Activities - NJCL Convention - 1999 - Daily Highlights - Sunday, August 1

This year's NJCL delegates converged upon the campus of the Florida State University today for the first official day of convention. Registration began shortly before noon and continued until evening at Dorman Hall on the edge of campus. Here delegates received their packets, name tags, meal cards and dorm keys.

Many newly-registered delegates then proceeded to various ends of the campus to register for Olympika, Ludi Chess, That's Entertainment, and Graphic Arts competitions.

Convenience and selection were the hallmarks of this year's meal plan. Each delegate was issued a meal 'debit card' with a preset amount of money for each day of convention. With that card delegates could grab a bite at the Pizza Hut or Chick-Fil-A, the Crossroads restaurant, or even a bagel and yogurt shop on campus and do so basically whenever the establishments were open.

The first official order of business was the NJCL General Assembly at 6:30 p.m. in the Ruby Diamond Auditorium on campus. Called to order by NJCL president Ben Watson, the agenda included a welcome from the university president and classics department, the introduction of NJCL officers, NSCL Officers, and the NJCL National Committee.

In her NJCL membership report, Penny Cipolone, NJCL Public Relations and Membership Chair, noted that while overall membership at 55,484 students had declined slightly from last year, there was a 16% increase in the number of chapters - from 1097 to 1187. Mrs. Cipolone also reported that 116 chapters had over 100 members, 12 chapters had over 200 members, and the largest JCL chapter, Boston Latin Academy, had an even 400 members.

After the assembly was adjourned, sponsors and many JCLers attended various orientation meetings, while SCLers hosted a reception and their own assembly. The NJCL dance theme for the evening was Get on the Dance Floor-ida.

The day ended, as would every other day of convention, in state fellowship. This is the opportunity to review the days successes, prepare for the next day's activities, and just establish or renew intrastate friendships.

Convention Ear, Sunday, August 1, 1999 (requires Adobe Acrobat)