Fall 2009 Catalog (Sep 21 - Nov 13)

Below is a list of the courses, special events and ongoing activities for fall 2009 at all three locations (Fairfax/Tallwood, Reston/Lake Anne and Loudoun/Sterling). Fairfax courses are denoted by "F", Reston courses are denoted by "R", and Loudoun courses are denoted by "L". To view non-course information in the catalog, click the following links for the Schedule of Classes (pdf), Registration Form (pdf) and Miscellaneous Catalog Information (pdf).
     Note: If you plan to print the catalog rather than read it on your computer screen, you may prefer to print the Fall  2009 Catalog (pdf) in its normal two-column format. 

Table of Contents

• Courses
  • 100 Art and Music
  • 200 Economics & Finance
  • 300 History & International Studies
  • 400 Literature, Theater & Writing
  • 500 Languages
  • 600 Religion, Philosophy & Ethics
  • 700 Current Events
  • 800 Science, Technology & Health
  • 900 Other
• Special Events
• Ongoing Activities
  • 
    

100 Art and Music

F101  The Wonderful World of the Symphony Orchestra

Thursdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 24–Oct. 15

                                                                 (Four sessions)

Instructor: William Hudson

Come and join us in an exploration of the symphony.

· Sept. 24: The Symphony Orchestra and the Role of the Conductor.

· Oct. 1: The Significance and Impact of Leonard Bernstein on American Music.

· Oct. 8: The Interworkings of the Symphony Orchestra.

· Oct. 15: The Role of the Listener the Concert Experience.

For 30 years William Hudson was conductor of both the symphony orchestra at the University  of Maryland School of Music, its opera productions, and the head of the graduate orchestral conducting program. He recently retired as music director and conductor of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, serving for the past 37 years. For several years he conducted the Washington Ballet. He has been a guest conductor of orchestras around the world. Mr. Hudson brings to these lectures his years of practical experience and provides an inside look at the world of ballet, opera and symphony orchestras.

F102  Music Sampler

Tuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Coordinators: Kathleen Meyer,

Kelly Ker Hackelman

Musical talent abounds at Mason; course will give participants a sample of the various instruments, including voice, and genres being studied and performed at the school. Each week a knowledgeable and Mason professor, and often their students of superior ability, will generously share their musical gifts with us. The individual presentations are varied, lively, informative and entertaining.

F103  Beyond Beginning Ballroom Dance

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Woodlands                                                         (Note location)

Instructors: Louise Richardson, Bern Zeavin

Enjoy the fun and social connections as well as the mental and physical benefits of ballroom dancing. We will have brief reviews of waltz, foxtrot and swing steps, but will concentrate on beginning Latin dances, including the rhumba, cha-cha, tango and merengue. Prerequisite for this class is Beginning Ballroom Dance offered in winter and spring 2009 sessions. Please wear your nametag and bear in mind that leather-soled shoes will slide on the dance floor more easily. See inside back cover for directions to Woodlands.

Louise Richardson has been teaching ballroom dancing for Fairfax County for 11 years. She has loved dancing since her mom and dad started teaching her in her elementary school years. Her father spent World War II in Brazil, so he also taught her many Latin dances as a child. Bern Zeavin has many years of dance experience with Arthur Murray, Instep Dance Studio and other Northern Virginia dance studios.

F104  Watercolor Painting

Thursdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Instructor: Leonard Justinian

Develop your unused skills and artistic talents in the medium of watercolor painting. This class will provide an opportunity for watercolor painters of all levels to learn new techniques. Some supplies will be required. A supply list will be available in the office the week prior to class. Class limit: 15.

Leonard Justinian has been painting, showing his works and receiving awards for over 60 years. He has won many awards, including the coveted Grumbacher award. He spends much of his time teaching watercolor painting privately and in classes in his studio in the City of Fairfax. He also teaches watercolors on Fairfax Public Access cable TV, Channel 10.

F105  Recorder Lessons

Fridays, 9:00–10:00, Sept. 25–Nov. 13

                                                                         (Note dates, Note time)

Instructors: Jayne Hart, Karen Wilson, Connie Greenspan, Mike McNamara, Leslie Vandivere

This class is for beginners or near beginners who want to learn to play either a “C” (soprano or tenor) or “F” (alto or bass) recorder. No previous music experience is needed. (But you are welcome even if you already have music skills!) The basics of music—reading, keeping time, etc.,—will also be taught. Each student will need a recorder. Music will be available for purchase in class at a cost of about $10. After you have mastered the basics, you are welcome to play with the OLLI Recorder Consort, which meets on Fridays from 10:00–11:30. The instructors have been playing with the Recorder Consort for several years. They also have many years of musical experience singing in groups and playing other musical instruments. Call Jayne Hart (703-273-2498) for further information.

F106  Sketching Workshop

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Moderator: Thomas Solak

Individuals who have taken any introductory sketching class with pencil and ink can continue to enjoy sketching in a workshop environment based on cooperative participation. Pencil, ink, charcoal and color media will be considered in applications suggested by workshop members on a rotating basis. Workshop participation is expected and homework will be given. The workshop allows members the opportunity to present their work and receive feedback, encouragement and suggestions to refine their art pieces. Class limit: 12.

F107 Singing for Fun

Thursdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Instructors: Linda George, Palmer McGrew

Once again, OLLI’s choral group, singing in chorus and in ensembles, will emphasize popular music, Broadway show tunes and golden oldies. A great voice is not required. Dolores Ecklund will accompany the singers on the keyboard.

Linda George has a degree in music and has taken private lessons in piano and voice for many years. She frequently performs in churches and retirement communities. Linda loves singing in choral groups and working with them, and she thoroughly enjoys the OLLI class.

Palmer McGrew has been a long-time member of Singing for Fun and a substitute instructor/director for the class. He sings in his church choir and barbershop with the Fairfax Jubil-Aires, which he has at times directed.

R108  Meet the Artists

Thursdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 24–Oct. 15

Washington Plaza Baptist Church Sanctuary       

                                (Four sessions, Note location)

Coordinator: Rosemary McDonald

· Sept. 24: Americana In Song: 1750–1950. Musical Americana is music that is native to America. Its styles and sounds developed from a complicated mix of outside sources. This class will trace the development of popular vocal music Americana and provide examples of some of the most interesting and representative works. This musical survey will be divided into patriotic, religious and popular selections and cover the period from roughly 1750 to 1950.

James W. Keefe is a former choral music teacher, high school principal and university professor of education. He has conducted high school and college choruses,  and church and boys’ choirs. He is a current member of the Reston Chorale in which he sings tenor and arranges some of the music for the group.

· Oct. 1: Clarinet and Bassoon Music. Betty Bley and Nancy Blum will present a brief history and discussion of these woodwind instruments, followed by a performance demonstrating various styles of woodwind chamber music.

Betty Bley is a clarinetist with the Loudoun Symphony, the Virginia Grand Military Band, Quintessence Woodwind Quintet, the Turnbridge Trio and the Bella Musica Trio. She is also a private instructor, teaching elementary through adult students in her Reston clarinet studio. In addition, she serves as an adjudicator for solo and ensemble festivals and all-district band auditions. Nancy Blum teaches bassoon, clarinet, piano and theory students weekly at her Herndon studio. She is a bassoon and clarinet specialist in Fairfax County schools and performs frequently as a piano accompanist and freelance bassoonist.

· Oct. 8: The Many Voices of the Cello. The cello is one of the most expressive of the orchestral instruments and can produce many different kinds of musical sounds over a wide range of notes. This will be demonstrated through a combination of live performance and recorded music for solo cello. The physics behind the sound production, the construction of the cello and the mechanics by which different sounds are produced will be presented.

Allan Malmberg has been active as a chamber musician, recitalist, orchestral soloist and conductor in many parts of the United States and Mexico. He has studied with Lorne Monroe, former principal cellist with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and with the well-known French cellist Pierre Fournier. While still in high school, Allan was a featured guest on a nationwide broadcast of the New York Philharmonic as one of this country's outstanding young musicians. He is the cellist for the Chesapeake String Quartet and has performed in numerous venues in the Washington area.

· Oct. 15: Hear that Swing!Big Band man Larry Aversano as he dusts off his flute, clarinet, alto sax and piccolo, plays a few sets with collaborative pianist Susan Rudy, and reminisces about his career with Tommy Dorsey, Les Elgart, Sammy Spear and Frank Sinatra.

Larry Aversano toured with the major swing bands of the 1950s before moving to Miami to join the orchestra for the Jackie Gleason Show. He made numerous radio, television and club appearances with Frank Sinatra, Steve Lawrence, Edie Gorme and Mel Torme, among others. Locally, he has appeared at the Kennedy Center, the National and Warner Theatres. Susan Rudy is a pianist, harpsichordist and accompanist. She has performed locally in classical recitals and musical theatre and is on the music staff of PORTOpera of Portland, Maine.

R109  The Ongoing Pleasures of Music

Mondays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

Instructor: Gloria Sussman

Be transported into a world of listening with a difference. No matter what your level of musical understanding, there is always the opportunity to add another dimension to your listening ability. Each class is based on a single musical topic—a composer, style, form or idea. Let the wide assortment of visual and aural samplings lead you to a deeper musical experience.

Gloria Sussman has been providing the play lists for The Ongoing Pleasures of Music course since 2000 and continues to enjoy the exploration.

R110  Better Together

Thursdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Instructor: Beverly Cosham

Do you remember the Andrews Sisters or the Mills Brothers? How about the Hi-Lo’s or the Four Freshmen? Come and explore the evolution of popular American small vocal groups from the Ink Spots to the Manhattan Transfer and beyond. Cabaret singer Beverly Cosham will lead us on a nostalgic journey through a century of these blended voices, simple to intricate harmonies and ever-changing styles. She will also cover the variety of music these vocal trios and quartets (and occasional larger groups) chose to perform and record. If you once had a favorite group, you will probably rediscover them here, as well as a few more that you may never have heard.

Beverly Cosham is a singer/actress whose career of more than 30 years includes numerous stage roles, concerts and critically acclaimed recordings. She has also taught improvisation classes for children and Acting Up a Song for singers wishing to learn the art of interpretation and performance. She has taught several OLLI courses.

R111  Learning to Think Visually

Wednesdays, 10:00–11:30, Sept. 23–Oct. 14

                                                               (Four sessions, Note time)

Instructor: Stan Schretter

Does it seem that your pictures just aren't there yet? You can see a good photograph, but you just can't capture that moment. This class will help expand your photographic skills; you will walk away reinvigorated and with fresh insights into taking dynamic photos. This course will include lecture, on-site photography and critique of your images. Students should be thoroughly familiar with their camera, the uploading of their images and computer review. Any type of camera—digital, film, compact or DSLR—can be used for this course. There will be one class session devoted to on-site shooting. Optional shooting sessions will immediately follow each class. Class limit: 20.

Stan Schretter is an avid photographer and a computer enthusiast who has instructed OLLI classes in digital photography for several years.

R112  Documentary, Travel and Street Photography

Wednesdays, 10:00–11:30, Oct. 21–Nov. 11

                                                               (Four sessions, Note time)

Instructor: Stan Schretter

Tired of shooting the standard travel photographs? Learn to become a better travel photographer while perfecting your visual skills. This class takes a look at refining your approach to travel, documentary and street photography. You will examine the myths that run rampant in travel photography, analyze the mindset of photographers in a foreign place and learn how to apply that to your photography. Every person you see on your trip has a story. Students should be thoroughly familiar with their camera, the uploading of their images and computer review. Any type of camera—digital, film, compact or DSLR—can be used for this course. There will be one class session devoted to on-site shooting, along with optional shooting sessions immediately following each class. Class limit: 20.

See Course R111 for instructor background.

R113  Aida and Tosca: Grand Opera at its Grandest

Thursdays, 2:00–3:30, Oct. 22–Nov. 12

                                                                                          (Four sessions)

Instructor: Lillian Naar

Experience the spectacle of outstanding divas performing the great tragic heroines in Aida and Tosca. Introductory comments will be presented by Lillian Naar.

Lillian Naar has been a lifelong opera lover, attending frequent performances at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City and the renowned theaters of Europe. A growing interest in the history and literature of opera and its composers has taken her on a fascinating journey of research and discovery, which has given her great enjoyment.

L114  Drawing with Colored Pencils

Thursdays, 10:30–12:00, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Instructor: Sigrid Blalock

Using water-soluble colored pencils, students will explore possibilities for brilliant color, texture and painterly images. Both dry and wet techniques will be used. Subjects will include autumn leaves and trees, landscapes and still life. This course is for beginning and advanced students. Materials needed: one set of water-soluble colored pencils (12 or more colors); one pad of 9” x 12” watercolor paper (140 lb. weight); ruler; container for water and assorted brushes.

Sigrid Blalock is a continuing OLLI instructor with degrees from Syracuse University and American University and experience as an art teacher, painter and designer.

200 Economics & Finance

F201 An Economics Potpourri

Tuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Coordinator: Leo Brennan

Back by popular demand, we are once again fortunate to have Donald Boudreaux and his team of talented George Mason University economists return to OLLI. In the complex economy of this century with its global interactions, today’s economists delve into areas of research seldom considered during our undergraduate days. Don Boudreaux, Karol Boudreaux, Russell Roberts and others will each challenge your opinions, beliefs and concerns on a variety of subjects, many that we seldom consider in economic terms. Prepare to be intrigued, provoked, dazzled and enlightened. Presentations are always different, always exciting and always educational.

F202  Financial Crisis: Where Do We Go from Here?

Thursday, 9:30–11:00, Oct. 1

                                                                                   (One session)

Instructor: Katherine Hurley

This program is structured to allow you to ask your questions about today’s financial conditions. Baby boomers and retirees have experienced major losses in their investment accounts and in their housing equity. As a result of this experience, many have lost confidence and are confused about all things financial. Economists, politicians and professional money managers are filling the media with sharply contrasting opinions about how to address these issues.

Katherine Hurley, president of Infinity Financial Group with more than 20 years of industry, will lead the discussion about the causes of the global economic crisis and the strategies to be considered for a recovery.

F203  Navigating the Financial Quagmire

Thursdays, 9:30–11:00, Oct. 8–15

                   (Two sessions)

Instructor: J. Michael May

One of the terms most commonly used in financial planning is “It All Depends,” says financial consultant J. Michael May.

· Oct. 8: Group teams will identify circumstances that must be considered in responding to “It All Depends.” Through a case study, you will gain an understanding of the challenges in determining a proper financial foundation on which to develop a plan. For this session, please bring a calculator for working on the case study.

· Oct. 15: Sustainable retirement plan distribution strategies depend on variables that are difficult to predict, including: market conditions, taxes, interest rates and your own life expectancy and health issues. We will identify the five biggest risks to your retirement funds and options to be considered in managing those funds.

J. Michael May, CLU, ChFC, has specialized in helping retirees increase and protect their investments and retirement income for over 25 years. He has conducted numerous retirement and financial planning seminars for employees of corporations such as Marriott, Gannett and Price Waterhouse Coopers.

F204  The Investment Forum

Wednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 23–Nov. 11

Instructor: Tom Crooker

The forum is an ongoing investment discussion group that meets regularly throughout the year. Discussions are open and all members are encouraged to participate. Both prepared and extemporaneous discussions are offered. The focus is on topics of particular interest to retirees, including: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, partnerships and investment trusts. The Investment Forum has its own Web site, www.olligmu.org/~finforum/ that provides further information for prospective members.

Thomas Crooker is a retired engineer who has taught at the college level and is a longtime student of the stock market. He has served as moderator of the forum for several years.

F205  How to Help Your Money Outlive You: Managing and Surviving Uncertainty

Thursdays, 9:30–11:00, Oct. 22–Nov. 12

                                                                                (Four sessions)

Instructor: Joel Ticknor

Deepen your understanding of investments, risk management, asset allocation and spending to increase the probabilities of your money lasting at least through your lifetime. This four-week course will explore the dimensions of investment risks and returns and the complex financial challenges we face during a time of increased uncertainty and longevity. We will discuss how to:

· Better manage financial uncertainty.

· Develop a personal asset allocation strategy.

· Develop a personal investment policy.

· Develop a personal portfolio spending policy.

Joel Ticknor, an OLLI member, is a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner and Accredited Investment Fiduciary™ who has been a fee-only financial adviser in Reston since 1991. A national magazine named Joel as one of the 250 best financial advisers in the country. Joel has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, The Baltimore Sun and other publications. In his pre-financial adviser life, Joel was a Foreign Service officer and senior intelligence officer with the CIA. He served in a variety of assignments overseas and at home and taught at the National War College in Washington, D.C. Joel chairs a large local federal credit union and is a professional member of the World Future Society.

R206  Your Corporate Neighbors

Tuesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Coordinator: Al Roe

This course will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about the challenges that our corporate neighbors are facing in today's economy and the contributions they are making to our community. We will be hearing from: The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, Verizon, Rolls Royce and the Dulles Airport Authority. In addition we have invited Volkswagen, Airbus and Lockheed Martin. These corporations support our neighborhoods through employment, taxes and community involvement. Based on the feedback and interest shown from the two previous corporate neighbors programs, we are confident that you will find this program both interesting and of value.

R207 International Trade and National Security

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 22–Oct. 13

                                                                                          (Four sessions)

Instructor: Steven Goldman

This course will examine the development and evolution of U.S. trade control policy from the end of World War II to the present and explore what measures may be appropriate to address future challenges. Specific issues will include trends in international strategic trade control cooperation; unilateral controls and sanctions; approaches to address the transfer of technology by intangible means; the impact of imports on critical industries; and current policies that apply to major trading partners, including India and China.

Steven Goldman retired from federal service as director of the Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

L208  Back to Basics

Tuesday, 1:00–2:30, Sept. 22, Nov. 10

                                                    (Two sessions, Note dates)

Instructor: Shirley Smith

In view of recent declines in our portfolios we will engage in discussing the basic guidelines we should be following in investing: proper asset allocation, portfolio development, portfolio adjustment, research sources, disciplines and the pros and cons of all asset classes. This will be a mini-review in two sessions for the self-directed investor.

Shirley Smith is a retired teacher and non-professional in the investing field. She believes in constant reading, review as well as research in order to be successful. Her Basic and Beyond the Basic courses in investing have been enthusiastically received at all three OLLI locations.

L209 Avoid Being Targeted for Identity Theft

Tuesday, 1:00–2:30, Oct. 6–Oct. 27

                                                                                 (Four sessions)

Instructor: Vee Johnson

Many OLLI members have had their identity compromised or know someone who has. Vee Johnson, a frequent presenter at OLLI, is back by popular demand to discuss this vitally important subject which affects us all.

· Oct. 6: ID Theft and How to Minimize Your Risk. This class will help you evaluate privacy risks so you can determine what changes you need to make to minimize your risk for identity theft.

· Oct. 13: Identity Theft and Financial Crimes in Loudoun County. A representative from the Criminal Investigations Division of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office will present an overview of identity theft and other financial crimes in Loudoun County. Information will be provided on how these crimes are committed and what happens when a citizen files a report.

· Oct. 20: Credit Reports and How to Defend Against Identity Theft. This class will review credit reports and show you how they can be used to defend against identity theft. Information will also be furnished on how to dispute credit report errors.

· Oct. 27: How to Cope with and Recover from Identity Theft. Class members will review laws and resources dealing with identity theft so they can develop a plan of action to limit the extent of damage to their financial resources and reputation if identity theft strikes.

Vee Johnson is the community outreach liaison and a consumer advocate with the Consumer Affairs Branch of the Fairfax County Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection.

300 History & International Studies

F301  "The Seat of War:" Abraham Lincoln's Washington City

Wednesdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 23–Nov. 11

Coordinators: Michael Kelly, Jennifer Epstein

“The Seat of War” encapsulates the story of Washington City during the American Civil War and the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Here, political and military leaders pursued courses of action that led either to triumph or tragedy. What was life like in Washington City during the war? How was the city described by long time inhabitants as well as by the tens of thousands of newcomers? Where did the departments of government conduct the country’s business even as civil war continued? Who dominated society after the departure of the southern aristocracy? What would the Lincolns have seen around town?  What would soldiers and civilians have seen of the Lincolns? How was Washington City transformed from a provincial southern town with secessionist leanings into the embodiment of the Union cause? Explore the nation’s capital as Abraham Lincoln would have known it, as National Mall and Memorial Parks rangers offer the final course honoring the 2009 bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. For those wishing to complement the classroom lectures, there will be an optional field trip to Lincoln's Washington City on Friday, November 13. See Special Event F967.

Park Rangers Jennifer Epstein and Michael Kelly teach regularly at OLLI.

F302  World War II and Beyond: Untold Stories, Unsung Heroes

Tuesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Coordinator: Carr Whitener

This seventh session of the Untold Stories, Unsung Heroes series will again introduce the audience to aspects of World War II and the Korean conflict that  impacted on tens of thousands of citizens, soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. We are honored to have with us one of our British allies who “stood at the battlements” at the very beginning of World War II—before America got heavily involved. Several of our speakers are published authors. We have asked them to bring copies of their book(s) to their lecture session. The books will be available for purchase from the author after class. Please bring cash or checks.  Note: authors are denoted by **.

· Sept. 22: A Pilot’s Life in the Pacific Flying the P-38 Twin-boom Fighter. Richard Kirkland** joined the U.S. Army Air Corps when America entered World War II. He completed pilot training and was sent to the Southwest Pacific as a P-38 fighter pilot. From 1943–1944 he flew 103 combat missions, dogfighting Japanese Zeros, attacking enemy ships, ground installations and flying escort for our bombers.

· Sept. 29: A Combat Gunner’s Experiences in his B-17 Bomber over Nazi-Occupied Europe. Joseph Bernard always wanted to fly. He was highly successful. For his accomplishments he received the Silver Star, Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

· Oct. 6: D-Day, June 6, 1944, Air Assault into German-Occupied France. Col. John Marr, U.S. Army (Ret.), a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, parachuted on D-Day into Nazi-occupied France. At the end of the Normandy campaign his infantry regiment (507th) joined with the 17th Airborne Division. His regiment fought with the 17th from the Battle of the Bulge to the end of the war in Europe. He was an invited guest at the recent June 6, 2009, D-Day ceremony in France.

· Oct. 13: A Pilot’s Life as a Member of the Royal Air Force. In 1939 Wing Commander Stan Hubbard, Royal Air Force (Ret.), a member of RAF Fighter Command, fought in the Battle of Britain, flying Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft. He also flew night raids in British bomber aircraft against Berlin and other targets in Nazi-occupied Europe. After the war he became an RAF test pilot and continued in that profession for 19 years. He is now a U.S. citizen.

· Oct. 20: Experiences of a Combat Marine in Korea. Col. Peter Hilgartner, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)**, then a Second Lieutenant, fought against enemy forces in central and western Korea. He also served as an artillery forward observer, for which he received the Bronze Star and the Combat V medal for Valor.

· Oct. 27: Airlifting Wounded Soldiers from the Korean Battlefront to a MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) Unit Located Near the Frontlines. Richard Kirkland,** a fighter pilot in World War II, was one of the first U.S. Air Force pilots to fly helicopters in a combat environment. Use of the helicopter significantly reduced the amount of time needed to transport the wounded to professional medical care.

· Nov. 3: A 1950 Surprise: Chinese Enter the War. Bob Springer was a member of the U.S. forces that ultimately succeeded in meeting this increased threat to Allied forces in the bitter winter fighting following China’s entry into the Korean War.

· Nov. 10: Code Name “DOWNFALL”: a Million American Casualties? Norman Polmar,** historian, author and recognized international defense analyst, will speak about the Japanese High Command’s Plan to thwart the scheduled invasions of Japan, and the employment of the atomic bombs by the United States, which led to Japan’s capitulation.

F303  Confederate Invasions: The Union in Peril

Thursdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 24–Nov. 5

                                                     (Seven sessions)

Instructor: Jim Anderson

Revisit one of the defining events in American history, the Civil War. We will examine the two major Confederate invasions of northern territory: the Antietam or Maryland Campaign in the fall of 1862 and the Gettysburg Campaign in the summer of 1863. We will discuss the motivations behind these bold gambles, the military maneuvers and battle tactics and the resulting political implications that nearly resulted in independence for the Confederacy.

· Sept. 24: The Causes of the Civil War and the Early Military Campaigns.

· Oct. 1, 8: The Maryland Campaign and the Battle of Antietam–the Bloodiest Day in U.S. History.

· Oct. 15: The Emancipation Proclamation, the Political Crisis in the North and the Military Strategy Debate in the South in the Spring of 1863.

· Oct. 22, 29, Nov. 5: The Confederate Invasion of Pennsylvania in June 1863 and the Battle of Gettysburg, the Largest Engagement of the War.

Jim Anderson spent 27 years with the CIA, which included six overseas tours in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Far East. He holds degrees in history from Rhodes College and the University of Memphis. For the past four years, he has conducted corporate leadership training seminars featuring Civil War battlefield visits.

F304  History of Terrorism

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Oct. 20–Nov. 10

                                                       (Four sessions)

Instructor: Patrick McGinty

Terrorism has been part of the human experience since the beginning of recorded history and arguably it competes with prostitution and espionage as the world’s oldest profession. We will begin this course with a definition of terrorism and explore its many manifestations (revolutionary terrorism, state terrorism, state-sponsored terrorism, etc.). We will then examine some of the more notable examples of terrorism throughout history, beginning with ancient times and continuing on through the French Revolution, the anarchist movement of the late 1800s and the Russian Revolution. We will end the course with an analysis of terrorism in modern times.

Patrick McGinty, an OLLI member, is a retired naval officer (surface warfare, intelligence sub specialist) with an MA and PhD in history from Georgetown University. He has taught various history courses for the University of Maryland University College. The history of terrorism, history of violence in America and history of substance abuse were his primary areas of concentration.

F305  Irish History: Fintan the Wise to Fianna Fail

Mondays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

Instructor: Kevin Deasy

Descendants of the Irish Diaspora now number some 70 million people. Of these, some 30 to 40 million Americans—and many OLLI members—can claim some Irish heritage. If you’ve ever wondered what all those restless Celts were up to back before they left the Auld Sod, here’s your chance to find out. This broad survey of Irish history covers 10,000 years, from pre-Celtic artifacts and legends of Mesolithic/Neolithic Ireland to the rise and fall of the “Celtic Tiger” economy. In between, you’ll find Fomorians, Gaels, Vikings, monks, Gallowglasses, Saxons, Normans, Spaniards, Frenchmen, High Kings, English Kings, invasions, battles, population “Plantations,” risings, spies, informers, Unionists, Republicans, Black-and-Tans, the Anglo-Irish War of Independence, a nasty Civil War, Blueshirts, and World War II neutrality. All this leads up to an Irish Republic in the European Union and “Troubles” that are still smoldering in Ulster.

OLLI member Kevin Barry Deasy hails from a long line of Irish rebels (and is named for one who got caught and hanged). Nevertheless, he cautions that neither the Loyalist narrative nor the Republican narrative can, by themselves, convey the whole truth of Ireland’s turbulent history. A retired U.S. Army officer, Kevin holds a BS in electrical engineering from Northeastern University, and MS degrees in computer science and business management from George Washington University. He has worked as an engineer and manager at several government contracting firms around the Washington beltway, most recently at Northrop Grumman.

F306  One, Two, Many New Deals

Thursdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Instructor: Jim Hubbard

The New Deal, the first six years of Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency, was a period of social and economic reform, perhaps unparalleled in United States' history. Many observers see not one New Deal, but several uneasily fitted together. This course will take another look at the New Deal reforms in agriculture, finance, economics and social programs. We will explore the complexities within the New Deal and the tensions among Roosevelt’s officials, between New Deal programs, and between state and federal governments. We will consider New Deal successes and failures. This course might even provide some food for thought for our own period of immense social and economic problems.

Jim Hubbard holds degrees in history from Holy Cross and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He served for 30 years as a financial manager in the federal government. He has made several presentations at OLLI, most dealing with the United States' role in Africa after World War II.

F307  A Brief History of Mankind

Tuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Instructor: George Heatley

This is a more in-depth look at the material summarized in the summer 2009 class with the same title. As the effects of geography, climate and human nature on the story of mankind are better understood, interest in long-term trends in history have captured our imagination. The instructor will endeavor to present some of the thinking about mankind’s roots in paleoanthropology, human migrations, patterns of human development and globalization.

George Heatley is a member of OLLI who enjoys reading history. He has previously taught classes at OLLI including Chinese History, Nomads, Silk Road, French History and Early Man.

F308 History of Media

Thursdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Instructor: Bill Reader

We live in a communication age in which much of what we know comes not from our personal observation and hearing, but from printed or electronic media. What was life like before we had the first form of media—writing? What impact on society did writing have? Many historians consider the invention of movable-type printing to be the most important invention of the past millennium. What impact did printing and the various print media that printing spawned—book, broadside, pamphlet, newspaper, journal and magazine—have on society and our history? The nineteenth century saw the development of the telegraph, the photograph, the telephone, the phonograph and the motion picture. How did they impact society? The early and mid-twentieth century saw the emergence of radio and television. What was their impact? The late twentieth century saw the development of the personal computer, the Internet and the cell phone. What impact are they having? Looking into the future, how will these media change our society? This course will seek to shed light on these questions.

Bill Reader has a PhD in American social history from the University of Massachusetts, an MA in European intellectual history from the University of Maryland and a BA in European history from Catholic University. He retired after 37 years with the federal government, where he worked as a visual information records management analyst under the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs. Prior to that, he worked for the Defense Audiovisual Agency, the Census Bureau and the National Archives.

F309  Aspects of Australia, the "Sunburnt Country"

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 22–Oct. 13

                                                                    (Four sessions)

Instructor: Kathleen Burns

Although Australia was “discovered” by Western explorers in 1789, its actual history dates back more than 60,000 years, with Aboriginal cave paintings depicting the lives of these early residents. “Sunburnt Country” is a phrase from an iconic poem by Dorathea McKellar, which describes the striking contrasts and contradictions of this island nation and continent. The first lecture will cover the country’s history, from its “convict culture” days to being a world player today in trade, innovation, diplomacy and security. The second lecture will focus on politics through the political cartoons of Geoff Pryor, who spent 30 years proving “the pen is mightier than the sword.” The third will look at Australia and its Aboriginal art, including the “Culture Warriors,” the largest exhibition of indigenous arts coming to the USA; the only venue will be Washington, D.C.’s, Katzen Arts Center at American University. The fourth topic will be “a walk on the wild side,” which will highlight the unique aspects of Australia’s physical setting—its animals, plants and weather, alternating between floods and droughts, fires and typhoons—and its rare, stunning beauty.

Kathleen Burns spent five years in Australia as the only American reporter in the Parliamentary press gallery in Canberra. Returning to the USA, she was the inaugural program director for Georgetown University’s Center for Australian and New Zealand Studies and served the first four directors. She has returned to Australia seven times for lecture trips, most recently in 2008. She is an active participant in the Australian and New Zealand Studies Association of North America and was a speaker at their 2009 conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She also taught in the Communications Department of George Mason University for three years.

R310  World War to Cold War: The U.S. in the Twentieth Century

Thursdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Reston Community Center               (Note location)

Coordinators: Michael Kelly, Brad Berger

The twentieth century aptly has been termed the American Century, as American ingenuity sparked great advances in science, industry, agriculture, technology and the arts. The United States answered its highest calling, perhaps, by committing its treasury and its citizenry to liberating the world from tyranny and oppression. With great rhetorical flair, our political leaders ennobled our undertakings and extolled the virtues of our fighting on foreign fields. Millions of American men and women selflessly heeded the summons and marched, flew and sailed into harm’s way to secure others’ freedoms in far away lands. American sacrifices during the World Wars I and II truly remade the world, but competing postwar political philosophies dashed hopes for an enduring peace. While espionage and secrecy characterized the resulting Cold War, flare-ups in Southeast Asia and elsewhere threatened to reignite national passions and reawaken the specter of nuclear war. Join Washington, D.C. park rangers from the National Mall and Memorial Parks as we explore the origins, battles, leaders and outcomes of the world wars; analyze why the hope for postwar peace degenerated into a long and costly Cold War; and describe the changing face of Washington, D.C., which reflects the momentous events of the twentieth century.

Michael Kelly and Brad Berger are both rangers with the U.S. National Park Service. They have presented numerous courses and led many trips for OLLI.

R311  Tales of the Silk Road

Thursdays, 9:30–11:00, Oct. 22–Nov. 12

                                                                                          (Four sessions)

Instructor: Robert Springer

“Going to China or maybe Siam
I want to see for myself
Those far away places I’ve been reading about
In a book that I took, that I took from the shelf...
Those far away places with strange sounding names
Calling, calling me...”

If you are interested in those far away places with the strange sounding names, come join us on this adventure to the old Silk Road, the ancient 5,000 mile camel caravan route, which was the only link between China and Europe for 1,500 years. It eventually was replaced by ship travel when Columbus and others opened up the ocean passages from Europe to the East. This program is an extension of the OLLI spring 2009 Silk Road course and covers mostly new material, such as: stories of Central Asian foreign adventurers, travelers and explorers; the great, 500 year old museum in the Gobi desert at Dun Huang; the Mummies of Urumchi; and the Greco-Buddhist art at Ghandhara. Time permitting, we also will take a look at ancient archaeological sites in Iran, the five stans (Central Asia), and Tibet. For those interested in traveling in this area, we will talk about travel arrangements, accommodations, costs and security concerns.

Robert Springer is a professor emeritus at American University, where he taught for many years and was a department chairman. Before his university career he served in the U.S. Army. His academic career includes a number of publications. He was educated at West Point, Stanford University, Georgetown University and George Washington University. He and his wife, Sally, have either lived in or traveled to most of the places he discusses. They recently were in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand.

R312  George C. Marshall: An American Leader

Tuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 22–Oct. 13

                                                     (Three sessions and field trip)

Instructor: Rachel Yarnell Thompson

General George C. Marshall played a crucial role in the history of the twentieth century. Serving as U.S. Army chief of staff during World War II, Marshall led American forces to victory. As secretary of state after the war, he helped conceive of and implement the Marshall Plan, perhaps the most enlightened government program of modern times. Finally, he answered his government’s call to serve as secretary of defense during the Korean War. This Nobel Laureate was not only an important leader, but also a virtuous man—an individual of excellent character. As a five-star general, Marshall was never tempted to abuse power, and understood with great clarity that our nation’s military is always subject to the authority of an elected president. Through lecture, video, primary documents and archival photographs, participants will learn more about Marshall’s remarkable service, and the influences of his childhood and youth that shaped the “great fundamentals” of his life. The final session will convene at Dodona Manor, Marshall’s home in Leesburg. A $15 fee, payable to OLLI with your registration, will include a private guided tour of the home and a keepsake copy of a book on Marshall’s life and work titled America’s Hero to the World: George C. Marshall.

Rachel Thompson is the director of Special Programs at the George C. Marshall International Center in Leesburg. For 31 years, Mrs. Thompson taught American history and government in Fairfax County. She co-authored a biography of Marshall, and has written educational materials for many non-profit organizations, including WETA, the White House Historical Association and the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. She graduated from Carson-Newman College in Tennessee and holds a master's degree from George Mason University.

R313  Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley, the Battle of Cedar Creek, and Stately Homes

Fridays, Sept. 25–Oct. 9, 10:00–11:30

Bus Trip: Friday, Oct. 16, 8:45–5:30

                                                    (Three sessions and Bus Trip)

Coordinator: John Meier

Three classes and a companion bus trip will help you understand the importance of the Valley to both the Confederacy and the Union and the impact of the Civil War on a key part of Virginia.

· Sept. 25: Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley 1861–1864: “Official chronologies record 326 incidents of armed conflict in the…Valley during the Civil War…on average one conflict every 4–5 days. [Almost]…a daily dance with death.” This session, led by a National Park Service Ranger, will briefly touch on the strategies, tactics, successes and failures of both sides. The critical value of the Valley was best expressed by General "Stonewall" Jackson in 1862: "If this Valley is lost, Virginia is lost."

· Oct 2: Virginia’s Breadbasket: From Plenty to Want. This session, led by Bob Webb, will describe the importance of the Valley’s resources  to  both sides and the Civil War’s impact on the. What were the attitudes and sympathies before April 1861 (before Virginia seceded) and how did they change as the war progressed? How did inhabitants support each side and how did they survive Northern and Southern incursions?

· Oct 9: The Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. This session, led a National Park Service Ranger, describes the most decisive battle in the Valley Campaigns of 1864. Attacking at dawn, Confederate forces led by Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early very nearly defeated numerically superior forces led by Union Army Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan. Sheridan’s dash, from Winchester to Middletown, rescued the situation and not only led to the destruction of Early’s army but materially aided the reelection of Abraham Lincoln barely two weeks later. (An animated Battle map is at: http://www.civilwar.org/cedarcreekmap/)

· Oct 16: Trip to Belle Grove Plantation, Cedar Creek Battlefield and Long Branch Historic Home. We travel first to Belle Grove, a National Trust property. Completed in 1797 for a sister of future President James Madison, the mansion was the center of a 7500 acre farm. The property includes a museum shop, barn, overseer’s house, slave cemetery and scenic mountain views. Docents will lead tours of the house followed by a self-guided tour of the surrounding battlefield. Belle Grove witnessed the decisive Battle of Cedar Creek. A Battle reenactment will be staged October 17–18, 2009, and we may see some of the participants. There will be a brief stop at the Battlefield Foundation’s Visitor Center, which includes an exhibit of the 1864 Valley Campaign and a bookstore. Lunch is at the Wayside Inn in Middletown. The inn served its first travelers in 1797, becoming a stagecoach stop on the Valley Pike. Luncheon will include the house salad, rolls, an entrée choice, dessert and coffee, tea or iced tea. Please select one of the following entrées:

            A. Miss Irene’s Meatloaf served with potato and fresh vegetable du jour.

            B. Grilled Salmon Pommery, fresh Atlantic salmon served with a pommery

mustard sauce, rice and fresh vegetable du jour.

Following lunch, we travel several miles through the countryside to Marker-Miller Orchard for apples. (Buy a few to take home!) Our last stop is Long Branch Historic Home and horse retirement facility. A young George Washington helped survey the property. The house boasts a collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century furnishings–dining room chairs identical to those at the White House and major pieces attributed to Duncan Phyfe. Hand-painted wallpapers and fine fabrics adorn the rooms. The grounds contain beautiful gardens. The estate hosts an annual hot air balloon festival October 16–18, 2009. (Perhaps we’ll see one fly!) The bus will leave promptly at 8:45 AM from Lake Anne Village Center in Reston. Please be at the bus no later than 8:30. The fee of $59, payable to OLLI with your registration form, includes all tours, lunch at the Wayside Inn, bus fare and driver gratuity. Please remember to indicate your entrée selection on your bus waiver found on page 39.

L314  Twilight of the Royals: Europe, 1850–1914

Tuesdays, 10:30–12:00, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Instructor: Doug Foard

Monarchy, the institution that had welded together the European state system, seemed more firmly established on the continent in the latter half of the nineteenth century than ever before. From Russia’s Pacific coast to the western shores of Ireland, the crowned heads of Europe were cheered and obeyed by their millions of subjects. Much of that edifice of royalty came crashing down as a result of World War I. This course will examine the sources of the enduring tradition of monarchy in Europe and the forces at work before the Great War that would undermine it. Particular attention will be paid to the Hapsburgs in Austria, the Hohenzollerns in Russia, the Ottoman sultans and the Windsors in Great Britain. The unique French experience will also be examined as that nation grappled with its long-standing conflict between its imperial past and its republican heritage.

Douglas Foard is a retired history professor and former executive secretary of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society. He holds his PhD in history from Washington University, and taught many years at Ferrum College in Virginia and as an adjunct professor at George Mason. He has published frequently on the subject of Spanish history (The Revolt of the Aesthetes, New York: 1985) and more recently, written a biography of Lord Loudoun for whom Loudoun County is named.

L315  The Civil War in Loudoun County

Wednesdays, 1:00–2:30, Sept. 23–Oct. 14

                                                          (Three sessions and field trip)

Instructor and Tour Guide: Steve Meserve

· Sept. 23: The People of Loudoun. In the first of three classroom sessions, we will discuss the plight of those residents loyal to the Union. One out of every three voters in Loudoun County voted against secession in 1861. These “Loyalists” would suffer at the hands of the county’s secessionists throughout the war, but they would suffer even more at the hands of the United States Army and the government they supported.

· Sept. 30: The Battles. The best-known battle fought in Loudoun County was Ball’s Bluff in October 1861. Many people do not realize there were larger battles fought in Loudoun County in the fall of 1862 and the summer of 1863. In addition, John Mosby’s famous Partisan Rangers fought three of their largest battles in the county. This session will consider these lesser-known combats and the men who fought them.

· Oct. 7: The War’s Effect on Loudoun County. While Loudoun fared well compared to some Virginia counties, the devastating effects of the war on the local economy were felt well into the twentieth century. This is a story of devastation, recovery, and the will of the people, both black and white, to rebuild after the war.

· Oct. 14: Walking Tour of Leesburg. Leesburg was the county seat of Loudoun County during the war just as it is now. We will meet in front of the Confederate Memorial at the courthouse (park in the public parking garage on Market Street). We will take short walks with frequent stops from there to the home of John Janney, with whom Robert E. Lee visited on his way to Maryland in 1862. We will see Harrison Hall, where Lee stayed while in Leesburg. We will also visit the post-war home of Elijah White. We will conclude with a tour of Civil War graves in the Union Cemetery.

Steve Meserve is the author of The Civil War in Loudoun County, Virginia: A History of Hard Times; contributing editor to the Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference; photo researcher for Time-Life's Images of an American Tragedy: An Illustrated History of the Civil War; former associate editor of Civil War Magazine; and former editor of The Skirmish Line: The Magazine of the North-South Skirmish Association.

L316  Disasters At Sea: Part 1

Wednesdays, 10:30–12:00, Sept. 23–30

Rust Library in Leesburg

                                                               (Two sessions, Note location)
                                                               Instructor: Andrew C.A. Jampoler

The newly remodeled and reopened Rust Library in Leesburg will be hosting and co-sponsoring this class on historic naval disasters.

· Sept. 23: The Epic Naval Battle of Lepanto, 1571. The Holy League’s fleet shattered the Ottoman Turks’ navy in a decisive battle famous in art and poetry. Both sides appealed for and expected divine assistance. The costly victory at sea helped establish the line between Muslim and Christian worlds for centuries.

· Sept. 30: The Wreck of Amphitrite, 1833. Amphitrite went down in a great summer storm in the English Channel, taking with her the lives of all aboard but three. The wreck of the convict transport and the death of more than one hundred women and an unknown number of their children caused a sensation in England, France and Scotland.

Andrew Jampoler, a graduate of Columbia College and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, is a retired naval aviator who has recently returned to his academic roots to write full-time. He is the author of three books, Adak: The Rescue of Alfa Foxtrot 586; Sailors in the Holy Land: The 1848 American Expedition to the Dead Sea; and The Last Lincoln Conspirator: John Surrat's Flight from the Gallows.

L317  Disasters At Sea: Part 2        

Wednesdays, 10:30–12:00, Nov. 4–11

                                                             (Two sessions)    
                                                             Instructor: Andrew C.A. Jampoler      

· Nov. 4: Black Rock and Blue Water, 1867. The Royal Mail Ship Rhone sank in the Caribbean during the terrible hurricane of October 1867. Breaking for the safety of the open sea, Rhone ran hard aground on Black Rock at full speed and snapped in half. The great storm struck soon after a summer yellow fever epidemic and was followed by a tsunami two weeks later. Recovery took years.

· Nov. 11: Lost in the Ice, 1918. Lightship Cross Rip vanished off her station near Nantucket in February 1918 during the record “freeze-up” that year. Caught in pack ice, the old, small vessel drifted into the Atlantic and was never seen again. What precisely happened to Cross Rip and why?

See Course L316 for instructor information.

L318  World War to Cold War: The U.S. in the Twentieth Century

Thursdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 24–Nov.12

Reston Community Center                     (Note location)

Coordinators: Michael Kelly, Brad Berger

See Course Number R310 for a description of the class. Please note that there is a $25 fee for Loudoun members who wish to take this class.  

L319  Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley, the Battle of Cedar Creek and Stately Homes

Fridays, Sept. 25–Oct. 9, 10:00–11:30

Bus Trip: Friday, Oct. 16, 8:45–5:30

                                                (Three sessions and Field Trip)

Coordinator: John Meier

Please see Course R313 for a description of this class and directions for the field trip. Please note there is a $74 fee for Loudoun members who wish to take this class.

400 Literature, Theater & Writing

F401  From Page to Stage

Saturdays, Sept. 12–19, Oct. 3, Oct. 17, 2:00–4:30

Room 105A, GMU’s TheatreSpace

       (Four sessions; Note dates, time and location)

Instructor: Howard Vincent Kurtz

What goes into creating a theatrical production? This course will offer a behind the scenes look at the making of a play at George Mason University. Starting with the playwright’s inspiration, the designers creating the theatrical space, and actors rehearsing the play, all the elements of theater will come together in the GMU Players production of Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness!* Howard Vincent Kurtz, the director of the play, has invited us to attend one or all four of the Saturday pre-production rehearsals. There will be an opportunity for interaction between the actors and the class during the last 30 minutes of each class.

· Sept. 12: Reading by actors, designer presentation.

· Sept. 19: Rehearsal and stage blocking directions.

· Oct. 3: Designer run through and final staging.

· Oct. 17: Tech production, including sets and lights.

*See Special Event 961 for description and details about the presentation of the play on Saturday, October 24. Class limit: 15.

Howard Vincent Kurtz is an associate professor of theater in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and a winner of the George Mason University Teaching Excellence Award. Mr. Kurtz has directed many productions at Mason, including The Dining Room, Shayna Maidel, The Heiress and Could Angels Be Blessed.

F402 Readers' Theater

Thursdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Coordinators: Kathie West, Karen Hauser

If you love the theater and are intrigued by the idea of trying to step into someone else’s shoes, join our enthusiastic group and develop your reading skills, learn more about plays and play-reading and enjoy interacting with other “hams.” Each week members of the class either perform as one of the characters in a play or become part of the audience. In order to ensure successful performances, participants should plan to set aside time to rehearse with the other performers before presenting the play to the class. While we don’t memorize scripts or include action, making scenes come alive between two or more characters requires some practice. Class limit: 30.

F403  A Close Reading of Virgil's Aeneid

Thursdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 24–Nov. 5

                                                                 (Seven sessions)

Instructor: Barbara Nelson

When Virgil was dying in 17 BCE., he requested that his incomplete masterpiece, which  celebrated Roman values and created a rich cultural mythology, be destroyed. Fortunately, Caesar Augustus refused this request.  Knowledgeable about the Homeric epics, Virgil brilliantly tells the story of Aeneas’ escape from Troy, his journey and eventually his founding of Rome. Translator Robert Fagles has said, “The Aeneid is one of the saddest poems I know of in any language. It is hard, heroic, heartbreaking.” This seven-week course focuses on a close reading of the 12 books of The Aeneid in seminar format. Only the first class will be a lecture to provide background information and additional context for our study. Two books will be assigned for each of the following six weeks.  Familiarity with the Homeric epics will be useful but is not necessary. Fagles’ translation of The Aeneid is recommended for this class and will be available at the OLLI office. Class limit: 25.

Barbara Nelson joined OLLI in the fall of 2007 after retiring from teaching at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. She has led discussions of The Odyssey, The Oresteia and The Iliad in 2008-2009. She is a docent at the National Portrait Gallery, a dedicated rower and gardener, and a life-long learner.

F404  Shakespeare's Coriolanus

Mondays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

Instructor: Mike McNamara

Shakespeare’s last tragedy, Coriolanus, has stimulated a resurgence of interest in the past few years, given the play’s unusual military and political themes. Coriolanus, a valiant general of Republican Rome, is highly successful in war against the Volscians. However, his proud, outspoken manner and contempt for the plebeians of Rome, together with his limited ability to work within a political system, mark him for eventual disgrace and banishment. Seeking revenge, he reappears at the walls of Rome, this time leading the people he defeated, the Volscians, and is persuaded by his family to spare the city. Coriolanus is one of Shakespeare’s few political plays, and one that highlights two tragic figures: the doomed general and Volumnia, his mother, just as responsible as Coriolanus himself for his personal traits of character and his tragic end. In discussing the play, we will also look at the details of Shakespeare’s life and times. Copies of the play will be available in the OLLI office.

Mike McNamara is a retired infantry colonel, and has presented several of Shakespeare’s plays at OLLI: The Tempest, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra; and has given classes in international poetry. He earned a BA from Rutgers University, an MA from the University of Kansas in English and an MA equivalent in military affairs from the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK. He is a co-moderator in the OLLI Poetry Workshop.

F405  More Than the (W)right Stuff: Ann Petry Revealed

Thursdays, 11:45–1:15, Oct. 22–Nov. 12

                                                                                           (Four sessions)

Instructor: Keith Clark

Though Richard Wright has garnered a much wider readership as the most prominent African American writer of the 1940s, Ann Petry, who was born in the same year as Wright, has always remained in his shadow. But her 1946 novel, The Street, remains a classic in the American literary canon, and is the first novel by a black woman writer to sell a million copies. This course will introduce a writer whose works still merit more popular and scholarly attention. In addition to reading her premier novel, we will also explore several pieces from her collection Miss Muriel and Other Stories, another groundbreaking work that has been relegated to the literary margins. Both The Street and Miss Muriel and Other Stories are in print and available at local bookstores or through online booksellers.

Keith Clark is the associate professor of English and African American Studies at George Mason. His publications include Black Manhood in James Baldwin, Ernest J. Gaines and August Wilson (University of Illinois Press, 2002) and Contemporary Black Men's Fiction and Drama (University of Illinois Press, 2001). He is currently writing a book based on Ann Petry's fiction.

F406  Portrait of the Artist as A Young Man Lectures

Mondays, 2:00–3:30, Oct. 5, Oct. 19–Nov. 9

                                                                                                  (Five sessions)

Instructor: Cóilín Owens

James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is one of the most influential novels of the twentieth century. A largely autobiographical account of Joyce’s own childhood and adolescence, it describes his struggles with the powerful forces that shaped his consciousness: family, church and nation. It is written in a sequence of styles appropriate to the levels of psychological development of the sensitive and intelligent hero. Its impressionism, irony and mythological structures make it a classic of literary modernism. Its profound insights into the experience of growing up give it universal appeal. These lectures will put the novel in historical context, discuss its main ideas, give careful examination to selected passages and summarize the scholarly fuss.

· Oct. 5: Introduction and Chapter One: Childhood and Early Education.

· Oct. 19: Chapters Two and Three: Family, Sin and Punishment.

· Oct. 26: Chapter Four: Repentance, Recovery and Epiphany.

· Nov. 2: Chapter Five: Stephen as Aesthete, Literary Theorist and Potential Artist.

· Nov. 9: Joyce’s Dublin: A Virtual Tour.

Cóilín Owens taught English at Cleveland State, Kent State and George Mason Universities for 35 years. He took a slightly early retirement to devote his energies to the study of the early works of James Joyce. In the past three years he has written two books, James Joyce’s Painful Case and How Joyce Writes: After the Race, and has the next three under development. He has given many courses for the Smithsonian Institution, Arlington Learning in Retirement Institute, OLLI and other community organizations in the Washington area.

F407  Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Tuesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Instructor: Peter E. Blau

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes stories and many more works. This course will focus on the reasons Sherlock Holmes is as popular today as when the stories were first published: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was an excellent teller of tales; playwrights and actors have created Sherlockian plays, films, radio programs, and television shows for more than 100 years; and there are the Sherlockians and their societies, such as the Baker Street Irregulars. The BSI, founded 75 years ago, continue their "grand game" of pretending that the world of Sherlock Holmes is real and they attempt to explain, or explain away, the inconsistencies and contradictions in the stories. We will use The Complete Sherlock Holmes, with an introduction by Christopher Morley, first published by Doubleday Doran in 1930 and still available in print from Barnes & Noble. Copies will be available for purchase from the OLLI office.

Peter E. Blau is a geologist and journalist who discovered the world of Sherlockians in 1948 and has been a member of the BSI since 1959, currently serving as secretary of the society.joined the Red Circle of Washington, the local Sherlockian society, in 1970.

F408 Poetry Workshop

Tuesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Moderators: Mike McNamara, Jan Bohall

The Poetry Workshop allows beginning and experienced poets the opportunity to read their work to others and to receive criticism from the group on how best to improve their poetry. Workshop members should bring an original poem in draft or revision, or a poem they admire by another poet, to each session for discussion. At each meeting, if time permits, the workshop will also briefly explore some major aspect of poetry and examine the mysteries of how to get published. Some members have won prizes in poetry competitions and have had poems published.

Mike McNamara has been published in Mindprints, a Literary Journal; Write On!!; Spitball, The Literary Baseball Magazine; Patrolling, The Journal of the 75th Ranger Regiment and Fairfax Ink. He has won eight awards in the past four years in the Poetry Society of Virginia's annual competition.

Jan Bohall has been published in Passager: A Journal of Remembrance and Discovery; The Orange County Register; Write On!!; The Poet’s Domain; and Fairfax Ink. She is a member of the Poetry Society of Virginia.

F409  Willa Cather and the Southwest

Wednesdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 23–Nov. 11

Instructor: Debbie Halverson

While both Death Comes for the Archbishop and The Professor’s House, two of Cather’s most successful novels, have been taught at OLLI, neither study was set into the context of her broad and deep fascination with the southwestern region of the United States. We will examine both of these novels and a few of her short stories, showing how the spiritual inspiration she derived from her personal experiences in that area translated into multi-dimensional works of her art. No one can read Cather without marveling at her writing skill, her ability to place her reader on site and within the emotion of the moment, even if that moment occurred in centuries long gone. Persons taking this course may acquire any edition of these two novels; used copies should be easily available.

Debbie Halverson has developed a fond appreciation for the work of Willa Cather, especially for her writing skill and insight into the human heart. This appreciation comes in her OLLI years rather than when Debbie was a student of American literature at Middlebury College, proving that teaching at OLLI opens up vast new opportunities for intellectual growth. Debbie is currently membership committee chair and a past president of the Institute.

R410  Let's Talk About Books

Tuesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Moderators: Sue Schram, Sue Wensell

For book lovers this is a chance to talk about books. This could include books you are reading now, favorites from the past, perhaps a special book from your childhood (or one you’ve found for your grandchildren), fiction of all genres, non-fiction OR you may want to just come to listen. Emphasis will not be on formal “book reports” but on sharing in a relaxed setting. Class limit: 20.

Sue Schram and Sue Wensell, founders and former owners of Reston's Used Book Shop, have shared their love of books since meeting in 1966. That love of books gave birth to Reston's Used Book Shop in 1978."Sues" spent 21 years enjoying the sharing of their knowledge of books and learning more from their customers. Having sold the shop to long-time employees and friends, they now enjoy even more time to explore their love of books.

R411  The Fifties Zeitgeist in American Short Fiction

Thursdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Instructor: Janet Arthur

A new biography of John Cheever and Richard Yates' film, Revolutionary Road, have turned attention to the personal and domestic life pictured in fiction during the fifties. This course will define the fifties as the period from the end of World War II to 1963–from the building of Levittown to the assassination of President Kennedy. The major setting is the city/suburban culture of New York. We will read stories primarily by Cheever, Yates and Shirley Jackson. Copies of the stories will be distributed the first day of class.

Janet Arthur has led OLLI classes in southern fiction and lyrics from great American songs. A former high school English teacher, she graduated from Duke University and was a fellow in the Writing Project at UNC-Charlotte. She is a docent at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

R412  Literary Roundtable

Wednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 23–Nov. 11

Reston’s Used Book Shop at Lake Anne

                                                                                                (Note location)

Moderators: Janice Dewire, Carol Henderson

This long-running short-story discussion class will conclude the reading of an anthology begun two years ago: The Story and Its Writer, sixth edition (2003), edited by Ann Charters. This book includes good stories, old and new, from around the world, as well as commentary on the stories from the authors and other writers. Stories this term range from authors Katherine Anne Porter and William Sydney Porter (O. Henry) to Tobias Wolff and Virginia Woolf. Since these are the final selections in the book, no new class members are being accepted this term (in order to avoid asking new members to purchase an 1800-page anthology). Class limit: 23.

Janice Dewire and Carol Henderson are enthusiastic Literary Roundtable participants and former OLLI Board members who took on the moderator role several years ago for this popular course, one of the longest running at Lake Anne.

R413  Tolstoy and Anna Karenina

Mondays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

Instructor: Jane Catron

On one occasion an aspiring writer asked Ernest Hemingway for advice about how to learn to write well. Hemingway responded, “Read Anna Karenina.” The next question was, “What else?” The answer was, “Read Anna Karenina again.” This incident serves to point out the novel’s singular achievement. It is peopled with a dazzling array of realistic characters striving in various ways, some successfully, others not, to find happiness and purpose in life. The novel is set in the Czarist Russia of Tolstoy’s time and is highly autobiographical. To read or reread this masterpiece enriches one’s understanding of the human experience. Students are asked to use the Signet Classic edition.

Jane Catron retired from McLean High School where she taught English for 26 years and received recognition for exemplary teaching. She holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University in liberal studies. Leo Tolstoy was one of the four writers whose lives she examined in her master’s thesis. This is the fourteenth class she has taught for OLLI.

L414  Creative Writing Workshop

Wednesdays, 1:00–2:30, September 23–Nov. 11

Instructor: Madeline Lynn

This round table affords a safe haven for writers of all levels to share their work with others, and to give and receive constructive feedback and critique. In last winter’s workshop, memorable characters sprung from the pages of the participants' short stories, personal essays and memoir pieces. We noted the ways, in all three forms, that character and action are enhanced by skillful weaving of both narrative and dialogue. Each of the fall classes will open with a half-hour discussion of the craft and technique of masters and teachers of the art, such as George Garrett, the former head of the University of Virginia's creative writing program. In his essay, “Going to See the Elephant: Our Duty as Storytellers,” Garrett writes: “We do the work alone, as alone as can be… But there is much we can tell each other and much that can be gained by telling each other our experiences. We must work together to be ready, one at a time, for the necessary angel to arrive on the scene and the mystery and magic of making to begin.”

Madeline Lynn received an MA in interdisciplinary studies in literature and drama from American University. Her short stories have appeared in Nimrod International Journal Awards 20, Kalliope and Union Street Review.

500 Languages

F501 French Conversation

Mondays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

Instructor: Beverley Persell

French conversation class is for those who have an understanding of French and want to improve your conversation level. Each week we will have a different topic, including current events in France and French literature samplings. All students will be encouraged to speak about a subject of their choice.

Beverley Persell lived in France as a child and attended school in Bourges. She earned her BA degree in French from Mary Washington College and is certified to teach beginning French through advanced placement. She has taught at the Congressional School in Falls Church and at Flint Hill Prep School, where she was the Foreign Language Department Chairman. She studied in France at several teachers’ institutes and also at the University of Toulouse and the Sorbonne. She has been an OLLI member since 2004.

F502  Basic Beginning Spanish 

Tuesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Instructor: Joanne Becker

It's becoming more and more necessary to know how to speak and understand Spanish. This class will introduce you to basic Spanish expressions and vocabulary to help you cope in various situations. Some fundamental expressions will be taught to help you with greetings, introductions, asking for directions and making purchases in a store or market. You will learn how to recognize words that are similar in Spanish and English. Learn some tricks to help you decipher words and understand what they mean. All topics will be covered at the discretion of the instructor according to the needs and pace of the students.

Joanne Becker is a certified teacher in Virginia and taught in the Fairfax County school system for 22 years, teaching at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology for the last ten years of her career. She has studied and traveled in several Spanish-speaking countries, including home-stay study programs in Mexico and Spain. She has received certificates of achievement in study programs for Spanish teachers at universities in Spain, including the University of Salamanca, the University of Santiago de Compostela and Deusto University in Bilboa.

F503  Advanced Conversational Spanish Class–Panel en Español

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Instructor: Bernardo Vargas

The objective of the class is practicing the Spanish language while discussing and analyzing newspaper articles or literature. The subjects to be discussed will be presented by the students and the instructor. The instructor will lead the class in interactive conversation. The class will be conducted in Spanish; however, English will be used occasionally to clarify and explain grammar and idiomatic expressions.

Bernardo Vargas, a trial attorney at law and economist, graduated from the Pontificia Catholic University Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. He held government jobs in the area of education, including secretary of education of the state government in Bogotá, and general secretary of the National Technological Institute of Colombia. For two years he studied at the International Graduate School at the University of Pittsburgh, receiving a degree in public administration and economic and social development. Currently, Mr. Vargas is an editor of an online Spanish newspaper .

R504  Conversational Spanish

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Instructor: Virginia Gonzalez

Since Spanish is such a popular language, we are offering a Spanish class for beginners. We will learn vocabulary and phrases, which will help us get acquainted with everyday usage of this language.

Virginia Gonzalez was born in Mexico City. She finished her studies in Spanish literature and business at the University of Mexico City. She worked as an editor of an international medical journal for ten years, with responsibility for the translation of articles submitted for publication. When she came to the United States she taught Spanish to eighth graders and worked as a Spanish tutor for students of all grades. She was a director of conventions and exhibitor services for an association, where she also reviewed the translations into Spanish of all the documents and commercial advertisements for the association.

600 Religion, Philosophy & Ethics

F601 The New Atheism

Wednesdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 23–Nov. 11

Instructor: Bruce O. Boston

Over the past ten years, authors of a group of books, articles and essays has been mounting a renewed and vigorous (some would say vicious) assault on God, belief and religion in general. Such outspoken works as Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion; Christopher Hitchens’ God is Not Great; Daniel Dennett’s Breaking the Spell; and Sam Harris’ The End of Faith have challenged any and all arguments in support of any Deity; many theologians have been put on the defensive. Through lively writing and pointed argument (sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes seriously flawed), these and other authors (e.g., physics Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg) have urged believers of all stripes and creeds to throw away the “God crutch” and grow up. This course will look at old and new arguments now being advanced for atheism by these and other thinkers, as well as some of the counter-arguments and rejoinders from different faith communities and other thinkers (e.g., John Polkinghorne, David Aikman and Huston Smith). You are invited to take a front-row seat on the debate.

Bruce O. Boston holds a PhD from Princeton Seminary and has taught about a dozen courses for OLLI over the years. While willing to give the atheists their due, he remains a believer—but promotes no specific doctrine.

F602  The Christian Church: The First 200 Years

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 22–Oct. 13

                                                                                          (Four sessions)

Instructor: John Rybicki

The earliest Church as described in the Acts of the Apostles was not far removed from its Judaic roots. First Hellenized Jews and then Gentiles who became Christian had an immediate influence on the Church’s development. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE and the spread of Christianity dramatically changed the direction of the early movement. This course will examine the early Church, its controversies and the development of doctrine and how it resolved problems. The focus will be on the early Church as described in both biblical and non-biblical sources and the personalities who were influential in the Church’s early doctrinal developments.

John Rybicki is a frequent OLLI speaker whose popular religion courses have often included discussion sessions as well as lively, informative lectures. Over the past years he has taught numerous aspects of Christianity and comparative religious philosophy. He holds three master’s degrees, including one in theology, and teaches at many organizations in the metropolitan area.

F603  Nicomachean Ethics: Part 1

Mondays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

Facilitator: Bob Lawshe

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is one of the primary texts in all of ethical theory. In it Aristotle tries to answer a simple question, “How should I live my life?” or, “What kind of life is right for me”? It is a surprisingly difficult question and Aristotle’s answer may be surprising as well. In the work he focuses on actions not abstract theory. We will read, discuss and study this text over the fall, winter and spring terms. Class members are expected to have their own copy of Nicomachean Ethics and to read assigned portions of the work prior to classes. During class we will discuss that week’s reading and try to figure out just what is going on. There will be no rushing; if a particular section takes a bit longer to get through, we will spend the necessary time on it. After all, we’re retired, or at least some of us are, anyway! We will use the study group format; in-class participation is expected.

Bob Lawshe holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers and a master’s from American University. An OLLI member, he has previously taught several classes in philosophy at OLLI.

F604  Messianic Prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures: Jewish and Christian Understandings

Wednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 23–Oct. 14

                                                                           (Four sessions)

Instructor: Steven Goldman

“These are the words which I (Jesus) spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”(Luke 24:44)

The New Testament declares that Jesus is the promised Messiah foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures based on the fulfillment of prophecy. This course will examine those claims and present Jewish and Christian interpretations of the relevant Biblical texts.

Steven C. Goldman retired from federal service in 2007 as director of the Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance at the U.S. Department of Commerce. His avocation for many years has been in the area of biblical studies. He now teaches at OLLI at Mason.

Note: This class will also be offered at Reston. See Course R605.

R605  Messianic Prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures: Jewish and Christian Understandings

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Oct. 20–Nov. 10

                                                                                          (Four sessions)

Instructor: Steven Goldman

See course F604 for description and instructor background.

R606  Questions of Value, Patrick Grim

Wednesdays, Sept. 23–Oct. 7, Oct. 21–Nov. 4, 10:00–11:30

                                                                (Six sessions, Note dates)

Facilitators: Abbie Edwards, Bob Lawshe

Our lives are filled with everyday questions of fact and finance. Which investment brings the highest return? What school district is the house in? But what is it that gives something genuine value? What things are really worth striving for? What is it that makes life worth living? Are there values that transcend cultural differences? Questions of Value is a course for those who have ever felt the tug of such questions or who wants to fine-tune their ability to see how the deeper questions of ethics and values apply to the choices that make up their lives. The really fundamental questions of our lives, says Professor Patrick Grim, are questions of value. During this six-week course, we will watch and discuss six video lectures by Professor Grim from the Teaching Company course, Questions of Value, on different aspects of values. Our goal is not to answer any questions, but “to open issues for thoughtful consideration.” We will use the study group format; in-class participation is expected.

L607 Major Doctrines of the Bible: A Comparative Perspective

Thursdays, 1:00–2:30, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Instructor: Steven Goldman

“If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). “What is truth?” (John 18:38). “How then can man be justified with God?” (Job 25:4). “He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee.” (Micah 6:8). These are some of the grand questions that are addressed in the Bible. Yet there are major disagreements regarding how the answers the Bible provides are to be properly understood. This course examines some of the major doctrines of the Bible and how Jewish and Christian denominations, and those who have no faith, often reach different conclusions reading the same texts. Issues to be discussed include: the nature and character of God; the attributes and mission of the Messiah; the immortality of the soul; what God requires of human beings who wish to be declared righteous in His sight; and others. The course will also examine difficult biblical texts that present major ethical challenges.

See Course F604 for instructor background.

L608  Series in Communication and Relationship

Thursdays, 1:00–2:30, Sept. 24–Oct. 15 

                                                                                        (Four sessions)

Instructors: Bradley Morgan, Stephan Marias

Ontology of the Human Observer is a new discipline, emerging from significant developments in philosophy and biology in the latter half of the twentieth century, and is described as “deceptively simple, yet elegant and powerful.” Its focus is on providing a fresh practical understanding of human beings and the nature of human communication. Join Bradley Morgan and Stephan Marias in workshop discussions to learn more about expanding communication in your world by being an Observer.

· Sept. 24: The Four Horsemen. Reasons and ways to avoid the four horsemen behaviors: contempt, blame, defensiveness and stonewalling will be discussed.

· Oct. 1: Multi-Generational Communication and Misunderstanding. Every generation is shaped by national events, global crises, cultural upbringing and family interaction. We will examine ways to identify and bridge language gaps with other generations.

· Oct. 8: How to Build Authentic Relationships. Ways to establish and maintain mutually nurturing relationships will be discussed. Learn to distinguish how “telling” and “requesting” is interpreted by different individuals and discover the speech elements that foster trust and create synergy.

· Oct. 15: Live Your Life in Boldness. Distinguish between opinions and provable facts about your goals; identify the difference between boldness and recklessness; learn the tools that keep you in action and avoid derailment.

Bradley Morgan holds a BS from Georgia Tech and an MS from UCLA.  Stephan Marias holds a BS in production management and an MBA from UNISA in South Africa. Both have extensive business experience and both are also professionally certified by the Newfield program to teach Ontology and the Human Observer.

700 Current Events

F701  Foreign Policy Roundtable

Mondays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

Moderator: John Coffey

This course examines selected topics in contemporary American foreign policy. Each topic has designated readings, which participants must read and come prepared to discuss thoughtfully. This is a discussion seminar. The moderator will not lecture, but rather lead discussion with questions and offer comments as appropriate. Participants will receive the readings prior to the beginning of the course. Class Limit: 20.

● Sept. 21: What Is the National Interest? The readings are: John Lewis Gaddis, “Ending Tyranny: The Past and Future of an Idea,” The American Interest, (Sept.–Oct., 2008); Justine Rosenthal, “A Sit-Down with Brent Scowcroft,” The National Interest, (Jan.–Feb., 2009).

● Sept. 28: Where’s Europe Going? The readings are: A. Wes Mitchell, “Perhapsburg: What the European Union Is and Isn’t,” The American Interest, (Nov.–Dec., 2008); Geoffrey Wheatcroft, “Continental Drifts,” The National Interest, (Mar.–Apr., 2009); William Drozdiak, “In Europe, Breaking Up Is So Easy to Do,” The Washington Post, March 1, 2009.

● Oct. 5: NATO: Looking for a Job? The readings are: Rajon Menon, “NATO, R.I.P,” The American Interest, (Nov.–Dec., 2008); Richard K. Betts, “The Three Faces of NATO,” The National Interest, (Mar.–Apr., 2009).

● Oct. 12: Taming a Russian Bear: The readings are: Michael Mandelbaum, “Modest Expectations: Facing Up to Our Russia Options,” The American Interest (May–June, 2009); Arkady Ostrovski, “Reversal of Fortune,” Foreign Policy (Mar.–Apr., 2009).

● Oct. 19: China Rising or Falling? The Great Debate. The readings are: Minxin Pei, “Looming Stagnation,” The National Interest, (Mar.–Apr., 2009); Jonathan Anderson, “Beijing’s Exceptionalism,” ibid.

● Oct. 26: Managing Iran. The readings are: David Kay, “The Iranian Fallout,” The National Interest, (Sept.–Oct., 2008); Gary Sick, “The Republic and the Rahbar,” The National Interest, (Jan.–Feb., 2009); Robert Baer, “Iranian Resurrection,” The National Interest, (Nov.–Dec., 2008).

● Nov. 2: U.S. Defense Strategy. The readings are: Robert M. Gates, “A Balanced Strategy,” Foreign Affairs, (Jan.–Feb., 2009); T. X. Hammes, “The Art of Petraeus,” The National Interest, (Nov.–Dec., 2008); David Ignatius, “Petraeus’s Tougher Fight,” The Washington Post, May 13, 2009; Celeste Ward, “Countering the Military’s Latest Mantra,” The Washington Post, May 17, 2009.

● Nov. 9: Civilian Elements of National Security. The readings are: David Ignatius, “Welcome to the Toughest Job in Town,” The Washington Post, March 1, 2009; J. Anthony Holmes, “Where Are the Civilians? How to Rebuild the U.S. Foreign Service,” Foreign Affairs, (Jan.–Feb., 2009); Matthew Bogdanos, “Duties That Are Best Shared,” The Washington Post, March 1, 2009; Carol Grigsby, “Binding the Nation: National Service in America,” Parameters, (Winter, 2008–09).

John Coffey received his PhD in history from Stanford University and taught for 20 years before spending 15 years in government, retiring from the State Department in 2005. He has published widely in foreign and defense policy.

F702  America and the World

Mondays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 21–Nov.9

Church of the Good Shepherd          (Note location)

Coordinator: Carlyn Elder

Join us as experts in their fields define the challenges we face in this ever-changing world.

· Sept. 21: Pakistan: The Center of Middle East Terror. Ashley Tellis, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

· Sept. 28: Reacting to the Current Economic Environment. Matthew Teems, CFP (Certified Financial Planner) and vice-president at Merrill-Lynch.

· Oct. 5: Obama's Russian Problem. Melvin A. Goodman, PhD, Center for International Policy.

· Oct. 12: Why Columbus Wouldn’t Recognize Latin America Today. Faculty Fellow Arthur Domike,  American University.

· Oct. 19: Understanding World Affairs. Gwen Ifill, senior commentator, The News Hour, Public Broadcasting System.

· Oct. 26:Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century. Richard Armitage, president, Armitage International.

· Nov. 2: Supporting our Soldiers. Gen. Eric Shinseki U.S. Army (Ret.), former commander in Iraq and now the Secretary of Veteran Affairs.

· Nov. 9: Obama’s Midterm Midterm: Evaluating the First Eight Months.  Associate Professor Dr. Jeremy D. Mayer, School of Public Policy, George Mason University.

F703  The Israeli—Palestinian Conflict

Thursdays, 9:30–11:00, Oct. 22–Nov. 12

                                                                                    (Four sessions)

Coordinator: Jack Samarias

This conflict has been on everybody’s mind for the last 60 years. A number of wars have been fought, an incredible amount of time and effort has been spent and many alternatives have been suggested, without results. This four-week seminar will attempt to analyze the situation, give insights and provide some food for thought. Although the subject will be presented from an Israeli perspective, we will discuss various points of view to provide balance. Four different lecturers, knowledgeable on the subject, will present a variety of perspectives and a short history of the area.

F704  What's in the Daily News?

Mondays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

Moderators: Peter Van Ryzin, Dorsey Chescavage

Do you have an opinion on what’s happening in the world today? Would you like to express and share your views with others? If so, join other news junkies each week to discuss, debate and, yes, sometimes disagree, as to the significance and meaning of events both great and small. All views are welcomed in a spirit of give and take. Class limit: 33.

Peter Van Ryzin is an OLLI member and addicted news junky. He graduated from Duke University and was a career Marine, including two combat tours in Vietnam. He retired as a Colonel in 1990 and pursued a business career in the legal industry.

Dorsey Chescavage served for many years as an advocate for military families, testifying regularly before various Congressional committees, including Senate and House Armed Services. She recently retired from the Jefferson Consulting Group, where she was a registered lobbyist specializing in the area of military and veteran's health care.

R705  All the News That's Fit to Print

Thursdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Moderator: Art Hill

We live in an age of information overload from TV, radio, the Internet, magazines and newspapers. Many of us depend most on our newspapers to bring us news about world events, popular trends and advances in science, business, sports and entertainment. In this discussion group we will look at hot topics of the day. All opinions are welcome for what should be a lively news discussion.

Art Hill is a retired attorney now active in community organizations in Reston. He classifies himself as moderately news obsessed–with an emphasis on politics and actions of government.

R706  Supreme Court: Current Cases

Tuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 22–Nov. 10

Instructor: Ben Gold

This is a discussion class that will address cases the Supreme Court will hear during its 2009–2010 term. The class will use instructor-provided material consisting of case backgrounds, lower court decisions and edited briefs filed with the Supreme Court. For the selected cases, edited copies of the oral arguments will also be made available. Because of the number of documents, these materials will only be available over the Internet. Our discussion of each case will look at the parties on both sides, the likely position of each justice who will decide the case and the social and political context surrounding the case. All cases discussed will be decided no later than the end of June 2010 so that you can see how well you would do as a Supreme Court Justice.

Ben Gold graduated from Stanford University with a BA in political science. He was commissioned in the U.S. Navy as a surface warfare officer and there earned an MS in computer science. After retirement from the Navy he worked in the computer industry. He has served as a docent at the Supreme Court for the past six years.

L707  Current Issues in National Security                                             

Mondays, 1:00–2:30, Sept. 21–Oct. 12

                                                                                                (Four sessions)

Coordinator: Madeline Lynn

The first three lectures of this session will be led by Brig. Gen. John H. Johns. Join General Johns for up-to-the-minute information and discussion on these topics as they relate to the Obama national security strategy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

· Sept. 21: The U.S. Constitution and National Security.                                                              

· Sept. 28: Morality and National Security.                                                                                    · Oct. 5: Obama’s Economic Agenda.

Brig. Gen. John H. Johns, U.S. Army, (Ret.), served 26 years as a combat arms officer. In 1960, he began a series of assignments focused on counterinsurgency strategy and doctrine, including eight years on the U.S. Army general staff. After military retirement and a tour as a deputy assistant secretary of defense, General Johns was a professor of political science at the National Defense University, teaching national security strategy and national security decision-making.

· Oct. 12: Piracy in the Indian Ocean.

Bill Aird, leader of our final session, served 27 years in the U.S. military. Bill, who has master’s degrees in engineering and education, was with the U.S. State Department refurbishing the U.S. embassy building in Mogadishu, Somalia, prior to our military action in 1993. Join Bill for discussion and film excerpts concerning the complexity of a recurring national and international security issue.

L708  The New Yorker: A Round Table Discussion

Thursdays, 10:30–12:00, Sept. 24–Nov. 12

Moderator: Marilyn Eckert

Informal discussions of articles from current or archive copies of The New Yorker magazine will be led by participants. Choices will vary among feature articles, biography, fiction, cartoons and advertising. Reading material will be duplicated and distributed one week before each class. Copies of the article for the first class will be available in the office.

Marilyn Eckert will coordinate the series after leading the first class. She has taught Tai Chi classes and lectured on aging. She is a member of OLLI-Loudoun’s Executive Committee.

800 Science, Technology & Health

F801  U. S. Forest Sustainability

Wednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Oct. 21–Nov. 11

                                                                 (Four sessions)

Coordinators: Fred Kaiser, Brian Payne

U.S. forests are vitally important. They occupy 29 percent of the area of the contiguous 48 states, yet supply 53 percent of our fresh water. They sequester carbon dioxide, provide renewable and energy efficient building materials, are home to thousands of species of wildlife and provide outdoor recreation for tens of millions of visitors each year. Although U.S. forests occupy essentially the same area as in 1900, approximately 750 million acres, they now support four times as many people. Continued population growth and expansion of urban areas are placing added pressures on forests. Are U.S. forests sustainable, or is deforestation inevitable? This course is based on the forthcoming National Report on Sustainable Forests-2010, which is being developed by the U.S. Forest Service in collaboration with other world experts on sustainable forest management.

· Oct. 21: U. S. Forest Sustainability Concepts and Tentative Results of “National Report on Sustainable Forests–2010”. Guy Robertson, sustainability program leader, U.S. Forest Service.

· Oct 28: Updated U.S. Forests Resource Inventory and its Economic and Social Importance. Brad Smith, associate national program leader, Forest Inventory and Analysis; and Linda Langner, chief analyst and resource assessment leader, U.S. Forest Service.

· Nov. 4: Ecological Factors Including Forest Disturbance from Disease and Fire. Guy Robertson, sustainability program leader, U.S. Forest Service.

· Nov. 11: Preservation Efforts for the U.S. National Forest System Forests, Grasslands and Rangelands. Chris Brown Director of Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, U.S. Forest Service.

F802  Photographing the Cold War

Thursdays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 24–Oct. 15

Tallwood                                                        (Four sessions)

Instructor: Garrett Cochran

In 1995 the government declassified information about Corona, the first spy satellite program. In 2002 information on two follow-on systems was released, allowing the public to learn how U.S. intelligence was able to monitor the Cold War arms race.

· Sept. 24: President Eisenhower Authorizes the Corona Program. Success demanded the proper performance of seven untried technologies. The first 12 missions failed. Mission 9009 was launched, and the world was changed forever.

· Oct. 1: The Corona System. An operation over northern Virginia in 1968 shows its capability. Operations over the Middle East after the Six-Day War illustrate how collection was managed.

· Oct. 8: How Satellite Photography Yields Intelligence Information. A revolution in map-making followed the success of satellite photography. The Corona camera systems had a resolution of six feet. What does that mean?

· Oct. 15: The Need for High-Resolution Surveillance Imagery. The KH-11, the world’s first digital camera, was developed for the purpose of surveillance imagery. The KH-11 was hit by two security scandals. What were they about?

Garrett Cochran, a CIA retiree and an OLLI member was directly involved in the activities that will be discussed.

F803  Engineering Topics

Mondays, 2:00–3:30, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

Coordinator: Palmer McGrew

Eight highly regarded engineers from a variety of engineering disciplines will provide fascinating insights into diverse fields of engineering. Experienced in both the academic and practical sides, they come to us from backgrounds at Northrop-Grumman, NASA, the Applied Physics Lab at Johns Hopkins University, George Mason University, the University of Maryland, the Corps of Engineers and privately owned and operated engineering companies. A former senior engineer who had responsibility for the lower Mississippi River will talk about the changing role of the federal government in water resources development and its impact on the river system. A former NASA engineer will tell us about protecting the space environment. An engineering company founder and owner will tell us about the challenges to engineers in today's environment. A modeler for requirements development will explain that interesting field. He will also demonstrate a new agent-based simulation he has invented. There will be lots, lots more.

F804  Muscles in Motion

Tuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Oct. 20–Nov.10

                                                                                           (Four sessions)

Coordinators: Jayne Hart and Jo-Anne Plavchan

One of the best ways to counter age-related changes of the body is to keep physically active.  But what types of physical activities are best for you? This course will introduce you to different approaches to fitness. Dress in loose fitting clothes and bring a large towel or exercise mat so that you can try out these techniques.

●Oct 20: Stretch for Strength. Most muscles act in pairs, as one contracts, its partner stretches. Utilizing this principle we will focus on improving strength, flexibility and balance and controlled breathing to relax, release tensions and diminish chronic pain with movement. Carol Tilford is an ACE certified personal trainer, Yogafit and level two Stott Pilates instructor.

●Oct 27: Pilates and Yoga. Yoga is designed to tone, strengthen and align the body, uniting mind, body and breath. Pilates is a method that strengthens the core muscles. Combined, these methods help with strength, postural alignment and flexibility. Lisa Brunson is certified in Senior Yoga and Pilates and teaches both in a retirement community.

●Nov 3: T’ai Chi Chih. Justin F.  Stone, a Master of T’ai Chi Chuan, modified the basic movements of this traditional discipline for older participants and called this “T’ai Chi Chih,” the essence of which is “softness and continuity.” Marilyn Eckert, an OLLI member and experienced teacher, learned the steps of T’ai Chi Chih from Sr. Alice Holden at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

●Nov 10: Alexander Technique. AT teaches us to recognize ways in which we use ourselves that conflict with the natural design of our body. By releasing unnecessary tension and cooperating with the body’s natural design, we can experience greater comfort and ease in all our activities. Cheryl Terio-Simon is certified by the American Society for the Alexander Technique and has studied with many distinguished American and British teachers.

R805  Energy Policy and Electric Vehicles

Tuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Oct. 20–Nov. 10
                    (Four sessions)
Coordinator: Oscar Hayes

●Oct. 20: Smart Grid Policy. Charlie Garlow. This class will describe the latest concepts in Smart Grid policy proposals. These include time-of-day pricing of energy, which encourages off peak usage of electricity; time-of-day pricing for energy delivered to the grid by the customer, either from solar panels or Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) battery pack; or other methods. The technology needed to make these features possible will also be discussed.

●Oct. 27: Electric Vehicles. Charlie Garlow discusses, in greater detail,  PHEVs such as the Toyota Prius or Ford Escape Hybrid, but with a bigger battery pack and charging system that charge from a wall socket. We will also explore what types of battery technologies are currently available, and the costs, drawbacks and benefits of each (greater power and energy usually costs more). We will also take a look at the future of EVs (electric vehicles), reviewing what models will be available for purchase in the near future.

Charlie Garlow is the vice president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington, D.C., and has been the proud owner of several earlier electric vehicles. He is in the process of building another one.

●Nov. 3: Imported Oil, a National Security Issue. Oscar Hayes. The United States imports two-thirds of its oil and pays approximately $364 billion annually for it–assuming oil priced at $100/barrel. (Oil prices peaked at $145/barrel in 2008.) We have designed our economy, military and industry to operate on imported oil to survive and prosper. We borrow funds abroad to pay for these imports. Is this sound national security strategy? Shouldn’t we do something to reduce our demand and improve our own security? This session will present the issue and postulate what we can do to ameliorate this situation.

●Nov. 10: How to Implement the New Energy Policy. President Obama has articulated a new energy policy. Oscar Hayes describes and explains the policy. What are its parts? What does each part really mean to us as consumers and citizens? Can it succeed? How long will it take to make a difference? What changes will it bring? What benefits will accrue for implementing it? What is the citizen’s role in this new policy? How can we help make it more likely to succeed?

Oscar Hayes earned a bachelor of electrical engineering with honors from the University of Florida and an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. After serving four years in the USAF, he worked at Sylvania EDL and in 1969 became a cofounder of QuesTech, Inc. of McLean, Virginia. His 43-year career has emphasized government electronics systems design rather than electrical power engineering.

R806  Interesting People and Ideas of Science

Mondays, 9:30–11:00, Sept. 21–Oct. 12

                                                                                          (Four sessions)

Coordinator: Mary Kornreich

In four stimulating presentations, we become acquainted with some fascinating scientists and explore their ideas.

· Sept. 21: Einstein, Bohr and the Quantum Mechanics Enigma. Since it emerged in 1925, quantum mechanics has remained a scientific and philosophical enigma. We will discuss the nature of quantum mechanics; the disagreements regarding its meaning and completeness among Einstein, Bohr and others; and how the issues are regarded today. Sheldon Weiner has a PhD in physics from the University of Michigan. The loves of his life have been physics, string instruments and Betty (not necessarily in that order).

· Sept. 28: Anne Treisman and Daniel Kahneman, Prize-Winning Experimental Psychologists. Can you listen to two conversations at once at a cocktail party? Would you be happier if you were richer? These topics are studied by Treisman and Kahneman, a married couple working at Princeton University. Demonstrations of their experiments will complement thumbnail sketches of their lives. Catherine Weir has taught, and published research in perception psychology.degrees are from University College in London and Colorado College, where she is a professor emerita.

· Oct. 5:The Adventures of John Wesley Powell. John Wesley Powell was a geologist, an ethnologist and early anthropologist. This Civil War hero relinquished positions as a geology professor and museum curator to lead expeditions into the Rocky Mountains, Colorado and the Grand Canyon. He became director of the U.S. Geological Survey. Mark DeMulder works at the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for the modern version of the topographic mapping program that John Wesley Powell began in 1884. Mark holds a BA from the University of Connecticut and an MS from George Mason University, both in geography.

· Oct. 12:Lise Meitner: Pioneer of the Nuclear Age. Lise Meitner fought to get an education in physics at a time when women could not attend institutions of higher learning. Eight years after fleeing Nazi Germany, where she directed a physics section at a prestigious research institute, Lise Meitner, a co-discoverer of nuclear fission, watched as her colleague Otto Hahn, alone, received the Nobel Prize for discoveries in which she had played a vital role. Mary Kornreich earned a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a toxicologist and an environmental lawyer.

R807  Charles Darwin 

Mondays, 9:30–11:00, Oct. 19–Nov. 9

                                                                                          (Four sessions)

Instructor: Abbie Edwards

On Feb. 12, 1809, Charles Darwin was born to a prominent family in Great Britain. This year we celebrate his 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his landmark book The Origin of the Species. This four-week course will focus on Darwin’s theory of evolution and the circumstances that led to his thinking on the origins of life. A two-hour documentary will be shown during the first two sessions. It interweaves the drama of Darwin’s life with current documentary sequences, introducing key concepts of evolution. We will begin to understand the reasons why he delayed presenting his theories to the public for 20 years after he returned home from his five year voyage on the Beagle. The last two sessions will be discussions on the book itself. What does it mean to us and how does the concept of evolution impact what we understand about ourselves today? This course will focus only on Darwin and his theories presented in this landmark book and will not delve into the controversies which have surfaced since the book was first published.

Abbie Edwards has taught a variety of classes at OLLI since 2001 including: Digital Photography, World Religions, Napoleon, Journey of Man, Guns, Germs and Steel and Evolution.

L808 Health and Well Being

Mondays, 1:00–2:30, Oct. 19–Nov. 9

                                                                                      (Four sessions)

Coordinator: Madeline Lynn

The doctors are in for this four-week series which will present a wide variety of interesting health-related topics.

· Oct. 19: Preventative Healthcare for Seniors. Preventive strategies concerning lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, accident prevention, health assessments, medication, immunization, and mental and emotional status will be discussed. Our speaker is Dr. Pravin Vora, who has 40 years of experience in medical practice and general surgery both in England and the USA.

· Oct. 26: 1917–1918 Influenza Pandemic. Dr. Marilyn Eckert will explain the quirks of the 1917 influenza virus and the state of medicine and public health at the time. Michael Coyne, an OLLI member, will illustrate the poignancy of this earlier era via slides created from research into family letters sent during the last eight months of his uncle's life, which ended in death from the flu in an army medical ward at Camp Funston, Kansas. Discussion to follow.

· Nov. 2: Issues in Family Relationships. Dr. Janette Muir, associate dean of the New Century College at George Mason University, has received a Mason teaching excellence award. Her presentations create a lively dialogue in the classroom. Janette will discuss the book she is writing on family relationships, a topic of much importance to human emotional well being.

· Nov. 9: The Aging Eye. Causes and treatment of cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and other topics will be explained and discussed. Dr. Sarah Merrill, board certified ophthalmologist, completed her ophthalmology training at Georgetown University and is with the Virginia Eye Center in Lansdowne. She is a comprehensive ophthalmologist with a special interest in cataract surgery, pediatrics and aesthetic enhancement.

L809  Beekeeping for the Non-Beekeeper

Mondays, 10:30–12:00, Sept. 21–28, Nov. 2–9 

Field Trip: Friday, Sept. 25, 12:00–2:30

                (Four sessions, Note dates and Field trip)

Instructor: Susan McDonald Jampoler

· Sept. 21: Honeybees have been important to man since prehistoric times. Man started by robbing bee colonies, then managed, and finally “kept” these social insects. The first session will include a presentation on man’s relationship with honeybees, the dynamics of the hive, honeybee castes and races, reproduction and hive dynamics.

· Sept. 25: Lunch and field trip to a bee yard. Details to be available on the first day of class.

· Sept. 28: This session will describe other pollinators and how their behavior differs from the social honeybee. It will also cover the importance of insects in agricultural production and backyard gardens.

· Nov. 2: The major challenges that face hobby and commercial beekeepers will be discussed. Suzy will discuss the following questions: What is raw honey? Do bee products have medicinal properties? What is organic honey? Is the “African bee” coming to Virginia?

· Nov. 9: This presentation will cover the different methods for keeping bees used in emerging nations. There will also be a discussion on the global honey market—where most of our commercial honey comes from—how purity of this product is evaluated, and how the honey is produced.

Several years ago Suzy Jampoler, geographer and educator, took up beekeeping. Her hives help provide honey and wax products for her granddaughters’ non-profit business, Hives For Lives, which supports cancer research.

L810 Basic Computers

Mondays, 10:00–12:00, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

                       (Note times)

Instructor: Charlie Pryor

This course brings you into the best computer lab in Northern Virginia, where you sit at a computer while an instructor and a coach make things a lot simpler. This is a basic course for beginners who are starting out in the exciting world of computing. We will cover terminology, learn to use the mouse and keyboard, understand files and folders, do word processing, browse and search the World Wide Web, and learn to handle email using webmail.: own a computer running Windows XP operating system; be able to use a mouse and keyboard; have access to the Internet e.g., Earthlink, AOL, Comcast, Openband; have a working email account; and have received email from others.

Charlie Pryor retired from the U.S. Army in 1988 and retired from his second career as a civil engineer in 2005.has taught at the university level, at Army engineer schools and continuing education courses in his civilian job. He has used computers at work and at home since 1984.

900 Other

F901 Trip Tales

Wednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Sept. 23–Nov. 11

Tallwood

Coordinator: Virlinda Snyder

Enjoy traveling around the world through the eyes of fellow OLLI members.

· Sept. 23: A Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean and South Africa Odyssey. Part 1 of 2. World travelers Lorrin and Ann Garson spent 46 days exploring some far-flung destinations: from Singapore where they took a heart-stopping ride on the Singapore Flyer, the world's highest ferris wheel, to Kuala Lumpur, the commercial and cultural heart of Malaysia; then from Penang, Malaysia, a major trading port for tea, spices, and cloth they journeyed to Phuket, Thailand, hailed as the “Pearl of the Andaman Sea.” A stop was made at the Maldives, then on to Mahe Island in the Seychelles, a tropical paradise where turquoise waters lapped against white-sand beaches and palm fronds swayed overhead.

· Sept. 30: Alaska-Into the Bush. From Anchorage, Alaska, Dick Young and his wife, Willie, flew in a six-seater plane, through a narrow glacier-lined mountain pass to the bush town of Port Alsworth (pop. 100), where their son Dan works as a fisheries biologist in Lake Clark National Park. They observed the peak of the annual salmon run. From Port Alsworth, they hiked to Tanalian Falls, boated to a subsistence fish camp and took a float plane to Twin Lakes to see the cabin of legendary wilderness man Dick Preoenneke (One Man’s Wilderness). Dick Young is a retired lawyer who  joined OLLI two years ago and has taught several courses.

· Oct. 7: A Knock-Your-Socks-off Tour of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Did you ever dream of going eye to eye with Darwin’s mysterious “imps of darkness,” visiting exotic jungles dripping with orchids, or climbing spectacular snow-capped volcanoes? Ever imagine swimming with baby seals and millions of tropical fish in crystal clear waters or witnessing the mating dance of two blue-footed boobies from mere inches away or photographing hundreds of iridescent hummingbirds and butterflies? Join award-winning author and illustrator Rosalyn Schanzer as she takes us along on a rollicking visit to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands to research her most recent National Geographic book about Charles Darwin.

· Oct. 14: Gems of Turkey. Turkey is a treasure of history, a melting pot of civilization and cultures. Fred and Marty Kaiser will describe their two visits to Turkey. The presentation begins in Istanbul, where they visited the magnificent St. Sophia, originally the church of Divine Wisdom during the Byzantium Empire, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Then on to Troy, Ephesus, Panukkale, Cappadocia and the capital city of Ankara. Shopping opportunities were bountiful and the food was excellent. OLLI members for ten years, Marty and Fred have traveled extensively in Europe and in Africa.

· Oct. 21: An India Pilgrimage. Sharon Roslund continues on from the spring session with Part II: Varanassi. Her documentary takes you via train through eastern India, where you will see a snake charmer, an ancient arati ceremony on the banks of the Ganges and holy places of Hindu saints. The trip was inspired by the life of Paramahansa Yogananda, whose book Autobiography of a Yogi would be good background reading. Chai tea will be served.

· Oct. 28: Almost Devoured by Lions: Trip Tales from the Wilds of Tanzania. Rosalyn Schanzer. Hours before we left for Africa an article in the Tanzania News announced that a bus had plunged off a mountain into a ravine, and our guide's name was on the list of victims. It turns out, there’s more than one person named Omary Rajab. We were lucky that our Omary was safe. Why? Come find out during a glorious and dramatic slide show as Omary leads us to kissing hippos, gigantic bull elephants, grooming baboons and lion Lotharios so close to us that we can take pictures of their eyelashes and their teeth. Get bowled over by our guide’s trick of driving right up to spectacular bird species. Listen in as he regales us with African folktales; introduces us to a young sandal clad boy who, to earn money to send his brother and sisters to school, helped lead tourists to the top of Kilimanjaro; and showed us primitive villages full of the most colorful Maasai warriors. And how I was almost devoured by lions!

· Nov. 4: Eastern Mediterranean. In October 2008 Sue Roose joined friends and took a cruise on the eastern Mediterranean. She first enjoyed several days in Rome and then cruised east to visit Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus and Naples on the Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas. Roman, Greek and Egyptian ruins were the highlights of the shore tours. Sue is a retired from the Federal Highway Administration and has been active in OLLI for about 5 years.

· Nov. 11: A Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean and South Africa Odyssey. Part 2 of 2. This presentation will highlight the second segment of the voyage Lorrin and Ann Garson took in spring 2009. The three ports of call in India: Kochi, Mumbai and Goa, demonstrate that country's blending of history, cultures and faiths. South Africa afforded us the opportunity to experience wildlife safaris, Zululand and wine country sights. A visit to Reunion Island, like a green emerald emerging from the blue waters of the Indian Ocean, followed. A visit to another volcanic island, Mauritius, featured coral reefs, mountain ranges and tropical botanical gardens. Come and enjoy the sights and descriptions of these exotic locations.

R902 Bridge Refresher

Mondays, 9:30–1:15, Sept. 21–Nov. 9

                                                                                                  (Note time)

Instructor: Ron Kral

If you’d like to refresh your game, learn some newer conventions and practice your playing skills, join us for eight weeks of hands-on learning. This class is for those who have played before but would like to improve their game. The class will consist of a 30-minute lecture, followed by one and one-half hours of play (a double session) with a brief lunch break. Please bring your lunch. Enrollment in this class is limited, but the maximum allows for the occasional absence of some class members. If all 32 class members are present not everyone may get to play. Class limit: 32.

Ron Kral has been a tournament bridge player for more than 30 years. He is a certified “Easybridge!” presenter, an American Bridge Teachers Association Master Teacher and has taught bridge at the Smithsonian Institution. He is a Gold Life Master possessing over 2,500 ACBL Masterpoints.

L903  Trip Tales

Wednesdays, 10:30–12:00, Oct. 7–Oct. 28

                                                                       (Four sessions)

Coordinator: Madeline Lynn

· Oct. 7: Argentina on my Mind. Mary Coyne, OLLI Loudoun Events Chair, leads off the fall Trip Tales series with a presentation of a recent expedition to Argentina, which she found to be a hugely enjoyable and worthwhile journey.

· Oct. 14: Joey Takes Grandpa to Paris. This is a trip tale of what happened when OLLI member Michael Coyne decided to take a week-long pilgrimage to Marcel Proust related-sites in Paris. Because this was his first trip to Paris and his French competency was 57 years out-of-date, he asked his language-fluent granddaughter to act as his tour guide. Among the pictures of Paris, sidewalk cafes and Joey, there are photographs of places such as Combray, entrances to the bank buildings that have replaced the apartments where Proust lived and died, and walking paths in the Champs Elysees and Bois de Boulogne where the courtesan Odette took her daily exercise. No previous knowledge of Proust is required for enjoying this trip tale.

· Oct. 21, 28 are “open mic mornings.” Any OLLI members who have taken interesting trips or hostel adventurers with trip tales to tell, please come forward on the first day of Trip Tales and sign up to do a presentation. The added Trip Tales will be announced in the Loudoun Notes.

Special Events

F951  A Tour of the Workhouse Arts Center

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 10:30

                                     (Note date, prior to start of term)

Coordinator: Florence Adler        703–455–6658

The Workhouse Arts Center is a project of the Lorton Arts Foundation. The expansive complex, once a correctional facility and now a center for arts, culture and history, has a rich past and an exciting new presence. It provides a home for more than 150 of the finest professional and emerging artists as well as cooperative studios, performance and theatre venues, dedicated gallery space and event facilities. We will carpool to the Center. Plan to arrive no later than 11:00 as we are scheduled to start our tour at 11:15. We will learn about the history of the site, have the opportunity to tour the grounds, visit the artists’ studios, and the two-story gallery building where we can take in the latest exhibitions of local, regional and international artists. They hope to have food service by the time of our visit: however, you may have lunch off the premises. There are no fees for our visit. Directions to the Center will be e-mailed after registration.

F952  George Washington's Last Lecture: "I am not Afraid"

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2:00–3:30

Coordinator: Velma Berkey

While George Washington would never give a last lecture in the mode of Randy Pausch, he was always “on stage” and knew that his examples would be remembered. The manner in which he prepared for and faced his final debt of nature tells us much about the man and can also be inspirational as we consider the best way to live—and die. A continuing OLLI returnee, Dr. Henriques’ presentations on George Washington never fail to bring new and unique perspectives on our first president.

History Professor Emeritus Peter Henriques of George Mason University is the author of the highly praised volume, Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington.  He is a member of both the editorial board for the George Washington Papers and of the Mount Vernon committee of George Washington Scholars. Dr. Henriques regularly conducts leadership institutes at Mount Vernon for various government and private groups.

F953  Let's Spend a Day at the Zoo!

Friday, Sept. 25, 9:00–4:00

Bus trip

Coordinator:  Florence Adler         703–455–6658

When did you last visit the National Zoo without a child holding your hand?  We will be walking the Asia Trail, which meanders about a quarter mile past exhibits that are devoted to six endangered or threatened species. It is a “green” exhibit, incorporating recycled materials, solar-powered water-heating systems and foot paths using natural tree resins instead of asphalt.  The sloth bear and giant panda habitat buildings are built into the earth for better insulation. We plan to have the cheetah conservation biologist, Craig Saffoe, speak to us at the Ed-Zoo-Cation Station about his responsibilities of caring for the cheetahs as well as trying to breed them.  We will also attend the sloth bear feeding demo and have one of the keepers for the sloth bears spend some time talking about them with our group. Bring your own lunch and beverage. Soda, water and snack vending machines are scattered throughout the park. There is a picnic area in Panda Plaza near where our bus will pull in for loading and unloading. One of the National Zoo stores is also located there. You can tour the rest of the zoo on your own during the time available to us. The bus will leave promptly at 9:00 from Fair Oaks Mall, Parking Lot No. 44, which is outside the circular road across from the Macy’s closest to Sears. Please be at the bus no later than 8:45. The fee of $22 payable to OLLI at the time of registration includes bus fare and the driver gratuity.

F954  Greetings from the Chairman

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2:00–3:30

Coordinator: Thom Clement

Chairman Sharon Bulova, of the Fairfax County's Board of Supervisors, will speak about the challenges facing Fairfax County under current economic conditions. She will also share her perspective on progress of the 50+ Action Plan developed in 2006 by the Fairfax County Agency on Aging.

Sharon Bulova was elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 3, 2009. In November 1987 she was first elected to represent the Braddock District. Mrs. Bulova has served as the Board's vice chairman and now chairs the Board's Budget Committee. Since 1988,. Bulova has been a member, and past chairman, of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. She is a founding member of the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board and has served as that board's chairman four times. In 2008, Mrs. Bulova served as chairman of Greater Washington 2050, a new regional initiative to improve the quality of life for Washington area residents in the next 50 years by fostering stronger regional cooperation and planning. The Greater Washington 2050 Initiative is led by the Council of Governments (COG) and a coalition of public, business, civic and environmental stakeholders.

F955  Native Plants as an Alternative to Alien Invasive Plants

Friday, Oct. 2, 1:00–2:30

Instructor: Shelley Reynolds

How did invasive plants get here? Why do we purchase them? Why are they harmful to our environment? What are some native alternatives to these plants? The answers to these questions will be the focus of this session. Shelley Reynolds has been a master gardener volunteer in Prince William County for nine years. Her areas of interest are in landscape design, Japanese gardens, English cottage gardens, gardening for wildlife and native plants as alternatives to invasive plants. She became a master gardener in an effort to maintain her two-acre property in rural Haymarket and to create a National Wildlife Federation backyard habitat.

F956  Defeating Cancer

Friday, Oct. 9, 1:00–2:30

Coordinators: Carr Whitener, Craig Zane

The Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine at George Mason is tackling the challenge of finding a personalized treatment designed for the unique cancer of each individual. Dr. Lance Liotta, and Dr. Emanuel Petricon are co-directors of the Center. Dr. Liotta will talk with us about their research using nanotechnology to defeat cancer. Their goal is to develop and evaluate methods of personalized identification of the precise molecular make-up of the person's cancer, which will be used to evaluate means for its destruction, which could provide rapid patient benefits. Successful use of a personalized approach would be a “cutting edge” achievement. It involves the decoding of the cryptic messages hidden deep inside the human genome and proteomic. Such messages are critical links to early disease detection, after assessment and prognosis, leading to patient tailored treatment. Lance Liotta, MD, PhD is co-director of the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine at George Mason, where he is professor of life sciences. Dr. Liotta is the former chief of the laboratory of pathology and chief of the section of tumor invasion and metastases in the Division of Clinical Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health. He holds more than 80 patents and has published more than 650 papers. Dr. Liotta is listed among the most highly-cited medical researchers in the world, as determined by the Institute for Science Information.

F957  Speak Up for a Child: The Role of  the Volunteer Advocate

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2:00–3:30

Instructor: Lisa Banks

Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a nonprofit organization that trains citizen volunteers who are then appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of an abused and neglected child in court. In Fairfax County alone, a new case of child abuse or neglect enters the court system once every 30 hours. In every case, the child benefits when an advocate steps forward to speak for his/her best interests. Lisa Banks, program manager for Fairfax CASA, discusses the role of the citizen volunteer as advocate. The session will explore the legal underpinnings, social dynamics and other complex issues that make this form of advocacy both challenging and rewarding.

F958  The World's Ten Greatest Ocean Liners of All Time

Friday, Oct. 16, 1:00–2:30

Instructor: James Browning Seeley

Did you know that the SS United States was built in Virginia? She was built in Newport News to U.S. Navy specifications and was the fastest ocean liner of all time. Learn fascinating facts about the greatest ocean liners of yesteryear, including: Lusitania, Mauretania, Titanic, Aquitania, Normandie, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, United States, France and Queen Elizabeth II. Each attendee will receive a full color handout with pictures and facts pertaining to each ship. James Browning Seeley is a member of the Titanic Historical Society and lectures on maritime history on land and at sea.

F959  "It Smiles Even in its Tears:" Culpeper in the Civil War, Part I

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2:00–3:30

Instructor: Michael Kelly

From a 1740s frontier settlement to a hotbed of the American Revolution, Culpeper, Virginia, was well known to George Washington. The area thus enjoyed a proud history even before the railroad brought prosperity and added importance in the early nineteenth century. Later, other notable figures such as Lee, Jackson, Stuart, Grant, Meade, Custer, Whitman and Barton came to recognize the value of Culpeper. The 1860s transformed the town and county into a war zone where armies of blue and gray fought more than 160 battles and skirmishes, trampled fields, commandeered buildings, and enriched the soil with blood. The shots fired at Cedar Mountain, Kelly’s Ford, Brandy Station and Rappahannock Station respectively, were the opening rounds of the titanic battles of Second Manassas, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the Wilderness. Join us as we analyze the pivotal role played by a Piedmont town in the epic story of the Civil War in Virginia. See F960 for information on the follow up bus trip. Michael Kelly is a ranger with the U.S. National Park Service. He has presented many courses and led many trips for OLLI.

F960  "It Smiles Even in its Tears:" Culpeper in the Civil War, Part II

Friday, Oct. 23, 8:00–5:30

Bus Trip

Coordinators:  Florence Adler         703–455–6658

Michael Kelly, Jennifer Epstein

As a follow up to F959, we will visit Culpeper and parts of its nearby battlefields to trace the Civil War story of this Virginia Piedmont community, including the Graffiti House on the Brandy Station battlefield. Based on our past Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville visits, please plan to wear boots and bring a raincoat and an umbrella. For lunch, we will either do a bring-your-own bag lunch or eat in one of the restaurants in historic downtown on our own during a one-hour break. A decision regarding this will be made by the rangers before registration and will be communicated to the participants. The bus will leave promptly at 8:00 from Fair Oaks Mall Parking Lot No. 44, which is outside the circular road across from the Macy’s closest to Sears.  Please be at the bus no later than 7:45.  The fee of $24, payable to OLLI at the time of registration, includes bus fare, driver gratuity, and tour of the Graffiti House.

F961  Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness!

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2:00

GMU Theatre Space

Coordinator: Florence Adler         703–455–6658

Eugene O’Neill’s comedy, Ah, Wilderness!, is a sharp departure from the gritty reality of the author’s renowned dramas. Taking place over the July Fourth weekend of 1906 in an idyllic Connecticut town, it offers a tender portrait of small-town family values, teenage growing pains and young love. The play focuses on a young poet’s rebellion against the conformity of middle-class life and the apparent self-deception that fosters it. The 17-year-old Richard Miller’s weapon is the intellectual heritage he has discovered through reading, and his favorite ammunition is the quotes of Ibsen, Swinburne and Wilde among others.  Yearning to explore life in all its different manifestations, and intent on discovering the deep mysteries of life on his own with a little help from his dead and not-so-dead predecessors, the young Richard sets out on an odyssey into the land of forbidden pleasures. O’Neill described his play as “a sort of wishing out loud. It is the way I would have liked my childhood to have been.” The play, performed by the GMU Players, is directed by Howard Vincent Kurtz of the George Mason theater faculty. There will be a post-performance discussion with the director and members of the company. Tickets are $8, payable to OLLI at the time of registration.

F962  Fall Prevention

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2:00–3:30

Coordinator: Thom Clement

Falls are not an inevitable part of aging—falls are preventable. Local experts from the Northern Virginia Fall Prevention Coalition will present key components of a Fall Prevention Program developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The presentation will concentrate on the importance of exercise, medication management, vision checks and home modifications known to reduce the risk of a fall.

F963  The Supreme Court

Bus trip

Friday, Oct. 30, 10:00–3:00

Coordinator: Ben Gold                               703–860–8798

Visit the Supreme Court, the most powerful and prestigious judicial institution in the world. Attend a lecture in the courtroom, view an interesting short film of interviews with the current sitting Justices and tour some areas of the building not seen by the general public. Ben Gold has served as a docent at the Supreme Court for the past six years. Lunch will be on your own in the cafeteria at the Supreme Court. Because of security restrictions on Capitol Hill, there will be a 2–3 block walk between the bus pickup and drop-off point and the entrance to the court. The bus will leave promptly at 10:00 from Fair Oaks Mall Lot No. 44, outside the circular road near the original Macy’s. Please be at the bus no later than 9:45.  The fee of $20, payable to OLLI with your registration form, covers the cost of the bus fare and driver gratuity.

F964  Tea Seminar and Tasting

Friday, Oct. 30, 1:00–2:30
Instructor: Emily Murphy

What's your Tea IQ? Don't know? Join us for an enlightening afternoon learning about camellia sinensis. It is, after all, the plant that changed the course of American history. Emily Murphy is certified by the Specialty Tea Institute and The International School of Protocol and is the owner of Emily’s Teas. The talk will be followed by a tasting. Please bring your own cup and saucer. There will be a charge of $5 for this event. Class minimum: 10.

F965  What is George Mason Doing for People with Disabilities?

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2:00–3:30

Coordinator: Thom Clement

This presentation describing George Mason’s Assistive Technology Initiative will explain the many ways the university is meeting the needs of students who have disabilities. The term assistive technology means any item, piece of equipment or product system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Participants will see examples of equipment and computer software that is being used in classes all over the Mason campus, including:

· An alternative keyboard for people with a physical disability such as quadriplegia.

· Screen reading software for individuals with vision impairments.

· Software that provides a visual representation of outlined information for individuals with learning disabilities.

The session will be led by Korey Singleton, manager, Assistive Technology Initiative, Equity and Diversity Services at George Mason University.

F966  Brass Rubbing

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2:00–4:00

Coordinator: Thom Clement

This brass rubbing workshop will begin with a talk by an English lecturer about the history that surrounds the brasses, their symbols and their place in medieval art. After instruction on the materials available and the rubbing technique, participants will make a rubbing of their choice using a unique and fascinating collection of church memorial engravings. Metallic wax crayons in gold, silver or copper give impressive results and beautiful displays.  There will be a $9 fee to cover class materials. Class minimum: 20. Class limit: 36.

F967  Abraham Lincoln's Washington City

Friday, Nov. 13, 8:30–4:30

Bus Trip

Coordinators:  Florence Adler                  703–455–6658

Michael Kelly, Jason Martz

The American Civil War shook Washington City of its complacency as a provincial southern town with secessionist leanings and radically transformed it into the embodiment of the Union cause. Another force driving the transformation was Abraham Lincoln himself. What was city life like during the war? How was the city described by long time inhabitants, as well as by the tens of thousands of newcomers? Where did the departments of government conduct the country’s business even as civil war continued?  What would the Lincolns have seen around town? What would soldiers and civilians have seen of the Lincolns? Explore the city through the Lincolns’ eyes during visits to familiar sites such as the Smithsonian Castle, the old Patent Office, the U.S. Capitol grounds, Pennsylvania Avenue and Mr. Lincoln’s own White House neighborhood. Experience a city under constant threat from hostile invasion by entering the Civil War Defenses of Washington and seeing where President and Mrs. Lincoln came under fire from Confederate forces. Although several sites remain visible from the bus, parts of the tour include walks on city streets, sidewalks and unpaved park trails. Please be prepared for weather conditions and for limited walking/hiking. We will offer a choice of venues for lunch on your own from approximately noon until 1:00 PM. Please note: this trip is open to all full OLLI members, as well as participants in class F301.  The bus will leave promptly at 8:30 from Fair Oaks Mall Parking Lot No. 44, which is outside the circular road from the Macy’s closest to Sears. Please be at the bus no later than 8:15. The fee of $22, payable to OLLI at the time of registration, includes the bus fare and driver gratuity.

R968  Concert of Songs You Love

Friday, Oct. 23, 10:00–11:30

Washington Plaza Baptist Church Sanctuary

Instructor: Linda George

Linda George is a classically trained, professional vocal soloist.This program will feature Linda singing Broadway favorites, including songs from The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, The King and I, as well as delightful ditties from Gershwin, Cole Porter and other Americana jewels. Linda is an OLLI member and instructor and teaches the long-running Singing for Fun class.

L969  A Life of My Own: Meeting Eleanor Roosevelt, a play

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1:00–2:30

Instructor: Linda Kenyon

Lives of luminaries are the focus of Ed Starr’s Senior’s Theater productions, and this revered first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, is one of Starr’s brightest lights. Active since World War I in educational and social reform, Eleanor was also a lecturer, newspaper columnist and book author, and champion of underprivileged and minority groups; during World War II she served as assistant director, Office of Civilian Defense; after her husband’s death she accepted an appointment as U.S. delegate to the UN General Assembly. The playbill for A Life of My Own also notes: “…what is most fascinating about her is how she transformed herself into the person we all came to admire and love. A shy and awkward child, starved for recognition and love, she became an inspiration to people of good will all around the world.” This popular play is written in minimalist style by Stephen LaRocque, a successful local playwright. It takes place on a train ride, and is performed with only two chairs, a suitcase and one remarkably gifted actress.

Linda Kenyon has been seen as the Duchess of York in Richard III with the Virginia Shakespeare Company, and has worked with the Washington Stage Guild, Source Theater and the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Linda has performed live radio theater, 1984 by George Orwell, and her voice can be heard on the Discovery Channel in The Last of the Czars and France’s Forgotten Shame. A chance encounter between Linda, then a college student, and Eleanor Roosevelt was the impetus for this play.

L970  Land of the Midnight Sun, Norway

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1:00–2:30

Instructor: Debbie Halverson

Spending a month in Norway when it's always light and summer weather is approaching, is an experience not to be forgotten. Pictures tell part of the tale and the speaker can fill in the rest. Highlights include viewing the mountains as they fall into the sea from a dramatic boat ride crossing the North Sea, staying in a rorbu (what's a "rorbu"?) and viewing the midnight sun right on the Arctic Circle during the summer solstice. This is Debbie's fifth trip to Norway, but probably not her last, and the first where pictures are shared.

L971 Discussion (Over Lunch) with Elderhostel Ambassador

Wednesday, October 28, 12:00–1:00

Instructor: Celeste Brodigan

Join fellow OLLI members for a briefing from Elderhostel Ambassador Celeste Brodigan, about some exciting upcoming domestic and international trips. All are invited to bring a “brown bag lunch” to the OLLI break room, Wednesday, October 28; dessert and beverages will be provided. Other members who wish to share interesting travel and learning experiences are welcome to speak. Celeste Brodigan is a veteran traveler and an active member in the OLLI program at Loudoun. 

L972  A Storytelling Performance

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1:00–2:30  

Instructor: Laura J. Bobrow

Well known stories and those never heard before, are interspersed with humorous anecdotes to create a presentation especially crafted for OLLI. Master storyteller Laura is a prize-winning poet and author. She is, in fact, that special combination, a writer who “talks out loud.” In addition to magazine articles and poetry, her publications include short stories and a children's picture book, The Captain’s Beard. Laura Bobrow is the recipient of a 2009 Storytelling World honors award for one of her CDs. She introduced storytelling to the prestigious International Platform Association in 1993 and served on its board of directors for many years. A former board member of the Storytelling Center of New York, she was the founder and, for four years, storytelling liaison for the popular storytelling festival LAUGHS (Loudoun's Annual Unforgettable Gigantic Hilarious Storyfest). Her work has been recognized by cultural organizations such as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York City Opera, which have included her performances in their fund-raising auction catalogs.

L973  A Tour of the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division and the Exhibit: "Exploring the Early Americas"

Friday, Nov. 13, 10:30–2:30                                                                                                                                                                             

Coordinator: Suzy Jampoler

The group will meet in the lobby of the Madison Building for a tour of the Library of Congress (LOC) Geography and Map (G&M) Division. The G&M staff will explain the Division’s collections, show us original early maps of American exploration, maps of early settlement in the Middle Atlantic region, and Civil War maps. Lunch will be on your own in the LOC cafeteria. After lunch the G&M staff will accompany us across the street to the Jefferson building for a guided tour of the “Exploring the Early Americas” exhibit, which features selections from the Jay I. Sislak Collection of more than 3,000 rare maps, documents, paintings, prints and artifacts. An exhibit of Civil War maps by Jedediah Hotchkiss, who was with the Army of Northern Virginia, will also be on view at G&M. Transportation is on your own. Take Metro to the Capitol South Metro Station. The LOC Madison Building is on Independence Ave SE, between 1st & 2nd Streets, Washington, D.C.

Fall for the Book

OLLI will join George Mason University in celebrating this annual festival of literature. A complete list of events may be found at www.fallforthebook.org. Unless otherwise specified, all Fall for the Book activities will be held in George Mason venues. Bus service will be provided from Tallwood 45 minutes prior to the event time.

F974  Understanding Obama: Three Views

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1:30

Research I, Room 163, Mason’s Fairfax Campus

Bus provided from Tallwood at 12:45

A trio of distinguished writers offer diverse perspectives on the life and career of President Barack Obama, including: Charisse Carney-Nunes, author of the children’s book I Am Barack Obama; political consultant Cedric Muhammad, founder of the news-analysis daily BlackElectorate.com; and journalist Niall Stanage, author of Redemption Song: An Irish Reporter Inside the Obama Campaign.

F975  Freedom Without Walls: The Presidents

Thursday, Sept. 24, 1:30

Research I, Room 163, Mason’s Fairfax Campus

Bus provided from Tallwood at 12:45

In conjunction with other festival events reflecting on the 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, historian Robert Dallek, author of Harry S. Truman, and journalist James Mann, author of The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan: A History of the End of the Cold War, look at the two men whose presidencies bookended the Wall’s long and troubled history. This event is co-sponsored by German Embassy’s Freedom Without Walls program.

F976  On the Homefront: Civil War Wives

Friday, Sept. 25, 1 p.m.

Tallwood

Carol Berkin, professor of American history at Baruch College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and author of Women of America: A History and Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence, discusses her new book, Civil War Wives: The Lives and Times of Angelina Grimke Weld, Varina Howell Davis, and Julia Dent Grant.

Ongoing Activities

Book Club at Tallwood

Second Wednesdays, Sept. 9, Dec. 9. 10:00–11:30

Oct. 14, Nov. 11, 1:45–3:15

Tallwood

Coordinators: Kathryn Russell        703–323–0168

                      Ceda McGrew           703–323–9671

On Sept. 9 we plan to discuss East of Eden by John Steinbeck. The Oct. 14 selection will be Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe; the Nov. 11 selection is Islam: A Short History by Karen Armstrong. On Dec. 9, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer will be discussed.

Drama Club

Fridays, Sept. 25–Dec. 11, 10:00–11:30

(Note: No class on Nov. 6 and Nov. 27)

Tallwood

Coordinator: Kathie West                703–451–6419

Drama Club is open to all OLLI members. We call ourselves “The OLLI Players.” The club’s concept is to provide lessons in acting, diction, improvisation, blocking and performance. The focus is on becoming a better actor and learning the tips and techniques that go with becoming a truly great thespian! We perform comedy and serious scenes with all the emotion and giggles that the scenes require. We are now working on presentations of one act plays. We have great fun. Join us for a trip into theater that you can only imagine.

History Club

First Wednesdays

Oct. 7, Nov. 4, 2:00–3:30

Dec. 2, 10:00–11:30

Tallwood 

Coordinator: Bob Persell                 703–941–9349

The club welcomes OLLI members who are interested in discussing historical events and sharing reviews of articles, books or interesting topics. The club compiles a book list of suggested reading, which can be viewed at www.olli.gmu.edu/historyclubbooklist.pdf. If you’d like to receive email notification of upcoming History Club meetings, contact bpersell@bellatlantic.net.

Homer, etc.

Fridays, Aug. 21–Dec. 18, 11:00–12:30

(Note: No class on Nov. 6 and Nov. 27)

Tallwood

Coordinator: Sibyl Vanneman             703–506–0699

This book club with a different twist—no outside reading required—meets every Friday to read aloud “great books” to each other. We have finished Shakespeare’s plays and have started Don Quixote by Cervantes, the new translation (2003) by Edith Grossman. New members are welcome.

OLLI Personal Computer User Group

Third Saturdays (except May & Dec.) 12:30–3:30

Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21, Dec. 12

Tallwood

Coordinator: Paul Howard   plhoward@verizon.net

Focusing on Windows computers and related electronics technology, we are partnering with an established organization to bring broad subject matter expertise to both groups. More details are available on the group’s Web site, http://www.olligmu.org/~opcug/. Target audience: beginners to intermediate amateurs. Methodology: "users helping users." A one-time fee of $5 is payable at the first meeting attended.

OLLI Photography Club

Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 23, Nov. 19,  Dec. 17, 9:30–11:30 
Tallwood
Coordinator: Dan Feighery              703–250–1491

The Photography Club welcomes all members, whether they have a basic camera or specialized equipment. Interests include documenting trips, capturing the beauty of nature, seeing the commonplace in unique ways and much more. Some folks take their film/digital chip to a local store for processing. Others are interested in a digital darkroom. We have discussions, instructions, field trips and help on technical aspects of photography, as well as the artistic aspects of visual design. Contact the coordinator, Dan Feighery, at dfeigher@gmu.edu for further information.

OLLI Travel Club

Second Fridays

Oct. 9, Nov. 13, 10:00–11:30

Tallwood

Coordinator: Shelly Gersten            703–385–2638

The club welcomes any and all OLLI members who are interested in traveling, either domestically or internationally. OLLI has a vast wealth of experience in both traveling and living in other parts of the United States and the world. Come share your experiences and learn from other members about their travels and experiences. We also try to find common interests so members can plan to travel together.

OLLI Walking Group

Weekly

Tallwood/Pool Parking Lot

Coordinators: Doris Bloch              703–591–3344

                     Sherry Hart              703–978–0848

During OLLI terms, the Walking Group at Tallwood meets one morning a week, generally an hour before the first morning class. We gather in the pool parking lot and walk for about 45 minutes, arriving back at Tallwood in time for the start of classes. All levels of walking ability and speed are accommodated—our goal is camaraderie as well as exercise. We set the day of the week for our walks during the first week of the term, based on which day is most convenient for the majority of participants. We also walk weekly between terms, often for longer walks and at more varied locations. Contact Sherry Hart at harts66@hotmail.com or Doris Bloch at dbloch50@hotmail.com for more information or to be added to the email list.

 Recorder Consort

Fridays, August 21–Dec. 18, 10:00–11:30

(Note: No meeting on Nov. 6 and Nov. 27)

Tallwood

Coordinators: Robert and Louise McLean       703–768–6297

If you have been a part of the Consort or have previously played the recorder and would like to expand your abilities and play in the group, join us on Fridays. Music may need to be purchased. If you are interested in learning to play the recorder, please see Course F105.

Tallwood Bridge Club

Wednesdays

Sept. 9–Sept. 16, 10:00–12:00

Sept. 23–Nov. 11, 1:45–3:45

Nov. 18, Dec. 2–Dec. 16, 10:00–12:00,

Tallwood

Coordinators: Susanne Zumbro      703–569–2750

                       Gordon Canyock      703–425–4607

Drop in anytime and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of “party bridge.” Skill levels vary from advanced beginner to aspiring expert. Partnerships are rotated every four hands. Note the time changes. We meet mornings when classes are not in session and afternoons during the term.

Reston Knitting and Needlework Club

Tuesdays
Coordinator: Sheila Gold               703–860–8798  

Do you love to knit, crochet or needlepoint? Do you want to learn? We welcome both beginners and more advanced needleworkers. There is always someone who is happy to teach the new student. Come and join us on Tuesday mornings. For times and locations please contact Shelia Gold sheila.gold@verizon.net.

Let’s Eat Out

Last Fridays, Sept. 25, Oct. 30

Loudoun

Coordinator: Mary Coyne                703–729–6855

In an OLLI Loudoun tradition, join us at a local restaurant for either breakfast or lunch on the last Friday of the month. This is a great time to get together and get to know your classmates better. Exact time and location will be announced via email in the Loudoun notes. To join us, please sign up on the sheet in one of the classrooms or call the OLLI Loudoun office.

Loudoun Classic Fiction Book Club

Fourth Fridays

Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 23, Nov. 20, 10:30–12:00,

Cascades Library, Loudoun

Coordinator: Sigrid Blalock                      703–723–6825