FROM THE SENATE

REPORT OF CURIATE ASSEMBLY: NOVEMBER 28, 2010
by Senator Zelda Walpole

November Curiate Assembly saved a lot of good news for our Citizens.

The big and good surprise is that Roma has four brave and great new Estate Managers to help Torin Golding in the management of our Sim:

Maali Beck (Princeps Senatus)
Achille Back (Legio XIII Gemina Officer)
Peter Woody (Praetor Scaenae and Ludorum Editor)
Alekso Minotaur (Ludorum Editor)

They will help to take care of Roma, keep strong the connection between Roma Groups and take out specific responsabilities, as great Officiers of our more active groups. (Angelia Rees and Tonina Rodenberger also continue in their positions as Estate Managers.)

I leave out details about the state of the Sim (that is really better than before: 90% of plots rented in Subura) to say that we will soon (in the middle of December) have a totally restyled Macellum building, similar to the new Trajan's Market, to which it will be connected with a bridge. The new Macellum could bring more traffic to Merchants and will certainly look wonderful as all of our Praefectus' buildings.

Even if estate of the Sim is getting better, some Citizens remembered how to help Roma finances: pay Latrina taxes (suggestion of Liza Brandenburg), support Lucretia in the Tavern (sugg. of Melanippe Karas), donate through Maritima Boxes and Plaza Fountain (sugg. of Torin Golding).

About Saturnalia planning, our December festival (ancestor in some ways of Christmas), Melanippe Karas, Representative of Collegia, suggested snow themed events and gifts exchange.

Then a Citizen (Gare Claven) wanted to share with us how much he admires the impressive iron discipline of our great Legio XIII Gemina.

Thinking about the good participation in the First Latin Lesson, Senator Zelda Walpole asked if it was possible to focus again on cultural events: she could do on her own Latin Literature lessons and all can encourage to play again original tragedies or comedies in our wonderful Dionysus' Theater.

At the end, Spaciva Ivanova, our Acta Roma Officer, suggested to pick up the Acta, in a word our newsletter...that is what you are reading now! The proposal was very well received and Princeps Senatus encouraged to help Spaciva with Acta.

Last words of the Assembly was of our Princeps Senatus, Maali Beck: "This meeting is adjourned!"

So ended the second meeting we had in the new Curia.

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FROM THE SENATE

New Roma Curiate Assembly

by Torin Golding

ROMA will now have an assembly that will meet once a month. We are going to be replacing the ROMA Senate meeting with a larger gathering involving citizens and group officers. All active groups will provide one or two representatives to attend the meetings and help with initiatives in ROMA.

The ROMA CURIATE ASSEMBLY is the monthly meeting of ROMA Senators, officers, and Citizens. It meets in the ROMA Curia and replaces the former ROMA Senate meetings. The Assembly is a large body that consists of three parts, or “chambers”, each with their role to play in managing and maintaining ROMA. It is also a “think-tank” for proposing new ideas and discussing all aspects of the estate. The Assembly meets the last Sunday of every month.

Each part ("chamber") will have its own designated area inside the Curia

CHAMBER 1: The Senators (the Optimates)

The Senators have two main roles in ROMA: A) to serve as a direct advisory body to the Emperor, Estate Managers and owner of ROMA, and B) to serve as “point people” and organizers of many ROMA events and tasks. This latter role allows them to act as “patrons”, helping other Citizens in ROMA accomplish their goals and ideas for the estate. Senators are often also called upon to be the “public face of ROMA”, wearing their Senator title with pride amongst both their fellow Citizens and new visitors. All Citizens may approach ROMA Senators with issues and they will endeavor to find solutions.

CHAMBER 2: The Group Officers (the Populares)

The second chamber of the Assembly is comprised of group officers from the various active groups in ROMA. The Senate officers and Prefect will keep a current list of active groups. Each group will have up to two representatives to sit in this chamber during meetings. They are called "Novi Homines / Novae Feminae" and speak with the authority of the group. They are present in the Assembly to A) facilitate communication between the various groups in ROMA, B) to brainstorm event ideas and solicit assistance from the Senators in organizing events and ideas, and C) to bring any public issues to discussion within the Assembly.

CHAMBER 3: The Public Council

The Citizenry of ROMA is invited to participate in the Assembly. A special seating area in the Curia will allow spectators to join in the moderated discussions.

More detailed information about the changes can be found on our blog: http://romacitizens.blogspot.com/2010/01/announcing-new-roma-curiate-assembly.html

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FROM THE SENATE

by William Gide

The ROMA Senate met on November 8th. While several Senators were absent during this session, it was otherwise well-attended. Prefect Torin Golding, giving his usual "State of the Sim" address, said that ROMA is finally starting to feel the bite of hard economic times. In addition to the somewhat bare Marketplace, for the first time in quite a while there are unrented plots in the Subura Sim.

The biggest shock of the session came after Princeps Maali Beck expressed concern about the low attendance of Senators. JT Vale made the radical suggestion that the current Senate be dissolved and a new one formed. After the Praetorian Guard calmed down and put aside their gladii, a wide-ranging discussion was had on ways to both clarify the Senate's role and also to enable broad citizen participation in ROMA's organizational life. After a discussion lasting over an hour and half, the Senate agreed to continue the discussion in the Curia message board. All citizens should visit http://romacitizens.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=curia&action=display&thread=267 to see current proposals, and to participate in the discussion themselves.

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