What a joy it was to see so many friendly faces at the Annual Meeting this fall! Many of us have missed gathering in person over the past few years and I am so glad that we can gather again. Gil Gigliotti hosted a lovely meeting at Central Connecticut State University with a varied program that included modern reception of the ancient world, rare books from Central Connecticut’s Rare Book Collection, and a presentation by Joey Meyer on what modern art can teach us about the missing voices of the ancient world. Later in December, the ClassConn Carol Sing, graciously hosted by our 2022 Distinguished Service Award recipient Arlette de Koning, returned with seven student readers. We had a great informal gathering of members at New Park Brewing last week and vice president, Andrew Morehouse, is in the process of scheduling an informal spoken Latin gathering.
I want to acknowledge the leadership of Joey Meyer, Lindsey Sears, and Gil Gigliotti who shepherded ClassConn through these pandemic years. Three years ago, many of us didn’t even know what Zoom was. these amazing individuals transitioned our organization to virtual annual meetings as well as maintained the behind the scenes board meetings in a new format. Kudos also to Arlette de Koning and Drew Warchut who brought back Connecticut State Latin and Greek Day—a tremendous undertaking amidst continuing pandemic fallout. These events take far more work than those not directly involved can realize.
These last few years have left us viewing the world through new eyes. Last summer I read Starting from Scratch: The Life-Changing Lessons of Aeneas by Andrea Marcolongo which reflects on how the pandemic left us all in a unique position to see the world through the dual lens of a before moment in time and an after. We are living in the after, as Aeneas did after Troy. Marcolongo confesses that, as a middle school student, she saw Aeneas’s travails as rather boring. Today she identifies with the metamorphosis that is required of individuals and systems as the world changes. As we move forward, may we all continue to reflect on why the ancient Mediterranean world is important to us and how to make it matter to others in our changing world.
Sincerely,
Katy Reddick
President, Classical Association of Connecticut
Latin Speaking Meet-Up at New Park Brewing, Jan. 26 from 4-6.
Pompeii: Sin City in CT will be showing at The Kate, Old Saybrook, on January 28th at 1 pm.
Hadestown is performing at the Bushnell Theater, March 7-12- group pricing available.
CANE Annual Meeting will be held March 17-18 at St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, MA.
Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color at the Metropolitan Museum of Art closes March 26th.
Connecticut State Latin and Greek Day returns to Holiday Hill on April 27th.
American Classical League Annual Meeting will be at Washington University in St, Louis, MO June 29-July 1.
Do you know of other events of interest to our members? Feel free to share on our Facebook group!