Dennis Vanlangen

March 31, 2023

• Alerts & Notices
• Take an Armchair Tour of the Workhouse Arts Center
• Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Bobby Floyd
• Join Theater Lovers’ Group for Three Fabulous Musicals
• Computer Club
• Wednesday Team Bloch Conversation – April 5
• History Club Meeting
• Tallwood Book Club
• Poet's Corner
• Arts & Music at George Mason
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• Spring-term registration continues throughout the term (through May 19).

• Check this page on the website for changes to the spring term catalog.

• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, April 7; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, April 4, at 6:00.

Back to Top of Page

Take an Armchair Tour of the Workhouse Arts Center

 By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers’ Group Coordinator

On Wednesday, April 19, at 2:00, you’ll want to grab your favorite refreshment, pull up your favorite chair, and join all your OLLI friends to take an armchair tour of the Workhouse Arts Center on Zoom. You will meet the center’s multitalented performing arts coordinator, Liz Colandene, who will take us on a personal tour of the Workhouse Arts Center, located at 9518 Workhouse Way in Lorton, VA. She will fill us in on how the 91-year-old Lorton Prison complex has been transformed over the last several years into a vibrant, multicultural, visual and performing arts center that offers a wide variety of community events year-round. Tucked away in one of its many buildings is the must-see Lucy Burns Museum, which depicts the 1917 events that changed the women’s suffrage movement.

Did you know that, besides the studios and galleries and their huge variety of classes for all ages, the Workhouse Arts Center offers a Military in the Arts initiative? The program is dedicated to the military arts and art therapy programs that address the needs of, and improve the lives of, military service members and their families.

Save the date and plan to be there Wednesday, April 19 at 2:00. For more information, go to www.workhousearts.org.

Back to Top of Page

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Bobby Floyd

 

By Darden Purcell, D.M.A., Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice

When: Saturday, April 8, 8:00

Where: Center for the Arts 

Tickets: https://cfa.calendar.gmu.edu/metropolitan-jazz-orchestra-with-bobby-floyd

Head to the Center for the Arts for a swinging evening of jazz with Northern Virginia’s own Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, featuring keyboardist/organist Bobby Floyd on the Hammond organ and led by Founder, Artistic Director, and virtuoso saxophonist Jim Carroll.

The organ has played a distinctive, albeit niche, part of jazz since the early days, and under Floyd’s gifted fingers you’ll never think of the instrument in quite the same light again. Floyd’s long and illustrious career as a jazz keyboardist/organist has led him to tour with Ray Charles, Rusty Bryant, Jeff Tyzik, Chris Howes, Byron Stripling, and Sarah Morrow. In addition to playing in his hometown with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and the Columbus Symphony, he has traveled the continent, performing as a featured soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and many others. 

Back to Top of Page

Join Theater Lovers’ Group for Three Fabulous Musicals

 By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers’ Group Coordinator

NEW! On Sunday, May 7, we go to the Workhouse Arts Center for a 2:00 matinee performance of the Tony award-winning comedy musical Urinetown. “Funny. Poignant. Terrible title.” According to DC Theater Arts, “A knockout production with a great cast and equally stellar design, the entire show is one big guilty pleasure.” Briefly, a 20-year drought has caused a water shortage in a Gotham-like city, which causes the government to ban private toilets, leaving only public toilets for use, which are run by a malevolent company that charges admission. A hero emerges to lead a revolution and regain freedom. The antics lead to “gales of unbridled laughter.” Senior tickets are $33 plus $3 fee. Optional dinner after the show.

On Sunday, May 21, we go to the Creative Cauldron in Falls Church to see the 2:00 matinee of the regional premiere of Audrey. This musical tells the life story of Audrey Hepburn from her being a teenage spy during WWII to her becoming an iconic leading lady in Hollywood. Group-rate tickets are $45 for first-tier seats. The tickets are going fast, so if interested, email Norma at [email protected] ASAP. Optional dinner after the show.

On Saturday, June 10, we go back to NextStop Theatre in Herndon for a 2:00 matinee of another award-winning show by Lin Manuel Miranda, In the Heights. He started writing the play while a university student and finished it many years later. It is about life-altering events that occur to members of the Little Dominican Republic community in Washington Heights, NYC, during three days of sweltering summer heat. Group-rate tickets are $44. Optional dinner after the show.

For more information and to sign up for the shows and dinner, email Norma at [email protected]. Please remember that we welcome guests, form carpools, wear masks when asked, and enjoy our fellow theater lovers.

Back to Top of Page

3rd Saturday, April 15
Climate Change: Preparing for the New Normal in Virginia
Celebratory Luncheon

The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, April 15 , in person at Tallwood and via Zoom. Coffee, soda, and individual snack packages will be available. A luncheon will begin at 1:00; the Zoom session usually opens at 12:45.

Climate Change: Preparing for the New Normal in Virginia – Presented by Dr. James Kinter (Dr. Kinter’s talk is scheduled for 2:00)

“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” This old saying neglects that all of us are inadvertently doing something about the weather - we are changing it. The reality of global climate change is now undeniable, and the likelihood is high that human activities are responsible. The citizens and businesses of Virginia are not exempt from the changes coming during the rest of this century – there will be a new normal and we all need to prepare. Knowing where, when, and by how much climate will change in the Commonwealth, and where and how to exploit natural resources, are critically important aspects of planning and preparing for the changes. Dr. Kinter will describe Mason research focused on these questions, emphasizing what we have learned and what remains to be done to respond.

Dr. Kinter is Director of the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA) at Mason, which conducts basic and applied research on climate predictability on sub-seasonal and longer time scales, focusing on phenomena such as monsoons, El Niño, and climate change. He is also a professor in the department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences and the Climate Dynamics Ph.D. program of the College of Science. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on climate dynamics, predictability, and climate change. After earning his doctorate in geophysical fluid dynamics at Princeton University in 1984, Dr. Kinter served as a National Research Council Associate at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and as a faculty member of the University of Maryland prior to helping to create COLA in 1993. Dr. Kinter has published over 110 peer-reviewed papers in academic journals, and he is frequently called to serve on advisory boards and review panels for scientific research and supercomputing.

Celebratory Luncheon – 45th Anniversary of the Founding of PATACS

PATACS is sponsoring a lunch at Tallwood for OPCUG and PATACS members in commemoration of the group’s founding in 1978 as the Tandy Computer User Group, and the 14th year of partnership with OPCUG and OLLI Mason. Want to attend? Click this link to RSVP – must be received by
April 8.

See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 for 2023—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 569804 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 823 4185 2232 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial in – 301-715-8592.

Back to Top of Page

Wednesday Team Bloch Conversation – April 5

By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co-Moderators

Team Bloch will moderate a conversation on April 5 at 4:00 on the new Major League Baseball (MLB) rules initiated in 2023.

For years, baseball has been criticized for being long and boring as compared to other major sports. MLB has made rule changes this year intended to speed the game up. The most significant is the creation of the pitch clock. Pitchers have 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with a runner on base. This has shortened preseason games by an average of 25 minutes! The New York Times wrote an article "MLB's New Rules are All About Action."

Join us on the OLLI Chat Line to learn about the other changes this season and share your thoughts. Are the new rules effective?

Check your daily schedule email for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some social time with Team Bloch.

Back to Top of Page

History Club Meeting

  


By Elizabeth Lambert, History Club Coordinator



The next meeting of the History Club will take place on Wednesday, April 5 at 4:00.
Our presenter is Brian Medley, a George Mason University graduate student. The
working title of his dissertation is Ghosts of Navassa: Race and Violence at the Heart of
America’s Guano Empire. It is probably correct to say that this is a subject unknown to
most OLLI history club members and history buffs alike.

In the 19th century, the United States acquired Navassa, a small Caribbean island near Haiti. The island was a rich source of guano deposits, a fertilizer needed to improve the nutrient-depleted agricultural fields of the American south. From 1857-1898, white supervisors and mostly African-American laborers mined the guano deposits amid abysmal conditions that led to labor uprisings, naval landings, and murder. Brian’s original goal was to write a “niche piece on the American Revolution.” His dissertation supervisor had another idea—Navassa island. Come and hear what Brian discovered.

Tallwood Book Club

 By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator

The Tallwood Book Club meets on the second Friday of each month.

On April 14, we will be meeting via Zoom at 2:30 to discuss The Submission by Amy Waldman. The Zoom link will be provided in the OLLI daily schedule email on that date.

Back to Top of Page

Back to Top of Page

Back to Top of Page

ENews March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023 by Dennis Vanlangen

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper. Website   Quick Links  Catalog   DocStore   Facebook  Officials   Member Portal   Contact Us Dr. Justin Ramsdell, Mason Associate Professor of Psychology, Addressed Understanding Domestic Terrorism/White Nationalism, February 9 March 17, 2023 Editor of the Week: David Gundry Table of Contents Alerts & Notices Health and Safety Update–March 2023 Participants Needed for Balance Research Study! Celebrate Women's History Month and April Fool's Day with the Theater Lovers' Group Spring Fling Start Off the Spring Term With Coffee and Great Food! Walk & Talk Club Outings OLLI Weekly Conversations Continue – March 22 History Program Planning Group Meeting, March 21 Do You Live in Mantua, Ravensworth, or Little Rocky Run? Big Band Showdown Musical March at Mason–Part Deux Photo of the Month Poet's Corner Obituary: Julia C. McNamara Arts & Music at George Mason Meetings & Clubs About OLLI E-News Alerts & Notices Reminder: Computer Club 3rd Saturday meeting, 1:00, March 18 (tomorrow), in person in TA-1 at Tallwood and via Zoom (Zoom session usually begins about 12:45). Spring term registration continues throughout the term; spring term is March 27 through May 19. The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, March 24; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, March 21, at 6:00. Reminder: Mason Jazz Camp will be held on the Mason Fairfax campus June 19-23. For registration and camp details, click here. Back to Top of Page Health and Safety Update–March 2023 By Michele Romano, Board Member and Healthcare Advisory Workgroup Chair COVID-19 and the winter viruses are winding down just in time for OLLI spring term in-person classes and activities. Severe illness and death from COVID in Northern Virginia remains very low for our age group. The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency will officially end 5/11/2023. After that, the cost of vaccines, tests, and treatments (within certain parameters) will be covered by commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid, rather than by the Federal Government. You may be subject to copays and deductibles depending on your health insurance coverage. Click on the following link for further details: The End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Details on Health Coverage and Access | KFF.   Warmer weather also brings with it an increase in Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease is caused by deer ticks which are very small, difficult to spot, and may look like a speck of dirt that won’t brush off. They are found in grassy and wooded areas throughout Northern Virginia. Lyme Disease can cause severe illness. So, what should you do? If you are going to be working in the yard or hiking in the woods, wear socks, long pants, and long sleeves. Use a good tick repellent. Throw your clothes in the washer and take a shower as soon as you’re done. Do a thorough skin check. Ticks love to hide in dark, damp places (e.g., groins, axillary areas, toes, ears). Click on the following link for more details: Preventing tick bites | Ticks | CDC. Check out the Mayo Clinic website for a good review of signs and symptoms: Lyme disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. Look for more healthcare updates in the future. Back to Top of Page Participants Needed for Balance Research Study! By Julie Ries, Ph.D., Principal Investigator Marymount University Center for Optimal Aging (MCOA) is conducting a study on balance exercise for older adults. We welcome OLLI members to join our home-based balance exercise research study. By participating in the research, you are helping to advance the field of study, in this case, health and wellness of people living with mild cognitive impairment/dementia. We are looking for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia & their care partners who would like to participate in a weekly small group VIRTUAL exercise class. The researchers will come to your home to enroll you in the study and set you up for success. You will use your computer or tablet to connect with your exercise class. The exercises are focused on improving balance and making your legs stronger. Assessment sessions before & after the study will be in your home! To learn more about the study & see if it might be right for you, click this link, or, for detailed text description, click here. Contact me for more information (email: [email protected]; phone: 703-284-5983). Back to Top of Page Celebrate Women's History Month and April Fool's Day with the Theater Lovers' Group By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers’ Group Coordinator Silent Sky On Sunday, March 19 at 2:00, join fellow theater lovers for a trip back to 1900 to meet Henrietta Leavit, a real-life astronomer ahead of her time. Harvard University hires her to record the starry finds of the male astronomers, but does not allow her to continue pursuing her own discoveries. You will want to find out how her dedication to the stars and a women's touch leads to impactful discoveries that makes life under the starry sky beautiful and timeless. The Providence Players will perform Silent Sky at The James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road in Falls Church (Route 50 and Annandale Road). Senior tickets are $18 and can be purchased online by clicking here ASAP – they sell out fast. Email me at [email protected] to let me know that you have purchased your ticket. As always, guests are welcome to join us. There is plenty of free parking. We will go to dinner at a nearby restaurant after the show (optional). If you need to carpool, let me know. Pacific Overtures Calling all Sondheim lovers! On Saturday, April 1, Signature Theater on Campbell Avenue in Arlington is holding ten tickets for us to see the 2:00 matinee of this rarely performed musical. This time, we take a trip back to Japan, mid-1800s, to look at the life-changing impact a naval event had on the Japanese who had been isolated from the rest of the world for about 200 years. Hear how the various segments of Japanese society were impacted by these Westerners who insisted on opening up Japan for trade. Group rate on tickets is about $71 and tickets are selling fast. Please email ([email protected]) me ASAP if interested, so we can keep our tickets. We carpool and will go to dinner after the show at a nearby restaurant (optional). Guests are always welcome to join us; plenty of free parking. Happy 85th! Thanks to Mary Mudd for taking these photos of Theater Lovers' Group celebrating George Dixon's 85th birthday at Sakura Restaurant on Sunday, March 5 after seeing How the Light Gets In at 1st Stage. Our chef was quite entertaining, the food was great, and the company was fantastic, as usual. A good time was had by all. Back to Top of Page   Spring Fling By Anita Lasansky, Reston Program Coordinator Come to beautiful Lake Anne in Reston on April 5 at noon. Have lunch on the lake at Café Montmartre, a few steps away from the Reston Museum. The museum will have a special exhibit on the old brewery that was here before Reston was built. Lunch is on your own; the museum is free. Back to Top of Page Start Off the Spring Term With Coffee and Great Food! By Toni Acton, Member Services Committee Chair The spring term is about to begin and what better way to start it off than by joining your friends at the OLLI Kick Off Coffee on Thursday, March 23 at 10:00 at Tallwood. And for our new members, what a wonderful opportunity to get to know other OLLI members, both continuing and new. Plus, there will be great food provided by our Hospitality Committee. There will be an opportunity to learn about any changes at OLLI presented by our executive director and Board president, with plenty of time for questions. Trips to California and Iceland—what’s that all about? Do you want more information about the many social events coming up this term? And what’s Walk & Talk—one of our most popular clubs this year? We’ll even have a tour of the Tallwood facilities for our new members, including the infamous “Potty Barn.” Please join us on Thursday, March 23. Register for event 1203 via the member portal or contact the registrar at [email protected]. Hope to see you on Thursday! Back to Top of Page Walk & Talk Club Outings By Marilyn Harriman, OLLI Walk & Talk Club Co-Chair OLLI Walk & Talk Club members enjoyed three outings this month, including a brisk morning walk at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly on March 7. Our final trail walk for the month will be on Wednesday, March 29, at Mason District Park trail, starting at 2:00, with club member and guide Michael Nephew. An optional after-walk meet-up will be at Café V in Annandale. The following Friday, April 7, at 10:00, club members will explore the Riverbend Park trail with bluebells in bloom in Great Falls with lead Carol Esteki. Afterward, walkers will gather (optional) at the Old Irish Brogue Pub and Restaurant in Great Falls for lunch. On Thursday, April 20, at 2:00, Lila Goldstein will be the trail guide at Long Branch Stream Valley Trail in Annandale. An after-walk gathering will take place at Fairfax Simply Social Coffee in Fairfax. If any of these outings sound appealing to you, and you’ve not yet registered with the OLLI Walk & Talk Club, Bob Heyer, co-chair, and I invite you to do so for spring 2023. It’s easy! Just sign into your member portal on the OLLI website. Once there, type “OLLI Walk Talk Spring 2023” in the Advance Search block, upper right-hand corner, and the club should appear. Be sure to click on the club so it goes into your cart and then “check out” so your club registration is completed.   Once registered, you will receive updates about upcoming walks, including directions to the trail location and maps. Join us in the fun of walking! Back to Top of Page OLLI Weekly Conversations Continue – March 22 By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co-Moderators   Continuing our Wednesday conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on March 22 at 4:00. Our chosen topic this week is “Who Is Colleen Hoover?”   Colleen Hoover is the author of four novels on the current best seller List. What do we know about her and her writings? Any one a fan?   Check your daily schedule email for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some social time with Team Bloch. Back to Top of Page History Program Planning Group Meeting, March 21 By Bernie Oppel, History Program Planning Group Co-Chair The next History Program Planning Group session will be held via Zoom at 1:00 on March 21. The session will focus on classes for fall term 2023 and winter term 2024, as well as potential offerings for future OLLI terms. Zoom access information will be provided in the OLLI daily schedule email message for March 21. The recent history planning article in OLLI E-News (February 10) outlined new areas of interest for future OLLI history classes, as well as a request for instructors to prepare and teach the classes. We invite all OLLI members to participate in the March 21 planning session with your ideas, course proposals, and instructor suggestions! So please “Zoom in” on March 21 at 10:00! Thanks. Back to Top of Page Do You Live in Mantua, Ravensworth, or Little Rocky Run? By Debby Mossburg, Outreach Committee Chair . . . or any other neighborhood with a print and/or online community newsletter? We’d love to let your neighbors know about the benefits of being a member of OLLI Mason. Would you be willing to contact your neighborhood association’s newsletter editors to see if they’ll run a short article about OLLI? Doing so can help OLLI to expand membership to keep us financially healthy and make a great program greater. We already have a short piece that tells about the OLLI program that has been approved and run in other neighborhood newsletters at no cost and with good success. All it takes is a phone call or email from a community member to have that same piece run in your neighborhood newsletter. If you can help, we'll send you a PDF of the article with George Mason and OLLI logos. To follow up or for any questions you may have, please contact Jim Dann at [email protected] (phone: 703-690-7982), or Debby Mossburg at [email protected] (phone: 703-973-8080). You’ve got the power to make a real difference! Thank you. Back to Top of Page Big Band Showdown By Darden Purcell, D.M.A., Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice   Monday, March 27, 8:00 Center for the Arts Tickets:  https://cfa.calendar.gmu.edu/jazz-big-band-showdown-2023; $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students.   Join the Mason Jazz Ensemble (director Jim Carroll), the Jazz Workshop (director, John Kocur), and special guests, Georgetown University Jazz Band (Paul Bratcher) for an evening that celebrates the hot sounds and swinging beats of the Big Band era!   Back to Top of Page Musical March at Mason–Part Deux By Linda H. Harber, OLLI Member and Friends of Music at Mason President Please join us at this special Friends of Music at Mason (FOMM) program with the Mason Healing Arts Ensemble on Wednesday, March 22, at 5:00. You can join the group at the Linda Apple Monson Tier 3 at Mason Center for the Arts or livestreamed via YouTube. Last fall, Rita Gigliotti, Director of Mason’s Healing Arts Ensemble, did a music and well-being presentation for OLLI. Even if you missed it, now you will have the opportunity to experience the wonderful music of the Healing Arts Ensemble and get in on the Good Vibrations. There will be small percussion instruments for those in attendance to join in the fun. It promises to be an hour of good vibrations that will show you how to harness music to make you feel better! Please reply to Rachel Ingel at [email protected] or 703-993-3927 to hold your place at this special free FOMM program. Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday, March 22! Back to Top of Page   Photo of the Month                The March 2023 Photo of the Month theme was Choosing a Color or Two. We selected George Bradshaw's's photo "Green Heron," which may also be viewed at this page this page (yes, it's a green blue heron). To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.         -- By John Olsen, Photography Club Coordinator Back to Top of Pa Poet's Corner Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop Franny, The Tooth Fairy The tooth fairy lived far away in a fabulous fern forest, with her fluffy, frizzy fox, Ferdinand, and her father dearest. After finishing Tooth Fairy School, she played her flute— Fanfares, fantasias, fandangos, and folk songs to boot. Franny had quite a freaky collection of teeth from kids She fearlessly gathered in a flower purse that she hid. Later she planted them in mounds, stacks, and heaps: Molar mountains, incisor hills, and canine peaks.                     Joan Lunsford   Back to Top of Page Obituary: Julia C. McNamara Devoted OLLI member, 1997-2018, Julie McNamara passed away on February 23. She and her husband Mike resided at Greenspring in Virginia; they both enjoyed classes during their many years at OLLI. Known for her optimism and staunch support for her OLLI friends, Julie was a source of artistic inspiration for the Poetry Workshop; members of the OLLI poetry community were saddened when learning of her passing. She also loved language classes. Friends will remember her warmth and kindness to all. A memorial service celebrating her accomplished life will be held at a later time. Further information is available at this link. Back to Top of Page Arts & Music at George Mason Performances, March 17 through April 3 By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket page or the Hylton Center ticket purchase page. Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows: Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test result for most events except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the webpage with event details. Specific requirements are detailed and any future policy changes may be found here: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy. Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website, Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page. Back to Top of Page At the Fairfax Campus Venues KODO Sat, Mar 18 at 8:00 Concert Hall A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain. Admission: $60, $51, $36. The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon Sun, Mar 26 at 1:00 and 4:00 Concert Hall Join us before the performance for family-friendly craft activities in the lobby. Admission: $15. Cirque FLIP Fabrique Fri, Mar 31 at 8:00 Sat, Apr 1 at 2:00 Concert Hall A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain. Admission: $50, $43, $30. Daniel Hope and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra: America Sun, Apr 2 at 2:00 Concert Hall A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain. Admission: $55, $47, $33. Back to Top of Page Mason Student and Faculty Performances (see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals Healing Arts Ensemble Wed, Mar 22 at 5:00 Center for the Arts, Monson Grand Tier III Admission: Free. Mason Dance Company Gala Concert Fri, Mar 24 at 8:00 Sat, Mar 25 at 8:00 Concert Hall Admission: $28 Adult, $15 senior. Jazz Big Band Showdown 2023 Mon, Mar 27 at 8:00 Concert Hall Admission: $12 Adult, $8 senior. Percussion Ensemble Concert Wed, Mar 29 at 8:00 deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001 Admission: Free. School of Theater: The Hunchback of Seville Thu, Mar 30 and Fri, Mar 31 at 8:00 Sat, Apr 1 at 2:00 and 8:00 Wed, Apr 5 through Fri, Apr 7 at 8:00 Sat, Apr 8 at 2:00 and 8:00 Harris Theatre Admission: $30 Adult, $15 senior. Back to Top of Page At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus) Eric Garner: Multiple Repeat Mistakes Through Apr 15 Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery Admission: Free. Prince William Little Theatre: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Fri, Mar 17 at 8:00 Sat, Mar 18 at 2:00 and 8:00 Sun, Mar 19 at 2:00 Gregory Family Theater Admission: $25 Adult, $20 senior. Manassas Chorale: With One Voice Sat, Mar 18 at 7:30 Merchant Hall Admission: $25, $23. Dervish Sun, Mar 19 at 4:00 Merchant Hall A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance. Admission: $48, $41, $29. Ordway Ballet: Game On Sat, Mar 25 at 6:00 Merchant Hall Admission: $28-$22 Adult, $26-$20 senior. Faculty Artists Series: Dr. Anna Balakerskaia and Friends Sun, Apr 2 at 7:00 Hylton Performing Arts Center Recital Hall Admission: Free. Back to Top of Page For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.3 Back to Top of Page Meetings & Clubs Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates. The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.   Sat Mar 18   10:30 am  1:00 pm Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group Mon Mar 20      9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am What’s in the Daily News? Mah Jongg Club Poetry Reading Club Tue Mar 21      9:30 am  4:00 pm  4:30 pm Annex Art Spanish Club Tai Chi Club Wed Mar 22         10:00 am 10:30 am  1:00 pm  2:00 pm  4:00 pm Bridge Club Investment Forum Outreach Committee Memoir and More Writing Group Mah Jongg Club Thu Mar 23   11:50 am  4:30 pm All the News Tai Chi Club Fri Mar 24      9:30 am 11:00 am 12:00 noon Craft and Conversation Homer, etc. Photography Club Sat Mar 25 10:30 am Tai Chi Club Mon Mar 27  9:30 am What’s in the Daily News? Tue Mar 28  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club Wed Mar 29  1:45 pm Bridge Club Thu Mar 30    4:00 pm  4:30 pm Reston Book Club Tai Chi Club Fri Mar 31        9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am 11:00 am Craft and Conversation Walk and Talk Club Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. Sat Apr 1 10:30 am Tai Chi Club   Back to Top of Page About OLLI E-News OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013. Editorial Staff Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel Associate Editor: David Gundry Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel  Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, Jane Hassell Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: [email protected]. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Search E-News: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News at ENews Archives. To search the content within issues, use Search or enter your search term(s) in Google followed by “site:olli.gmu.edu/” without the quotes. Back to Top of Page   ENews March 3, 2023 March 5, 2023 by Dennis Vanlangen Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper. Website   Quick Links  Catalog   DocStore   Facebook  Officials   Member Portal   Contact Us Board of Directors Meeting, Tallwood, February 17 March 3, 2023 Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel Table of Contents Alerts & Notices From the Desk of the Executive Director: Tell a Friend Highlights of Board Meeting February 17 Celebrate Spring in Reston Special Session: Watercolor Painting–Beginners and Beyond Course Last Call for OLLI Ink 2023 Computer Club Great Theater at a Group Rate with Theater Lovers’ Group Tallwood Book Club February and March Walk & Talk Outings Mason Research Opportunity: StrongerMemory Program (Phase II) Musical March at Mason Poet's Corner Arts & Music at George Mason Meetings & Clubs About OLLI E-News Alerts & Notices Spring-term registration continues throughout the term; spring term is March 27 through May 19. The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, March 17; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, March 14, at 6:00. Reminder: Mason Jazz Camp will be held on the Mason Fairfax campus June 19-23. For registration and camp details, click here. Back to Top of Page From the Desk of the Executive Director: Tell a Friend By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director Recently, OLLI Mason Outreach Committee Chair Debby Mossburg asked you in her article “It’s in Your Hands” for your assistance to spread the word about OLLI in your neighborhood newsletter. This week, we ask you to get personal and “Tell a Friend” about OLLI Mason. Here are some tips to get you started: Highlight the Benefits: Explain to your friend the benefits of lifelong learning, such as improved cognitive function, increased social interaction, and opportunities for personal growth and fulfillment. Share Your Experience: Share your personal experience with your friend. Let them know what you gained from the experience of being an OLLI member and how it positively impacted your life. Provide Resources: Share information about OLLI Mason, such as the website, class schedule, and contact information. This will make it easier for your friend to learn more and get involved. Plan an Activity: Plan an activity around the OLLI lifelong learning program, such as attending a class or lecture together. This will give your friend a firsthand experience of what the program has to offer and may make them more likely to get involved. Follow Up: After your friend attends a class or becomes involved in the program, follow up with them to see how they enjoyed it and if they plan to continue. This will help them feel supported and may encourage them to continue with their learning journey. By taking part in the OLLI Mason "Tell a Friend" campaign, you can encourage your friends to stay engaged and fulfilled in their later years through membership at OLLI Mason. Remember to highlight the benefits, share your experience, provide resources, plan an activity, and follow up to support your friend's journey. Back to Top of Page Highlights of Board Meeting February 17 By Gloria Loew, Secretary The Board of Directors met at Tallwood on February 17. President Lillian Brooks reported that OLLI executives had held preliminary meetings with representatives from travel agencies to begin explorations of arranging trips for OLLI members. Representatives of two travel companies that specialize in travel for our demographic attended the February 17 meeting. OLLI is very excited about the possibilities of developing a travel program for our members. The travel company representatives at the Board meeting presented information about their programs for both domestic and overseas travel. Stay tuned for more information as we find the best companies to work with and plan exciting trips for all of us. Back to Top of Page Celebrate Spring in Reston By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chair 1105 Reston Spring Fling Lunch & Museum Tour Wednesday, 12:00- 3:00, April 5 Celebrate the beginning of spring on April 5 in Reston with your hostess OLLI Reston Program Planning Group Chair Anita Lasansky. Enjoy lunch at Montmartre Restaurant, followed by a tour of the Reston Museum, steps from the restaurant.   The cost of lunch is on your own. Parking is free. The restaurant is at 1625 Washington Plaza N, Reston, in the lake Anne Plaza. Registration is limited to 25 and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that this is a new Special Event, not in the spring catalog. Attendees must register through the member portal. Back to Top of Page Special Session: Watercolor Painting–Beginners and Beyond Course By Christine Narbut, Art and Music Program Planning Group Co‑Chair Registration has opened for the spring term and both Watercolor Painting and Dabbling Artists are available as options to continue your exploration into applied arts. Drawing and painting have many benefits beyond the finished picture. Entering your own little world of creativity and forgetting outside stressors for a little while is like a mini-vacation for your mind.  This spring, Watercolor Painting-Beginners and Beyond will feature a special session on Snowy Trees April 25 at 2:00, presented by Marni Maree, one of the resident artists at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.   Marni is originally from Philadelphia, where she went to Moore College of Art and Design. She is mainly a watercolor artist who also paints with oils and mixed media. She has a studio at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton as well as one in her home in Springfield. Marni has earned numerous awards for her watercolors and is a member of the Potomac Valley Watercolorists, Springfield Art Guild, and Virginia Watercolor Society. She teaches many online classes, live workshops, and international travel workshops.   In the Snowy Trees session, you will learn many playful, yet useful, watercolor techniques as you paint colorful, imaginative, beautiful trees. Please register for the Watercolor Painting – Beginners and Beyond to participate in this special presentation. Looking forward to spring and seeing art blooming before our eyes. Back to Top of Page Last Call for OLLI Ink 2023 By Caroline McNeil, OLLI Ink Editor   OLLI writers—beginners and experienced—take note: OLLI Ink is accepting submissions, including poems, fiction, personal essays, and memoirs, for its 2023 edition.   Now moving into its 13th year, OLLI Ink is a well‑established publication whose contributors come from a wide spectrum of members, including—but not limited to—those enrolled in writing workshops.   How to Submit: Please send your entries and/or any questions to Caroline McNeil at [email protected].   Guidelines:  entries either as an email attachment or pasted in the body of the email to Caroline McNeil (at caromcneil@gmail.com). Please limit number of lines to 30. Please limit number of words to 2,500.  Contributions are welcome through March 15.   Publication:  It is expected that OLLI Ink 2023 will be published online again this year, and that hard copies will be mailed to contributors. Back to Top of Page Computer Club By Paul Howard , OPCUG Program Chair The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, March 18, in person and via Zoom. Coffee, soda, and individual snack packages will be available. Program activities begin at 1:00; the Zoom session usually opens at 12:45.   Bananas at $0.63/lb., the Speed of Light, and Quantum Mechanics – Presented by Lorrin Garson As of November 16, 2018, all seven of the international basic units have been defined in terms of unchanging, fundamental physical constants. The kilogram (kg), the unit of mass, is the last basic unit to be so defined. The kilogram is now expressed in terms of (1) a specific atomic transition frequency (ΔνCs) that defines the second (s), (2) the speed of light (c), and (3) the Planck constant (h). Huh, you’re thinking? You’ve got to be kidding! The chunk of Pt/Ir metal standard is dead; long live the new kilogram! Lorrin Garson had a long career in technical publishing of chemical information. His presentations to our computer groups are famous for their thorough research and clarity in explaining topics such as cryptography, encryption of personal data, cloud storage, and the origins of personal computers.   Learn in 30: 2022 Invisible Apps – Presented by John Krout When you stop using an app on a smart phone or tablet, that app remains in RAM on the device even though you cannot see it. This is true in Apple devices even if you shut down and start up the device later. These can accumulate over time. The result of allowing many apps to remain running in RAM can be a slowdown of the device as well as overuse of the device battery, so the device heats up. This presentation will show you how to identify invisible apps in device RAM, and how to shut down the apps to avoid device speed and heating issues.   John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology, and photography topics, and author of many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.   See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 for 2023—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment. To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 569804 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 823 4185 2232 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial in – 301-715-8592. Back to Top of Page Great Theater at a Group Rate with Theater Lovers’ Group By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers' Group Coordinator CORRECTION: The Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) will attend the 2:00 matinee of How the Light Gets In on Sunday, March 5, at 1st Stage Tysons. The group rate is $40/person. Optional Hibachi-style dinner at nearby Sakura after the show. For details, please email Norma at [email protected]. Free parking.   NEW! On Sunday, March 19, TLG members will attend the 2:00 matinee performance of Silent Sky at Providence Players, located at Route 50 and Annandale Road in Falls Church. Senior tickets are $18. Silent Sky is an inspiring true story about Henrietta Leavit, an astronomer ahead of her time. In 1900, she was hired by Harvard University to map stars but received no scientific credit, which was only attributed to men at the time. She went on to make scientific discoveries that have had a lasting impact on the field of astronomy. Optional dinner after the show at a nearby restaurant. Join us to celebrate women in the month of March. Free parking.   RESCHEDULED: Pacific Overtures at Signature Theatre has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 1, for the 2:00 matinee. Tickets are going fast for this seldom-performed Sondheim musical. Group rate will be about $71/person. The play is based on a true historical event of 1853 when the Americans sent an expeditionary force to open up "The Floating Kingdom" to trade, ending its 200 years of isolation. Sondheim tells the story of Western influence on sailors, samurai, and Japanese society from the Japanese point of view. Optional dinner after the show at a nearby restaurant. Free parking.   All OLLI members and guests are invited to join TLG members on our theatrical outings. Remember Nicole's challenge: Try a new theater this year! If you haven't already done so, then choose one of the above TLG theater outings and join us for a very pleasant afternoon with fellow theater lovers. We carpool, too.    Questions? Email Norma at [email protected]. Back to Top of Page Tallwood Book Club By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator The Tallwood Book Club meets on the second Friday of each month at 2:30.   On March 10, we will be discussing Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. The April selection is The Submission by Amy Waldman.   Questions may be directed to [email protected]. Back to Top of Page February and March Walk & Talk Outings By Marilyn Harriman, OLLI Walk & Talk Club Co-Chair Valentine’s Day was full of sun and balmy temperatures, and the Walk & Talk Club took advantage at Huntsman Lake Trail in West Springfield. Afterward, most of the group of 23 gathered for a hot beverage and dessert at Chloez Café in Fairfax Station. It was an excellent way to enjoy OLLI friends on the holiday of hearts. On February 24, Vince Modugno led 13 walkers on some interesting trails at Nottoway Park in Vienna.   As the weather turns warmer, the club is planning several one-hour outings in March: Tuesday, March 7, Dick Crawford will lead a walk at Eleanor C Lawrence Park Trail in Chantilly starting at 10:00. Monday, March 13, Debby Mossburg will lead walkers on a new stretch of the Gerry Connolly Cross Country Trail at 2:00. We’ll start from Valestra Circle in Oakton. Tuesday, March 21, under the guidance of Averi Fischer, club members will join other OLLI members on a walking tour of the main campus of George Mason University, beginning at the Visitor Center (registration through the OLLI catalog is required for this walk). Friday, March 31, walkers will explore more of Mason District Park Trail starting at 9:00 with club member and guide Michael Nephew. If any of these outings appeal to you, and you’ve not yet registered with the OLLI Walk and Talk Club, Bob Heyer, co-chair, and I invite you to do so for spring 2023. It’s easy! Just sign into your member portal on the OLLI website. Once there, type “OLLI Walk Talk Spring 2023” in the “advanced search options” field, upper right-hand corner, and the club should appear when you click on the GO> button to the right of the field. Be sure to click on the club, so it goes into your cart and then “check out” so your club registration is completed. Once registered, you will receive updates about upcoming walks, including directions to the trail location and maps. Join us in the fun of walking! Back to Top of Page Mason Research Opportunity: StrongerMemory Program (Phase II) By Hyun Kang, Ph.D., Mason Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Social Work Experiences of Older Adults and Caregivers in an Intervention Program for Cognitive Impairment George Mason University gerontology team invites people aged 60 and over who have cognitive or memory concerns to participate in the StrongerMemory program. This program encourages participants to spend just 20 to 30 minutes a day reading aloud, writing, and quickly completing simple math problems. Our research team will ask you about how the StrongerMemory program has affected your cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning. Participation in this study will involve completing questionnaires before and after the 12-week StrongerMemory program and completing weekly check-in sheets. Upon completion of the post-interview, we will provide a gift card ($75) as compensation for your time and effort.  If you are interested in participating in this study, please complete the questionnaire (use link or QR code below). It is a very brief survey designed to assess your recent experience with cognitive decline. You will be contacted via email if you are eligible to participate. Thank you for your interest. If you have any questions about the study, please contact Dr. Hyun Kang ([email protected]), Dr. Emily Ihara ([email protected]) and/or Dr. Cathy Tompkins ([email protected]). https://redcap.link/GMUstrongermemory   Back to Top of Page Musical March at Mason–Part One By Linda H. Harber, OLLI Member and Friends of Music at Mason President Please plan to come to George Mason University next week to see two fabulous concerts. First, on Sunday, March 5, at 4:00, in Mason’s Harris Theatre, you can attend the University Singers Concert. Then, on Monday, March 6, at 8:00, at the Center for the Arts, come to the Mason Symphony Orchestra & student concerto soloists in concert.   Please read what the conductor, Dr. Lisa Billingham says about her upcoming March 5 program:   The University Chamber Singers will present Women in Song on March 5, at 4:00 in the Harris Theatre on the Fairfax campus. Please join us for a series of works by female composers. The choir has been working on a work by Vivan Fung based on a Balinese dance called the Kecuk. The students are studying the movement of the Kecuk with a professional dancer, and two guest dancers will be featured as a part of the concert, with thanks to the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, DC, for their support.   Now read what conductor, Dr. Soo Han tells us about his upcoming March 6 program:   The concert opens with Arirang Fantasy by Korean composer Sunghwan Choi. Arirang is without a doubt the most important folk tune in the Korean culture. The most popular work centers around evocations of longing for home, loved ones, and hope for the future. The concert will also feature Dvorak Symphony No. 9 in D minor. As one of the most popular Dvorak symphonies, it has many themes and melodies that the audience will recognize. Finally, the concert will feature one of our Mason Symphony concerto competition winners, Stephen Sim, who will be performing Concertino da Camera for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra by Jacque Ibert. Stephen is one of our four concerto competition winners (three others will be featured in our May concert). He is a brilliant artist and plays with incredible maturity and technical mastery that is beyond impressive – everyone will love seeing and hearing him perform.   Also, please let me ([email protected]) know if you want to be on the Friends of Music at Mason (FOMM) email list.  You will receive our wonderful Friday FOMM Music Moments and our monthly FOMM News. Please mark your calendar now and come to George Mason University to enjoy the music! Back to Top of Page Poet's Corner Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop Ars Poetica II Words like snowflakes fall through my cold hostile world, blizzards of words I examine as if under a microscope. Emotions embrace my shivering self some like fiery anger, others nurturing love. I compact them with pebbles inside. From this storm a poem.                                   Carolyn F. Wyatt Back to Top of Page Arts & Music at George Mason Performances, March 3 through March 20 By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows: Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test result for most events except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the webpage with event details. Specific requirements are detailed and any future policy changes may be found here: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy. Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website, Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page. Back to Top of Page At the Fairfax Campus Venues Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Jason Vieaux, guitar and Aaron Clay, double bass Sat, Mar 11 at 8:00 Harris Theatre Admission: $65, $50, $40.   Virginia Opera: La Traviata Sat, Mar 11 at 8:00 Sun, Mar 12 at 2:00 Concert Hall A pre-performance discussion featuring Virginia Opera Resident Scholar, Joshua Borths, will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain. Admission: $ 110, $70, $40.   KODO Sat, Mar 18 at 8:00 Concert Hall A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain. Admission: $60, $51, $36. Back to Top of Page Mason Student and Faculty Performances (see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)   The Night Knights Fri, Mar 3 at 8:00 Sat, Mar 4 at 11:00 and 2:00 deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace ASL Interpreted Performance and Talkback on Mar 3 at 8:00 Admission: $10.   University Singers Concert Sun, Mar 5 at 4:00 Harris Theatre Admission: $12 Adult, $8 senior.   Composer's Week Recital Sun, Mar 5 at 6:00 deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001 Admission: Free.   Symphony Orchestra Concert Mon, Mar 6 at 8:00 Concert Hall Admission: $15 Adult, $10 senior. Back to Top of Page At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus) Eric Garner: Multiple Repeat Mistakes Feb 21 –Apr 15 Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery Admission: Free.   Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Inspirations Sat, Mar 4 at 7:30 Merchant Hall Admission: $25.   Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: Songs We Love Sun, Mar 5 at 4:00 Merchant Hall A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance. Admission: $48, $41, $29.   Manassas Ballet Theatre: La Boutique Fantasque & More! Fri, Mar 10 at 7:30 Sat, Mar 11 at 7:30 Sun, Mar 12 at 3:00 Merchant Hall Admission: $ 65, $55, $45, $35, $25.   Prince William Little Theatre: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Fri, Mar 10 at 8:00 Sat, Mar 11 at 2:00 and 8:00 Sun, Mar 12 at 2:00 Fri, Mar 17 at 8:00 Sat, Mar 18 at 2:00 and 8:00 Sun, Mar 19 at 2:00 Gregory Family Theater Admission: $25 Adult, $20 senior.   Manassas Chorale: With One Voice Sat, Mar 18 at 7:30 Merchant Hall Admission: $25, $23.   Dervish Sun, Mar 19 at 4:00 Merchant Hall A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance. Admission: $48, $41, $29. Back to Top of Page For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.3 Back to Top of Page Meetings & Clubs Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates. The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.   Sat Mar 4 10:30 am Tai Chi Club Mon Mar 6      9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am What’s in the Daily News? Mah Jongg Club Poetry Reading Club Tue Mar 7      9:30 am  4:00 pm  4:30 pm Annex Art Spanish Club Tai Chi Club Wed Mar 8         10:00 am 10:30 am  2:00 pm  4:00 pm  6:00 pm Bridge Club Investment Forum Memoir and More Writing Group Mah Jongg Club Ethnic Eats Club Thu Mar 9     11:50 am 12:15 pm  4:30 pm All the News Excursion Committee Tai Chi Club Fri Mar 10          9:30 am  9:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am  2:30 pm Photography Club Craft and Conversation Homer, etc. Cooking Club Tallwood Book Club Sat Mar 11 10:30 am Tai Chi Club Mon Mar 13    9:30 am 11:00 am What’s in the Daily News? Poetry Writing Club Tue Mar 14    9:30 am  4:30 pm Annex Art Tai Chi Club Wed Mar 15   10:00 am 10:30 am Bridge Club Investment Forum Thu Mar 16   11:50 am  4:30 pm All the News Tai Chi Club Fri Mar 17      9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting Homer, etc. Sat Mar 18   10:30 am  1:00 pm Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group Back to Top of Page About OLLI E-News OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013. Editorial Staff Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel Associate Editor: David Gundry Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel  Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, Jane Hassell Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: [email protected]. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Search E-News: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News at ENews Archives. To search the content within issues, use Search or enter your search term(s) in Google followed by “site:olli.gmu.edu/” without the quotes. An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase. Back to Top of Page   OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY 4210 Roberts Rd. Fairfax, VA 22032-1028 Phone: (703) 503-3384 Email: [email protected] Copyright ©2025 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. All Rights Reserved. Website designed and developed by Earthcare Technologies Inc. OLLI Mason is a nonprofit, equal opportunity 501(c)(3) organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national/ethnic origin. Search this website CLOSE