Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

OLLI E-News (Weekly Newsletter)

ENews July 3, 2026

by

OLLI E-News July 3, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

The photos show the OLLI Hiking Club group in Skyland Lodge, and in the famous Great Stalacpipe Organ room at Luray Caverns. (See Hiking Club Update article below).

July 3, 2026


Editor of the Week: Chitra Mohla
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Note: Member parking is available in the Fairfax Swimming Pool parking lot. If you park there, use only the half of the lot closest to Tallwood.
  • Throughout the term, please use this online form to add or drop classes, clubs or other events. (Link is also available in the Daily Schedule email.)
  • March in Fairfax July 4th parade. To sign up, contact Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chair at [email protected], 703-725-0965.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 10; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 7, at 6:00.

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From the Desk of the Executive Director

Shannon Kim Morrow Retirement
 

 
By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director



After eleven years of dedicated service, Shannon Morrow, Lead Program Associate, will be retiring from OLLI Mason at the end of July 2026. Shannon has been a steady, caring presence behind the scenes of our programs, working closely with instructors, volunteers, and staff to ensure the highest quality classes each term.

Shannon started as a site assistant, then served as registrar before taking on the programming role. She moved to the West Coast in 2024 and has continued joining morning meetings despite the time difference.

Shannon’s thoughtful approach, institutional knowledge, and commitment to lifelong learning have made a lasting impact on OLLI and our community. Her professionalism, kindness, and willingness to go the extra mile will be deeply missed by colleagues and members alike. The Monday Morning Lecture Series, one of our most popular classes, is especially notable, as Shannon identified speakers and planned the series. She worked tirelessly to coordinate each catalog (28 in all!) and built special relationships with many long-time instructors.

Please join us in thanking Shannon for her many contributions and wishing her all the best in a well‑earned retirement. We hope the years ahead are filled with new adventures, continued learning, and time to enjoy her family, pickleball, biking, hiking, and gardening.

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How Can You Support GMU Students in Fall 2026? Act as an "Elder"

  
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) Planning Group Chair



Over the past several years OLLI members have served as elder mentors for undergrads in Dr. Spencer Crew’s course, “History of the Family” (HONORS 240-001). This fall, the course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-11:45. Although the class starts on August 25th, your participation will not begin until October/November, and you will not be required to attend in person.

The objective of your participation in this class is to share an impactful part of your personal life history via interviews with one or two Mason students. And, yes, many OLLI members with remarkable life experiences have shared their stories with Mason undergrads over the past few years. You may interact with your assigned students virtually or in-person. Some have also video-taped their interviews to share via an OLLI presentation. This project has proven to be a cathartic experience for everyone involved and it can be the same for you as well.

Note that you will not be required to share your information publicly outside of the class should you choose not to, but the students will certainly internalize it.

Please contact Dr. Crew to sign up or ask questions: [email protected].

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Hiking Club Update
 


By Kathy Rones, Hiking Club Coordinator


On June 23, six of us braved wet weather and drove to Shenandoah National Park with the hope and expectation that the weather would improve and we would be able to hike Stony Man and another trail. Unfortunately, as we ascended into Skyline Drive, we saw it was totally socked in by the storm and heavy rain. We pivoted, at a member’s suggestion, and instead drove to nearby Luray, where we had lunch and toured Luray Caverns. It was interesting and fun! One great thing about hiking club is that you will have lots of time to get to know fellow members, since we carpool and drive some distance to our hiking locations. The photos at the top of this issue show our group in Skyland Lodge, and in the famous Great Stalacpipe Organ room at Luray Caverns.
 
We have this hike totally scoped out now, and I will be scheduling some SNP hikes on these or other trails in September and October. Fall is a wonderful time for hiking. I encourage you to register for OLLI Hiking Club Summer 2026 (now), and OLLI Hiking Club Fall 2026, when fall registration is open. On July 21, we will do a shaded, flat 6-mile hike on the scenic “C&O Canal Path” along the Potomac River in Point of Rocks, MD.

Note: in case of rain or high heat index, the fallback date is July 24.  Also, I am scheduling an OLLI Hiking Club interest group meeting at Tallwood on July 7, tentatively at 1:45 in TA-1. Watch E-News for updates and Zoom link. I will bring my hiking equipment in case anyone wants to see it, and welcome everyone’s ideas on places to hike in the fall and early winter.

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OLLI Artists Club

By Christine Narbut, OLLI Artists Club Coordinator



OLLI Artists hope you have enjoyed the art provided by OLLI members on the Café Wall. It’s now time to change the display for the next three months. As we celebrate summer and the 250th birthday of America, we invite you to submit your art for display.  We have frames and mats for 9 x 12 and 8 x 10 and can work with you for other sizes. Please title your art and include your name and medium on the back of the artwork. All art media such as acrylic, pastels, pencil sketches, pen & ink, oil, as well as watercolor, are welcome. We may not be able to accommodate very large submissions (24 x 36 or larger). 

After the display period (about three months), your art will be returned to you. Place your art in an envelope and deliver it to the OLLI Artists Club meeting on July 13 in the annex from 9:15-11:00, or leave it in the OLLI office. Indicate on the envelope that it is for OLLI Artists.

The OLLI Artists group meets every other Monday during the summer session in person and on Zoom. Feel free to join us in pursuing your artistic soul.


 

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Amazing Record Achieved by Tai Chi Instructor!



By Catherine Weir-Parker, Tai Chi Club Member



Jerry Cheng, the OLLI Tai Chi Club instructor, has taught 738 Zoom classes for us in the 6 years between May 2020 and May 2026! This may be a record for the most classes taught at OLLI Mason. It might even be a record for any teacher at any of the OLLIs around the country.

Initially, Jerry started teaching one class a week during term time. Our collective memory believes that was 2011. Before long a Tai Chi Club was organized for Saturday mornings at Tallwood. Many students attended the class and club. When the pandemic started in May 2020, Jerry suggested members could benefit from the gentle exercise of Tai Chi on Zoom three times a week, not just on Saturdays. Since then, we have had classes at 4:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, allowing Jerry time to return home from work, and also at 10:30 on Saturday mornings.

During those 6 years, Jerry, who is an active attorney, has missed teaching some classes due to court dates, client consultations, and vacations. That’s when the OLLI members who host the meetings share a recent recording of an earlier Tai Chi session. The 738-class total mentioned in the first sentence is when Jerry has led us in-person on Zoom (is that an oxymoron?).

Many OLLI members have been pleased to discover the benefits of regular physical activity that would not be possible without a virtual option. One attendee even attributes coming to Tai Chi classes for a reduction in his blood pressure without needing medication. Thank you Jerry for providing this opportunity for us, for our joints and muscles, and a chance to forget our worries for three hours each week!

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Ancient Italy Trip April 2027


By Laura Vinti, OLLI Instructor and Italy’s Hidden Gems Trip Coordinator



Have you ever dreamed of exploring the places where the Etruscans flourished, the Romans built their empire, and medieval towns have remained remarkably unchanged for centuries?

If so, this journey was created for you. Personally designed and hosted by cultural tour leader and OLLI instructor Laura Vinti, Ancient Italy: Etruscans, Romans, and Medieval Splendor is a 13-day journey through Central Italy (April 7–19, 2027) for a small group of just 10–14 travelers. Laura recently taught OLLI's History for Travelers course and will return this October with a new class featuring the Monterozzi Necropolis in Tarquinia, Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, and the medieval city of Siena—offering a preview of several of the remarkable places you'll experience on this tour. Along the way, you'll visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, magnificent archaeological parks, charming hill towns, and some of Italy's most beautiful countryside while enjoying regional cuisine, some of Italy's finest wines, carefully selected accommodations, and in-depth cultural experiences that go far beyond the usual tourist routes. For more information, visit  www.ItalysHiddenGems.com  or contact Laura at [email protected].

                 
   

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Photography Club

OLLI Photo Club Meeting on Friday, July 10

   
   
  By John Olsen, Photography Club Coordinator

 

Ben Greenberg will be the guest speaker at the OLLI Photo Club’s (OPC) next meeting on Friday, July 10, from 9:30-11:00. The OPC will meet in person in room TA-1 and on Zoom. The Zoom link can be found on the Daily Schedule email sent each weekday morning by 8:00, or on the OLLI member portal. Guests at OPC meetings are always welcome!

Ben Greenberg is an award winning landscape photographer, who enjoys teaching classes and workshops and mentoring individuals in their quest to improve their photography skills and decision-making. 

In March 2014 Ben published his first photography book, Natural Virginia.  A coffee-table-sized book, Natural Virginia features panoramic color landscape and wildlife photographs from throughout the state, celebrating its natural beauty and the need for its preservation. Ben is working on his second Virginia book focusing on the importance of the state’s national, state, regional, and local natural public lands. The book has a working title of Natural Public Lands of Virginia.

Ben’s photographs can be viewed on his two websites:  The OLLI Photography Club is delighted that Ben Greenberg will be our guest speaker on July 10th, sharing with us some of his favorite (and best) landscape photographs and the stories behind them.

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Theater Lovers' Group Planning Getaway to Broadway and the Big Apple This Fall  


By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers' Group, Coordinator


Have you ever wanted to see a show on Broadway or the Rockettes line dance, visit MoMa or ice skate in Rockefeller Center? All this (and more) is possible when you join Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) for their 'do-your-own-thing' motor-coach trip to NYC this fall.
 
 We will leave Fairfax at 9 a. m. on Tuesday, November 17 and return   Wednesday night November 18 about 11 p.m. We'll stay at the Marriott    Marquis in the Theater District, which makes touring, dining, and seeing   two Broadway shows convenient.

Kim, the tour director, will be on hand to help with planning your trip, purchasing show or tour tickets, making dinner reservations, etc. The cost includes round trip motor-coach transportation, lodging, and portage: $548 for a double room; add $178 for a single.

A deposit of $250 is due to Champlain Tours ASAP. Balance is due in August. If interested, please email Norma at [email protected] for more information. 

Remember we welcome guests, so feel free to invite your family and friends; they may want to visit Macy's and start their Christmas shopping early.

TLG members and guests dining at The Hamilton after enjoying marvelous June 28 performance of  Suffs at the National Theater

Editor’s Note: At the author’s request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.


 

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Colbert Rare Luminaire
 
Colbert
   Wise
    - Ass
Extraordinaire
 
Dares     
to laugh
at power’s
graft
 
His brilliance
ignites           
America’s
resilience
 
The baddies
are on the run
They can’t handle
a bit of fun
 
His every quip
our every laugh
calls us together
“Stand tall in all weather”
      
His jeers
embolden outraged peeps      
“Unveil the absurd”                        
Sagacity’s voice is heard          
 
The Colbert Chorus for Us
signals – “Proceed”
Thanks, Stephen
for taking the lead
 
Stephen Colbert
Jester Extraordinaire
has us tackling baddies                  
with our own savoir-faire
 
         ̶ Susan Rexroad

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances July 3 through July 13


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2568.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Brian Ganz in Concert: Piano
Thu, Jul 9, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill
Body
Mason Exhibitions
Arlington
Through August 1
 
Pulp Fictions: the stories we tell about paper / the stories paper tells us about ourselves
Through August 14
Special Collections Research Center, Fenwick Library
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
Mason Summer Piano Academy: Academy Faculty Recital
Mon, Jul 6, 4:30
Harris Theater
Admission: Free.
 
Mason Summer Piano Academy: Dr. Yukiko Fujimura in Concert
Tue, Jul 7, 4:30
Harris Theater
Admission: Free.
 
Mason Summer Piano Academy: Dr. Linda Monson and Dr. Anna Balakerskaia in Concert
Wed, Jul 8, 4:30
Harris Theater
Admission: Free.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Prince William Little Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Fri, Jul 10, 8:00
Sat, Jul 11, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 12, 2:00
Fri, Jul 17, 8:00
Sat, Jul 18, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 19, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $29 Senior, $25 Student, Youth, Military, Group (8+)

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.

 
Fri Jul 3
 		 11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Homer, etc. - online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jul 4 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 6
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 7
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 8
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu Jul 9
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Fri Jul 10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:30 pm
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tallwood Book Club – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jul 11 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 13
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 OLLI Artists Club
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 14
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 15
 
 
 		 11:50 am
11:50 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Literary Roundtable – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jul 16
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jul 17
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Game On: Talking Sports
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jul 18
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group

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About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






ENews June 26, 2026

by

OLLI E-News June 26, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Board of Directors Meeting, Tallwood, June 5, 2026 (first meeting with the newly-elected directors and new officers)

June 26, 2026


Editor of the Week: Chloe DiStaso 
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 3; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 30, at 6:00.

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Why Teach at OLLI Mason?



By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/ Current Events (HSS/CE) Program Planning Group Chair

“On sharing knowledge … A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” — Father James Keller [1]

Did you know that Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary on November 11th of this year? Did you know that it was not always welcoming? What do you know about the cultural impacts of the Lincoln Highway or the Blue Ridge Parkway? And this, of course, leads us to the larger question: How do major government-sponsored roadways and airports affect local communities? And, yes, we almost had a major airport in Burke! 

These topics come under the heading of “Movement.” Migration is another aspect of movement. People move for various reasons, whether it is refugees fleeing a conflict or a family moving across town. The movement of people has a significant impact on societies and cultures, creating diverse communities in different parts of the world.

If you have expanded knowledge regarding these or other topics of interest, please consider teaching a single or multi-course session in 2027. And yes, we are scheduling for next year already! We at OLLI encourage our members to voluntarily share their knowledge by teaching a course or two in their fields of expertise and/or interest. As part of social sciences and current events, HSS/CE covers many sub-categories. Now is a great time to consider sharing your knowledge with OLLI members in 2027 and beyond. Here is the course proposal form for your convenience https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/.

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Red, White, and Brainpower: Trivia Party Highlights



By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chair



In a spirited display of teamwork, intelligence, and camaraderie, the George Mason Patriots Trivia Team, composed of Marianne Metz, Paul Van Hemel, David Green, Phyllis Krochmal, and Pat Coshland, emerged victorious over seven competing teams on May 29 at our Happy America Birthday Party. The 1776 Trivia competition, which brought together 42 OLLI members in multiple rounds, showcased the intelligence, dedication, and enthusiasm of our lifelong learners.

After enjoying cake and ice cream and singing happy birthday to America, OLLI participants self-organized into eight teams. The MC, our own Diversions Committee member Tom McDonald, kept the teams engaged with brief anecdotes about growing up in Massachusetts, where much of America’s rise to rebellion occurred. 

The winning Trivia team showed outstanding skill and determination throughout the event. They persevered after tying for first place with five other teams in the first round. Each member contributed insights and expertise, helping the team navigate challenging questions and tasks. Each first-place winning member took home Walter Isaacson’s The Most Important Sentence Ever Written.

Three additional teams competed in two tough lightning tie-breaker rounds, with two of them emerging with a tie for second place: the New England Patriots, with members Tim Harworth, Irene Harworth, Don Budowsky, and Corrine Swanson, and the Colonials, made up of team members Ann Smith, Kate Wanderer, Dean Wanderer, Margie Wildblood, and Joan Lunsford.

For 150 minutes, TA-1 buzzed with impressive knowledge of history, friendly rivalry, and mutual respect. Trivia participants can look forward to future competitions at our Tallwood campus, with the next scheduled contest on Friday, January 22, 2027.

A big thanks goes to Diversions committee members Gay Alper, Elaine Leonard, Mary Mudd, Doris Bloch, Leti Labell, and Tom McDonald for volunteering to make the event a success.



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Tallwood Book Club


By Elizabeth Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator


The Tallwood Book Club will meet in July and August on the 2nd Friday of the month at 2:30 on Zoom.

In July we will discuss Orbital by Samantha Henry and in August we will discuss Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks.






Don’t become the victim of a heat-related illness this summer. If the HEAT INDEX is in the Caution Zone or above, consider limiting or avoiding time outdoors. Remember to check the HEAT INDEX not only for the time you leave but also for the time you plan to return. Many weather apps will report this out hourly.
From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

            I Get to Age     

with each inhale and exhale

        a breath filling my lungs

        a breath leaving my lungs

        twenty thousand times a day

effortlessly with little or no attention

        until out of breath from
        exhaustion or swimming 

air allows for

        laughing, complaining, questioning, sleeping, 
        cursing, telling my story, worrying, arguing, 

age like air happens with little notice

        until it is noticed

        a health scare, near misses, shock of
        a friend dying too early

age happens when things slow down

        morning time with a cup of coffee

        an idle Saturday afternoon,
        evening time putting the kids to bed

age happens in meditation the consciousness 
        on each breath through the gentle inhaling and exhaling 
        relaxing the body and calming the mind until
        the day’s noise is silenced, mind and body are still
                        then
        notice the slow movement of age and

        appreciate flashes of moments past and those to come

                               -Bill Sinclair

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances June 26 through July 19


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Capital Wind Symphony: Heroes and Villains
Fri, Jun 26, 7:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

Mason Summer Band Camp Final Concert
Sat, Jun 27, 2:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

Brian Ganz in Concert: Piano
Thu, Jul 9, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill
Body
Mason Exhibitions
Arlington
Through August 1

Pulp Fictions: the stories we tell about paper / the stories paper tells us about ourselves
Through August 14
Special Collections Research Center, Fenwick Library
Mason Student and Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

Faculty Recital: Mason Summer Piano Academy
Mon, Jul 6, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

Dr. Yukiko Fujimura in Concert: Piano
Tue, Jul 7, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

Dr. Linda Monson and Dr. Anna Balakerskai in Concert
Wed, Jul 8, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory Pied Piper Theatre: Disney’s The Lion King Jr.
Fri, Jun 26, 7:00
Sat, Jun 27, 10:00 and 2:00
Sun, Jun 28, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $20.

Prince William Little Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Fri, Jul 10, 8:00
Sat, Jul 11, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 12, 2:00
Fri, Jul 17, 8:00
Sat, Jul 18, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 19, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $29 Senior, $25 Student, youth, military, group (8+)
 

VISUAL ARTS 

Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat Jun 27 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 29
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 OLLI Artists Club
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Tue Jun 30
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 1
 		 12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jul 2
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Fri Jul 3
  		 11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Homer, etc.
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jul 4 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 6
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 7
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 8
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu Jul 9
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Fri Jul 10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:30 pm
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tallwood Book Club – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jul 11 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






ENews June 12, 2026

by

OLLI E-News June 12, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Diversions Chair Marilyn Harriman Hosted a Revolution Trivia Contest for the US 250 Years Anniversary, at Tallwood, May 29, 2026

June 12, 2026


Editor of the Week: John Nash 
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Registration for summer term is under way and continues throughout the term, which begins June 22.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 26; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 23, at 6:00.

Join the Celebration! OLLI Members to March in Fairfax’s July 4 Parade

 

By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chairperson


Love a parade? Don’t just watch one—be part of it!

Join Lisa Mariam, OLLI Mason Executive Director, and your fellow OLLI members on Saturday, July 4, as we help represent George Mason University in Fairfax City’s 250th Independence Day celebration.
             
Walk the easy, mostly flat 0.78-mile parade route through downtown Fairfax, greet a lively crowd of families and community members, and share our OLLI spirit with our colorful banner and giveaways.
 
Staging begins at 8:15 on Chain Bridge Road, with the parade stepping off at 10:00 and our part in it wrapping up around 11:00. Afterward, you’re invited to an optional lunch at PJ Skidoo’s. Free parking for parade participants is available near our parade staging area.
                   
Come celebrate, connect, and show your OLLI pride—sign up by contacting Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chairperson, at [email protected].
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OLLI Ink Now Available

By Margie Wildblood and Sophia Elberti,
OLLI Ink Editors
Issue No. 16 of OLLI Ink is now available online as a flip-doc at the following link:

https://view.flipdocs.com/?ID=10015627_604399.

OLLI Ink is published annually. Its purpose is to present a literary publication that spotlights the creative side of OLLI members. At the indicated link, you will find prose, poetry, photography, and other creative productions of OLLI contributors. 

Check out the creative efforts of some of our OLLI members and begin preparing for your own submission in next year's issue.
 

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Tea, Anyone?

 

Carolyn Kramer, Excursion Coordinator


On a recent sunny day in mid-May, a group of OLLI members boarded a bus for a ride out to Rosemont Manor in Berryville, Va. for an afternoon tea. 

The visit began in what had once been a carriage house, where we sipped on flutes of Raspberry Tea Fizz during a brief overview of the history of the site.  Then on to the manor house, once the home of Harry F. Byrd, Sr., where everyone enjoyed a three-course tea of delicious savories, scones, and desserts. 

Before heading back to Fairfax, there was time to view the upstairs guestrooms, many named after famous people who had stayed there over the years.

In all, it was a lovely way for OLLI members to spend time together!

Opportunity to Participate in Paid Study on Aging in Place

 

By Lillian Brooks, Former OLLI President


Here is information on a study funded by NIH to identify resources that may be valuable to people aging in place in their communities.

The study involves participating in four sessions (in-person or online) spaced out over multiple months. Each session is up to 1.5 hours and participants will be compensated $45 per session, for a total of $180 for the study. Participants will be asked to share their daily experiences through a multiple-choice questionnaire and will be asked to rank and evaluate community resources that they might find helpful for successful and fulfilling aging in place. Name and other personal identifiable information are not collected.

More information is available at this link. Interested individuals may submit the application form at the following link: https://forms.gle/uiaMEMf7XU7b8f7E7.

Grandparents Club Interest Meeting

 

By Deborah Metcalf, Club Coordinator


Are you interested in joining a Grandparents' Club?

The idea is simple: create opportunities for grandparents and grandchildren to connect, play, and socialize together. Activities could include playground visits, picnics, splash pad outings, swimming, indoor play spaces, and other family-friendly events. It can serve as a platform to set up individual playdates with the overall goal of making new friends (grandparent as well as grandchildren). The club could expand to include grandparenting
workshops and seminars if members would like that - I am happy and open to new ideas to expand the scope of the club and meet the needs of fellow grandparents!

Zoom Interest Meeting
Tuesday, June 16
11:00 AM
 
If this sounds like something you would enjoy, please join us on Zoom to learn more, meet other grandparents, and share your ideas!

Meeting URL: https://olligmu-org.zoom.us/j/81822581438?pwd=mRf7ZudmUPkpbrv3foZBaGHe eosPR5.1
Meeting ID: 818 2258 1438
Passcode: 914596

Why Teach at OLLI Mason? 
 

By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) Program Planning Group Chair
 
“On sharing knowledge … A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” — Father James Keller [1]

Did you know that Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary on November 11th of this year? Did you know that it was not always welcoming? What do you know about the cultural impacts of the Lincoln Highway or the Blue Ridge Parkway? And this, of course, leads us to the larger question: How do major government-sponsored roadways and airports affect local communities? And, yes, we almost had a major airport in Burke!

These topics come under the heading of “Movement.” Migration is another aspect of movement. People move for various reasons, whether it is refugees fleeing a conflict or a family moving across town. The movement of people has a significant impact on societies and cultures, creating diverse communities in different parts of the world.

If you have expanded knowledge regarding these or other topics of interest, please consider teaching a single or multi-course session in 2027. And yes, we are scheduling for next year already!

We at OLLI encourage our members to voluntarily share their knowledge by teaching a course or two in their field/s of expertise and/or interest. As part of social sciences and current events, HSS/CE covers many sub-categories. Now is a great time to consider sharing your knowledge with OLLI members in 2027 and beyond.

Here is the course proposal form for your convenience: https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/.

OLLI Volunteer Positions Need Filling

 

By Deborah Engleson, Treasurer and Former President


HELP WANTED: Help OLLI Mason as we work to build our membership. We need several people to fill important vacant positions. Can you help?

Outreach is one of our most important committees. The role of the committee is to develop and disseminate promotional material and attend activities that promote OLLI and encourage membership. The committee meets regularly to strategize, help distribute catalogs, make presentations, and provide volunteers for the OLLI Information table at events. The chairperson works closely with the OLLI Mason.

Communications Associate. We need a new chairperson or co-chairs for this committee (Dean Salpini relocated out of state). If you like meeting the public and/or scheduling time to do so, this position is for you. A volunteer position description is available. Former chair Debby Mossburg will support with coaching.

Please contact Debbie Engleson, [email protected] or 330-573-6636 for more information.
Computer Club
3rd Saturday, June 20
Fireworks Photography
Member Luncheon
 

By Paul Howard , OPCUG Program Chair


The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, June 20, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 1:45, since this meeting has no “Learn in 30” session because of the Member Luncheon this month.

Fireworks Photography―Presented by John Krout In this presentation, you will learn the presenter’s techniques for taking long-duration photos that make aerial fireworks bursts appear as you see them. 

First, learn the setting on your camera that must be adjusted to capture all the colors. Second, learn how to keep your shutter open for seconds at a time to capture bursts in their entirety. Third, learn, learn the cost and features to support your camera so that it does not move during long exposures. Fourth, learn how to include water reflections of aerial fireworks, say from the Reflecting Pool or the Potomac. Fifth, learn of local aerial fireworks shows prior to July 4 so you can practice the photo techniques before Independence Day itself. Sixth, learn about the favorite locations used by the presenter to take photos of fireworks shows, and even some parking tips. 

Most years, aerial fireworks shows are 7 to 15 minutes long. The latter is typical for the National Park Service in DC (NPS DC). In 1976, the 200th anniversary, the NPS DC show was 2 hours long. Since this is the 250th anniversary, and our President enjoys a spectacle, NPS DC has been told to launch five times the typical number of bursts in only twice the time, roughly 30 minutes. I think that the high rate may produce smoke far more quickly than breezes can carry smoke out of view. I hope they lengthen the 2026 show to 75 minutes, so the smoke does not accumulate. 

John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings and has won many awards for his photography.

Luncheon for Dues-Paid Members―From 12:45 to 1:50, catered again by Leti, Queen of Eats. If you haven't previously signed up, and your schedule is now clear, join us! Click the link below to make your reservation for our June pre-meeting lunch for dues-paid members. 
                       RSVP form - https://forms.gle/j3rCn4riKZtMJtM79.

For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 and are now due for 2026 (and 2025, if you didn’t get around to paying earlier!)—see
http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 1:45, please click:
https://olligmu-org.zoom.us/j/84681940279?pwd=4ynpoGpnoaxYvTYLRu2Nm9p
NJdWPFc.1 to join the meeting and use passcode 437356. (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 846 8194 0279 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).

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Special “What’s in the Daily News?” Announcement


By Ann Smith, What’s in the Daily News Member


“What’s In the Daily News” moderators want to invite you to a special in-person session on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 9:30 on the OLLI Fairfax campus. We meet year-round, so we are both a class during semesters, and a club. Every week, we generate a list of events from the previous week as a starting point for our lively discussion. We will be following our usual format, but we also want to acknowledge and celebrate our nation’s semi-quincentennial with tasty treats!

We hope you join us in June and get to meet some Zoom friends in person. What’s in the Daily News? Club summer registration is requested for planning and communication purposes.
 






Summer is peak tick season in Virginia but warmer temperatures mean that they are present year around. They are the cause of numerous illnesses, the most prominent in Virginia being Lyme Disease caused by the deer tick. Ticks can also cause Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, alpha-gal syndrome and erhlichosis. Prevention is key: Your Guide to Tick Prevention | News Center.
From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup
 
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Longing Berries
 
waiting for the season
of sugary blueberries
lost in chocolate
 
while raspberries bite back,
heavy sits the superfruit crown
but sharp enough that I don’t care
 
strawberries are boring,
blink – they’re everywhere,
best to stomp them down
 
cranberries, mulberries,
acai, boysenberries, currant,
and gooseberries
 
secretly, I bet
they all are longing
to be blackberries

          ‒Valerie Horton

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances June 13 through June 28


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Melina’s Dance Company, Once Upon a Story
Showcase 2026
Sat, Jun 13, 11:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $22.

Melina’s Dance Company, Limitless Showcase 2026
Sat, Jun 13, 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $22.
 
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus

Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill
Body
Mason Exhibitions
Arlington
Through August 1
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
George Mason Jazz Camp: Faculty Showcase
Mon, Jun 22, 3:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

George Mason Jazz Camp: Steve Williams Mighty Little Big Band
Tue, Jun 23, 3:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

George Mason Jazz Camp: Roxy Coss, Saxophone
Wed, Jun 24, 3:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

George Mason Jazz Camp: US Army Blues Jazz Ensemble
Thu, Jun 25, 3:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

George Mason Jazz Camp: Student Showcase 
Fri, Jun 26, 2:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory Actors Theatre: Disney’s Newsies, The Musical
Fri, Jun 5, 7:30
Sat, Jun 6, 7:30
Sun, Jun 7, 2:00
Fri, Jun 12, 7:30
Sat, Jun 13, 7:30
Sun, Jun 14, 2:00
Fri, Jun 19, 7:30
Sat, Jun 20, 7:30
Sun, Jun 21, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $30 Senior.

Showcase Dance Studio: Legendary
Sat, Jun 13, 11:00, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $41, $38, $35.

Virginia Dance Center: Dancing for the Good and the Wicked
Sat, Jun 20, 12:00, 5:00.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30, $23.

ARTfactory Pied Piper Theatre: Disney’s The Lion King Jr.
Fri, Jun 26, 7:00
Sat, Jun 27, 10:00 and 2:00
Sun, Jun 28, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $20.
 
Manassas Ballet Academy Recital: Sleeping Beauty & More!
Thu, Jun 11, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.


VISUAL ARTS 

Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat Jun 13 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 15
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 OLLI Artists Club
What’s in the Daily News?
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Poetry Reading Club – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jun 16
 
 		  1:30 pm
 2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Zoom Introduction – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 17
 
 		 10:30 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jun 18
 
 
 		  9:40 am
11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Reader’s Theater Club
All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jun 19
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Game On: Talking Sports – online
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jun 20
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jun 22
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jun 23
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 24
 
 
 		 12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turners Group – online
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Thu Jun 25
 
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm
 6:00 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri Jun 26
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jun 27 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






ENews May 29, 2026

by

OLLI E-News May 29, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Dr. Peter R. Henriques, History Professor Emeritus at George Mason University, presented a Capstone Lecture as a finale in a series spanning more than 25 years of talks to OLLI about George Washington, Tallwood, May 14

May 29, 2026


Editor of the Week: Deborah Kruesi 
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Registration for summer term is underway and will continue throughout the term, which begins June 22.
  • Reminder:  The Literature, Language, Theater, and Writing (LLT) Program Planning Group will meet Monday, June 8 at 1:00 via Zoom―see June 8 Daily Schedule.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 12; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 9, at 6:00.

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From the Desk of the Executive Director
Welcome Erika Koeniger to OLLI Mason

 
By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director
 

 

We are delighted to welcome Erika Koeniger, who joined OLLI Mason on May 18 as our new Program Associate.
 
Erika brings a strong background in community engagement, communications, and education. She recently earned her Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science from Texas A&M University, where she also held a variety of professional roles and volunteer leadership positions including Managing Editor of an academic journal. She worked on initiatives that connected communities, supported educational programming, and strengthened organizational communications—experiences that align beautifully with OLLI Mason’s mission.

In addition to her doctorate, Erika holds a Master of Public Administration and a B.A. in Human Services, further reflecting her longstanding commitment to public service and lifelong learning.
 
Erika is excited to bring her skills and energy to OLLI Mason and is equally enthusiastic about settling into her new home in Northern Virginia. Please join us in giving her a warm OLLI welcome when you see her around campus this summer!
 
At the same time, we share that Shannon Morrow, Lead Program Associate, will be retiring at the end of July 2026. Shannon has been a cornerstone of OLLI Mason’s program success, and we look forward to celebrating her many contributions in the weeks ahead.

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Volunteer Spotlight: David Osterman

 
By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director    



For the past eight years, David Osterman has provided steady, thoughtful leadership as finance chair of OLLI Mason—helping to ensure the organization’s financial strength and long-term sustainability.

In this critical role, David has guided the Board and staff through budgeting, financial planning, and oversight with care, clarity, and a deep sense of responsibility. His work behind the scenes has been essential in supporting OLLI Mason’s programs, operations, and continued growth. Whether reviewing financial reports, advising on strategic decisions, or helping navigate complex challenges including transitioning from cash to accrual accounting, David has brought a calm, analytical perspective that has strengthened the organization at every step.

Beyond his service as Finance Chair, David has generously contributed his time and expertise as a Board member from 2020-2023, serving as treasurer as well as being a member of the AV Committee.

We are deeply grateful to David for his service and the many ways he has strengthened OLLI Mason. His legacy of thoughtful stewardship and quiet leadership will continue to benefit the organization for years to come.

If you would like to nominate a volunteer for spotlight in the E-News please use this link: https://olli.gmu.edu/volunteer-spotlight/.

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Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Meeting
By Michele Romano, MD, and Suresh Mohla, PhD,
Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Co-Chairs

There will be a meeting of the Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group on Thursday, June 11, from 10:00-11:00. This will be Zoom only so please feel free to come in your fuzzy slippers with your favorite coffee mug. There will be a Zoom link in the Daily Schedule that morning.
 
If you are new to OLLI or have an interest in science, technology or health, please join us. You don't have to be an "official member" of the group, but we hope you will consider it. We need your thoughts, advice, recommendations, and help. If you have even a remote interest in presenting a class or know of someone who does, we would love to hear that also.
 
We'll see you (virtually) on June 11.
Tallwood Book Club

     By Elizabeth Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator



The Tallwood Book Club will be discussing two chapters from Andrew Solomon’s Far from the Tree at its Zoom meeting on Friday June 12 at 2:30. 
 
Future choices, in an as yet to be determined order, are The Life Impossible, The Great Divide, The Magnolia Palace, Orbital, Absolution, Memorial Days, The Art Thief, and The Stranger in the Woods.
 

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Downsizing  
             
keep or trash
gift or donate
shred school papers
burn ancient class notes
 
historical newspapers
and magazines stay
man on the moon
JFK, MLK, RFK
 
dump items with no
significant memory
store photos of people
the rest be gone
 
resist keeping junk
“I might need”
or “come in handy”
maybe others can use
 
after a lifetime
of accumulation
possessions whittle
down to near nothing
 
what I keep
is me
 
            Margie Wildblood

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances May 29 through June 21


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Prokofiev, Selections from Romeo & Juliet; Piano Concerto No. 3 with Claire Huangci, piano; Symphony No. 5
Sun, May 31, 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $75, $64, $54.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
No Performances

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Manassas Chorale: Lights, Camera, Music!
Fri, May 29, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30.

Virginia National Ballet Spring Recital
Sat, May 30, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $40.

Boyle School of Irish Dance
Sun, May 31, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $22.

ARTfactory Actors Theatre: Disney’s Newsies, The Musical
Fri, Jun 5, 7:30
Sat, Jun 6, 7:30
Sun, Jun 7, 2:00
Fri, Jun 12, 7:30
Sat, Jun 13, 7:30
Sun, Jun 14, 2:00
Fri, Jun 19, 7:30
Sat, Jun 20, 7:30
Sun, Jun 21, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $30 Senior.
 
Manassas Ballet Academy Recital: Sleeping Beauty & More!
Thu, Jun 11, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.


VISUAL ARTS 

Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat 30 May 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Art and Music Program Planning Group Meeting
Poetry Reading Club – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jun 2
 
 
 		 10:00 am
 
 2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Humanities & Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 3
 
 		 10:30 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jun 4
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jun 5
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Game On: Talking Sports – online
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jun 6 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 8
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
 1:00 pm
 
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Poetry Writing Club – online
Literature, Theater, Writing and Languages Program Planning Group Meeting
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jun 9
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 10
 
 
 		 10:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu Jun 11
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
 
11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Meeting
All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jun 12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:30 pm
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tallwood Book Club – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jun 13 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






ENews May 15, 2026

by

OLLI E-News May 15, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
 
A large turnout of first-time visitors was welcomed to Tallwood on May 8-9 for a well-received OLLI Ideas Festival and Open House.

May 15, 2026


Editor of the Week: David Gundry 
Table of Contents
Alerts & Notices
 
  • Computer Club meeting on Saturday, May 16 (tomorrow), at 1:00. Check daily schedule for information.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 29; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 26, at 6:00.






It’s time to get outdoors. Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body and your first line of defense? Protect it so it can protect you. Sunscreens should be at least SPF 30, applied 30 minutes before sun exposure then every hour as well as after every time you come out of the water. Don’t forget the ears. Men, don’t forget the scalp. UV Protection | UT MD Anderson.
From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup

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Save the Date: LLT Program Planning Group to Meet June 8 at 1:00



 By Patricia Bangs, LLT Program Planning Group Co-Chair



The Literature, Language, Theater, and Writing (LLT) Program Planning Group will meet Monday, June 8 at 1:00 via Zoom to plan our winter 2026 term and beyond.

OLLI-Mason members are invited to attend and bring ideas for literature, theater, writing, or language programs, as well as possible resources. This could include individuals you may know who might want to teach or any other thoughts on this popular OLLI program area.

The meeting Zoom link is below. We will send out a reminder, and the meeting will also appear in the June 8 Daily Schedule.

Topic: Literature, Theater, Writing and Languages Program Planning Meeting

Time: June 8, 2026 1:00 Eastern Time (US and Canada)

To Join Zoom Meeting: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/96031467316

Meeting ID: 960 3146 7316

Thanks to all who can come. See you on June 8.
-- Pat Bangs, [email protected]
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop


Small Talk

What do you do?
I raise inklings.
Is there a market for them?
Yep.
Do they make good pets?
Depends on the owner.
What do you mean?
Well, inklings can be needy. Some owners like needy. Some don’t.
Sounds intriguing.
I don’t raise intriguings. But I would say they could be like inklings if you’re the right kind of owner.
Do you think I could be the right kind of owner?
I don’t have an inkling.
Didn’t you say you raise them?
I do. But I don’t try to match them with suitable owners.
Why not?
I haven’t a clue.
                                
                          ‒Ed Sadtler

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National Community Band Concert



 By Linda Harber, Co-President, Friends of Music at Mason



Here is information for the upcoming National Community Band Concert at the George Mason University Center for the Arts, presented by the Fairfax Wind Symphony and Mason’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music. I think OLLI members will enjoy the concerts, many of which are held during the daytime.
Obituary: Kathrina (Kathie) K. West

Kathie West, who first joined OLLI in fall 2005, died on May 6, 2026. To her many friends at OLLI, she will be remembered and loved as founder of OLLI Players for seniors, and for her enthusiastic participation in countless roles in that group. She was also active in her local community as a member of the Potomac Green Playmakers.

A great storyteller, she wowed her family and friends with playful drama and wit. Kathie was an inspiration to many students at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, VA, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA, directing fall plays and spring musicals over many years.

A Celebration of Life for Kathie will be held May 20, 2026, at Demaine Life Celebration Center in Sterling (45511 E Severn Way, Sterling, VA 20166). Visitation will begin at 11:00, with services immediately following.

In honor of Kathie’s courageous journey, the family welcomes flowers or memorial donations to https://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/donate/.

More information is available at the following link:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/sterling-va/kathrina-west-12875645.


Here’s a tribute written by OLLI member Wendy Campbell:
 
  Kathie West joined OLLI in 2005 shortly after retiring as a drama instructor at Thomas Jefferson High School. Because she sparkled, she rapidly became a central figure at OLLI, running classes in theater and serving on the Board of Directors. Everybody knew Kathie and loved her energy and the joy she took in life, the universe, and everything.

    

She created and ran the OLLI Players, reaching out and performing for retirement communities throughout northern Virginia. She was instrumental in turning out numerous Murder Mystery performances which many of us participated in, both as performers and audience. She helped to run the second year of Grandcamp. She was a friend to everyone who knew her. Kathie passed peacefully in her sleep on May 6th after fighting liver cancer for only a month. Well loved, deeply missed, always remembered. She was my friend. 
Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances May 8 through May 25


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites for performances, talks etc. For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/

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.

Back to Top of Page
At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No performances
 
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/) 
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

No Performances

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Manassas Ballet Theatre: Don Quixote
Fri, May 15, 7:30 
Sat, May 16, 3:00 and 7:30
Sun, May 17, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $81, $71, $60, $50, $40.

Somers Voice: Raisin—The Musical
Sat, May 16, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 17, 3:00
Sat, May 23, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 24, 3:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $45.

Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra: America at 250, A Musical Mosaic
Sun, May 24, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30 Adult, $27 Senior.    


VISUAL ARTS 

Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

Back to Top of Page
Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat May 16
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer Club
Mon May 18
 
 
 		  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 May 19
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed May 20
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu May 21
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 22
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat May 23 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon 25 May   OLLI Closed Memorial Day
Tue 26 May
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed 27 May
 
 
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu 28 May
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm
 6:00 pm		 Large Program Planning Group Meeting
All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri 29 May
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 1:00 pm		 Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
1776 Trivia Party
Sat 30 May 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

Back to Top of Page

Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






ENews May 8, 2026

by

OLLI E-News May 8, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Annual Meeting and Picnic, Tallwood, May 1

May 8, 2026


Editor of the Week: Paul Van  Hemel
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • You should have received a ballot for voting in the election of five members to the Board of Directors. Voting continues through May 15. Candidate statements are available on the website at this link.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 15; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 12, at 6:00.

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From the Desk of the Executive Director
Join Us May 8-9 for OLLI Ideas Festival

 
By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director

 

We are pleased to present a sampling of OLLI programs and activities at the inaugural OLLI Ideas Festival. Offerings include member favorites like Walk and Talk and Investment Forum as well as special programming such as the Panel on Global Perspectives on Longevity, a Tea Ceremony, and Meet the Restauranteur.

Check out the full schedule here. Join us May 8 and 9 for bold ideas and fascinating discussions with our remarkable community of curious learners and instructors.  

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Computer Club
3rd Saturday, May 16
The Informed Technology Consumer: Do you still have a landline?
What’s New with Zoom?
PC Clinic in the Annex
 
By Paul Howard , OPCUG Program Chair



The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, May 16, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45 (Zoom link below).

The Informed Technology Consumer: Do you still have a landline?―Presented by Victor Rezmovic This presentation will provide a guide to modern connectivity solutions for the home and while traveling. We will contrast traditional wired internet with newer cellular home networks and mobile hotspots, highlighting how users can maintain web access even in rural areas or during emergencies via satellite messaging. The talk also explores VoIP technology and Google Voice as cost-effective alternatives to standard landlines for managing phone calls. To improve internal coverage, solutions include utilizing Wi-Fi extenders and mesh networks to eliminate signal dead zones. Finally, we will touch upon streaming services to replace cable television and the integration of smart devices within the Internet of Things (IOT).

Since retiring, Victor Rezmovic, PhD, has dedicated himself to teaching practical uses of technology such as using the Cloud, disconnecting from cable TV, and staying safe online. He has been teaching at Montgomery College and several adult learning centers since 2017. His current obsession is learning practical applications for the uses of AI.

Learn in 30: What’s New with Zoom―Presented by Mike Emery PATACS has been using Zoom since 2013 to provide a way for members in distant locations, or those unable to conveniently attend physical meetings to participate in the organization's primary activities.  As the lead site assistant for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, Mike heads a team providing hundreds of Zoom classes and activities via Zoom every year.
      
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 2026 (and 2025, if you didn’t get around to paying earlier!)—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

PC Clinic in the Annex
Get hands-on help with your computer and technology problems from PATAC experts. Bring in your computer, and we’ll help you lose the ‘blues’―system slowdowns, unwanted programs, virus and malware. We can help install new RAM, optical drives, hard discs and software. Be sure to read the Clinic Rules—click the link: Clinic Rules.
 
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click:
https://olligmu-org.zoom.us/j/87181894687?pwd=jeej4aqXUEcbKuULWcx9ACtgISnrCF.1 to join the meeting and use passcode 468224. (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 871 8189 4687 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).

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Theater Potpourri: Theater Classics to World Premieres to a Voting Rights Musical


By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers' Group, Coordinator


Did you know that the story of Little Women is a semibiographical novel of the author Louisa May Alcott? Sarah Elbert posits that "within Little Women can be found the first vision of the 'All-American girl' and that her various aspects are embodied in the differing March sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy." The story, set during the Civil War years, gives insights into the typical lives of women during that era. Theater Lovers' Group will go to the Creative Cauldron on Sunday, May 17 to see the 2pm performance of Little Women: The Musical. To purchase tickets, phone 703-436-9948 or go online to creativecauldron.org and use the code SSS to get $15 off all Sunday shows. Optional dinner after the show TBD. 
 
NEW DATE! On Wednesday, May 27, Theater Lovers' Group will attend 7pm performance of Pippin at Signature in Shirlington, with optional dinner beforehand TBD. A delightful tale of Pippin, Charlemagne's son, and his various (sometimes disastrous, hilarious) efforts, to become the hero he dreams of being. Tickets are going fast. Go to sigtheatre.org to select your seat and purchase your ticket.
 
On Wednesday and Thursday, July 15 and 16, Theater Lovers' Group travels to the Contemporary American Theater Festival for an overnight trip to nearby Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to see several world premieres. We need one more person to get a discount rate of $63/person for tickets. We will carpool. Lodging information and more will be forthcoming. For more details, email [email protected].
 
Broadway comes to PBS! This Friday at 9pm, Great Performances will feature the recorded 2024 Broadway hit Suffs, a musical, for your - free- viewing pleasure. Based on my having seen the show on Broadway, I can't say more than it is a show everyone can benefit from seeing. It's the story of the suffragette fight for women's voting rights - and it is a musical that you can enjoy while learning from and about history. So, pull up your chair, invite your children and grandchildren, friends and neighbors to watch a very entertaining piece of history delivered musically.
 
Guests are always welcome to join us at our theater events. Please email [email protected] if you will be joining us or have any questions. To join TLG, go to OLLI's member portal and search for Theater Lovers' Group.

Editor's Note: At the author's request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.

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‘Game On! Talking Sports Club’ Invites All OLLI Members
By Dennis VanLangen and Steve Greenhouse,
Game On! Talking Sports Club Co-Coordinators
If you're among the many Washington, DC metro-area sports fans who spent summer evenings watching Nationals games on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, you already know the warm, familiar voice of Bob Carpenter. For 20 seasons—from 2006 through 2025—Bob was the television play-by-play voice of the Washington Nationals, before retiring after a long and distinguished broadcasting career.

Now he's coming to OLLI! The Game On! Talking Sports Club is delighted to welcome Bob as our featured guest on Friday, May 15, at 10:00 via Zoom. He'll share stories and reflections from a remarkable career, and we expect a lively and enjoyable conversation.

This session is open to all OLLI members. Watch for the Zoom link in your daily schedule email. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Sebastian

When first he came into our home we knew he
wouldn’t  be  here  long  enough  to  comfort
whichever one of us would be left stranded
single in a chill and lonely house. He lived like
a banked fire, embers heating our lives, flaring
with unexpected attacks, antics and zooms.
He made us smile. When for three days he
declined to eat food carefully heated or drink
the  tuna  water  he  loved,  we knew  he  was
dying. Sunday we woke to find him curled and
cold beside our bed. He was a good cat.
 
                            ‒Carolyn Wyatt

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances May 8 through May 24


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/
and if you miss a live performance, there is a pay-per-view for many: https://cfa.gmu.edu/events/paid-digital-performances. 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 above) or visit the venue's box office.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Brigham Young University Alumni a capella Concert
Fri, May 8, 7:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $55, $45, $35.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Living the Prescription
Through May 8, 2026
Founders Gallery, Arlington Campus
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
Dewberry School of Music Honors Recital
Sat, May 9, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: Free.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre: Oliver!
Sat, May 9, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 10, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30 Adult, $24 Senior.

Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. and the Ils Sont Partis Band
Sat, May 9, 5:00 and 8:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35.

Manassas Ballet Theatre: Don Quixote
Fri, May 15, 7:30
Sat, May 16, 3:00 and 7:30
Sun, May 17, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $81, $71, $60, $50, $40.
 
Somers Voice: Raisin—The Musical
Sat, May 16, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 17, 3:00
Sat, May 23, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 24, 3:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $45.

VISUAL ARTS 

Offerings to the Potomac: Acknowledging Indigenous Place
Through May 15, 2026
Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery, Manassas Campus
 
Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat May 9 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon May 11
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue May 12
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed May 13
 
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu May 14
 
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 15
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm		 Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Talking Sports – online
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat May 16
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer Club
Mon May 18
 
 
 		  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 May 19
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed May 20
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu May 21
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 22
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat May 23 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University · 4210 Roberts RD · Fairfax, VA 22032 · USA

OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

4210 Roberts Rd. Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone: (703) 503-3384
Email: [email protected]

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