28 Onward and, Eventually, Upward As the colors of the ACOFP flag were gold, green, and white, these colors were chosen as the official colors of ACOFP and incorporated into the hood. The hood is lined with the official color of the college or university. The color of the facing denotes the discipline represented by the degree. The gown, although it may originally have been worn as protection against unheated medieval buildings, today symbolizes the democracy of scholarship, because it covers any dress of rank or social standing underneath: it is black. When Roman law freed the slave, he won the privilege of wearing a cap. The academic cap is a sign of the freedom and responsibility of scholarship. The color of the tassel denotes the degree: it is gold. This information was properly registered with the officials overseeing academic institutions at the time. President-elect Dr. Rowland printed an explanation of the meaning of the gown and hood as well as the rank and colors of academia on a card that was given to each recipient. To this day, his explanation of the significance of the elements of the fellows processional is printed on the back of the program that is issued to every guest attending the fellows ceremony. The following year, on September 20, 1965, the first meeting was held of the newly organized Conclave of Fellows. President Dr. James Rowland presided over the 24 members who were present. He gave introductory remarks on the conclave’s function and the service the new fellows could render to ACOFP. The election of officers saw J. Myron Auld Jr., DO, FACOFP, of Kansas City, Missouri, elected as the first chair of the Conclave of Fellows. Jean LeRoque, DO, FACOFP, from Des Moines, Iowa, was elected secretary, and J. Pellosie, DO, FACOFP, was elected as a board member of the conclave. After much discussion, those in attendance came to the following conclusion: “The Conclave of Fellows should function as a group to aid the American College of General Practice in its work; to give or suggest constructive criticism to the college and any other action, which by its own membership could help improve the stature of the College of General Practice.” Minutes of that meeting also show that the conclave members discussed promoting student ACOFP organizations and placing general practitioners on AOA hospital inspection teams. The group also formulated a resolution for submission to the AOA, stating that a Department of General Practice should be required in every hospital under AOA direction. In addition, the conclave agreed to establish dues to cover the cost of the induction ceremony and gowns. ACOFP members at the inaugural Conclave of Fellows meeting in 1965.
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