Fortuna nobis vi animi tantum frenabitur
Our fortune will be limited only by the power of our mind
- Aesop

JCLers attending NJCL: Please reserve rooms at the Hallmark Inn

Mr. Ashman has reserved a block of 12 rooms at the Hallmark Inn in Davis, CA. For those of you taking the train up to Davis, the Hallmark Inn is right across the street from the train station, so it is highly recommended that you reserve a room here. The block of rooms will expire by July 1st, so make sure to make a reservation by then.

Make reservations at the Hallmark Inn in Davis, CA, for Sunday, July 26th. Call 530-753-3600.
Tell them that you want to make a group reservation with the California Junior Classical League.
The rate is $115 plus tax, and up to four people can share a room.
Before you call, make sure you know who your roommates are and that you have no more than four people in a room.
You will be asked to hold each room with a credit card.
For more information, you can visit their website at http://www.hallmarkinn.com/.
To get the $115 rate, you need to reserve a room by July 1st, so please do not procrastinate!

SoCal students: Make Train Reservations for NJCL NOW!

We have organized a train ride for Southern California students who want to go to Davis for the NJCL Convention this summer. We highly recommend taking the train to Davis - it is much cheaper than flying and you'll be able to see all the beauty of California on your way to the convention. You have to make the reservations on your own and then email Mr. Ashman or forward him a confirmation of your train trip. Follow the directions below and you will be set - but make sure to do it by May 24th - if everyone does it by then, Mr. Ashman should be able to get a discount for all of us.

1. Call Amtrak: 1-800-USA-RAIL

2. Julie, an automated voice, will try to ask questions. Interrupt "her" and ask for an agent.

3. Tell the agent that you want to travel round trip from Los Angeles to Davis. To go to Davis, you want to take the 10:45 a.m. bus on Sunday, July 26. This bus arrives in Bakersfield at 1:05 p.m.; from there you catch Train 715 and arrive at Stockton at 5:20 p.m. and then catch the bus to Davis. We realize that there are two buses to Davis but it makes no difference which one you are assigned because both arrive at Davis at 7:10 p.m.

4. For the return trip, tell the agent that you want to take the Coast Starlight (Train 11) from Davis (boards at 6:50 a.m.) to Los Angeles (arrives at 9:00 p.m.) on Saturday, August 1. The Coast Starlight is like the Southwest Chief we took to Chicago last year, only nicer with newer equipment. (And yes you guys from Orange County, you can get a day room on the train if you want to pay extra for it!!!)

5. Be sure to ask for discounts for those 15 and under and 62 and older. Auto Club may offer a discount as well, but we don't know for sure.

6. It is important to book this week, that is, before May 24th if you can. As the seats on both trains sell, the prices will go up. If you are told that the LA to Bakersfield Bus is sold out, don't panic. There is a 1:15 p.m. bus that will get you to Bakersfield at 3:30; then you can take Train 717 to Stockton and then another bus to Davis. You will arrive at 9:25 at Davis, where the earlier travelers will be waiting for you.

7. For those traveling from Orange County, you can also arrange to take the Pacific Surfliner from Orange County to Union Station. Train 565 from San Diego stops at San Juan Capistrano at 8:28 a.m. and at Irvine at 8:46 a.m. The train arrives at LA Union Station at 9:50 a.m. On the return trip, there is a 10:10 p.m. Pacific Surfliner train to Orange County, but it is probably better to have your parents come to get you at LA Union Station. But it is up to you and your parents.

8. We think we will stay Sunday night at the Hallmark Inn, which is across the street from the Amtrak depot (bus and train) in Davis. We will post more details soon.

9. If you have any questions, call Mr. Ashman at 805-498-8050. Make sure to let him know when you have made your reservations. He would appreciate it if you forwarded him a copy of your ticketing information from Amtrak (dma1020@verizon.net).

Dates for Ludi, SCRAM, and the CJCL Convention announced

Ludi and SCRAM will both be held on October 24th, 2009.
The CJCL Convention will be held from April 23rd - 24th.
These dates were just announced today; we will post more information as the events approach.

Thank you, Harker School!

On behalf of all members of CAJCL, I would like to thank the Harker School for hosting convention this year.

Thank you all so much.
-Brian Bookman, JCL Webmaster

2009 Convention Results Now Posted!

The Awards for the 2009 California State Convention are now available for download.

They are located under the Convention section of the Forms page. Click here to view that page.