OLLI Annual Town Hall Meeting, In Person and Zoom, Tallwood, November 3
November 10, 2023
Editor of the Week: David Gundry
Table of Contents
Alerts & Notices
The OLLI Office will be closed for holiday breaks from November 20 to 25 and December 16 to January 2, 2024.
Reminder: Theater Lovers’ Group event Sunday, November 26, to attend the 2:00 matinee of the musical Ragtime at Signature Theater. Please email Norma Reck at [email protected] with any questions.
Winter term registration begins on November 28 at 9:00.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 24; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 21, at 6:00.
Reminder: Register by November 14 for Holiday Party
By Debbie Engleson, Board Member and Treasurer
Time is running out! You need to register by November 14 to join fellow OLLI members and guests for the OLLI Holiday Party. Enjoy the music of the recorder group as you check in on Friday, December 1.
Where: The Country Club of Fairfax at 5110 Ox Road, Fairfax.
Starting at 11:30, there will be socializing and a cash bar, with lunch served at 12:15.
Following remarks and door prizes, you will be treated to the music of the Fairfax High School Carolers.
For lunch, choose chicken marsala, pasta primavera, or spinach salad with grilled chicken as entrées. All meals include beverages and dessert. You can indicate your choice of entrée and pay the $50 fee when you register on the OLLI portal(Event 1203). Registration ends on Tuesday, November 14.
Register now and bring a guest. You don’t want to miss this lovely event!
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, November 21, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session usually opens at 12:45.
A Day in the Mobile Life—Presented by Roy Wagner
I will discuss how I use my “mobile” devices in a “typical” day and compare it with how life was before we had mobile devices available to us. I’ll talk about using my mobile phone and tablet through a typical day in my life.
OLLI member Roy Wagner served as President of Washington Apple Pi (wap.org) for three years and hosts the monthly ‘Clubhouse’ Zoom meetings. He began using Apple products in 1987, while fighting with Windows machines in the work environment.
Learn in 30: Why Do Printer Drivers Sometimes Take So Long to Print Photos?—Presented by John Krout
One night, your presenter's son asked why his Windows computer took more than 15 minutes to start printing a billion-pixel photo he downloaded from NASA. Your presenter too has experienced that delay many times, most recently when he self-published his 2024 Calendar containing most of the multi-photo panoramas he has taken over the past 20 years. This will continue to happen: even smartphone photos now can exceed 40 megapixels in size, and one recent phone shoots 200 megapixel photos. Plus, many phones now take huge composite panoramas. This presentation will explain the two major purposes of a printer driver, and simple steps you can take to make photos print quickly, and even upload quickly.
John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology and photography topics, and author of many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 206627 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 860 6157 6830 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).
Save the Date: Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages Program Planning Group Meeting
By Pat Bangs, Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages Program Planning Group Co‑Chair
Date: Thursday, December 7
Time: 10:00-11:30
Whether you enjoy the classics or spy novels, sci-fi or memoir, want to learn a language, or explore playwrights and the world of theater, we need your thoughts and ideas.
Please join us for our semi-annual all‑campus program planning group meeting for literature, theater, and writing/language program planning on Thursday, December 7, at 10:00 via Zoom.
We will be reviewing past terms and looking forward to planning for summer 2024 and beyond. All OLLI members can contribute to the excellent programming offered to our membership. Bring ideas for literature, theater, and writing/language programs, possible resources, such as individuals you may know who might want to teach, or any other thoughts on this popular OLLI program area. And, of course, if you or anyone you know would like to join our group, here is your opportunity to see the process in action. Spread the word; see you on December 7.
The meeting Zoom link from Shannon Morrow, our staff program associate, is https://gmu.zoom.us/j/93862178369. We will resend it again closer to the meeting. If you would also like to be added to our mailing list for a reminder, or have any questions, please email me at: [email protected].
Humanities, Social Sciences, and Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
By Camille Hodges, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Current Events Program Planning Group Co-Chair
The Humanities, Social Sciences, and Current Events (HSS/CE) Program Planning Group will meet on Tuesday, November 14, at 10:00, via Zoom. The Zoom link for the meeting appears below.
The OLLI Fall Session ends tomorrow; you should have received the winter catalog in your mailbox by now. Course offerings are high quality as usual.
The Multicultural Committee is “in-progress” and needs additional members if you’re interested or can suggest someone. So far, the main idea is that all OLLI committees continue to strive to be as “multicultural/multi-ethnic” as possible when considering course offerings as we encourage a more diverse membership. Look for an article in the OLLI E-News soon.
The Old Town Hall in Fairfax is a great venue; you are encouraged to park across the street in the library parking lot (underground). It’s easy and a short walk across the street.
Summer 2024 course proposals are due January 26.
We are working on a couple of presenters who have not committed yet.
The next HSS/CE meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 16, 2024.
Fall 2024 proposals are due March 8. (Dr. George Oberle, Mason Assistant Professor of History and Art History, may present in the fall of 2024.)
Still looking for discussions on: “banned/challenged” books (Yes, Charlotte’s Web is one of them); possible constitutional issues confronting the Supreme Court.
Others?
II. Updates from Shannon and Nancy
III. Updates from committee members/What ideas can we help you with?
IV. Other information to share? Questions? Comments?
The Town Hall meeting in TA-1, Tallwood, on November 3 was opened by OLLI President Lillian Brooks with 36 members on Zoom and 24 members in person. Those in person enjoyed the fall coffee and many confections provided by the Diversions Committee. Lillian introduced the Board members present. Lillian noted that our Strategic Plan objectives are to continue to recruit new and diverse members from the many ethnic groups in the Northern Virginia area. We would like to have more people in the classrooms as well as enjoying our in-person events (e.g., fall kickoff and Halloween parties, the December 1 holiday party). We are also offering OLLI-sponsored travel for our members (Iceland this year, next year to the Far East (Japan and Korea), and Albuquerque during the balloon festival).
Jennifer Disano was introduced and recognized for her outstanding ten years of service as our Executive Director, and for building the OLLI Mason program. This year OLLI won the prestigious ArtsFairfax Award which gave us a lot of county-wide attention. Jennifer noted that we currently have 940 members, close to the national average of 933 members for the 125 OLLIs in the country. We enjoy in-person, Zoom and hybrid classes at all three campuses, using classrooms at Tallwood five days a week, at Reston one to two days a week, and at Mason Loudoun one day a week. We are reaching out to local retirement communities, such as the three Silverstone locations and others, to offer some classes and packages for a fee to entice new memberships. We are also working to update our OLLI website and advertising materials, as well to locate potential donors and possibly a sponsor. Our biggest challenge is to locate volunteers for the Board of Directors and the many different things that OLLI is involved with for the present and future.
There were many questions and comments at the Town Hall from the Zoom and in-person audiences, helping to amplify and clarify the details of our many OLLI activities.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on November 15 at 4:00, where every OLLI member is welcome to join us to talk about our topic: Keeping and Firing Friends.
We all know that FRIENDSHIP is important. Socialization is a most important factor in our mental well-being, our staying engaged in life, and our physical welfare. Friends help bridge the loneliness gap. As we retire from the workplace and perhaps dial our activities down a bit, friendships tend to change or disappear. During the Covid pandemic, many of us had to put our friendships on pause and isolate ourselves. For all those reasons, friendships require work on everyone's part to maintain. The backbone of any friendship is one where both sides put in equal effort and support.
The Atlantic recently ran an article about "How to Break Up with Your Friends." But in that article they cited six different types of expectations for friends: genuine regard (they like you for what you are), self-disclosure (you feel safe to discuss personal stuff), instrumental aid (they help you move or send you a meal when you are sick), similarity (you enjoy some of the same things), enjoyment (you are happy to spend time with them), and agency (what externals they can help you with). An important point is that no one friend can likely offer all of these things and you might want to have several "overlapping" friends, each of whom can satisfy a few of those expectations. It may be unrealistic to "break up" if a friend doesn't meet all those criteria—maybe it is better to overlook the gaps? What does a "friend" mean to you?
Join us via the OLLI 24/7 Chat Line on November 15. See the OLLI daily schedule email for the Zoom meeting ID and password.
Note: Team Bloch is taking a week off from our Wednesday Conversations Series on November 22, the day before Thanksgiving. We will resume the Wednesday following, November 29.
Always around. Facing it is daunting.
It’s been there (here) since the beginning
when there was nothing but nothingness.
God turned nothingness into
light, dark, day, night, sun, moon,
stars, seas, fish, sky, birds, land, animals,
humankind, and a day to rest.
The Big Bang exploded nothingness into
electrons, quarks, protons, neutrons,
particles, waves, helium, hydrogen,
carbon, iron, dark matter, proteins,
carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids.
Still lots of nothingness.
nothing to do, nothing new, nothing changes,
nothing here, nothing to look forward to,
nothing good, nothing to talk about,
ain’t worth nothin’.
In the meantime, take your nothingness and
clean up the kitchen, confront a problem,
provide what’s missing, do what’s next,
write a poem, paint a picture, savor a
reddish-orange sunset, apologize, admire
a neighbor’s hydrangea, smile at a stranger,
wonder at all the stars, watch a four-year old
discover bike balance,
delight in the miracle of life.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this 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.
Virginia Opera: The Barber of Seville
Sat, Nov 11, 7:30
Sun, Nov 12, 2:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Following the Sun, November 12 matinee, Virginia Opera Resident Scholar Joshua Borths will lead a post-performance discussion with the artists in the Center for the Arts main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $70, $40.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra with Renée Fleming
Sat, Nov 18, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $100, $75, $50.
Family Series: B—The Underwater Bubble Show
Sun, Nov 19, 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $25.
Chanticleer
Sat, Nov 25, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $58, $49, $34.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Festive French Fare
Sun, Nov 26, 7:00
Pre-performance “Young Artists Musicale,” featuring piano students of Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association members, will take place from 6 to 6:30 in the main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Brass Day
Sat, Nov 11, 10:00 until 4:00
Harris Theatre, deLaski Performing Arts Building, several Fairfax campus sites
Admission: Free, but registration is required.
Registration link coming soon @ music.gmu.edu.
Steel Pan Ensemble, Latin American Ensemble
Tue, Nov 14, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Jazz Combos, Braddock Road Brass Band
Wed, Nov 15, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Mason School of Theater: fallen
Thu, Nov 16, 8:00
Fri, Nov 17, 8:00
Sat, Nov 18, 2:00 and 8:00
Sun, Nov 19, 2:00
TheatreSpace, deLaski A105, and other Fairfax campus sites
Admission: $30 adult, $15 senior.
Piano Chamber Ensembles
Mon, Nov 27, 7:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A323
Admission: Free.
Ju Yun: Celestial Carnival
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Through Jan 6
Admission: Free.
Manassas Ballet Theatre: Colin―Son, Marine, Hero
Thu, Nov 9, 7:30
Fri, Nov 10, 7:30
Sat, Nov 11, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $65, $55, $45, $35, $25, (Free for veterans and service members; up to two tickets each with ID. Free tickets are limited and only available in person at the Hylton Center Ticket Office).
American Roots Series: Seven Voices—A Tribute to Patsy Cline
Sun, Nov 12, 4:00
Sun, Nov 12, 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30, (Free for veterans and service members; up to two tickets each with ID. Free tickets are limited and only available in person at the Hylton Center Ticket Office).
Matinee Idylls: Virginia Opera, A Taste of Opera
Tue, Nov 14, Lunch at 12:30, concert at 1:30
Gregory Family Theater
Admission:
Lunch, concert, and dessert reception: $65
Concert and dessert reception only: $40.
Gian Marco, Diego Torres En Concierto
Thu, Nov 16, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $169, $139, $119, $99.
Sonia De Los Santos
Sat, Nov 18, 11:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $15.
Steep Canyon Rangers
Sat, Nov 18, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance, featuring Steep Canyon Ranger musicians Aaron Burdett, Graham Sharp, and Mike Ashworth.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Axial Dance: Winter Wonderland
Sun, Nov 19, 3:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $12.
Virginia National Ballet: The Nutcracker
Fri, Nov 24, 2:00 and 6:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $45, $40, $35, $30, $25, $20.
Northern Virginia Ballet: The Nutcracker
Sat, Nov 25, 2:00 and 6:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35 adult, $25 senior.
A Canadian Brass Christmas
Sun, Nov 26, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week, but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc., bolded below. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Nov 11
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Nov 13
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Reading Club
Tue Nov 14
9:30 am
10:00 am
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Annex Art Humanities/Social Sciences and Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Publicity & Publications Committee Meeting
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 15
10:00 am
10:30 am
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
Spanish Club
Conversation with Team Bloch
Thu Nov 16
11:30 am
11:50 am
4:30 pm
Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 17
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Recorder Rehearsal
Homer, etc.
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Party with Paint!
Sat Nov 18
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Nov 20
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Writing Group
Tue Nov 21
9:30 am
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Thu Nov 23
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 24
11:00 am
1:00 pm
Homer, etc.
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Sat Nov 25
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Nov 27
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Reading Group
Tue Nov 28
9:30 am
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 29
10:00 am
10:30 am
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Conversation with Team Bloch
Thu Nov 30
11:30 am
11:50 am
4:30 pm
Diversity/Multicultural Committee
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Dec 1
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 pm
1:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Annual OLLI Holiday Party
Stay Active and Independent for Life
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger,Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: [email protected]. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
OLLI Mason was Awarded the Arts Fairfax Education Award, October 26
November 3, 2023
Editor of the Week: John Nash
Table of Contents
Alerts & Notices
Alert: Change of date for the Theater Lovers’ Group outing for a Sunday 2:00 matinee of the musical Ragtime at Signature Theater. The event will be at 2:00 on Sunday, November 26. Please email Norma Reck at [email protected] with any ticket questions and let her know you will join the group, and if you are interested in the 12:00 lunch.
REMEMBER TO VOTE! If you haven’t already voted, Tuesday, November 7 is Election Day. November 4 is the last day for early in-person voting in Fairfax. The Virginia legislature is currently split; the House of Delegates has a Republican majority while the Senate has a very small Democratic majority, so every vote is important in determining what legislation passes in the next couple of years.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 10; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 7, at 6:00.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on November 8 at 4:00. The topic will be: Your News Sources!
Where do you get your news? Daily or weekly newspaper, digital or paper? Or on your phone? Or on your computer? Mainstream media or other sources such as newsletters or blogs? Which sources do you have confidence in, and which do you distrust? How do you discern the bias inherent in certain stories?
Check your daily schedule for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on discussion with Team Bloch on November 8.
Grandma Sylvia’s Guide to the Stock Market: Win the Great Game and Sleep Well at Night, by OLLI member and author Sylvia Auton, was selected as a recommended book choice for the week of October 28. Fairfax County Public Library's “Wowbrary" had Auton's book among the weekly choices for "the newest stuff at your library"—see the accompanying figure.
You rest; You rust! I'm not sure where I first heard that, but I believe it's true. With “inactivity” a person can lose out on lots of things . . . including a few years of life.
As we drift into our “golden years”―we never say “old!” We all have a tendency to slow down as we age, which is good. But slowing down doesn't mean we must stop. Sometimes we have to look a little harder for opportunities that interest us and keep us active. Recently, there have been several articles in E-News suggesting various ways to actively participate in OLLI, from running for a board position, participating on committees, joining discussion groups, or teaching an OLLI class. For many years, members of the OLLI photo club have volunteered to take pictures of Mason events. It's a way we can return the good will of Mason while helping us improve our photography skills. OLLI members need only to express an interest to find many volunteer opportunities to enrich their lives.
In addition to volunteer opportunities at OLLI, we can find ways to stay active within our religious institutions, local communities, and support groups. Volunteer Fairfax, for example, offers a list of organizations and groups who can always use support.
I recently moved to a retirement community in Loudoun County where the word “retirement” just doesn't exist. There are so many opportunities to become involved. I recently used my photography skills to take pictures of four residents who had achieved the wonderful age of 100 plus. They were delightful to work with, and I learned so much from their conversations. One doesn't get to be 100 years old without some incredible experiences!
People often are reluctant to volunteer; they fear they will be given too much responsibility or the activity will demand too much time. There's an easy solution: just make clear your interest level and available time, and then participate in a rewarding activity.
Volunteering is like exercising: it doesn't take a whole lot to reap some incredible benefits. Many opportunities to be involved are right here in OLLI! Keeping those mental and physical gears in motion will certainly add years to your life . . . and ensure there is no rust forming! Remember: motion is lotion!
Fall
My goldfinches have flown south
My brave hummingbird is Mexico bound
Bees just a desperately buzzing few
Acorns hailing in a damaging torrent
Squirrels frantically hiding their bounty
Leaves of gold drifting slowly down
The chill is gentle but a clear call
It must be fall
―Sally Sibley
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this 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.
Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens: American Railroad
Sun, Nov 5, 7:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Virginia Opera: The Barber of Seville
Sat, Nov 11, 7:30
Sun, Nov 12, 2:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Following the Sunday, November 12 matinee, Virginia Opera Resident Scholar Joshua Borths will lead a post-performance discussion with the artists in the Center for the Arts main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $70, $40.
David Amoroso: Belleza Brutal
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Through Nov 4
Admission: Free.
The U.S. Army Band Star-Spangled Spectacular with Christopher Jackson
Sat, Nov 4, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Free but tickets are no longer available. Audience members without tickets will be seated pending availability of open seats prior to the start of the performance.
Ju Yun: Celestial Carnival
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Nov 7–Jan 6
Admission: Free.
Manassas Ballet Theatre: Colin―Son, Marine, Hero
Thu, Nov 9, 7:30
Fri, Nov 10, 7:30
Sat, Nov 11, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $65, $55, $45, $35, $25, (Free for veterans and service members; up to two tickets each with ID. Free tickets are limited and only available in person at the Hylton Center Ticket Office).
American Roots Series:Seven Voices—A Tribute to Patsy Cline
Sun, Nov 12, 4:00
Sun, Nov 12, 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30, (Free for veterans and service members: up to two tickets each with ID. Free tickets are limited and only available in person at the Hylton Center Ticket Office).
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week, but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc., bolded below. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Nov 4
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Nov 7
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 8
11:00 am
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
Spanish Club
Tallwood Book Club
Bridge Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Nov 9
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 10
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Classic Literature
Homer, etc.
Cooking Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Sat Nov 11
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Nov 13
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Reading Club
Tue Nov 14
9:30 am
10:00 am
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Annex Art Humanities/Social Sciences and Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Publicity & Publications Committee Meeting
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 15
10:00 am
10:30 am
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
Spanish Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Nov 16
11:30 am
11:50 am
4:30 pm
Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 17
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Recorder Rehearsal
Homer, etc.
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Party with Paint!
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger,Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich
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.
Dr. Maryam Dadkhah, Health and Nutrition Specialist, Reviews How Lifestyle Changes Can Help Prevent and Manage Chronic Diseases,
October 4 and 11, Fall Term
By Doris Bloch, Support Group/Chat Line Coordinator
As noted in a recent E-News, OLLI is launching a group to support those OLLI members who are caregivers for any family member or friend that is exhibiting symptoms of dementia or memory deficit, although we are certainly open to any interested OLLI member. In this effort, we have strong backing and cooperation with the George Mason University's School of Social Work (SSW), which has provided us with a facilitator! Thank you, Mason SSW.
You need not be a full-time caregiver or even a current caregiver to contribute your experiences and emotions to this group. You can share or lurk, as you wish!
This is a project in its infancy, and we look forward to hearing from you. We are holding our introductory meeting on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 31 (Halloween). We will log onto the OLLI Chat Line at 3:45 for 30 minutes and probably just introduce ourselves and talk about the direction for the group. (The meeting ID for the 24/7 Chat Line is included in the OLLI daily schedule, sent out every weekday morning by 7:30.)
It is envisioned that we will convene the support group one afternoon every second week, on Zoom, and initially take approximately an hour of the open 24/7 Chat Line. The group’s focus will not be on educational materials, as OLLI has offered substantial course work on those aspects, but rather on the emotional and practical sides of caregiving. If there is enough interest, the group may eventually morph into a club/ongoing activity. This will give us an email list of registrants so we can send notices and links, and have a dedicated Zoom meeting slot.
Please contact Doris Bloch ([email protected]) or Nancy Klein ([email protected]) if you are interested in participating in the group, or if you have suggestions or questions.
You don’t want to miss OLLI’s Holiday Party—the season's biggest event! When: Friday, December 1. Where: The Country Club of Fairfax at 5110 Ox Road, Fairfax.
Starting at 11:30, there will be socializing and a cash bar, with lunch served at 12:15.
A musical performance and door prizes will entertain us afterward.
For lunch, choose chicken marsala, pasta primavera, or spinach salad with grilled chicken as an entrée. All meals include beverages and dessert. You can indicate your choice of entrée and pay the $50 fee when you register on the OLLI portal (Event 1203). Registration ends on Monday, November 14.
Don’t wait—reservations are taken on a first‑come, first‑served basis. OLLI members are encouraged to bring guests.
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group
Ragtime, a musical genre popular in the early 1900s, is basically a hybrid of European and African music. It is said to be the truly American form of music. As such, it is a fitting backdrop for Ragtime, the award-winning musical set in New York in the early 1900s, to express the melting pot of styles and cultures of the various peoples who built our country with the hope for a brighter tomorrow.
The Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) will see the Sunday, November 12,2:00 matinee of Ragtime at Signature Theater, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington. We will have lunch at a nearby restaurant in Shirlington before the show (so we can drive home during daylight hours).
Tickets are $81, $98, and $123, depending on the location. To purchase tickets, go to http://www.sigtheatre.org or phone 703-820-9771. Tickets go fast.
Please email Norma at [email protected] to sign up with the group. Remember guests are always welcome!
Reminder: TLG will see the Sunday, November 5, 2:00 matinee of On Golden Pond at the Vienna Community Center with the Vienna Community Players. Tickets are $16. They can be purchased online at viennatheatrecompany.org. or at the theater on the day of the performance. We will go to dinner after the show. Please email Norma to let her know you will be joining us.
The October 2023 Photo of the Month theme was Animals in the Wild or the Zoo. We selected George Bradshaw's photo, "Red-winged Blackbird," which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.
-- By John Olsen and Edward Marion, Photography Club Co-Coordinators
Ralph Youngren, an enthusiastic member of OLLI since fall 2006, mainly on the Reston campus, passed away on October 17, 2023. His main passion was architecture, and it was in that field that he built his career.
Ralph and his wife Ann moved to Reston upon his retirement. They lived in Chicago and Michigan. He had visited Reston in the 1960’s shortly after its creation by Robert E. Simon and admired the planned community, never imagining that he would retire in Reston! His older son paved the way, moving to Reston and starting his family there.
Joining OLLI was a delight for Ralph. He taught classes on architecture and the design talent of Thomas Jefferson. He also enjoyed many classes, All The News, Literary Roundtable, and especially all things Jane Austen and History.
He cherished the friendships he made through OLLI and was grateful for everything he learned through its classes.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website,Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Christian McBride
Sat, Oct 28, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Power and Passion of Beethoven
Sun, Oct 29, 7:00
A pre-performance “Young Artists Musicale,” featuring piano students of Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association members, will take place from 6:00 to 6:30 in the main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens
Sun, Nov 5, 7:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
David Amoroso: Belleza Brutal
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Through Nov 4
Admission: Free.
ARTFactory’s Rooftop Productions: Kinky Boots Fri, Oct 27, 7:30
Sat, Oct 28, 7:30
Sun, Oct 29, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30 Adult, $25 senior.
Art of Life Charities: "Lifting Others Up" Gala
Sat, Oct 28, 6:00
Guests will be treated to a performance by American Idol finalist Aaron Kelly. Dinner, art auction, and more during an amazing evening that helps the community.
Tickets artoflifecharities.org/.
Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra: Beethoven and Mozart
Sat, Oct 28, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20 Adult, $15 senior.
The U.S. Army Band Star-Spangled Spectacular with Christopher Jackson
Sat, Nov 4, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Free but tickets are no longer available. Audience members without tickets will be seated pending availability of open seats prior to the start of the performance.
Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week, but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc., bolded below. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Oct 28
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Oct 31
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 1
1:45 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
History Club
Spanish Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Nov 2
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 3
10:00 am
1:00 pm
Annual Town Hall Meeting
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Sat Nov 4
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Nov 7
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 8
11:00 am
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
Spanish Club
Tallwood Book Club
Bridge Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Nov 9
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 10
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Classic Literature
Homer, etc.
Cooking Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger,Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich
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.
Volunteer Opportunity: Proofreader(s) Needed for OLLI E-News
By Sheri Siesseger, E-News Weekly Editor
We are seeking one or two members to volunteer to proofread E-News. A proofreader’s job is to review all articles for spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, consistency, and clarity. We have, and will provide, guidelines that cover some issues that are specific to E-News.
During OLLI terms we publish weekly starting one week before classes begin, with occasional issues during the between-term periods. The proofreading commitment is typically a period of less than one hour per week. Editors send a draft version to the proofers no later than 6:00 on Wednesday evening (often earlier), and comments must be returned to the editor by 10:00 Thursday morning. Previous experience with proofreading or editing is useful but not required.
A bonus to proofreading E-News is that you will know what is happening at OLLI Mason several days before most other members! If you can help, please contact me via the OLLI E-News mailbox: [email protected].
By Michael Mason, Family History/Genealogy Club Coordinator
Have you always wanted to know more about your family’s past but don’t have a clue about how to get started? Do you enjoy researching your family’s ancestors and discovering new facts about where they came from and what their lives were like? Do you have a fascinating story from your family’s history that you would like to share with others? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please attend the OLLI Family History/Genealogy Club virtual interest meeting on Monday, October 23, from 1:15-2:15. The Zoom link will be in your daily schedule email.
The plan for this new club is to meet every two weeks to discuss methods and techniques for researching family history and share stories about the rediscovered lives of ancestors. If you are interested in joining the club but cannot attend the interest meeting, please send an email to [email protected] to let me know of your interest. I hope to see or hear from you!
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on October 25 on the topic: Let’s Talk about the Baseball Playoffs!
Here we are at the end of October and about to enter into the World Series of 2023. Three of the teams with the best records in the regular season are out—Atlanta Braves, LA Dodgers, and the Orioles! How could this happen? Do you buy the argument that major league baseball expanded the playoffs in 2012 to increase revenue and this is the result? Do the Astros have an edge with their prior playoff experience? Or do the Phillies have the momentum this year? Do you plan to watch the World Series?
Check your daily schedule for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some baseball discussion with Team Bloch on October 25.
On Friday, November 17, explore your creativity in a relaxed, non-threatening environment at Muse Paint Bar in Fairfax’s Mosaic District. We’ll meet from 2:30-5:00 to enjoy each other’s company, eat some tasty snacks, learn brushstroke tips from a professional artist, and create our own individual works of art.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or haven’t handled a brush since high school, you’ll enjoy painting an original landscape that you’ll take home at the end of the workshop. And who knows? You may want to add it to your holiday décor or use it as a gift.
The $50 fee includes instruction from a professional artist, your paint station, all supplies and smock usage, brownie snack treats and lemonade, and your finished canvas.
After the paint workshop, interested participants will gather at True Food Kitchen across the street for a 5:00 dinner. We’ll share our finished creations over our entrees. The cost of dinner is on your own.
Register by November 12 in the member portal: Party With Paint! Event 1204 (fall). This is a drive-on-your-own event. Free parking is available across the street in a parking garage. If you have questions, contact Marilyn Harriman at [email protected].
sitting quiet
in the painted green rocker
on the screened-in porch,
from the trees comes
a woodpecker’s tapping,
while closer the shallow creek dribbles
where, as children we caught
minnows and crawdads,
only to dump the bucket
prisoners back into their shallow home
when Mama called us to lunch.
the gentle breeze lifts oak and maple leaves
in soft murmurs, matching the rise and fall
of the rocker as my head sinks against the chair
like the whisper of a falling parachute,
its back and forth like a metronome,
lulls me to dreamy slumbers
of times long ago.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website,Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances.
Malpaso Dance Company Fri, Oct 20, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, 45 minutes prior to curtain. Concert Hall Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Christian McBride
Sat, Oct 28, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, in the Center for the Arts, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Power and Passion of Beethoven
Sun, Oct 29, 7:00
A pre-performance “Young Artists Musicale,” featuring piano students of Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association members, will take place from 6:00 to 6:30 in the main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
David Amoroso: Belleza Brutal
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Through Nov 4
Admission: Free.
ARTFactory’s Rooftop Productions: Kinky Boots
Fri, Oct 20, 7:30
Sat, Oct 21, 7:30
Sun, Oct 22, 2:00
Fri, Oct 27, 7:30
Sat, Oct 28, 7:30
Sun, Oct 29, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30 Adult, $25 senior.
Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Folk Echoes
Sat, Oct 21, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30.
Art of Life Charities: "Lifting Others Up" Gala
Sat, Oct 28, 6:00
Guests will be treated to a performance by American Idol finalist Aaron Kelly. Dinner, art auction, and more during an amazing evening that helps the community.
Tickets artoflifecharities.org/.
Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc., bolded below. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Oct 21
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Tue Oct 24
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 25
11:00 am
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Spanish Club
Bridge Club
Theater Lovers’ Group
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Oct 26
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Ethnic Eats Club
Fri Oct 27
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
1:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Crafts and Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Sat Oct 28
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Oct 31
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 1
1:45 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
History Club
Spanish Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Nov 2
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 3
10:00 am
1:00 pm
Annual Town Hall Meeting
Stay Active and Independent for Life
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger,Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich
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.
DebbyMossburgLedOLLI Walk & Talk Club Members on an Enjoyable Walk on the Pohick Trail, Springfield, with a Stop at Harvest Bakery and Café Afterward, October 6;
BobHeyer Photographer
By Michele Romano, Health and Safety Advisory Workgroup Chair
Yup. Now would be the perfect time to get those Covid and high dose flu vaccines. A good target date is no later than Halloween. It takes two weeks to build up immunity from vaccines and you want that protection going into the holidays.
*Spoiler Alert*—The vaccines will not prevent Covid or the flu. They are designed to protect you from getting seriously ill (hospitalization, death).
You can get both vaccines at the same time in different arms. If you have tested positive for Covid, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends waiting three months before getting the new Covid vaccine. See Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC for complete details.
It is not unusual to experience mild flu-like symptoms for a day or so after receiving any vaccine—often an indication that your body is mounting a strong immune response. If your symptoms are severe or you have any concerns, consult your healthcare provider immediately.
Which brings us to the new RSV vaccine. The CDC recommends that adults age 60 and over MAY receive the RSV vaccine, using Shared Clinical Decision-Making (SCDM) between you and your health care provider. Not everyone over age 60 needs the vaccine. The CDC notes that “even though it is acceptable” to give the RSV vaccine on the same day as other vaccines, patients may experience increased side effects. The CDC also found some studies showing a weakened immune response when the flu and RSV vaccines were given on the same day. Frequently Asked Questions About RSV Vaccine for Adults | CDC is a good place to start doing your homework. Take the time to click on each question. Some are meant for providers, but all are worthwhile. This is a new vaccine. Do not take anything for granted.
Please check both websites often. These recommendations can change on a dime as new research comes in. And, they often do. LIVE LONG AND PROSPER
By Doris Bloch, Support Group/Chat Line Coordinator
OLLI is launching a support group! It is intended to support those OLLI members who are caregivers for any family member and friend who is exhibiting symptoms of dementia, although certainly open to any interested OLLI member. In this effort, we have strong backing and cooperation with the George Mason University's School of Social Work (SSW), which has provided us with a facilitator! Thank you, Mason SSW.
You need not be a full-time caregiver or even a current caregiver to contribute your experiences and emotions to this group. You can share or lurk, as you wish!
Right now, this is a project in its infancy, and we look forward to hearing from you about what you would like. It is envisioned that we will convene the support group one afternoon every second week, that it will be on Zoom, and initially take over an hour of the open 24/7 Chat Line. The group’s focus will not be on educational materials, as OLLI has offered substantial course work on those aspects, but rather on the emotional and possibly the practical side of caregiving. If there is enough interest, the group will in the future morph into a club/ongoing activity, which will give us an email list of registrants where we can email notices and links, if so desired.
Our plan is to have our first meeting by the beginning of November. Please contact Doris Bloch ([email protected]) or Nancy Klein ([email protected]) if you are interested in participating in the group, or if you have suggestions or questions.
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group
A senior Mason film student, Panah Esfandiar Neshati, is casting for a role in a short film that he is directing, shooting October 20 and 21, 2023. The role is a Sergeant Parsons (male 40 - 70), an arrogant and reckless officer at the epicenter of a police brutality case. No monetary compensation. Meals will be served, and film credit given. To schedule an audition, email Panah at [email protected]. Feel free to pass the word to any interested friends.
Upcoming Theater Events
On Wednesday, November 1, the Theater Lovers' Group will go to see the 8:00 performance of Mel Brooks' musical Young Frankenstein at the Little Theater of Alexandria, located at 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA. It is a musical comedy (based on the 1974 film) and was nominated for three Tony Awards. Gay Alper has arranged for an optional pre-show dinner at 6:00 at Trattoria da Franco, which is walking distance to the theater. On-street parking should be available.
Tickets: A group rate is possible, so if you are interested in a fun, musical night out with fellow theater lovers, please email me at [email protected] ASAP.
On Sunday, December 10, the Theater Lovers' Group will go to the 2:00 matinee performance of Quilters at the 1st Stage Theater, located at 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, VA 22102. Quilters, a musical, is set on the frontier and is about the women telling their stories of their life on the frontier through the making of their patchwork quilts. The $35 tickets are now selling. Once they are sold, the tickets will be $55. We will go to Joon for optional dinner after the show. If you are interested in joining us, please email me at [email protected] ASAP.
Remember that guests are always welcome!
P.S. Remember to sign up for our armchair Broadway theatrical adventure scheduled for Monday, November 13, from 1:00 to 2:30—Museum of Broadway. Victoria Cairl will come to us live via Zoom from the museum to walk us through the new, fantastic, interactive Museum of Broadway. You don't want to miss it.
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, October 21, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session usually opens at 12:45.
Time and Time Measurement—Presented by Lorrin Garson
Time controls our lives: e.g., when to get up, go to work, have lunch, plan birthdays, celebrate holidays, plant corn. These are the simple things. Time defines the length of a meter and our foot, yard, and mile. Time determines exactly where on earth we are located. "What is the time" is easy to answer—10:42. But "what is time"—is surprisingly complex and difficult to explain.
Lorrin Garson had a long career in technical publishing of chemical information. His presentations to our computer groups are famous for their thorough research and clarity.
Learn in 30: Vinyl LPs and Slinkies—Presented by John Krout
This presentation will explain the surprising way that vinyl can be affected by a phonograph pickup needle during playback, and how careful use will avoid damage. Typical frequent LP playback during college, when the presenter accumulated more than 250 LPs, can cause serious and permanent damage. You will learn about how that happens and how to avoid it.
John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology and photography topics, and author of many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 206627 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 860 6157 6830 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).
Playing board games can reduce stress, boost brain power, and protect against dementia. Do you like playing board games? Would you like to learn and play new games with your fellow OLLI members? If you answered yes to either question, please attend the OLLI Board Game Club interest meeting on October 17 from 1:15-2:15 in the Annex at the Tallwood Campus. The plan for this group would be to meet every two weeks at the Tallwood campus to play board games. If you are interested in joining this group but cannot attend the interest meeting, please send an email to [email protected] and let him know that you would like to join this group. We hope to see you there!
Second Call: Do You Live in a 55+ Community? We Need Your Expertise!
By Debby Mossburg, Board Member and Outreach Committee Chair
This fall, the hybrid class Moving on Up is exploring a variety of options for senior living. We have a wonderful range of presenters from communities with a number of price points and levels of support. However, we have a huge gap when it comes to established 55+ communities where homes are primarily available only through resale. Thank you to all who answered my first request for participants, but we’d love to have a few more members willing to share their experience.
We are looking for people who own or rent a cottage, RV, single family home, duplex, four-plex, townhome, or condo in a 55+ community. So far, we have residents from Heritage Hunt, The Atrium, Hiddenbrooke, and Regency in Ashburn, but we’d love to have more communities represented.
Would you be willing to sit on a panel to share your insights about this lifestyle choice during our final class on November 6 at 2:15? We will have both in-person (Tallwood) and Zoom seats available for the panel. Please email [email protected] if you think this is something you might be willing to do. Thanks in advance!
On October 6 a band of OLLI members visited Ivy Hill Cemetery in Alexandria. Our guided walking tour was led by Catherine Weinraub, who has researched the history of the cemetery as well as the backgrounds of many of the cemetery's current "residents." It was interesting to hear tales about some of the movers and shakers of the past and their influence on area history. Perhaps most unique was a step into the underground vault that is on the property, where the accompanying photo was taken.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website,Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances.
Fri, Oct 20, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, 45 minutes prior to curtain. Concert Hall Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc., bolded below. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Oct 14
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Oct 17
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 18
1:45 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
Spanish Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Oct 19
1:15 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Science, Technology, & Health Program Planning Group
Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 20
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Sat Oct 21
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Tue Oct 24
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 25
11:00 am
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Spanish Club
Bridge Club
Theater Lovers’ Group
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Oct 26
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Ethnic Eats Club
Fri Oct 27
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
1:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Crafts and Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger,Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich
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.
Dr. Stephen Ruth, Mason Professor of Public Policy,
Examines Artificial Intelligence in his 2023 Fall-term Course:
Artificial Intelligence: Blessing or Curse? September 18-October 2
You’re Invited to a Party!
By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chair
Hosts Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby (aka Marilyn & Tony Harriman) and the Diversions Team, invite you to a Halloween party at Tallwood Campus on Friday, October 13, 3:00-5:00, for a rousing good time.
Refreshments, including savory and sweet snacks, and assorted non-alcoholic beverages, will be served. Guests are encouraged (but not required) to dress in costume. Three cash gift card prizes will be awarded to the best in Halloween costumes, with awards determined by your fellow guests.
As you enjoy the company of your OLLI friends, a caricature artist will be available to draw your portrait. Each guest will be given a lottery ticket, and those chosen from a hat will be invited to a five-minute sitting. Caricature participants will take home their portraiture.
Other entertainment includes:
An opportunity for a selfie snapshot with a celebrity, including George Washington, Audrey Hepburn, and Elvis
Pumpkin decorating in the Annex
Pinata whacking for a chance at a candy stash
Karaoke music sing-along
Bring a friend or spouse!
If you haven’t yet signed up, register for Event #1101 by October 11 in the member portal. Admittance is free (no cost). The event will be held in TA-1, the Annex, and TA-3.
Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Meeting October 19 By Michele Romano, Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Co-Chair
Save the date: October 19—You are invited. If you have an interest in the fields of Science, Technology, and Health (STH), there will be an OLLI STH Program Planning Group meeting on Thursday, 10/19, from 1:15-2:15, via ZOOM only. Look for the link in your OLLI Daily Schedule email. Let us know if you have any suggestions or requests for classes. If you would be willing to teach or know of other possible instructors, we would love to have you attend even more.
Please join us for the meeting and consider joining the group. It is as simple as adding your name to the list. There is no pressure to be any more involved than you want to be. We need your advice and your input. Just email Mary Kornreich, co-chair, ([email protected]), or Michele Romano ([email protected]).
We look forward to seeing you (virtually) at the meeting.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on October 11. The topic for Wednesday, October 11: What Brings You Joy?
Many of us OLLI members are retired and one of the pluses of that is that we often have more time to engage in activities that bring us joy! Some folks like to walk, or paint, or garden, or read, or write their memoirs, or exercise, or listen to music, or cook, or do crafts, or golf, or volunteer. The list goes on.
What do you do to enjoy the so-called leisure time that we are privileged to have? A few weeks ago, we talked about having a bucket list and actually changing that to a life list—things that get us out of bed in the morning with enthusiasm to accomplish those activities. Plan to share those with us this Wednesday.
Check your daily schedule for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some social time with Team Bloch on October 11.
This past weekend, supporters of Mason and members of the community had an opportunity to see and hear Renée Elise Goldsberry in concert at the Center for the Arts. Goldsberry won an Emmy as a central character in Hamilton, the block-buster musical. Her performance was part of the annual Arts by George! program that raises scholarship money by highlighting student performances from the various departments of the Mason College of Visual and Performing Arts. If you missed the event—and especially the concert—you missed one of the major presentations at Mason.
Arts by George! is just one example of the rich artistic presentations offered at Mason. In addition to professional performances offered at the Center for the Arts, there are many student and faculty presentations in drama, dance, and music that often rival those in major venues like the Kennedy Center. For example, coming up the last of October is the student presentation of 9 to 5—The Musical, based on the hit movie of the same name, and the annual Jazz for Justice, a traditional “big-band sound” on October 14 that raises money for legal support.
We in this area are fortunate to have so many opportunities to enjoy such presentations, often for free or nominal cost. Reminders of many presentations are shown in E-News where Shelly Gerston lists performances at both Mason Fairfax and Manassas campuses. Periodic articles by Norma Jean Reck, chair of the OLLI Theater Lovers Group, highlight local and distant performances, often organizing groups to attend them. OLLI and community residents can also register to receive monthly newsletters from the School of Music advising of future student and faculty performances, again many of which are free or a nominal cost.
So, start developing your “Arts Calendar” if you haven't already done so. You'll enjoy one of the major benefits of living in our area. The Arts are alive...and waiting for you!
Calmness could have been the name of this anonymous small oil painting,
the cow not only distant but
Indistinct, her grazing form belonging
To the field, blending with the rough
Grass along the stream and that hazy
Light descending through great oaks.
It might be good, I thought, to
spend an afternoon within its frame,
Seated on a low rock over to one side,
Inconspicuous and almost out of sight,
Or standing on the other side of the stream, a figure in brown, unnoticed
By the cow, belonging and blending in,
Also anonymous.
—Caroline McNeil
Eric Henderson peacefully passed away on September 26, at the age of 89. He had been an OLLI a member for many years beginning in 2001 and a founder and familiar pillar of the Tallwood Trio. He was born and grew up in Bridgeport, Ohio, moved to the D.C. area in 1962, and lived in Reston, VA for 45 years.
A life-long lover of music, Eric played jazz bass with several Potomac River Jazz Club bands and with the Tallwood Trio, a group he helped form, and one that played occasionally at Vinson Hall, the retirement community where he and his wife of 64 years lived. As a certified wine specialist, at OLLI he taught wine courses and led trips to wineries, among many other activities.A celebration of life in Eric’s honor will be held at a later date to be announced.
Eric’s wife Carol sent the following message, noting that “OLLI was such a big part of both our lives. Eric passed away on September 26, 2023. It was peaceful and I was with him. He had been in hospice care for just three weeks. But he had been essentially bedridden in the skilled nursing portion of our retirement community since February, after a couple of medical emergencies. While he had multiple physical problems, he was mentally alert, made his own decision to go into hospice, and I think he was ready. We had recently celebrated our 64th wedding anniversary. He was 89 and had a good long life.”
More information and several photos are available at this link.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website,Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances.
Virginia Opera: Siegfried
Sat, Oct 7, 7:30
Sun, Oct 8, 2:00
BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE: learn about the context, music, and production you are about to see and hear. A pre-performance discussion featuring Virginia Opera Resident Scholar, Joshua Borths, will take place in Monson Grand Tier, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
AFTER THE SUNDAY PERFORMANCE: Joshua Borths will lead a post-performance discussion with the artists in the Center for the Arts main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $70, $40.
David Amoroso: Belleza Brutal
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Through Nov 4
Admission: Free.
Prince William Little Theatre: The Westing Game
Fri, Oct 6, 8:00
Sat, Oct 7, 8:00
Sun, Oct 8, 2:00
Friday, Oct 13 at 8:00
Saturday, Oct 14 at 2:00
Saturday, Oct 14 at 8:00
Sunday, Oct 15 at 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $25 Adult; $20 senior, student (ID required), and military; $18 group (eight or more); $15 youth (12 and under).
KC Dance Center: Kollywood Night 2023
Sat, Oct 7, 5:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.
GFour Productions: Menopause The Musical 2—Cruising Through ‘The Change’®
Sun, Oct 8, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55, $50, $45.
Coco in Concert
Fri, Oct 13, 7:00 A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance. Merchant Hall Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Manassas Chorale: The Places We’ll Go! Sat, Oct 14, 4:00
Merchant Hall Admission: $25 Adult, $23 senior.
Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc., bolded below. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Oct 7
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Oct 10
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 11
11:00 am
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
Spanish Club
Tallwood Book Club
Bridge Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Oct 12
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 13
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Cooking Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Halloween Party
Sat Oct 14
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Oct 17
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 18
1:45 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
Spanish Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Oct 19
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 20
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Stay Active and Independent for Life
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger,Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich
Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: [email protected]. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
the recorder group as you check in on Friday, December 1.
t
cently used my photography skills to take pictures of four residents who had achieved the wonderful age of 100 plus. They were delightful to work with, and I learned so much from their conversations. One doesn't get to be 100 years old without some incredible experiences!
You don’t want to miss OLLI’s Holiday Party—the season's biggest event! When: Friday, December 1. Where: The Country Club of Fairfax at 5110 Ox Road, Fairfax.
Ragtime, a musical genre popular in the early 1900s, is basically a hybrid of European and African music. It is said to be the truly American form of music. As such, it is a fitting backdrop for Ragtime, the award-winning musical set in New York in the early 1900s, to express the melting pot of styles and cultures of the various peoples who built our country with the hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Tickets are $81, $98, and $123, depending on the location. To purchase tickets, go to 
![](https://olli.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Walk-and-Talk-at-Pohick-Trail-Oct.-2023.png")
, and the annual Jazz for Justice, a traditional “big-band sound” on October 14 that raises money for legal support.
Eric Henderson peacefully passed away on September 26, at the age of 89. He had been an OLLI a member for many years beginning in 2001 and a founder and familiar pillar of the Tallwood Trio. He was born and grew up in Bridgeport, Ohio, moved to the D.C. area in 1962, and lived in Reston, VA for 45 years.