), an Augustan-pattern scutum for me, and a Germanic-patterned shield also for the loaner kit.

The bad news was that it rained like a cow pissing on a flat rock, so the event organizers scratched the event (which was OK, because nobody wants to be like the “Tin Man” in the Wizard of Oz and rust up!). So, since we were all together, we took advantage of the fellowship opportunity by doing what guys do after a good day’s work with powertools – we bought some beer and some food and had a great time shooting the breeze and watching Episode 2 of LOTR. All in all, it was a great time.

Even though most of us were not able to participate in ONIB due to weather, Chris Stewart did his usual great job (with a lot of hard work on his part) organizing the Roman military portion of ONIB and outfitting the other dedicated “milites” of his congregation. Laudes to Chris for carrying the entire legion’s load for ONIB.

2007 In Review:

All in all, this was a great year. Thanks to everyone’s hard work and dedication, here are some highlights:

· We added seven new members: Brad Addona, Jesse Bailey, Chris Damour, Brian Lauthen, Andrew Magee, Alex Matras, and John McKinnell.

· We are in the process of completing 4 sets of loaner kit. Two are complete and two nearly so. Thanks for the hard work on a lot of guys’ part to make it very, very high quality.

· We have added a website for the legio which is probably our best recruiting tool. Thanks to Chris Stewart for maintaining it and putting up with my constant prodding to add something new.

· We participated in 6 major events over the course of the year (7 counting ONIB – in which Chris carried our load with the other dedicated members of his Church’s congregation).

· We conducted 6 visits to local areas schools and churches – middle and high school students that now have a much better appreciation for the Roman Army than they would ever receive from watching The History Channel.

· We conducted a workshop 12 of 12 months – sometimes with just a couple of guys, sometimes with a bunch of us – and as a result we have many members who now possess skills that they never thought they would ever have – including me – as well as some really superb kit items.

· We have created a Legio XI general unit fund that is financed through member dues and appearance fees, which has gone a long way toward financing our loaner kits. Over the course of the year we earned $2000 from school visits, event appearance fees, and member dues. All of this money went toward the purchase of loaner kit items.

· We, along with our brothers from Legio VI FFC, won the award for “Best Encampment” at the Timeline Event hosted by the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, GA.

So, looking back, we have a great many accomplishments in which to be proud. I know that we will do just as much or more in 2008, and I look forward to being a part of it with you.

Member News:

We have several member projects on-going. Alex Matras really enhanced the appearance of his Deepeeka Plain Steel pugio by replacing the black (horn, plastic, whatever) layers in the hilt with black walnut, and it really makes a difference. I liked it so much I asked him to do the same for the one we have in the loaner kit as well as Andrew Magee’s pugio. All three look superb. He was also able to get the steel cut for two segs with a metal shear – a great deal of progress since I know he can’t wait to be wearing his own armor. Andrew Magee, Jesse Bailey and Brian Lauthen are all working on baltei, just waiting for parts to finish them up.

We have several scuta in the works – Brian Lauthen and Andrew Magee both have blanks complete with the handles and bracing attached. Brad, Alex Matras, Chris Damour and Paul Montello also have new blanks – just need to get bracing and handles attached. Once these are complete, all we need at this point is to have the linen and/or leather coverings and they will be ready for paint, rims, and umboa. Alex Kyrychenko really did some incredible punch work – first on the apron terminals of his balteus, and then on the umbo of his scutum. Both examples were posted on RAT and both earned him several well-deserved laudes from across the “Roman World.” I think that of all of us, Alex really has some incredible talent and will soon be giving Matt Lukes a run for his money. I’m sure that I’ve missed someone’s hard work, so if I have, please post it on the Yahoo! website so we can all admire it.

Remember – anytime someone needs help with a project I am usually available every weekend to assist.

Loaner Gear and Financial Report:

Loaner Kits #1 and #2 are complete, featuring every item of the Basic Kit with the exception of a balteus and caligae, which will not be included.

More good news here on Loaner Kits #3 and #4. We are making steady progress on the Kessel-pattern shield for Kit #3. The completed blank with linen/leather facings were turned over to Jennifer Cook at the December workshop for painting. As soon as it is complete, then we’ll add the rim and umbo. This will pretty much complete this kit with the exception of a hasta and an optional hamata. Kit #4 is almost as far along. The clipeus is also with Jennifer for painting, and I have the umbo and will do the rim for this one to complete it. All that is lacking for this kit is a hamata, hasta, and pugio. Assuming everyone pays their member dues this January (hint, hint) then I intend to order the hamata and pugio for this kit. With the use of some privately owned member kit, we can easily field all four loaner kits for future events.

Future improvements to the loaner kits include replacing the hilts on both Pompeii-style gladii, as well as the leather on our SOTW pugio. My goal remains to finish all of these impressions ($$ permitting) for the GAJCL Convention at the end of April ’08.

Here is what we have on-hand and on-order for Loaner Impressions #3 and #4:

On Hand:

2 x Germanic tunics

2 x Over-tunics

2 x Braccae

1 x Celtic/Germanic gladius (for Kit #3)

1 x Fulham gladius (for Kit #4)

1 x Leather balteus (for Kit #3)

1 x seax and scabbard (for Kit #3)

1 x Krefeld helmet (for Kit #3)

1 x Imperial Gallic “C” helmet (for Kit #4)

Materials for both shields, to include umboa

On Order:

1 x Subarmalis (for Kit #4)

2 x Wool tunics

Financially, we have $172.00 on-hand in the fiscus. My next intended purchase will be the hamata and pugio for loaner Kit #4, assuming everyone pays their membership dues for this year.

Upcoming Events:

11 January: School Visit to St Pius X High School Latin Club (Paul Montello’s alma mater), 1100-1400.

31 Jan: School Visit to Jennifer Cook’s school in Newnan.

24 Feb: We’re confirmed for the Family Day at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta on that date, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. More to follow in separate instructions.

Upcoming Workshops:

Next workshop is scheduled for Saturday, 5 January, at my house here on Fort McPherson. We’ll continue work on shields (or whatever other projects members need to complete).

Valete,

Gaius Aurelius Calvus (Edge Gibbons)

Centurio