OLLI E-News (Weekly Newsletter)

October 2, 2026

• Alerts & Notices
• Join OLLI in Creating a Community Mural
• Personal Purpose, Meaningful Connections, Gardening
• OLLI Mason Publicity in the Fairfax Golden Gazette
• Poet's Corner
• Arts & Music at George Mason
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, October 9; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, October 6, at 6:00

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Join OLLI in Creating a Community Mural

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September 25, 2026

• Alerts & Notices
• Be a Part of the Art: Tree of Life Community Mural
• From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup
• Fall for the Book Event:Black Out Loud with Geoff Bennett
• Tallwood Book Club
• Spanish Anyone?
• Coming this Fall: A Cornucopia of Exciting Theater Events
• An Excursion to the Virginia Piedmont
• Photo of the Month
• Poet's Corner
• Arts & Music at George Mason
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, October 2. The regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, September 29, at 6:00.

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Spanish Anyone?


By Debby Kruesi, Literature, Language, Theater, Film and Writing (LLTWF) Program Co-Chair

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For an exciting and memorable musical afternoon, the only place to be on Sunday, September 27 at 3 p.m. is Mason’s Harris Theater for the Grand Piano Celebration 2026. Mason’s pianists extraordinaire Linda Monson and Anna Balakerskaia will amaze you with their talent. Dean Rick Davis will narrate witty verses of Ogden Nash as only he can. A delicious meet-the-artist reception follows the concert. Go to calendar.gmu.edu to purchase senior tickets for $20.

On Sunday, October 18, TLG goes to 1stStage to attend the 2 p.m. matinee performance of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal. The play explores facets of extramarital affairs through a unique reverse-chronological structure.  A block of $25 tickets has been reserved for OLLI members. To purchase a ticket, phone 703-854-1856, tell them you are with Norma from OLLI. Email me at [email protected] to let me know you will be joining us. We will go to an optional lunch before the show TBD.

On Saturday, October 31, TLG goes to Signature to attend the 2 p.m. matinee performance of Stephen Sondheim’s famous musical Merrily We Roll Along. The show tells the story of how the relationship of three friends devolves over 20 years’ time. We have a group ticket rate of $95 per person. To purchase a ticket, please email me [email protected] as I am coordinating a block of tickets with Signature. Optional lunch before the show TBD.

As we enter the holiday season and your vagabond shoes are longing to stray, you’ll want to be part of the trip TLG is taking to Broadway. We leave Tuesday, November 17 and return Wednesday, November 18 – plenty of time to see two shows or catch the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall or visit a museum or start your holiday shopping. The cost of $548 for a double (add $178 for a single) includes transportation, lodging at the Marriott Marquis, and a $46 voucher for breakfast at the Marriott. Kim is on hand to help purchase show tickets and plan your trip. Six spaces are available. If interested, email [email protected] to sign up and for more information.

To get in on all the fun, why not join OLLI’s Theater Lovers’ Group? To become a TLG member, just go online to OLLI member portal and register for the club there.

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

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OLLI members recently toured the Culpeper National Cemetery. (The photo of grave markers and monuments was taken by Paul Howard.) The event was a follow-up to the July OLLI class presented by Jeffrey Joyce, a knowledgeable docent at several Northern Virginia sites.

Leading the group among the white grave markers along the grassy green hills, Jeff brought history alive by relating details of his extensive research into the lives of many of the "residents" of the cemetery. It has been said that a person still lives on as long as their name is being spoken; Jeff helps to ensure that those who have passed on are still remembered.

Afterward, some members enjoyed lunch in Culpeper, while others visited the Museum of Culpeper History.
(The group photo was provided by Bob Esler.)

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September 11, 2026

• Alerts & Notices
• Got Course Ideas? … Join the HSS/CE Program Planning Group   
• Help Virginians Age Better!
• Poet's Corner
• Arts & Music at George Mason
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, September 25. The regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, September 22, at 6:00.

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Got Course Ideas? … Join the HSS/CE Program Planning Group   

By Camille Hodges, HSS/CE Planning Team Chair

 

OLLI is known for its great course ideas. In case you were unaware… many of these ideas come directly from you! We at OLLI need to know what courses/topics strongly reflect your interest and/or your desire to know more about. Also, let us know of any topics you would be willing to teach at OLLI. Our members are our strength when it comes to course proposals.

Check out the current catalog and decide which category might best support your area of expertise. Also, if you have personal contact with people who would be great OLLI instructors, please invite them to present as well.

The Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) team is committed to inviting presentations that support many areas including psychology, politics, cultural interests, inter- and intrapersonal interactions, human culture, ethics, and cultural awareness. Our team meets virtually three or four times per year and communicates continuously. 

To join the HSS/CE programming team, here’s the link: [email protected].

Got course ideas?  Here’s the link for the OLLI course proposal form: https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/.

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in earlier E-News editions. It is repeated here to encourage member participation in program planning for HSS/CE.

By Emily Roudebush, OLLI Vice President

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3rd Saturday, September 19
Identity Theft Prevention and Recovery for Older Adults
Computer Security and Computer Purchase Tips

Learn in 30: Experts’ Views:
Most people buy the WRONG computer―here's why! Presented by Scott Merrill
What Security Software Do You Recommend? Presented by Leo Notenboom
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 12:45, please click: https://olligmuorg.zoom.us/j/84601079223pwd=PgGscRz2TL7NYTjdX8nE10vzK55oeS.1
to join the meeting and use passcode 904622. (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 846 0107 9223 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).

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August 28, 2026

• Alerts & Notices
• Welcome to the Fall Term
• Got Course Ideas? … Join the HSS/CE Program Planning Group
• OLLI Hiking Club News
• Photography Club
• Photo of the Month
• Poet's Corner
• Obituary: Robert Patton Carroll
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• Registration is now open for the fall term of OLLI classes.
• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday,
  September 11. The regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, September 8, at 6:00.

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At OLLI Mason, we strive to cultivate a warm and inviting environment where everyone feels welcome – a place to connect with your peers, discover new interests, enjoy excellent programming, and of course to learn. No matter what you’re curious about, we hope you’ll enjoy the new catalog and join us for the tremendous offerings coming this fall. You may have noticed that the catalog now features class, club, and activity grids at the front to help you discover all that OLLI has to offer.

This fall, whether you’re a new or returning member, join us at the kick-off coffee. This annual tradition is a great opportunity to meet new friends, reconnect, and hear about exciting plans underway to make your member experience even better.

The 250th anniversary programming continues this fall with 14 classes and activities! The Mason Library is planning an intergenerational program exploring the values of the American Revolution. This will be a wonderful opportunity to reflect on all of the 250th classes and programs from the past year.

Have you ever participated in a drumming circle? Come make some noise at this innovative new class!

Based on member feedback from the questionnaire, we’re piloting a new class format – lunch and lecture. Enjoy a delicious catered lunch followed by a lecture on the history of our local music scene with musician and musicologist, Ken Avis.

We’ll be creating a community mural with artist Brianna Camp at the entrance to the Tallwood campus. Members will be invited to provide feedback on the initial design and then can work side by side with the artist to help paint the mural! No experience needed.

One of our leading strategic goals is to be visible. We value our current members and are always looking for ways to reach new members and instructors. Please help spread the word about all the great things happening at OLLI Mason. Guest passes are available in the office. Be sure to follow us on social media, share our posts, and post about your favorite classes and activities.

See you soon!

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Got Course Ideas? … Join the HSS/CE Program Planning Group

  
By Camille Hodges, HSS/CE Planning Team Chair



OLLI is known for its great course ideas. In case you were unaware… many of these ideas come directly from you! We at OLLI need to know what courses/topics strongly reflect your interest and/or your desire to know more about. Also, let us know of any topics you would be willing to teach at OLLI. Our members are our strength when it comes to course proposals.

Check out the current catalog and decide which category might best support your area of expertise. Also, if you have personal contact with people who would be great OLLI instructors, please invite them to present as well.

The Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) team is committed to inviting presentations that support many areas including psychology, politics, cultural interests, inter- and intrapersonal interactions, human culture, ethics, and cultural awareness. Our team meets virtually three or four times per year and communicates continuously.
 
To join the HSS/CE programming team, here’s the link: [email protected].
Got course ideas?  Here’s the link for the OLLI course proposal form: https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/.

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in earlier E-News editions. It
is repeated here to encourage member participation in program
planning for HSS/CE.

OLLI Hiking Club News

 

By Kathy Rones, Hiking Club Coordinator


Nine OLLI members recently completed a spirited hike of over 4 miles at Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, VA. After the hike, we had lunch at the Marshall Diner in nearby Marshall, VA. 

We enjoyed the variety of hiking terrains (e.g., steep, challenging hills; shaded level paths in the woods or beside meadows; a gravel road), and the views from the Piedmont overlook. It’s a lovely state park and was serene and definitely uncrowded. We only crossed paths with about 6 other hikers. We plan to hike in this park again in the spring, and will try a longer hike, including parts of the Appalachian Trail.

Looking ahead, in September you can join us for hikes at Fountainhead Regional Park on Sep 10 (with a backup date of Sep 11) and Shenandoah National Park on Sep 22 (with a backup date of Sep 25). 

Please register for “OLLI Hiking Club Fall session” to receive emails and updates about our hikes.

By John Olsen and Lynn Cline, Photography Club Coordinators

The OPC is one of the OLLI clubs you can join.

Don't forget, when registering for the OLLI fall program, you may also register for the OLLI clubs in which you are interested to participate. One of the most popular and enjoyable is the OLLI Photo Club which meets the second and fourth Friday of each month. You can attend in person at Tallwood or join in through the Zoom connections which are furnished each weekday morning.

Members of the OPC love sharing photos, and we have both monthly competitions and galleries where members can display their photographs. The monthly competition for September is Wildlife-animals (excluding birds); October is Technique-Diptych or Triptych; November is Autumnal Colors; and December is Open (no theme).

The OPC also has monthly field trips to local areas where you can join other OPC photographers to practice your photographic skills and monthly guest speakers from whom you can learn how to take better photographs.

We also support various projects such as photographing the Mason student opera performances and providing photographic service to the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics. This latter effort is a big job where OPC members volunteer to document (photograph) various NVSO events. The NVSO is from September 11 through October 4, so if you are interested in helping out, please contact John Olsen.

If you have an interest in photography, consider joining the OLLI Photo Club. Remember: it's free and, as with the other clubs, a part of your membership.

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August 14, 2026

• Alerts & Notices
• Poet's Corner
• Special Singing for Fun Milestone
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• The OLLI office will re-open Monday, August 17. Between-term office hours are Mon-Fri,  9:00-noon.
• Fall 2026 registration begins August 18 at 9:00 and continues throughout the term.
• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, August 28; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, August 25, at 6:00.

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

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July 31, 2026

• Alerts & Notices
• Help Shape the Social Heart of OLLI Mason
• Highlights of the July 17 Board Meeting
• From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup
• "Got Course Ideas?... Join the HSS/CE Team!
• Join the Theater Lovers' for a Summer Cultural Medley this August
• A Week of Eating Through Italian History
• Poet's Corner
• At this time, there are no performances scheduled for Arts & Music at Mason
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• Reminder: OLLI Mason office and campus will be closed for summer break from August 3-14.
• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, August 14; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, August 11, at 6:00.

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The Treasurer's report covering the first six months of the year noted that the Osher endowment is in good shape and providing much needed income.

In old business, two resolutions postponed from last meeting were discussed. One was approved to update and clarify procedures for reporting and investigating potential conflicts of interest within OLLI. The other resolution updated policy and procedures for the OLLI Mason fund. Both resolutions were approved.

New Business approved categories for designated contributions to OLLI, and approved the implementation of a limited, Mason Alumni discount pilot program for OLLI membership.
The regular meeting was adjourned at 12:28.

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Join the Theater Lovers' for a Summer Cultural Medley this August

By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers' Group



We, who are fortunate enough to live in the DMV area, luxuriate in a wealth of cultural events from which to choose. So, this August, the Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) will spread its wings and savor a few of them: an opera known for its beautiful arias, a musical day trip through the rolling hills of Virginia, a sophisticated but hilarious play, and a luncheon where the conversation is always titillating.
 

On Friday, August 7 at 8 p.m., TLG will attend a performance of Puccini's Tosca at Wolf Trap. There will be dinner beforehand at Pazzo Pomodoro in Vienna, followed by a pre-performance talk at
7 p.m. at Wolf Trap. Tosca is in Italian with English subtitles. Go to wolftrap.org to purchase your tickets and select your seat. Email Emily at [email protected] to sign up for dinner and the opera.
 
On Saturday, August 15, TLG will carpool to Castleton, Va., for a 2 p.m. performance of "Towards a Common Horizon" by the talented staff and students that will include selections from composers such as Dvorak, Rachmaninoff, and Stravinsky, Tickets are $27.50 and can be purchased by phoning 540-937-3454. We will have dinner at 5:30 p.m. in Warrenton at Claire at the Depot, a converted historical railroad depot. Email [email protected] if interested.

On Saturday, August 29, at 2 p.m., TLG goes to The Little Theatre in Alexandria for aperformance of Neil Simon's Blithe Spirit., followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant TBD. Purchase tickets for $30 at thelittletheatre.com or phone 703-683-5778. Email [email protected] if interested.

On Thursday, August 27 at 12 noon, TLG will have a luncheon meeting at Hamrock's in Fairfax City. We will continue planning outings and, of course, chat a lot. Every OLLI member is welcome to join us for the lunch as well as all our other events. Lunch is a fun way to meet TLG members and find out what is being planned. Email [email protected] if you plan to join us.

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

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A Week of Eating Through Italian History

In Emilia-Romagna, food is an argument. Neighboring cities have spent centuries disputing who owns the tortellino and which province produces the real balsamic vinegar.

This January I am leading a week inside those arguments. From January 6 to 12, 2027, participants go behind the scenes at a Parmigiano Reggiano dairyand a Prosciutto di Parma curing facility, taste traditional balsamic aged in wooden casks at a Modena acetaia, and learn to roll pasta by hand with a Bolognese sfoglina. We finish in Forlimpopoli at Casa Artusi, the museum and working culinary school devoted to Pellegrino Artusi, whose 1891 cookbook did more to invent a national Italian culinary identity than any politician of his generation.

The program runs through George Mason's Global Education Office (GEO) alongside my fall course on food, literature, and power in Italy (ITAL 420: Global and Local Italy). The program is also open to community members as a stand-alone experience. No Italian is required. We will stay in central hotels in Parma and Bologna. Expect several hours of walking most days, much of it on cobblestones, in weather that might be cold and damp.

Applications are run through the GEO office and close October 1, 2026. Full details about the program and a link to apply can be found on the program brochure (see poster), or write to me at [email protected].

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