Meet the Candidates for OLLI’s 2025 Board of Directors Upcoming Election
By Norma Jean Reck, Chairperson, Nominating Committee
At the March 21 meeting of the OLLI Board of Directors (BOD), I presented the names of the five OLLI members that the Nominating Committee has identified and verified to be candidates for Director for the 2025 BOD elections. They are: Tim Harwarth, John McAndrew, Ann McNeish, Michele Romano, and Steve Rose, whose photos and biographical statements are provided below; the photos and biographical statements also appear on the OLLI website at this link. Kudos to Edward Marion for taking candidate photos on March 14.
Tim Harwarth: I earned a BA from the University of Minnesota in Political Science. I also served in the U.S. Army Reserve while I was in college in Minnesota. I moved to the Washington area and earned an MA degree at George Washington University in National Defense Policy. While working on my master’s degree, I also worked full time on Capitol Hill for a Senator from my home state of Minnesota. After I received my MA, I worked for a contractor supporting the Air Force and Office of the Secretary of Defense, primarily in congressional affairs and staff roles.
My federal government and intelligence community career began at the Defense Intelligence Agency where I was staff officer for six years. I served a short rotational assignment at the Pentagon in the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence office. I then transferred to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) where I worked for the functional management and the intelligence production directorates for three years. Next, I accepted a position at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) where I was the action officer for producing the intelligence community’s justification books for submission to Congress. After working at ODNI for two years, I transferred back to NGA serving in chief of staff and career service manager roles. I retired from NGA in March 2023 after 27 years of federal service.
I joined OLLI after I retired in March 2023. I greatly enjoyed the classes at OLLI, especially the history classes, as history has always been an interest of mine. Another interest is board gaming. I have been playing various types of board games most of my life. To pass on some of my knowledge, I taught an OLLI class, Introduction to Modern Board Gaming. I followed up the class by creating the Board Gaming Club at OLLI. We get together in person every other week and meet virtually the other weeks. I enjoy teaching my fellow OLLI club members some of the games in my personal collection. I believe that I have been successful in passing my love of board games to other members of the club. I believe that I will bring new perspectives and ideas to the OLLI Board of Directors. I am a people person and a great communicator. I hope to use these abilities to continue to make OLLI a great place to be.
John McAndrew: I earned a BA from Hampton University and an MEd in curriculum and instruction/middle education from George Mason University. In addition, I achieved National Board Certification in social studies/history for early adolescence. My teaching experience includes 24 years as a middle school classroom teacher of social studies (history, civics, economics, and geography) for grades 6 and 8; a year as a K-6 social studies curriculum support teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools; and a few summers as an adjunct professor with the GMU Fast Train Program for Teaching Elementary Social Studies. Following retirement, I volunteered (3 years) with the Virginia Literacy Program, tutoring adult English with the Woodson Adult Center. I worked for the FCPS Department of Human Resources Colleague Assistance Program by supporting K-12 FCPS teachers.
As a committee co-chair of the Humanities/Social Sciences/Current Events Committee, my responsibilities include extensive use of written and verbal communication. These are written electronic invitations to course presenters from universities such as GMU, University of Richmond, Old Dominion University, Fairfax County Public Library, and community members. These communication venues demand professional expertise with e-mail, e-mail attachments, websites, and follow-up letters of thanks and appreciation to presenters. I consistently write committee meeting invitations and meeting minutes and submit articles to OLLI E-News. My responsibilities include collaborating with members electronically, in person, and via phone to brainstorm topics and ideas, construct courses, and determine presenters. Making courses relevant to our members is a major goal of program planners; however, our objectives are not only to provide excellent programming but also to ensure that topics reflect the multicultural landscape of Fairfax County. I have also acted as the temporary chairperson of the Outreach Committee and as a Mason University Board of Directors member.
I have been a member of OLLI since 2014, a member of the Humanities and Social Sciences Program Planning Group since 2019, and am currently serving as co-chairperson of the Humanities/Social Sciences/Current Events committee. My vision for fine-tuning this committee is ongoing. As the current co-chair of the newly formed OLLI Diversity Committee, I have been involved with its construction, goal setting, and objectives. Board membership would allow me to help fine-tune the construction of this committee and support other programming from the perspectives of problem-solving, oversight, accountability, and adherence to OLLI Mason’s strategic plan.
Ann McNeish: As a member of OLLI since fall of 2019, I witnessed the change brought about by COVID, as OLLI adapted to meet those challenges. Last year I was excited to work with other members on two major projects: help redesign the OLLI homepage and create marketing videos featuring OLLI members, both intended to help attract new members to our OLLI community. The videos were completed last fall and are posted to the OLLI website. They can also be used in presentations to community groups as part of OLLI’s ongoing marketing efforts. The new OLLI homepage was recently launched, and a training session was held to familiarize members with the changes and ensure they could still easily find information. These experiences were deeply rewarding, being able to use my knowledge and experience in marketing and communications to help an organization that I value so deeply.
As a native of Nashville, Tenn., I graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in finance. After two years with the Securities and Exchange Commission, I spent 20 years with the trade association for mutual funds, conducting industry and market research and developing and executing communications strategies related to research findings. Communications included monthly reports, press releases and ongoing dialogue with members of the press, and conference speeches for members, consumers, regulators, members of Congress, and international counterparts in the investments field. I then spent 15 years with Bank of America, supporting executives for wealth management, investment banking, the consumer bank and the Chief Financial Officer, planning and executing communications for customers, regulators, shareholder and Board of Director presentations, and earnings reports.
After retiring, I volunteered for two years in Pinehurst, N.C., at a free medical clinic established to provide baseline health care for adults in the community without employer-sponsored health care but unable to qualify for Medicaid. I worked at the front desk checking patients in for appointments, scheduling follow-ups, and dispensing prescriptions. After returning to Northern Virginia, I volunteered during COVID for BritePaths in Fairfax, helping distribute the daily allocation of grants to families needing assistance with rent or utilities.
Michele Romano: Education and Work Experience: I am a retired physician and associate clinical professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health with 30 years of experience in family medicine in Fairfax, Va. I was also a registered nurse for 12 years before going to medical school and opened the first critical care unit in a civilian hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1970. Very cool but you grow up fast. I attended medical school at VCU in Richmond, Va., and then established a private practice, growing to five providers and 13 ancillary personnel. I learned leadership, management, teaching, financial skills, and people skills over those 30 years and was still able to do what I loved best…treat my amazing patients.
Volunteer Experience: I have served on the VCU Board of Directors, the VCU Health System Board, the Inova Fair Oaks Medical Executive Committee, and chaired the Department of Family Medicine. I presently serve on the board of the Medical College of Virginia Foundation (a billion-dollar foundation that serves as the philanthropic arm for the VCU Health System). I chair their Personnel and Compensation Committee and am a member of their Strategic Planning Task Force, Communications Committee, and Executive Committee.
OLLI: I have been a member since 2015. I am presently a member of the OLLI Board, chair the Healthcare Advisory Committee, co-chair the Science, Technology, and Health Committee, and am an OLLI instructor. I hope that my past experience with medical and nonprofit boards contributes to OLLI’s mission. I am continuously amazed at all the great work our members do to make OLLI Mason such a robust and awesome organization. I will continue to always be cognizant that we spend our members’ money wisely. I will always ask questions and follow best practices as much as possible. As Board members, we are fiduciaries. We work for you. Our members really are the mission.
OLLI Mason has the most intelligent, interesting, engaged group of people I have ever known. It would be my great honor and pleasure to serve a second term on the OLLI Board. Thank you.
Stephen J. Rose: I earned a BA in business/decision science from George Mason University and an MS in information management from Marymount University. In addition, I earned certifications in project management, and agile software development. I am currently taking a George Mason class on non-profit organization law, governance, and ethics. My career started in computer operations with the U.S. Navy and progressed to software development in both application and operating systems. These activities led me to developing a business unit that provided consulting services to various U.S. and foreign intelligence agencies. My management experience includes managing technical consulting and software development teams (over 50 staff personnel), proposal development, staff management, profit and loss responsibilities and marketing solutions to both government and commercial customers. I also supported worldwide software integration and deployment projects for various customers.
At OLLI I served as the subcommittee leader in developing a pricing model for use with commercial business customers. I am a member of the finance committee and a member of the web-development group that is upgrading our current web site. I was a member of the 2024 Nominating Committee. I am currently providing OLLI support in investigating the potential for a new registration software system to meet our evolving needs.
I have been a member of OLLI since 2019 and have been a frequent attendee at OLLI Board meetings. I believe that my business experience can be a valuable addition to the OLLI Board in the areas of financial management, business development, and operational management.
The Board is happy to report that we've received more than 70 applications for our Executive Director position, many from highly qualified candidates. The Search Committee met last week with our partners at AMorrison Consulting to plan out the rest of the process. This week, AMorrison began reviewing all of the submissions, narrowing down the candidate options, and conducting initial screening interviews and background checks for the top 12 candidates. The top 4-5 will then have Zoom interviews with the Search Committee, and after discussing the results, they'll select the top two candidates for live, in-person interviews at Tallwood. Once those are completed, the Search Committee will recommend the top candidate to the OLLI Board of Directors for approval and hiring.
We anticipate this process will be concluded by the end of April, and the Board will continue providing updates as the search progresses.
Caring for someone in physical or mental decline? The very first thing you need to do is TAKE. CARE. OF. YOU. 1/3 of caregivers will die before the victim of the disease. You are no good to anyone if you can’t breathe. Learn about resources in your area (AARP, Fairfax Area Commission on Aging, etc.). Join a support group. OLLI has one.
The History Club will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, April 2, at 4:00. Blane Ampthor will present on The Great Atlantic Speed Race: The Era of the Great Ocean Liners. Ocean linerswere the vital link between Europe and North America during two world wars and enabled the largest migration in human history. Several competed to be the fastest across the world’s most dangerous ocean, garnering business, prestige, and fame. This is the story of those magnificent machines and some of the people who made them what they were.
Blane is a retired federal employee with a lifelong interest in history. He has read extensively on World War II, the American Revolution, and ocean liners. He has taught several OLLI classes and instructed with the Loudon County Public Library, AARP, and senior communities. He enjoys visiting sites related to his interests so that he can gain a fuller understanding of events.
The March 2025 Photo of the Month theme was Self-Portrait. We selected George Bradshaw's photo "BradshawG_SelfPortrait," which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.
-- By John Olsen and Ed Marion, Photography Club Coordinators
Do you like to travel? Do you like to share your travel stories with others? Share those stories with OLLI members! Consider speaking in one session of the 8-session Trip Tales series that are offered in spring and fall terms. We are now planning for fall term (Sep 22–Nov 14) with Trip Tales given on Mondays at 2:15-3:40. You may present virtually, in-person, or hybrid.
If interested, please contact [email protected]. Or click this link and complete the form to participate. If you have a suggestion for any course, you may use these two links also.
As we start a new term, here are some facts about OLLI that new members may be unaware of, and current members may have forgotten!
The Social Room at Tallwood has coffee, tea, and snacks, as well as a lending library. It’s a great place to hang out before classes and chat with other members.
When not in use, the Annex is a great place to have lunch or something to drink between back-to-back classes. Consider sitting outside at the picnic tables when the weather is nice.
If you are signed up for a class or other event and will not be able to attend, please drop the class through the link on the OLLI Home Page or by calling the Registrar. There is frequently a waiting list, and this will allow someone to take your place.
If you’re on a Zoom call, please turn off your camera and mute your microphone if you’re involved in another activity (e.g., eating, walking into another room).
Please include your name in our Membership Directory. The only people who have access to the Directory are OLLI members. If another member is trying to get in touch with you, they can’t unless you’re listed in the Directory.
OLLI is more than just classes—check out the 28 clubs listed at the back of the catalog. And don’t forget there are many opportunities to volunteer at OLLI.
By Darden Purcell, D.M.A., Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice
Mason’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music is hosting several jazz concerts this spring, and we hope OLLI members will attend and enjoy them. Listed below are two upcoming events in late March and early April. Later ones will be announced in subsequent issues of E-News. Please join us!
Big Band Showdown: Monday Mar 31, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Tickets: $15 General Public, $10 Seniors, $5 Students
For more details, click this link.
Join the Mason Jazz Ensemble (director Jim Carroll) and special guests, the Blues Alley Jazz Youth Orchestra (director Michael Bowie) and the Liberty University Jazz Ensemble (director Joseph Henson) for an evening that celebrates the hot sounds and swinging beats of the Big Band era!
Jazz Workshop: Wednesday Apr 9, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Free and open to the public; no tickets or registration required
For more details, click this link.
The Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in a medium-size jazz ensemble. Come experience a taste of 21st-century jazz by the next generation of jazz musicians in the “Changing of the Guard.”
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) conducts a casual, drop-in conversation on Zoom every second week on Wednesday's at 4:00. Each session is on a different topic.
The topic for Team Bloch's Wednesday afternoon chat on April 2 is "If you could write your autobiography, what chapter would be the most important one?" Could be an intriguing topic to discuss.
The zoom link is always found in the email with the daily schedule on the relevant morning. Log on and join us on April 2 or any future session.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468. You can also buy tickets online through the event calendar (see the CFA ticket page link below) or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket page or the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on 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.
Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Pre-performance discussions will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Concert Hall, 45 minutes prior to curtain. As seating is limited, a livestream will also be available on screens in the main lobby.
Les Arts Florissants: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 300
Sun, Mar 30, 4:00
Pre-performance discussion.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Acrobatics
Sat, Apr 5, 2:00 and 8:00
Pre-performance discussion.
Concert Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey
Sun, Apr 6, 1:00 and 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $15.
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. 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 29
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Mar 31
9:30 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Apr 1
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
3:45 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Dabbling Artists Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
History Club – online
Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Apr 3
11:50 am
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
All the News
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats – online
Fri Apr 4
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
2:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Dance Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat Apr 5
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Apr 7
9:30 am
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Apr 8
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Apr 9
11:50 am
12:00 noon
1:30 pm
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Games Club
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Thu Apr 10
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Apr 11
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
2:00 pm
2:30 pm
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Tallwood Book Club – online
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: Thomas Appich, David Gundry, John Nash, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
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. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
A March 3 class with instructor Dr. Linda Miller and six amazing students from the Mason School of Dance previewed a March 28 & 29 Mason dance gala; it promises to be a wonderful show.
The OLLI Personal Computer User Group meets March 15 (tomorrow) at 1:00 in person at Tallwood and via Zoom (Zoom session opens at 12:45). See article below.
Spring registration continues. See new Zoom offering: 202Z Navigating the Obstacles in Estate Planning and Administration, 3 sessions, 9:40, Mar 27-Apr 10.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, March 28; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, March 25, at 6:00.
The OLLI Board of Directors is pleased to report that we have received more than 70 resumes for the OLLI Executive Director position! The submission window closes today, March 14th, and we're very happy with the response. Our nonprofit executive-search firm, AMorrison Consulting, LLC, is now reviewing the submissions to prioritize them in terms of compatibility with our job description and requirements. Next week, the search committee will meet to set timelines for the review and selection process and begin reviewing the resumes. Once we know what we're working with, we'll be able to start interviewing the top candidates, with the aim of making our final recommendation to the full Board of Directors for approval at the end of April.
If you have any questions, please contact our President, Debbie Engleson.
By Dennis VanLangen, Member of OLLI Website Team Volunteers
The OLLI Website Team, with assistance from a web designer and developer from Earthcare Technologies, Inc., has deployed OLLI's newly redesigned website. The website has a new look and feel and includes enhancements to more effectively market to non-members all the benefits that an OLLI membership provides. It shows new images, videos, and testimonials from our current and former members. It has separate sections with resource links to help members and teachers find pertinent information.
You may access the website here. Note: If the new website is not accessible through this link, please try again later.
You have two sources of support to help you get accustomed to the new website and get help using it:
You may report issues and problems to the OLLI Website Help Team by emailing the help desk at [email protected]. The help desk team also welcomes your suggestions for further improvements.
We have arranged a training session for OLLI members to explore and learn about the new website. The website team will hold this session via Zoom on Thursday, March 20, starting at 1:00. You don’t need to register for this class. Watch for other OLLI communications to alert you to this training session. OLLI staff will include the Zoom link for this session in the OLLI Mason Daily Schedule on the morning of March 20. See you there!
By Margie Wildblood and Sophia Elberti, OLLI Ink Co-Editors
OLLI writers—beginners and experienced—take note: OLLI Ink is now accepting submissions, including poems, fiction, personal essays, and memoirs, for its 2025 edition.
Now moving into its 15th year, OLLI Ink is a well-established publication whose contributors come from a wide spectrum of OLLI members, including, but not limited to, those enrolled in writing classes and workshops.
How to Submit: Please send your entries and any questions to either Margie Wildblood at [email protected] and/or Sophia Elberti at [email protected].
Guidelines:
Poems – please limit number of lines to 30.
Prose – please single space and indent the first sentence of each paragraph; limit number of words to 2,500.
Contributions are welcome through the end of March.
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in a recent issue. It is repeated here to encourage submissions to OLLI Ink.
Looking for a way to spread the word about OLLI's great programs? Know a group of friends or colleagues who might like OLLI’s programs? Excel at public speaking or giving a presentation? Live in a large complex that OLLI programs would appeal to? Know teachers who would like to deliver a class to our members? Then we could use your talents in the Outreach Committee! Below you'll find a few of the things we do as part of the Outreach Committee:
Develop and update content for OLLI publicity materials
Distribute catalogs, brochures and flyers to community centers, libraries, retirement communities, condo associations, and large apartment complexes
Promote OLLI through local senior-focused events and neighborhood newsletters
Present information on OLLI programs at US Government retirement seminars, senior communities, and volunteer fairs aimed at continuing education
Target underrepresented parts of the community through specific information sessions
Analyze our membership data for program and demographic trends to ensure we provide for all of our members' needs
Promote a collaborative, interesting, and supportive environment for members to have fun
If this seems like something you’d enjoy being a part of, please contact Dean Salpini at [email protected] or 571-407-4272. Thanks.
Start the Spring Term with Coffee with Your Friends!
By Toni Acton, Member Services Chair
Join your friends at the OLLI spring Kick-off Coffee and Activities Fair on March 20 at 10:00 at Tallwood. Before the official program begins, check out the many clubs and volunteer opportunities we have at OLLI—there’s a lot more to OLLI than just classes! Hear from our Executive Director, Board President, and Program Planning Chair to find out what’s new and exciting this spring, with plenty of time for questions. And, of course, indulge in the great refreshments provided by our wonderful Diversions Committee.
Please join us on March 20! Register for Event 1204F via the member portal or contact the registrar at [email protected].
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 15, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45.
Custom Text Tones for Your Smartphone—Presented by John Krout
Custom text tones that announce the name of the text sender are easy to create, install and apply to text senders. The custom tones let you know who sent a text, so you can decide whether or not to look at the text immediately.
In this presentation, you will learn how to record a text sender's name in a digital audio file using your smartphone, how to name that digital audio file using the name of the text sender, how to install that digital audio file on your smartphone, and how to assign that digital audio file as the text tone for that text sender. You will also learn how to assign a silent text tone as your default, so unwanted texts from strangers do not distract you.
You can also record your own name and nickname as text tones in digital audio files. These make great digital gifts for your relatives and friends to use on their smartphones.
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.
Learn in 30: 3D Scanning Technology—Presented by Roger Fujii
3D scanning technology has improved greatly over the years. This Learn in 30 will cover the technologies involved in getting 3D data, and various use cases that one might have.
Roger Fujii has helped OLLI with technology challenges for its email and LAN systems since 2006 and has been a PATACS stalwart since the ‘80s.
See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 and are now due for 2025 (and 2024, if you didn’t get around to paying last year!)—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 340191 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 8681 36 20 720 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method), or dial in at 301-715-8592.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Team Bloch hosts a conversation every second Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 on Zoom. Our goal is to foster social interaction, camaraderie, and a good discussion. All are welcome, no need to sign up in advance (actually, there IS no sign up!), and no commitments; just an interest in meeting informally with others.
The topic for March 19 is Losing Treasured Items.
We all lose or misplace items from time to time. These items might be critical like keys or a wallet, yet often the item might represent a special memory or a gift from a dear friend. Maybe the item is broken and no longer functional? Many of us are likely to remember losing a favorite toy or stuffed animal in our childhood.
How do you feel when you have truly lost a treasured item? At this stage of our lives, we have often dealt with many losses. Is it easier now or more difficult? Do you find yourself willing to accept the loss and move on?
Feel free to join us at 4:00 on March 19; we look forward to talking with you.
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group
Synetic Theater to Perform The Immigrant.
Your theater experience is not complete until you have seen The Synetic Theater group perform. Can you imagine theater without words? On Sunday, March 16, TLG will attend the 3 p.m. matinee performance of The Immigrant at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre in Arlington. We will have lunch at Ruthie's All Day at 1 p.m., thanks to Gay Alper. The play is The Synetic Theater's interpretation of the silent movie of the same name, which is a comedy about the immigrants who arrived in New York at the turn of the 20th century - their trials, tribulations, and high hopes for their new life in America.
We are looking into a group rate for tickets that start at $35. Stay tuned. Please email me at [email protected] to reserve tickets. Feel free to invite a guest or two.
Editor’s Note: At the author’s request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.
This body is made of earth and gold, Sky and stars, rivers and oceans, Masquerading as muscle and bone.
(Taken from The Radiance Sutras, translated by Lorin Roche)
Sometimes I feel like an anthropologist from another galaxy,
sent here to study strange Earth customs.
I observe, but do not comprehend its foreign ways.
To make sense of this world, I go to my spot…
the one down by the lake under the black gum tree.
There I lay my tired back upon the Earth
until I feel the electromagnetic pulse
of her heartbeat entraining with mine.
I then look up through the red-flame leaves
of the black gum, lacing their patterns
against the Cerulean blue sky. I then notice the small bird’s nest
cradled in its uppermost branches.
Like the fledglings that once inhabited
this home, I am newborn once again,
wonder-filled, beholding nature reveal herself to me…
my feet planted on terra firma and
my soul at home in the heavens.
Obituary: Dr. Jack Arthur Underhill
Dr. Jack Underhill, OLLI member since fall 1998, died on March 1, 2025. Born in Healdsburg, California, he completed a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of California at Berkeley in 1954. He enlisted in the US Army, attending the Army Language School at Monterey to study Russian. He was deployed to West Germany, where he served in military intelligence.
After his discharge from the Army, Jack got a master’s degree from Columbia University. He pursued a career in the federal government, eventually securing a job at the Office of Emergency Planning in Washington, DC. He served as a research analyst in community planning for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He earned a second master’s degree from Harvard University and a PhD in Public Policy at George Mason University. He retired from federal service in 1997.
At OLLI, Dr. Underhill served on the Board of Directors and was an active member until his death. A devoted member of the poets of OLLI, he wrote hundreds of poems, several of which were published in the OLLI E-News.
There will be a memorial service at 2:00 on Saturday, March 15 (tomorrow), at Annandale Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale. More information is available at this link.
Opportunities to Join the OLLI E‑News Editorial Team
By Paul Van Hemel, E‑News Chief Editor
If you love OLLI and are interested in an easy way to contribute a volunteer effort to the organization, here’s an opportunity to do so by becoming a member of the E‑News editorial team. By serving one day every four or five weeks as Editor of the Week, you can have a positive impact on OLLI and enjoy a pleasant journalistic experience. We have openings for a couple of new editors.
E‑News is one of several OLLI publications that is created using MailChimp software. We will teach you what you need to know to put together an E-News issue. You don’t have to generate content, which generally is submitted by OLLI-member coordinators for committees, clubs, and activities. If you are interested and have questions or would like to know more, please contact me at [email protected]. Thanks!
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468. You can also buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below) or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on 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 linkto 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.
Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Pre-performance discussions will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Concert Hall, 45 minutes prior to curtain. As seating is limited, a livestream will also be available on screens in the main lobby.
Cherish the Ladies (a Musical Group)
Sat Mar 15, 8:00
Pre-performance discussion.
Concert Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
Rhythm India
Sat, Mar 22, 8:00
Pre-performance discussion.
Concert Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Humor in Music
Sun, Mar 23, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Les Arts Florissants: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 300
Sun, Mar 30, 4:00
Pre-performance discussion.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Jigjam: Irish Bluegrass
Fri, Mar 14, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Prince William Little Theatre: The Secret Garden, The Musical
Fri, Mar 14, 8:00
Sat, Mar 15, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Mar 16, 2:00
Fri, Mar 21, 8:00
Sat, Mar 22, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Mar 23, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30 Adult; $25 Senior, Student, Military; $20 Youth.
Manassas Chorale: Come to the Music
Sat, Mar 15, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25, $23.
Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies LIVE
Sat, Mar 22, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Ordway Ballet: Mary Poppins
Sun, Mar 23, 1:00 and 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $32, $29, $26 Adult, $30, $27, $24 Senior.
A Year With Frog and Toad (a Musical)
Sat, Mar 29, 11:00 and 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.
Alison Brown
Sat, Mar 29, 5:00 and 8:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30.
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. 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 15
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Mar 17
9:30 am
11:00 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Poetry Reading Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Mar 18
2:00 pm
3:45 pm
4:30 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Mar 19
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
1:30 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Dabbling Artists Club – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Mar 20
10:00 am
11:50 am
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
OLLI Kick-Off Coffee and Activities Fair
All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Mar 21
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Mar 22
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Mar 24
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Mar 25
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Mar 26
12:00 noon
1:30 pm
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Games Club
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Thu Mar 27
3:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Mar 28
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
2:00 pm
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
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, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
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. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
- Nominations continue for Board of Directors candidates for the 2025 election (see article below).
- Spring registration continues. See new Zoom offering: 202Z Navigating the Obstacles in Estate Planning and Administration, 3 sessions, 9:40, Thursdays, March 27-Apr 10.
- The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, March 14; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, March 11, at 6:00.
Executive Director Search Update By Emily Roudebush, OLLI Vice President
Since receiving notice of her resignation, the OLLI Board of Directors has been working diligently toward finding a replacement for our wonderful Executive Director, Jennifer Disano. We've engaged with a local, nonprofit executive-search firm, AMorrison Consulting, LLC, to assist us. They've recently posted a job notice and position description on a variety of appropriate recruitment sites. We've also established an ad hoc Search Committee, which will review the top resumés submitted and conduct interviews with select candidates. They will then present their final recommendation to the full Board of Directors for approval and hiring.
If you're interested in reading the full job listing or applying for the Executive Director position, you'll find all the details here. The Board will continue providing updates as the search progresses.
By Norma Jean Reck, Chairperson, Nominating Committee
Members of the Nominating Committee are working apace to identify candidates for the Board of Directors and to verify that they are interested in being a candidate for Director. All qualified OLLI members interested in being a candidate must notify the Nominating Committee of your interest by emailing Chairperson Norma Jean Reck at [email protected] no later than Friday, March 7. The qualifications for being a Director can be found in Section B of Appendix A. Director Nomination and Election Procedures of OLLI Policies and Procedures Manual, which you can find online at olli.gmu.edu, under Documents on the Main Menu.
History Club Meeting March 5 By Doug Snoeyenbos, History Club Coordinator
The History Club will hold its monthly virtual meeting on Wednesday, March 5, at 4:00. The presenter will be Caitlin Hartweave, a doctoral candidate in History at George Mason. Caitlin will present on the life of a French noble, the Chevalier D’Eon (1728-1810). D’Eon was a diplomat, a soldier, a spy, an exile, and an eyewitness to many important events of the Seven Years War, the French Revolution, and the rise of Napoleon. D’Eon also became a huge celebrity in Great Britain, for reasons that will surprise you. This will be a very entertaining presentation which you won’t want to miss.
Discover the Joy of Watercolor: Sign Up for Watercolor Beginners and Beyond
By Christine Narbut, Art and Music Program Planning Group Co-Chair
Have you ever thought you would like to learn how to paint? The upcoming watercolor class is designed specifically for beginners, regardless of their prior experience or artistic background. Why Watercolor?
Watercolor painting is a magical medium that allows for endless creativity and expression. Its fluidity and transparency create stunning effects that captivate the viewer's eye. Unlike other painting techniques, watercolor encourages spontaneity and freedom, making it an ideal choice for those new to the world of art.
What to Expect in Class
The beginner's curriculum covers everything needed to get started with watercolor painting. Each session is structured to build on skills learned in the previous class, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable learning experience. Here are some of the exciting topics:
Introduction to Watercolor Supplies
Learn about the different types of brushes, paper, and paints, and how to choose the best materials for your projects.
Basic Technique
Master essential techniques such as wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, gradient washes, and layering. – Color Mixing: Understand the principles of color theory and how to create harmonious and vibrant color palettes. – Creating Textures: Experiment with various methods to add texture and depth to your paintings, including salt, sponge, and dry brush techniques. – Composition and Design: Learn how to plan and compose your paintings for maximum visual impact.
Benefits Beyond the Canvas
Engaging in watercolor painting offers numerous benefits beyond the joy of creating art. It can be therapeutic and relaxing, providing a much-needed escape from daily stresses. Painting also enhances cognitive abilities, improves concentration, and fosters a sense of accomplishment and self-expression.
Whether you are looking to develop a new hobby, meet like-minded individuals, or simply unwind, our watercolor classes offer something for everyone.
Theater Lovers’ Group to Hold a Lunch Party
and Attend a Play By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group
Let's Party!
Do we really need a reason to just enjoy hanging out with old friends while making new friends? Let the spirit move you to grab a friend (does not have to be an OLLI member) and join TLG for lunch at the Auld Shebeen in Fairfax City on Tuesday, March 4 at 11:45 p.m. We have a room to ourselves, so we can socialize to our heart's content. We'll slip in some planning for future theater outings and lunch with separate checks. Please do email Norma [email protected] to reserve your spot by Monday, March 3. Will look for you there.
Synetic Theater to Perform The Immigrant.
Your theater experience is not complete until you have seen The Synetic Theater group perform. Can you imagine theater without words? On Sunday, March 16, TLG will attend the 3 p.m. matinee performance of The Immigrant at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre in Arlington. We will have lunch at Ruthie's All Day at 1 p.m., thanks to Gay Alper. The play is The Synetic Theater's interpretation of the silent movie of the same name, which is a comedy about the immigrants who arrived in New York at the turn of the 20th century - their trials, tribulations, and high hopes for their new life in America.
We are looking into a group rate for tickets that start at $35. Stay tuned. Please email me at [email protected] to reserve tickets. Feel free to invite a guest or two.
Editor’s Note: At the author’s request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.
The Tallwood Book Club will be discussing Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe in its March meeting which will take place on Zoom on Friday, March 14, at 2:30. Our April book will be The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkyl. That meeting will also be on Zoom on Friday, April 11. The Zoom links will appear in the OLLI daily schedules for the indicated dates.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
As usual, Team Bloch will moderate a session next Wednesday afternoon, March 5, at 4:00 on the OLLI Chat Line. Our March 5 topic is a not-so-usual one: Vegetables We Know and Love.
Team Bloch members enjoy eating a wide variety of vegetables, which can be prepared in a variety of ways. Do you have a favorite vegetable? If yes, what is it and how do you like it prepared? Raw, steamed, fried, baked, stir-fried? Plain or with sauce, condiments, or dressings? Or are you of the school that believes pizza, French fries, ketchup, and potato chips are vegetables that count in the daily consumption quota?
Come join us on the Chat Line, March 5 at 4:00. The Zoom link is found on the OLLI daily schedule.
Reminder: Literature, Language, and Theater (LLT) Program Planning Group to Meet March 4
By Patricia Bangs, LLT Program Planning Group Co-Coordinator
Please join the Literature, Language, and Theater Program Planning Group for our quarterly all-campus program planning group meeting, Tuesday, March 4 at 10:00 via Zoom.
We will be reviewing past terms and looking forward to planning for fall 2025 and beyond. All OLLI members are invited to contribute to the excellent programming OLLI Mason offers. Bring ideas for literature, theater, writing, or language classes, and possible instructor resources for these popular classes. Any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Topic: Literature, Language, and Theater Program Planning Group Meeting
Time: March 4, 2025, 10:00 Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://gmu.zoom.us/j/93265816341
Meeting ID: 932 6581 6341
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,93265816341# US (Washington DC)
+12678310333,,93265816341# US (Philadelphia)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 267 831 0333 US (Philadelphia)
Find your local number: https://gmu.zoom.us/u/ad6nh5KJFx
Last Day to Sign Up for the Mardi Gras Ball! By Linda Harber, Friends of Music at Mason President
Today is the last day to sign up for the Friends of Music at Mason (FOMM) Mardi Gras Ball to be held at the Fairfax Country Club on Friday, March 7, beginning at 6:00. This is going to be a great event! You will enjoy fabulous jazz, wonderful food, and seeing your wonderful friends. And equally important, proceeds from your tickets support Mason Friends of Music Mason student scholarships. It's a win/win deal! Buy your tickets today by contacting Emily Rusch at [email protected] or calling 703-993-3872. We hope to see you there!
The February 2025 Photo of the Month theme was Sports/Action/Adventure/Motion. OPC members selected Ed Marion's photo White Water Kayak taken at Great Falls. This picture also may be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website. -- By John Olsen and Edward Marion, Photography Club Co-Coordinators
Thoughts flowing like water
Creeping into every crevice of worry
Sweeping reality into a torrent
Flooding into the low country of pain
Into the basin where wildflowers will bloom
–Sally Sibley
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468. You can also buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below) or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on 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 linkto 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.
Kodo: One Earth Tour 2025: Warabe Sat, Mar 1, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Angélique Kidjo
Sun, Mar 2, 7:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Fairfax Symphony: Elgar & Mussorgsky
Sat, Mar 8, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $65, $55, $40.
Cherish the Ladies
Sat Mar 15, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Expressions
Sat, Mar 1, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: A Few of Our Favorite Things
Sun, Mar 2, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Juan Megna Trio
Wed, Mar 5, 1:30
Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall
Admission: Concert and dessert reception: $45
Jigjam: Irish Bluegrass
Fri, Mar 14, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. 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 1
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Mar 3
10:00 am
Dance Event
Tue Mar 4
1:00 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Wed Mar 5
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
1:30 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Dabbling Artists Club – online
Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Mar 6
1:00 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Fri Mar 7
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Dance Club
Dirty Knee Club
Sat Mar 8
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Tue Mar 11
1:00 pm
4:00 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Wed Mar 12
10:00 am
10:30 am
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Thu Mar 13
1:00 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Fri Mar 14
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Cooking Club
Dirty Knee Club
Sat Mar 15
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
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: Thomas Appich, David Gundry, John Nash, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
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. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
Barry Haack, Geographer and Career Faculty Member, Described a Unique and Still Important Irrigation System Developed in Iran About 3000 Years Ago with Underground Aqueducts, February 10
Nominations continue for Board of Directors candidates for the 2025 election (see article below).
Reminder: There is a 3rd Saturday meeting of the OLLI Personal Computer User Group February 15 (tomorrow) at 1:00 in person at Tallwood and via Zoom (Zoom session opens at 12:45).
Reminder: The Mason Jazz Festival with free concerts (no tickets required) is February 15 (tomorrow) from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, February 28; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, February 25, at 6:00.
By Norma Jean Reck, Chairperson, Nominating Committee
Members of OLLI's Nominating Committee continue identifying candidates for the Board of Directors and verifying that they are interested in being a candidate for Director. All qualified OLLI members interested in being a candidate must notify the Nominating Committee of your interest by emailing Chairperson Norma Jean Reck at [email protected] no later than Friday, March 7. The qualifications for being a Director can be found in Section B of Appendix A, Director Nomination and Election Procedures in OLLI's Policies and Procedures Manual, which you can find online at olli.gmu.edu, under Documents on the Main Menu.
Save the Date: Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Meeting
By Michele Romano, M.D., Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Co-Chair
There will be a Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group meeting on Thursday, March 6 at 10:00, via Zoom only. The meeting is open to all OLLI members, and we would love to have you. Drop in, check us out, see what we are up to. We will be discussing present and future classes and getting updates from OLLI staff. We need your input and ideas for future classes or instructors you would like to recommend. And if you would be willing to teach a class yourself, we would love you even more. The Zoom link will be in the Daily Schedule email that morning.
Thank you for all you do to make our OLLI so special. Hope to see you at the meeting.
Save the Date: LLT Program Planning Committee to Meet
By Patricia Bangs, Literature, Language, and Theater Program Planning Group Co-Chair
Date: Tuesday March 4
Time: 10:00-11:00
What: Literature, Language, and Theater (LLT) Program Planning Group Meeting
Via Zoom; see link below
We would welcome your inputs and recommendations if you enjoy the classics, spy novels, science-fiction, poetry, or memoirs. We need your thoughts and ideas if you want to learn a language, explore playwrights and the world of theater, or hone your writing skills.
Please join us for our quarterly all-campus program planning group meeting for literature, theater, poetry, writing, and language programming on Tuesday, March 4, at 10:00 via Zoom.
We will be reviewing past terms and looking forward to planning for fall 2025 and beyond. All OLLI members are invited to contribute to the excellent programming OLLI Mason offers. Bring ideas for literature, theater, writing, or language classes, and possible instructor resources for these popular classes. And, of course, if you or anyone you know would like to join our group, here is your opportunity to see the process in action. Spread the word; see you on March 4 at 10:00. The meeting Zoom link is below.
Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
By Camille Hodges, HSS/CE Program Planning Group Co-Chair
Happy February!
Hope you have had a chance to check out the spring catalog. It is sensational! Thanks to Shannon Morrow and all who had a hand in its production.
A meeting of the Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) Program Planning Group will be held via Zoom on Friday, February 28, at 10:00; save this on your calendar. Here is the Zoom link and other information for the meeting: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/98382243840
Meeting ID: 983 8224 3840
One tap mobile
All OLLI members are welcome to join us. We have a secretary; its name is AI. It does not take attendance, but records dialogue.
My current endeavor is finding a speaker/presenter for “A History of the Courts in Fairfax County” (working title). Looking forward to hearing your course ideas. Independent submissions are also encouraged.
By Doris Bloch, Program Planning Committee Co-Chair
Sometimes new OLLI members are unaware of the plethora of clubs, groups, and ongoing activities sponsored by OLLI. Some are virtual, some are in person, some are both. Some meet weekly year-round, some just during a term, some monthly or sporadically. But they cover a wide range of interests. Clubs are one of the very best ways to meet other members who are likely to share interests with you. They give you an opportunity to meet in small or intimate groups, talk to people on a one-to-one basis, or just discuss topics in a low-key setting, without pressure. Groups are a means to bond with other members—much easier than in a lecture class environment.
Three things to know about groups:
One: You can find the list of groups and ongoing activities on pages 25-29 of the spring catalog. There are 29 of them!
Two: If you register on the OLLI Portal, you can find the groups under Ongoing Activities. However, the club registration process differs from the course registration process. You select Add To Cart, and then once you have completed your course selections and prioritization, you must select Check Out to get the cart contents into your account. The cart checkout is a separate processing step.
Three: You have to renew your membership in any club for each term; memberships expire at the end of the previous term.
And, of course, if you have a desire for a new club, you can start up another one!
By Linda Harber, Friends of Music at Mason Co–President
Recently at OLLI, a small music group from Mason, led by Professor June Huang, Director of Strings at the Dewberry School of Music at Mason, performed a program on The Spheres Project Presents Prokofiev’s Quartet No. 2 in F Major Op 92. It was very well received, and the OLLI participants asked about other musical events they will be playing. The audience really wanted to attend more. These programs are all free. Professor June Huang provided the following information.
Sunday, February 16, 3:00, Harris Theatre. This performance of Prokofiev’s Quartet No. 2 will also include some harp/flute duos.
Tuesday, March 4, 4:30, Fenwick Library Atrium. We will perform the first movement of the String Quartet No. 9 in A Major by Sergei Taneyev in addition to the Prokofiev quartet that we played at OLLI.
Tuesday, April 22, 7:00, Fenwick Library. This Music in the Library concert will feature works by nine student composers.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468. You can also buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below) or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on 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 linkto 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.
West Coast Street Dance Fundamentals and Q&A with Versa-Style Street Dance Company
Fri, Feb 14, 7:00
Concert Hall
Free, registration required. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/afHpRIx/westcoaststreetdanceversa Versa-Style Street Dance Company: Rooted Rhythms
Sat, Feb 15, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier III 45 minutes prior to curtain.
A post-performance open session with members of Versa-Style Street Dance Company will take place in the Center’s main lobby. High-energy, low-pressure—all styles welcome. Come get down with us at this celebratory afterparty, DJed by Diyanna Monet!
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
The Acting Company: August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sun, Feb 16, 7:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier III 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Kodo: One Earth Tour 2025: Warabe Sat, Mar 1, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Angélique Kidjo
Sun, Mar 2, 7:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Faculty Artist Series: Spheres Project Sun, Feb 16, 3:00
Performers include:
June Huang and Suyuan Carrasco, violin
Alyssa Cabassa, viola
Gerald Fowkes, cello
Taylor Fleshman, harp
Thomas J. Wible, flute
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
NPHC 2025 Step Show
Sat, Feb 22, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $15.
Faculty Artist Series: Duo-Piano Silver Anniversary Concert
Dr. Anna Balakerskaia and Dr. Linda Apple Monson
Sun, Feb 23, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Mason Wind Symphony & Symphonic Band Concert
Tues, Feb 25, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $15 Adult, $10 Senior.
Faculty Artist Series
Kathleen Gardiner Mulcahy (clarinet)
Sun, Mar 2, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Faculty Artist Series
Songs of Jesse Guessford
Sun, Mar 2, 7:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert
Mon, Mar 3, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $15 Adult, $10 Senior.
The Acting Company: The Comedy of Errors
Sat, Feb 15, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
The United States Army Band: The Music of Janelle Monáe: Love, Liberation, and Joy
Thu, Feb 20, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Free.
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Sun, Feb 23, 4:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Expressions
Sat, Mar 1, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: A Few of Our Favorite Things
Sun, Mar 2, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. 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 Feb 15
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Feb 17
9:30 am
11:00 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Poetry Writing Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Feb 18
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
3:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Feb 19
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
1:30 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Dabbling Artists Club – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Feb 20
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Feb 21
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Feb 22
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Feb 24
9:30 am
11:00 am
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Poetry Reading Club – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Feb 25
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Feb 26
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Theater Lovers’ Group - online
Thu Feb 27
11:50 am
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
All the News – online
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Feb 28
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
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: Thomas Appich, David Gundry, John Nash, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
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. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
By Norma Jean Reck,
Chairperson, Nominating Committee
Members of OLLI's Nominating Committee have begun identifying candidates for the Board of Directors and verifying that they are interested in being a candidate for Director. All qualified OLLI members interested in being a candidate must notify the Nominating Committee of your interest by emailing Chairperson Norma Jean Reck at [email protected] no later than Friday, March 7. The qualifications for being a Director can be found in Section B of Appendix A. Director Nomination and Election Procedures of OLLI's Policies and Procedures Manual, which you can find online at olli.gmu.edu, under Documents on the Main Menu.
Photography Club: Award-winning Photographer to Speak
By John Nash, Photography Club Member
Bill Mugg, a local photographer who has garnered many awards, will speak on macro photography at the February 14 OLLI Photography Club (OPC) meeting. In addition to macro photography—or the art of photographing small—Mugg, an accomplished wildlife photographer, will talk about some of his other photographic adventures, including his trip to Brazil's amazing Pantanal area. His photos can be viewed on his website at this link. Mugg, a former Navy officer, resides in Vienna.
Ed Marion, one of the coordinators of the OPC, encourages all members of OLLI to attend this presentation, noting “It's not often that we get speakers of this quality with this broad of a photographic background who can explain his photographic journey and answer questions.”
The OPC meeting begins at 9:30 in person at Tallwood or on Zoom (Zoom codes are available each day in the OLLI daily schedule email.)
The OLLI Photography Club meets twice a month at Tallwood or by Zoom: the second Friday of each month is for photo competitions and presentations, while the fourth Friday is for review and discussion of OPC galleries. All members of OLLI are invited to attend either in person or by Zoom. It's part of your OLLI membership!
By Margie Wildblood and Sophia Elberti, OLLI Ink Co-Editors
OLLI writers—beginners and experienced—take note: OLLI Ink is now accepting submissions, including poems, fiction, personal essays, and memoirs, for its 2025 edition.
Now moving into its 15th year, OLLI Ink is a well-established publication whose contributors come from a wide spectrum of OLLI members, including, but not limited to, those enrolled in writing classes and workshops.
How to Submit: Please send your entries and any questions to both Margie Wildwood at [email protected] and Sophia Elberti at [email protected].
Guidelines:
Poems – please limit number of lines to 30.
Prose – please single space and indent the first sentence of each paragraph; limit number of words to 2,500.
Contributions are welcome through the end of March.
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in a recent issue. It is repeated here to encourage submissions to OLLI Ink.
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, February 15, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45.
History of Unix—Presented by Lorrin Garson
Unix is a family of multitasking, multi-user computer operating systems that come from the original AT&T Unix. Initially it was intended to be used within the Bell System itself, but it was licensed to outside parties in the late 1970s, which resulted in numerous variants, such as University of California at Berkeley (BSD), Microsoft (Xenix), Sun Microsystems (SunOS/Solaris), IBM (AIX) and others. Arguably, it is the most influential operating system to date.
Lorrin Garson had a long career in technical publishing of chemical information. His previous presentation topics included cryptography, encryption of personal data, cloud storage, and the origins of personal computers.
Learn in 30: KVM Switches & Computer Speakers—Presented by John Krout
A KVM switch is a valuable accessory when you have more than one computer on a desk or table. A keyboard, video monitor, and mouse (KVM) are connected to the switch, and computers are connected also. The KVM switch allows the user to choose a computer to connect to those three desktop peripherals. This can make a huge difference in an apartment or townhouse where space is limited, or whenever a budget prevents purchasing multiple monitors.
The presenter connected his computer speakers to the KVM switch so that those, too, were used by each one of the three computers. In this presentation, you will see a modern KVM switch, the unusual cables to connect the KVM switch to computers, and how to connect a typical analog 3.5mm diameter cylindrical audio plug for speakers to a USB port. His KVM switch has become a KVMS switch.
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 and are now due for 2025 (and 2024, if you didn’t get around to paying last year!)—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 952879 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 8124 5733 563 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method), or dial in at 301-715-8592.
Creative Cauldron Opens with Steel Magnolias in its New Home
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group
Creative Cauldron is starting the new year in its lovely new home at 127 East Broad Street, Falls Church, with the beloved classic Steel Magnolias. A comedy-drama, Steel Magnolias was written as a tribute to the playwright's sister. It takes place in Truvy's in-home beauty salon in a fictional northwestern Louisiana parish where the friends meet to bond and help each other cope.
Please join the Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) on Sunday, February 16 to see the 2pm matinee performance. Discount tickets are $40, with a group of ten people. To date, we need five people. They have reserved a 1st tier section for OLLI, so when you phone 703-436-9948 for tickets, be sure to tell them you are with OLLI to get the discount and be seated with the TLG attendees. Free garage parking is available next to the theater (and Whole Foods). We will have lunch at a close by restaurant at 12 noon.
TLG has a variety of theater events coming up you won't want to miss: The Immigrant, The Secret Garden, Jesus Christ Superstar, Decision Height, and much more. To receive all TLG emails, join the Theater Lovers' Group by signing up online or phoning the Registrar at 703--503-3384, ext. 221.
Editor’s note: At the author’s request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.
Making and eating potato soup
remains one of the more satisfying activities
as cold days unfold to colder.
I can see Mother now standing
at our old wood stove stirring
somehow I don’t remember her doing
the requisite peeling and dicing
of potatoes and onion, the only real work
of the project. But oh, the joy
of the result. She never blended the chunks
so we could press them to the roofs of our mouths
for full flavor and texture…comfort food
in every sense.
– Jan Bohall
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468. You can also buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below) or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on 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 linkto 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.
Versa-Style Street Dance Company: Rooted Rhythms
Sat, Feb 15, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier III 45 minutes prior to curtain.
A post-performance open session with members of Versa-Style Street Dance Company will take place in the Center’s main lobby. High-energy, low-pressure—all styles welcome. Come get down with us at this celebratory afterparty, DJed by Diyanna Monet!
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
The Acting Company: August Wilson’s Two Trains Running
Sun, Feb 16, 7:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier III 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Faculty Artist Series: Spheres Project
Sun, Feb 16, 3:00
Performers include:
June Huang and Suyuan Carrasco, violin
Alyssa Cabassa, viola
Gerald Fowkes, cello
Taylor Fleshman, harp
Thomas J. Wible, flute
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Elena Moon Park & Friends
Sat, Feb 8, 11:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $15.
Dylan Triplett: Blues and Soul
Sat, Feb 8, 5:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30.
Robinson Secondary Gala Concert with Vienna Choral Society
Sun, Feb 9, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25 Adult, $20 Senior.
Virginia National Ballet: Snow White
Fri, Feb 14, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55.
The Acting Company: The Comedy of Errors
Sat, Feb 15, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. 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 Feb 8
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Feb 10
9:30 am
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Feb 11
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Feb 12
11:50 am
12:00 noon
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Thu Feb 13
11:50 am
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
All the News
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Feb 14
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
2:00 pm
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat Feb 15
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Feb 17
9:30 am
11:00 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Poetry Writing Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Feb 18
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
3:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Feb 19
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
1:30 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Dabbling Artists Club – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Feb 20
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Feb 21
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
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, Tom Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
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. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
The OLLI History Club will meet via Zoom at 4:00 on Wednesday, February 5. The presenter will be Jim Anderson, who is well known to OLLI members for his wonderful and very popular “Frontiersmen” series. Next Wednesday, Jim’s presentation will be titled Stampede to the Klondike: The Last Great Gold Rush. The news of the discovery of gold in the Canadian Yukon territory in 1897 electrified millions suffering from the effects of an economic depression. The sensational and often inaccurate news stories led to an epidemic of “gold fever” and sparked a stampede to that remote and forbidding region. The results were dramatic and heroic for the lucky few; but tragic and often lethal for the vast majority seeking instant wealth. Hubris and greed were on full display; brotherly love was in short supply.
The Tallwood Book Club will meet via Zoom on Friday, February 14, at 2:30; check the OLLI daily schedule email for the Zoom link. Our book for February is Erasure, by Percival Everett. The March selection is Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe.
Contact Betty Ellerbee at [email protected] for additional information.
By Christine Narbut, Dabbling Artists Group Coordinator
Welcome to all artists and anyone interested in learning more about art and creating art. The Dabbling Artists Group comes together to discuss, create and inspire OLLI members in the visual arts. Members can work on projects and receive advice from other members and provide suggestions to plan for a future Visual Arts Program at OLLI.
The next meeting of the Dabbling Artists Group is Wednesday, February 5 at 1:30 via Zoom. The group provides socialization and opportunities for support and practice in a group setting, whether your medium is pen and ink, pastels, pencils, watercolor, or other visual arts. During the winter term, Dabbling Artists meet via Zoom every 2 weeks. With the start of the spring term, the meetings are hybrid at Fairfax (Tallwood) and via Zoom.
For questions or more information contact, Chris Narbut at [email protected].
Below is the December painting from a Dabbling Artists member.
Mason Jazz Festival – February 15 (Harris Theatre)
By Darden Purcell, D.M.A, Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice
Happy New Year! For OLLI members – Free concerts (no tickets required) on Saturday, February 15, as part of the Mason Jazz Festival.
MASON JAZZ FESTIVAL
Saturday, February 15
10:00am – 10:00pm
Harris Theatre: 4471 Aquia Creek Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030
All concerts are FREE and open to the public – no tickets or registration required.
Free parking in LOT K music.gmu.edu/visit-us/mason-jazz-festival
The Mason Jazz Festival is a yearly invitational, non-competitive event open to middle school, high school, college, and community jazz ensembles. The closing concert is at 7:00 and will feature the Mason Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Jim Carroll, and the US Army Blues! Join us for a full day of jazz music and community.
By Doris Bloch, Caregivers Support Group Coordinator
Rosalynn Carter once said, "There are three groups of people: those that are currently caregivers, those that receive help from their caregivers, and those who will be caregivers." Are you in one of those groups? If the first one is a match for you right now, OLLI may be able to give you some support.
The OLLI Caregivers Support Group meets via Zoom every second week throughout the year to offer practical and emotional support to the participants. We meet for an hour and a facilitator from the George Mason School of Social Work joins us. Sometimes we share our thoughts and concerns; sometimes the discussion is about resources and suggestions. The group is listed for registration on our member portal, and if you register there, you will receive all messages addressed to the group. Our next meeting is scheduled for 3:45 on February 4, and you can find the link in the daily schedule email.
There is also a mailing list, separate from registration, for those who don't want to commit to a regular meeting but want to remain informed. For the latter, and for any questions, please contact Doris Bloch ([email protected]).
Biweekly Team Bloch Wednesday Conversation Topic for February 5
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
The January 17th Washington Post published a fascinating article titled “Who are the top readers for 2024? And where do they get their books?” (Click here to read the article.) YouGov (survey firm) crunched the data and found that 63% of us read at least one book last year. Did you read more than 20 books last year? If yes, you are a Super Reader in the top 11%.
The article also has data on the use of digital versus physical books and the use of libraries. One of the surprises was that older Americans tend to use libraries less for both digital and physical books.
We invite all OLLI book lovers to join us on February 5th at 4:00 for the conversation, regardless of whether or not you had an opportunity to read the article. Look for the Zoom link in the OLLI Daily Schedule.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468. You can also buy tickets online through the event calendar (see the CFA ticket page link below) or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see theCFA ticket pageor theHylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up atthis 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.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Branford Marsalis
Sat, Feb 1, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $46.
Mike Super – Magic & Illusion
Sun, Feb 2, 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $40, $30, $20.
The Constitution and Loving v. Virginia(a panel discussion)
Thu, Feb 6, 7:00
Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
3740 Blenheim Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030
Admission: Free, but registration required. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/r7oTPP0/loving
Sarah Sherman: Spring Comedy Headliner 2025
Thu, Feb 6, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $15.
Fairfax Symphony: Love is in the Air
Sat, Feb 8, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $65, $55, $40.
GMU School of Theater: Mason Cabaret 2025
Fri, Jan 31, 8:00 (at Gregory Family Theater, Hylton Center)
Sat, Feb 1, 2:00 and 8:00
Sun, Feb 2, 2:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $30 Adult, $15 Senior.
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. 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 Feb 1
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Feb 3
4:00 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Feb 4
2:00 pm
3:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Dabbling Artists Club – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
History Club – online
Spanish Club – online Team Bloch Wednesday Conversation – online
Thu Feb 6
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri Feb 7
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
2:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Dance Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat Feb 8
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Feb 10
9:30 am
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Feb 11
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Feb 12
11:50 am
12:00 noon
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Thu Feb 13
11:50 am
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
All the News
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Feb 14
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
2:00 pm
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat Feb 15
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
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, Tom Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
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. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
Tim Harwarth: I earned a BA from the University of Minnesota in Political Science. I also served in the U.S. Army Reserve while I was in college in Minnesota. I moved to the Washington area and earned an MA degree at George Washington University in National Defense Policy. While working on my master’s degree, I also worked full time on Capitol Hill for a Senator from my home state of Minnesota. After I received my MA, I worked for a contractor supporting the Air Force and Office of the Secretary of Defense, primarily in congressional affairs and staff roles.
John McAndrew: I earned a BA from Hampton University and an MEd in curriculum and instruction/middle education from George Mason University. In addition, I achieved National Board Certification in social studies/history for early adolescence. My teaching experience includes 24 years as a middle school classroom teacher of social studies (history, civics, economics, and geography) for grades 6 and 8; a year as a K-6 social studies curriculum support teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools; and a few summers as an adjunct professor with the GMU Fast Train Program for Teaching Elementary Social Studies. Following retirement, I volunteered (3 years) with the Virginia Literacy Program, tutoring adult English with the Woodson Adult Center. I worked for the FCPS Department of Human Resources Colleague Assistance Program by supporting K-12 FCPS teachers.
Ann McNeish: As a member of OLLI since fall of 2019, I witnessed the change brought about by COVID, as OLLI adapted to meet those challenges. Last year I was excited to work with other members on two major projects: help redesign the OLLI homepage and create marketing videos featuring OLLI members, both intended to help attract new members to our OLLI community. The videos were completed last fall and are posted to the OLLI website. They can also be used in presentations to community groups as part of OLLI’s ongoing marketing efforts. The new OLLI homepage was recently launched, and a training session was held to familiarize members with the changes and ensure they could still easily find information. These experiences were deeply rewarding, being able to use my knowledge and experience in marketing and communications to help an organization that I value so deeply.
Michele Romano: Education and Work Experience: I am a retired physician and associate clinical professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health with 30 years of experience in family medicine in Fairfax, Va. I was also a registered nurse for 12 years before going to medical school and opened the first critical care unit in a civilian hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1970. Very cool but you grow up fast. I attended medical school at VCU in Richmond, Va., and then established a private practice, growing to five providers and 13 ancillary personnel. I learned leadership, management, teaching, financial skills, and people skills over those 30 years and was still able to do what I loved best…treat my amazing patients.
Stephen J. Rose: I earned a BA in business/decision science from George Mason University and an MS in information management from Marymount University. In addition, I earned certifications in project management, and agile software development. I am currently taking a George Mason class on non-profit organization law, governance, and ethics. My career started in computer operations with the U.S. Navy and progressed to software development in both application and operating systems. These activities led me to developing a business unit that provided consulting services to various U.S. and foreign intelligence agencies. My management experience includes managing technical consulting and software development teams (over 50 staff personnel), proposal development, staff management, profit and loss responsibilities and marketing solutions to both government and commercial customers. I also supported worldwide software integration and deployment projects for various customers.
Community Theatre in Arlington. We will have lunch at Ruthie's All Day at 1 p.m., thanks to Gay Alper. The play is The Synetic Theater's interpretation of the silent movie of the same name, which is a comedy about the immigrants who arrived in New York at the turn of the 20th century - their trials, tribulations, and high hopes for their new life in America.
To make sense of this world, I go to my spot…
I then notice the small bird’s nest 
Community Theatre in Arlington. We will have lunch at Ruthie's All Day at 1 p.m., thanks to Gay Alper. The play is The Synetic Theater's interpretation of the silent movie of the same name, which is a comedy about the immigrants who arrived in New York at the turn of the 20th century - their trials, tribulations, and high hopes for their new life in America.
the art of photographing small—Mugg, an accomplished wildlife photographer, will talk about some of his other photographic adventures, including his trip to Brazil's amazing Pantanal area. His photos can be viewed on his website at 
The OPC meeting begins at 9:30 in person at Tallwood or on Zoom (Zoom codes are available each day in the OLLI daily schedule email.)
was written as a tribute to the playwright's sister. It takes place in Truvy's in-home beauty salon in a fictional northwestern Louisiana parish where the friends meet to bond and help each other cope. 
and very popular “Frontiersmen” series. Next Wednesday, Jim’s presentation will be titled Stampede to the Klondike: The Last Great Gold Rush. The news of the discovery of gold in the Canadian Yukon territory in 1897 electrified millions suffering from the effects of an economic depression. The sensational and often inaccurate news stories led to an epidemic of “gold fever” and sparked a stampede to that remote and forbidding region. The results were dramatic and heroic for the lucky few; but tragic and often lethal for the vast majority seeking instant wealth. Hubris and greed were on full display; brotherly love was in short supply.
