Below is a
list of the courses, special events and ongoing winter
2012 activities for all three locations (Fairfax/Tallwood,
Reston/Lake Anne and Loudoun/Sterling). Unless otherwise
noted, classes beginning with an “F” are held at Tallwood,
an “R” at Washington Plaza Baptist Church at Lake Anne,
and an “L” at the Mason campus in Loudoun.
|
F101 The Lure and Lore of GemsMondays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 23–Feb. 13Instructor: Tom Mangan Gems have dazzled and delighted from ancient times. Learn from an expert how to judge the quality of gems, distinguish genuine from fake and determine the factors that affect their value. He will discuss diamonds—their mining, facet design, grading factors and quality—and also touch on pearls and antique and estate jewelry. Finally, he will focus on secrets of the trade, bargain hunting and avoiding consumer rip-offs. In the final class participants may bring in one or two items of jewelry to get an opinion on their quality and value. Tom Mangan, a certified gemologist, has worked in the jewelry industry for more than 30 years. He and his wife, Ling, own Mangan Jewelers (www.manganjewelers.com) in McLean. F102 Watercolor PaintingThursdays, 2:00–3:30, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Instructor: Leonard Justinian Class limit: 15 This class will provide an opportunity for watercolor painters at all levels to develop fresh skills and artistic talents while learning new watercolor techniques. Materials needed: #1, #6 and/or #8 round watercolor brushes; a paint palette for mixing colors; watercolor paper, 140 lb. cold press (Arches is best but you can use less expensive paper); a kneaded eraser; a Staedtler white plastic eraser and tubes of watercolor paint in white, charcoal black, cadmium yellow (medium), cadmium red (medium) and ultramarine blue. Leonard Justinian has been painting and receiving awards for more than 60 years, including the coveted Grumbacher Award. He teaches watercolor painting in his Fairfax City studio and also on Fairfax Public Access Cable TV, Cox Cable Channel 10 and Verizon FiOS Channel 10. F103 Play Something CountryThursdays, 2:00–3:30, Feb. 2–Feb. 16Three sessions Instructor: Paul Howard Listen to country music and performers of the last 25 years. Boots, chaps and cowboy hats optional. ● Feb. 2: “B” Sides and Splittin’ My Sides. Songs you probably never heard on the radio and songs that bring a smile to your lips. ● Feb. 9: Classic Themes. Loving, leaving, lying, cheating, drinking and thinking. ● Feb. 16: Honky Tonking. ’Nuf said! Paul Howard has been an OLLI member since 2006 and heads the A/V support committee. He was a disc jockey in a previous life. R104 The Ongoing Pleasures of MusicMondays, 2:00–3:30, Jan. 23–Feb. 13Instructor: Gloria Sussman Here is a class dedicated to the enjoyment of the worldʹs greatest classical music. With the help of DVDs and YouTube, we explore a wide variety of musical themes, composers and genres. Listen to the artists of today and yesteryear with renewed appreciation for their contributions to the performing arts. Gloria Sussman has been teaching at OLLI since 2000 and continues to provide entertaining listening programs for the Reston OLLI. R105 Verismo OperaTuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 24–Feb. 14Instructor: Gloria Sussman Verismo is a term used to define a type of opera written between 1875 and the early 1900s. We will explore this genre by hearing and viewing a variety of CDs and DVDs. See R104 for instructor information. L106 Music SeriesWednesdays, 12:15–1:30, Jan. 25, Feb. 15Two sessions Note dates Coordinator: Mary Coyne · Jan. 25: A Romantic Afternoon This performance by Monika Chamasyan on violin and Marina Chamasyan on piano will include works by German composers Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Albert Dietrich, as well as violin and piano virtuosos of the romantic period. · Feb. 15: Russian Fanfare The second program by Monika and Marina Chamasyan will include works for violin and piano by Soviet-era composers, including Aram Khachaturian and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Monika and Marina Chamasyan have been performing together for most of their musical careers. Winners of national and international competitions, the sisters have been soloists with orchestras in their native Armenia and the United States. L107 Mixed-Media DrawingThursdays, 10:00–11:15, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Instructor: Sigrid Blalock Participants will combine pen-and-ink drawing with watercolor painting to create mixed-media pictures. Subjects will include flowers, landscapes, seascapes and abstractions. Materials needed: drawing pens with permanent black ink (Micron #01, #03, #05); one set of watercolor paints with assorted nylon brushes; pencil; ruler; one pad or block of 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper, 9”x 12”; container for water and plastic sheet to cover work space. Sigrid Blalock, an OLLI member, is a painter with degrees from Syracuse University and American University. She has years of experience teaching adults for the Smithsonian Associates and OLLI. 200 Economics & FinanceF201 Navigating and Organizing Lifestyle Changes Facing SeniorsTuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 24–Feb. 14Coordinator: Leo Brennan We all know stories about the challenges families face as certain members experience diminished capabilities for independent living. Where do you turn for support and what options are available to create a plan to meet the needs and desires of both the individual and the family? This four-part series addresses care-giving options and solutions, financial and legal considerations, organizing your life and family to meet these concerns and managing critical records in a safe, secure environment. J. Michael May, financial planner and frequent presenter at OLLI, will moderate panels of care-giving and financial planning experts through a two-part case study illustrating a range of problems and potential solutions facing seniors as they advance in years. · Jan. 24: Care-giving Concerns: The case study, followed by questions and answers, will address care-giving concerns and a range of options to meet family needs. The panel of experts and their specialties include: Sandra Fields of Great Falls Assisted Living, memory care; Scott Maguire, non-medical in-home care and assisted living placement; Ann Richardson, seniors’ real estate and Vanessa Bishop, certified care manager, specializing in gerontology. · Jan. 31: Financial Concerns: Continuing the case study of the first session, the focus will turn to financial and legal concerns in meeting the needs of family members. The panel of experts includes: J. Michael May, financial planner and a Chartered Financial Consultant; Elizabeth Gray, Certified Elder Care Attorney and Katherine Dewitt, a personal money manager, Certified Senior Advisor and Registered Financial Gerontologist. · Feb. 7: Organizing Your Life for You and Your Family. Pete Conklin, president of Personal Affairs Management LLC, will describe practical steps toward achieving an organized life. He will share techniques that he uses to manage the affairs of his clients, including how to interact with family members and professionals. He will also discuss various types of services available to help seniors no longer capable of—or comfortable with—handling their personal affairs. · Feb. 14: Managing Critical Records in a Safe, Secure Environment. David L. Haase, digital communications strategist, building on the topics covered by Pete Conklin, will discuss and demonstrate the use of digital technology, including the “cloud,” to safely maintain and protect critical family records. F202 I’m Retired, Inadequate or No Pension. What Now?Tuesdays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 24–Feb. 14Coordinator: Leo Brennan This open forum, an outgrowth of Investment Forum, is designed to meet the needs of those who have no defined pension and/or are living on their savings and investments alone. What are others in this situation doing? A panel of experienced investors will seek to provide answers to this question through friendly, compassionate discussion that will define and address the needs and concerns of the attendees. Topics to be discussed may include annuities, fixed income, dividend-paying stocks, asset allocations, reverse mortgages and management of IRAs. The panel includes: Tom Crooker, Investment Forum moderator for 12 years; Al Smuzynski, current Investment Forum moderator; Fred Mills; Investment Forum member and Senior Financial Planner Mike May. F203 The Tom Crooker Investment ForumWednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Moderator: Al Smuzynski The forum, which meets weekly throughout the year, addresses topics of particular interest to retirees, including sector analyses, individual stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, limited partnerships, trusts and fixed income. Each session begins with an open discussion of “The Week that Was” to share concerns about current events. The “Chart of the Week” helps members understand trends and the wide variety of analytical techniques that may help in their investment decisions. The remainder of each session addresses topics requested by forum members from previous sessions. Presenters include: Al Smuzynski, Tom Crooker, Ed Swoboda, Gloria Loew, Maury Cralle, Bob Springer, Bruce Reinhart, Ludwig Benner, John Woods, Bill Brewster and other forum members. Outside speakers address the forum on an ad hoc basis. The forum Web site, www.olligmu.org/~finforum/, provides further information. Al Smuzynski is a retired bank regulator and apartment developer who serves on the board of directors for Virginia Community Capital, Inc. and Community Capital Bank of Virginia. F204 Tax Preparation SimplifiedThursdays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Coordinator: Leo Brennan This series of lectures is aimed at easing the preparation of your income tax returns. ● Jan. 26: A Review of Current Federal Tax Laws with Emphasis on Senior-related Issues. Derek Cundill is the tax training specialist for AARP Tax-Aide, Virginia, and a member of the Tax-Aide National Tax Training Committee. He will focus on the preparation of federal income tax returns. ● Feb. 2: A Review of Virginia Tax Laws for Senior Consideration. Derek Cundill will build on the previous lecture, describing the requirements of Virginia tax laws in preparing federal and state tax returns, and the content and organization of your tax-preparation “shoebox.” ● Feb. 9: A Chat with a Tax Preparer. John Woods and Donnita Whittier, experienced tax preparers and OLLI members, will lead a panel discussion on issues, experiences and expenses involved in using tax preparation services. This informal discussion will include planning suggestions for working with a tax preparer and the code of ethics required for preparers. ● Feb. 16: What You Always Wanted to Know about Your Taxes but Were Afraid to Ask. Linda de Marlor, who teaches tax law to real estate and educational institutions, will give a short presentation on issues that affect most seniors and then open the session to questions on real estate, legal and financial issues. Linda, who has appeared on hundreds of TV and radio shows, is an annual presenter to the Widowed Persons Service of Northern Virginia and is returning to OLLI for a sixth season. 300 History & International StudiesF301 The Burden of Victory: Postwar EuropeMondays, 11:45–1:15, Feb. 6–Feb. 13Two sessions Instructor: Robert Webb V-E Day and peace! It wasn’t that simple. In fact, postwar Europe was a nightmare. This course looks at two broad aspects of the tumultuous 1945-1955 period. ● Feb. 6: Allied Planning and Victory. ○ Administration of a continent without government. ○ Disarmament, de-nazification and war crimes trials. ○ The Marshall Plan. ○ The birth of the Cold War. · Feb. 13: The Humanitarian Story. ○ The occupation. ○ Starving millions. ○ Destroyed cities. ○ Displaced populations. ○ Collaborators. ○ War children. ○ A new German society. ○ Fraternization. ○ A permanent “Little America.” Robert Webb, a Washington Post editor for 32 years, is an OLLI member and has taught OLLI courses on American colonial history, Civil War history, the press and other topics. F302 The Civil War, 1862–1863: Progress in the WestMondays, 2:00–3:30, Jan. 23–Feb. 13Instructor: Dick Young Although most attention in Civil War studies is given to events in the East, Federal efforts in the West contributed greatly to the outcome of the war. This course will focus on events in the Western Theater in 1862 and 1863, including the attempted Confederate invasion that threatened Ohio and the campaigns that drove the Confederate forces eastward toward Atlanta. The intensity of battles at Stones River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge rivaled that of the better‐known battles in the East and their outcomes led to the selection of General Ulysses Grant to command the combined Union armies. Dick Young is an OLLI board member and a retired patent attorney whose interest in the Civil War stems from accounts written by and about his two great‐grandfathers who served in the Union forces in the Western Theater. Their stories will be woven into the presentations. F303 Founding America’s Middle Colonies, 1609–1730Tuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 24–Feb. 14Instructor: Nick Timreck In 1686, Adriaen Janse van Ilpendam, a Dutch notary and schoolteacher, hanged himself at his home in Albany, New York—the only person to commit suicide in Albany’s 17th century history. By all accounts, he was an ordinary man striving to survive in the middle colonies of colonial North America. It was a region that offered settlers like Janse unprecedented opportunities and freedoms, but where “getting along” was a daily challenge. This course will examine these early settlers and the diverse social and cultural fabrics that stretched across the middle colonies from New Netherland to Penn’s Woods. We will discuss the impact these colonies had on pre-revolutionary America. Nick Timreck is an OLLI instructor and an academic assistant in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at George Mason, where he is completing MA studies in U.S. history. F304 World War II Along the Southern Shore of the Baltic SeaTuesdays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 24–Feb. 7Three sessions Instructor: Ed Janusz World War II and its aftermath are presented from two perspectives. The first is based on the reminiscences of a woman born in the Baltics, who is forced by the war to transition from “The Lady of the Manor” to a displaced person in postwar Germany. Her remarkable story of survival during Soviet and German occupations includes a year of traveling in a covered wagon along the southern shore of the Baltic Sea through the bitter winter of 1944–1945. The second is a historical perspective that weaves in the political/military environment in which her story takes place, focusing on the major German and Soviet operations on the Eastern Front and the policies of the belligerent powers toward civilian populations and refugees. This perspective attempts to provide an explanation, with the benefit of 70 years of hindsight, of why things happened the way they did. Ed Janusz, an OLLI member for five years, is an engineer by profession and an amateur military historian by avocation. He retired after a career in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and aerospace and computer services industries. F305 The Susquehanna BoomTuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Jan. 24–Feb. 14Instructor: Garrett Cochran During the second half of the 19th century, a unique combination of geography, Industrial Revolution technology and Yankee ingenuity turned the remote town of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, into a major producer of the lumber needed to house a surging U.S. population. Eventually, the surrounding forests were decimated and all traces of the bonanza disappeared, save one—Millionaire’s Row, the string of spectacular Victorian homes built by the lumber moguls. This four-part series, drawing on photos from the period and accounts by participants, will describe life in the back-country logging camps and the success the Williamsport region has had as it struggles to recover from the loss of its prized resource. It will conclude with glimpses into the lives of two young loggers and a description of how one of them undertook the most dangerous job in this dangerous business—pulling the key. Garrett Cochran, a longtime OLLI member, is a native of Williamsport and a descendent of a participant in the lumber boom. F306 National Park Ranger Potpourri IVWednesdays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Coordinators: Michael T. Kelly, Emmett Fenlon It’s back for Round 4! Due to the interest stirred by the “potpourri” concept during the winters of 2009, 2010 and 2011, the National Park Service returns with four new “mystery” subjects. These feature fascinating stories and personalities that few people would associate with the repertoire of Washington, D.C., park rangers. Join us on a fascinating journey of discovery. National Park Rangers have provided nearly 60 courses, special events and trips at OLLI since 2001. F307 Black Warriors from Lexington to the Persian GulfWednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Instructor: Alan Gropman This course will focus on black military achievements against a backdrop of discrimination, with emphasis on the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II and racial integration in the military. Recommended text: Strength for the Fight: A History of Black Americans in the Military by Bernard C. Nalty (Free Press, 1989). Alan Gropman, a retired Air Force colonel with 5,000 flying hours and two combat tours in Vietnam, has a PhD in black history. He has written four books and his articles have appeared in more than 300 other publications. F308 Russia Study GroupThursdays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Moderator: Gordon Canyock Class limit: 30 Russia continues to play a major role in international affairs, often as a thorn in the side of its neighbors and the United States. This enigmatic nation wields considerable economic power in Europe and Central Asia and retains a huge nuclear arsenal. This seminar will examine various aspects of contemporary Russia, including the December parliamentary elections, the forthcoming presidential election, other economic/political developments and the prospects for modernization of both its economy and its military. Each week short articles or Web site references will be emailed to the class in order to prepare for discussion that will follow a brief lecture. Gordon Canyock is a longtime OLLI member with a BA in political science from Cornell University and an MA in Soviet Area Studies from the University of Kansas. He served as commandant of the U.S. Army Russian Institute and as military attaché in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. He later worked in Russia for the State Department as a special assistant for humanitarian aid. F309 Walls in the Age of GlobalizationThursdays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Instructors: Frank Schubert, Irene Schubert What happens when the forces of globalization collide with national fears and anxieties? Facing threats that range from terrorists to unemployed foreigners, from drug traffickers to uncensored ideas, some countries turn to concrete or digital walls to allay their citizens’ fears, protect their prosperity and create an elusive sense of security. This course examines and compares wall-building around the world, why walls are built, how well they promote security and what other interests they might serve. The main focus is on the United States, the European Union, China and Israel. PowerPoint presentations of maps, charts, photographs and cartoons accompany the lectures. Frank Schubert is a retired Department of Defense historian who has lectured at universities in Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Germany. His latest book is Hungarian Borderlands: from the Habsburg Empire to the Axis Alliance, the Warsaw Pact, and the European Union (Continuum, 2011). Irene Schubert retired from the Library of Congress where she held positions as a reference librarian, reading room manager and department head. She is co-author, with Frank Schubert, of On the Trail of the Buffalo Soldier II: New and Revised Biographies of African Americans in the U.S. Army, 1866-1917 (Scarecrow Press, 2004). F310 China: From the Boxer Rebellion to the Triumph of MaoThursdays, 2:00–3:30, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Instructor: Patrick McGinty The Boxer Rebellion was an explosion of Chinese social forces that occurred during the summer of 1900. Directed against foreigners in revenge for humiliations, both perceived and real, it ended in a crushing defeat for the Chinese and the eventual collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1911. For the next 37 years China was wracked by revolution, foreign invasion and civil war. Stability returned to China in 1949 with the triumph of Mao Zedong and the proclamation of the Chinese People’s Republic. In this course we will examine the social, political and economic forces at work in China during the period 1900-1949, the role of the United States and the eventual victory of the Communists. Patrick McGinty, an OLLI member, is a retired naval officer who has an MA and PhD in history from Georgetown University, where his area of concentration was American history. L311 Government and Politics in Ancient RomeMondays, 10:00–11:15, Jan. 23–Feb. 13Instructor: Ray Beery Ancient Rome’s innovative republican government provided the basis for how much of today’s world operates. During the republic, the senate became the center of administration in a society that was divided into three main classes. For each class, specific career and public service opportunities were possible. For senators, these included the chief magistracies and military posts; for the equestrians, they included careers in civil or military service; plebeians were limited to private life or junior rank in the army. However, the classes were not closed and ascending from one to another was quite possible. See the OLLI DocStore for a reading list. Ray Beery’s first career was in the Air Force until his retirement in 1978. He was then employed by Computer Sciences Corporation for 15 years. Ray joined OLLI in 1993, where he has been a teacher and was a leader in the establishment of the Loudoun branch in 2007. L312 Colorful Characters on the Oregon TrailMondays, 12:15–1:30, Jan. 23–Jan. 30Two sessions Instructor: Karen Carter Thousands traveled the Oregon Trail in the 19th century and this course will relate the stories of some of the more colorful pioneers, including Henderson Luelling, the Belkamp family, William Russell, Amelia Bloomer and Ezra Meeker. It will also describe the lives of the early mountain men, many of whom became expert guides in leading wagon trains along the Oregon Trail. Karen Carter, an OLLI member, is a graduate of Park University and has a special interest in the pioneer trails. L313 Transportation Innovations that Changed HistoryMondays, 2:30–3:30, Jan. 23–Feb. 13Instructor: Bill Reader Whether it be tourism, pilgrimage, trade, flight from enemies or the law, people have always been seeking to get from here to there. They have also wanted to send goods from here to there and to get them from there to here. Innovations that made personal travel and the shipment of goods cheaper, faster and less onerous have had a great impact on history. This course will look at a few of these innovations—the domesticated horse, the camel, the ocean-going ship, the steamship, the railroad, the automobile and the airplane—and see how each affected history and previously existing modes of transportation. William Reader, an OLLI member, has a PhD in American social history from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst. He retired in 2008 after 37 years with the federal government and has since taught OLLI courses on The History of Media, American Social and Cultural History, How a Few Simple Things Changed History, How a Few Overlooked Technologies Changed History, America Between the World Wars and A History of American Politics. L314 Windows on the 1950sTuesdays, 10:00–11:15, Jan. 24–Feb. 14Coordinator: Kevin Riddle In this series of personal memoirs of life in the 1950s, OLLI members and instructors describe the decade they knew from widely different perspectives and locations. ● Jan. 24: Suzy Jampoler lived in Japan near Hiroshima, Yokohama and Tokyo during the 1950s as a young teenager. She saw much of postwar Japan, attended an international Japanese school run by French nuns and got hooked on geography, foreign travel and discovering other cultures. She is a retired geographer and frequent OLLI instructor. ● Jan. 31: Vera Wentworth spent the 1950s in war-ravaged Berlin. She has been an OLLI member since 2001 and frequently teaches literature courses. William Reader attended school in Burlington, Vermont, and Takoma Park and Silver Spring, Maryland, in the 1950s. He has taught several history classes at OLLI. ● Feb. 7: Caroline Hartzler, born and raised in York, Pennsylvania, went to school there in the 1950s before graduating from Immaculata College. She has been an active OLLI member since 1998. Karen Carter grew up and attended school in Kansas City, Missouri, in the 1950s. She has been an OLLI member for two years and has taught courses on the pioneers and their trek west. ● Feb. 14: Mike Leavitt was born in New York City in the last months of World War II and moved to suburban Levittown, Long Island, in 1950. He moved again to Great Neck, Long Island, in the mid-1950s, where he attended junior and senior high schools. He has taught several OLLI courses. Ray Beery experienced the 1950s as a student at the University of Kansas, a soldier in Germany and an airman in France. He teaches classics at OLLI and has been a member since 1993. L315 Colonialism in South AfricaTuesdays, 12:15–1:30, Feb. 7–Feb. 14Two sessions Instructor: Tyler Soldat Before Nelson Mandela and apartheid, colonialism and its social and political implications vastly shaped what we now know as South Africa. This course will explore life there from the perspectives of the Dutch and British who attempted to colonize and “civilize” this resource-rich region. We will discuss their motives and how their efforts affected, and were affected by, the actions of native South Africans. These discussions will be framed against the broader panorama of colonialism and empire. Tyler Soldat holds two degrees from Central Washington University in history and religious studies, and is currently preparing a predoctoral thesis for a master’s degree in world history at George Mason. L316 Naval Developments between the World WarsWednesdays, 10:00–11:30, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Note end time Instructor: Keith Young Between World Wars I and II there were a number of developments that influenced America’s naval readiness. This course will examine: ● The Naval Disarmament Treaties and their effect on the U.S. Navy. ● The U.S. Navy-Marine Corps development of an amphibious troop-landing capability. ● The rapid growth of Naval Aviation as a highly effective weapon in the Pacific War. ● The mobilization and the economic strengths and weaknesses of the belligerents during World War II. Keith Young, a retired naval officer with an interest in military history, lectures on many Civil War and World War II topics. L317 Immigration Patterns at the Turn of the 20th CenturyThursdays, 10:00–11:15, Jan. 26–Feb. 2Two sessions Instructor: Michael Leavitt This two-session seminar will focus on immigration to the United States from 1880 to 1920. During this period the United States experienced an influx of immigrants who didn’t know the language or culture, had a high incidence of criminal activity, were substantially poorer and less educated than earlier immigrants and were resented by a significant part of the existing population. The seminar will examine the nature and effects of this immigration. Michael Leavitt earned his PhD in political science from Northwestern University and an MA in Jewish studies from Baltimore Hebrew University. He has taught Jewish history, philosophy and mysticism at adult education programs in the Baltimore-Washington area. L318 Colonialism in IndiaThursdays, 10:00–11:15, Feb. 9–Feb. 16Two sessions Instructor: Tyler Soldat India is perhaps the most widely known example of colonialism, representing the height of British colonial and economic power throughout the globe. This course will cover the rise of the British Raj in the 18th century, after the collapse of the powerful Mughal Empire, through World War I. We will discuss how Great Britain rose to power and maintained authority in the massive Indian subcontinent. We will look at the lives of the colonized Indians and the impact of colonialism on their culture and society. We will also examine how colonialism throughout the globe impacted the Indian subcontinent during this period. See L315 for instructor information. 400 Literature, Theater & WritingF401 Readers’ TheaterMondays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 23–Feb. 13Coordinator: Roxanne Cramer Class limit: 25 OLLI’s unique brand of Readers’ Theater is great fun for the hams among us! If the idea of acting appeals to you, come and give it a try. Scripts are usually short skits, or acts or scenes from longer plays. Parts are handed out each week for the following week. Occasionally a longer script needs a designated director. We do not memorize parts, but instead rehearse them with our fellow characters. This can often be done between OLLI classes, but also can be done by phone if there are just two characters. Props or costumes are not required, but the actors often dress for the part in some way––perhaps with a hat or scarf. Time between skits allows for kudos, comments and suggestions from the audience. F402 A Modern Classic ― Howard’s EndMondays, 2:00–3:30, Jan. 23–Feb. 13Instructor: Diane Coppage “It isn’t going to be what we expected. It is old and little, and altogether delightful—red brick.” And so we enter into Howard’s End and the house that lies at the heart of E. M. Forster’s classic novel about place, tradition and class struggle in 20th century Edwardian England. A member of the famous Bloomsbury Group and a good friend of Virginia Woolf, Forster was a prolific writer. In addition to Howard’s End (1910), the Forster canon includes Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), A Room with a View (1908) and A Passage to India (1924). Diane Coppage earned her BA and MA degrees in English literature from George Mason. She teaches literature at Northern Virginia Community College. F403 Let’s Read — Sharyn McCrumbTuesdays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 24–Feb. 14Instructor: Carolyn Sanders This wonderful Appalachian writer has tales to tell and the characters to tell them. We will begin by reading The Ballad of Frankie Silver and have a class discussion about which book to read next. All of McCrumb’s works are readily available in local libraries. Carolyn Sanders is an OLLI member who can’t do a lick of work if there’s an unread book in the house. F404 Poetry WorkshopTuesdays, 11:45−1:15, Jan. 24−Feb. 14Moderators: Mike McNamara, Jan Bohall Class limit: 18 This workshop allows novice and experienced poets the opportunity to read their work to others and receive suggestions for improvement. Workshop members should bring an original poem in draft or revision form to each session for discussion. Two poems should be sent to the office for duplication one week before the first workshop, and a third poem brought to the first session. Mike McNamara, an OLLI member, has been published in several literary journals and magazines and has been a recipient of awards in the Poetry Society of Virginia’s annual competitions. Jan Bohall, an OLLI member, has been published in Passager: A Journal of Remembrance and Discovery, The Orange County Register, Write On!!, The Poet’s Domain and OLLI Ink. F405 Dystopian Literature: The Giver and The Hunger GamesWednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Instructor: Barbara Nelson Dystopian (Greek for “bad place”) literature describes societies that are repressive and controlling of their citizens. We will analyze two highly acclaimed novels in this genre: Lois Lowry’s The Giver (1993) and Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games (2008). Lowry presents a world that has eliminated pain and strife. However, when the protagonist Jonah assumes his role as “Receiver of Memories” for the society, he must make decisions about what constitutes a full life—both the pain and the pleasure. Collins describes a post-apocalyptic North American society that controls its citizens by forcing each district to send one boy and one girl to fight to the death in the annual, televised Hunger Game. Class members will be responsible for obtaining both books, and the first 12 chapters of The Giver should be read by the first class. Barbara Nelson is a retired Fairfax County Public School teacher who has led discussions of The Odyssey, The Iliad, Aeschylus’ Oresteia and The Aeneid. She is an OLLI member and a docent at the National Portrait Gallery. F406 Wuthering HeightsThursdays, 2:00–3:30, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Instructor: Kay Menchel Emily Brontë wrote her only novel, Wuthering Heights, at the age of 29 and died a year later. Initially the book received mixed reviews and many readers were shocked at the cruelty depicted within its pages. However, it is now a beloved classic, perhaps because of its depiction of the passionate love affair between Catherine and Heathcliffe, or because of Emily Brontë’s extraordinary prose, which one critic has called an “exceptional fusion of intensity and control.” In this class we will learn about the remarkable woman who created Wuthering Heights and explore together this family saga that takes place on the Yorkshire moors in the 18th and 19th centuries. Kay Menchel grew up in Yorkshire. A lawyer who also has an MA in English literature from George Mason, she is looking forward to sharing her passion for modern English literature. R407 The Poetry of AngstTuesdays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 24–Feb. 14Instructor: Jane Catron The human condition inevitably involves incidents and intervals of difficulty, anxiety and fear. This class will focus on a variety of poems written in response to such times by many different poets, including William Shakespeare, John Keats and Robert Frost. Jane Catron, a retired English teacher from McLean High School, has been an OLLI member for over ten years. During that time, she has conducted many classes in both prose and poetry. R408 From Literature to Film: James Joyce and John HustonTuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Jan. 31–Feb. 14Three sessions Instructor: Bob Zener This course will consider how a master film director, John Huston, adapted to film a masterpiece of literature, James Joyce’s short story The Dead. A biography of John Huston states that he “probably made more great films than any other American director.” Jonathan Yardley, in a recent review of Huston’s biography (Washington Post, Sept. 28, 2011) , writes: “Why ’probably’? Huston’s first film was an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel The Maltese Falcon, his last an adaptation of James Joyce’s short story The Dead. Each is a masterpiece, and there are at least five others between: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948); The Asphalt Jungle (1950); The African Queen (1951); Fat City (1972) and The Man Who Would Be King (1975).” In the first session, we will discuss Joyce’s The Dead (the final story of his Dubliners collection) and in the second session we will view the film (at 83 minutes, it will just fit). Made in 1987, it features Huston’s daughter Angelica and an all-Irish cast. In the final session, we will discuss the techniques Huston used to adapt the story to film and the relationship between great literature and great film. Bob Zener was a lawyer in Washington before retiring and joining OLLI in 2009. He has taught classes in constitutional law and, most recently, a class on T. S. Eliot, in cooperation with Kathryn Russell. R409 Literary RoundtableWednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Reston’s Used Book Shop at Lake Anne Moderators: Janice Dewire, Carol Henderson Class limit: 23 This short-story discussion class will conclude our readings from The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories, edited by Malcolm Bradbury. These adventurous and inventive stories date from after World War II. Authors selected for this term include Emma Tennant, Graham Swift and Kazuo Ishiguro. Because the anthology will not be used after this term, priority will be given to those registered for either of the previous two terms. Janice Dewire and Carol Henderson, former OLLI Board members, are enthusiastic Literary Roundtable participants. They took on the moderator role some years ago for this popular course, one of the longest running at Lake Anne. R410 Evelyn Waugh — Brideshead RevisitedThursdays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Instructor: Kay Menchel When Waugh completed his best-known novel he described it as his magnum opus, and yet only five years later he confessed to Graham Greene that on re-reading it he was “appalled.” Despite Waughʹs second thoughts, the novel has remained incredibly popular. It was adapted into a TV series in 1981 and a movie in 2008, and both Time magazine and the Modern Library have included it on their lists of the top 100 novels of the century. This four-week class, part lecture and part discussion, should result in a more nuanced appreciation of this fascinating portrait of the British upper classes between the wars. See F406 for instructor information. R411 Movies That Are Not Quite MusicalsThursdays, 1:30–3:30, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Note time Instructor: Ben Gold We will view four movies that are about music and provide a significant amount of popular, classical, country or folk music, but are not what you would consider musicals. These movies are stories of love between men and women, fathers and sons, and towns and townspeople, with music providing the bonds that connect them. Ben Gold, a long-time OLLI member and presenter, is a frequent leader of movie classes. His favorite choices are not always award winners, but they often have turned out to be class favorites. L412 Writers’ Workshop: Writing the Mind AliveWednesdays, 10:00–11:15, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Facilitators: Ed Sadtler, Bob Greenspan Class Limit: 10 This is a roundtable format that provides a safe haven for writers of all levels to give and receive encouragement, feedback and constructive criticism. All genres of writing are welcome, including poetry, fiction, memoirs and historical works. All of these categories share the same underlying commitment: to write compelling work that fully conveys the author’s intentions. Ed Sadtler has been writing and occasionally publishing poetry for many years. Bob Greenspan is a retired attorney who has written a number of short stories and completed a screenplay. Both are OLLI members. L413 Readers’ Theater in LoudounWednesdays, 12:15–1:30, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Coordinators: Kathie West, Charles Duggan, Lynn Gramzow Class limit: 30 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 and acting skills, learn more about plays and play-reading and enjoy interacting with other “hams.” Each week members of the class either perform as characters in a play or are part of the audience. Participants should plan to set aside time to rehearse with other performers before presenting the play to the class. L414 Acting SkillsWednesdays, 2:30–3:30, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Instructor: Kathie West Come and learn the right and wrong way to perform in Readers’ Theater (L413). You will receive lessons in pronunciation, diction, body language, facial expressions, laughing, crying and, most of all, how to have fun. Kathie West, a former OLLI board member, was a high school theater teacher at Robert E. Lee High School and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. L415 Strictly SonnetsThursdays, 12:15–1:30, Jan. 26–Feb. 16Instructor: Conrad Geller From early Elizabethan times to the present, one verse form—the sonnet—has dominated English literature, comprising many of the best-known poems in our language. Sonnets differ greatly in form, mood and subject matter, and this course will be devoted to the examination of at least 20 of the greatest sonnets in the English language. We will learn about the technical intricacies of this fascinating form, its difficulties as well as its surprising rewards. The writing of sonnets by participants will be optional and entirely unexpected, though welcome. Conrad Geller, an OLLI member, holds an honors degree in English Literature from Harvard University and an MA degree from the University of Massachusetts at Fitchburg. His verse has appeared widely in print and electronic media and five of his articles on technical aspects of poetry can be found at http://www.writing-world.com/poetry/index.shtml. 500 LanguagesF501 Beginning ItalianMondays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 23–Feb. 13Instructor: Donna Kendall This course, a shortened repeat of the fall course, is for anyone interested in learning the Italian language from square one! Classes will begin at a basic level, with pronunciation, common words, phrases and grammar and progress towards an understanding of the language from its roots and culture. This class is ideal for anyone wishing to travel to Italy or to become familiar with a culture rich in traditions, arts, culinary prominence and history. No textbook is required. Course materials will be provided and useful outside sources will be recommended. Benvenuto a tutti! Donna Kendall is a first-generation Italian-American who frequently travels to southern Italy, where her family resides. She has taught conversational Italian to government officials at the Washington Language Center and currently teaches English at Northern Virginia Community College. F502 Survival RussianTuesdays, 2:00–3:30, Jan. 24–Feb. 14Instructor: Gordon Canyock The Russian language can be intimidating to Americans because it uses a different alphabet, but there are similarities to both Latin and Greek and many words are cognates of English, French and German. The objective of this course is to familiarize participants with the Russian alphabet so they can decipher street signs and learn a few phrases and words that would make a visit to Russia more enjoyable and productive. See F308 for instructor information. F503 Spanish Conversational ForumWednesdays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Instructor: Bernardo Vargas Class limit: 16 This is an ongoing conversational Spanish forum that meets regularly during the year. The objectives are to practice the Spanish language and to learn about Spanish/Latino culture through articles, photographs, video and speakers. Although classes are conducted in Spanish, English will be used occasionally to explain grammar and idiomatic expressions. Come join us and improve your Spanish while learning and having fun! Bernardo Vargas, a graduate of the Pontificia Catholic University Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, is an editor of an online Spanish newspaper. F504 Basic Conversational SpanishWednesdays, 11:45–1:15, Jan. 25–Feb. 15Instructor: Joanne Becker This course is for those who have some background in studying or using Spanish. There will be a review of common expressions and grammatical concepts and an opportunity to practice your conversational Spanish. Joanne Becker taught in Fairfax County schools for 22 years, the last 10 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. She has studied and traveled in several Spanish-speaking countries, including home-stay study programs in Mexico and Spain. 600 Religious
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| Table
of Contents |
Courses |
Specials | Activities |
Misc info | Schedule | Closed
courses |
Register | What's New |