OLLI E-News (Weekly Newsletter)

E-News-October-21-2022

October 22, 2022 by Ernestine Meyer

OLLI E-News October 21, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us

Member Services Chair Toni Acton Hosts
Coffee Klatch, Tallwood, October 14

October 21, 2022

Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Halloween Party 2022 Today
Weekly Conversations – October 26 Death Cafes
Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail Walk and Talk
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 28; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, October 25, at 6:00.

From the Desk of the Executive Director
Conversations With Friends

By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director

Think back to how you heard about OLLI. What drew your attention? Did you attend a guest lecture? Did you see an ad in the local paper or the Mason marquee on Braddock road? Did you search “lifelong learning near me” on the internet? More than likely, a friend told you about OLLI and their testimonial captured your attention. Since OLLI’s inception, conversations with friends have proven to be our best outreach tool. As you know, the pandemic limited many opportunities for you to be with friends. It certainly has been a quite a while since many of us have gotten together with our friends. Indeed, we miss each other. In the spirit of rekindling friendships and making new friends, I encourage you to invite someone you know to lunch or grab a cup of coffee and share how OLLI has enhanced your life experience. You will enjoy a lovely visit, and your friend may be very interested to try OLLI for the first time.

Halloween Party 2022 Today

By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Committee Chair

Today’s the day! It’s time to mingle and party with your OLLI friends at Tallwood. Enjoy spooky eats and sugary treats! Bring a friend or spouse and be prepared to have a wicked good time. Costumes encouraged.
When: Today, October 21
Time: 3:00-5:00
Location: 4210 Roberts Road, Fairfax: TA‑1, annex, coffee room, and outside courtyard
Entertainments:

Private palm readings from Ariana Lightningstorm
Costume contest
Gift card prizes
Piñata
Pumpkin decorating
Photo opportunities with celebrities

Weekly Conversations – October 26 Death Cafes

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

Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, we (Team Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on Wednesday October 26 at 4:00, where every OLLI member is most welcome to join us to talk about our chosen topic for this week: Death Cafes. We encourage an informal interactive exchange, and we want to hear from you, OLLI members. Share your favorites. No sign-ups needed; participation is totally ad hoc.

Are you familiar with Death Cafes? Have you attended a Death Cafe? Actually, it is often informative and interesting to participate. Join us next Wednesday afternoon to share your experience or learn more. The concept began with “cafe mortels,” created in 2004 by Swiss sociologist and anthropologist Bernard Crettaz. The events were adapted and popularized as “death cafés” by Jon Underwood, who held the first one in the basement of his London home. Pre‑COVID, the events were in person, always including a beverage and cake. In the age of Zoom, it is possible to attend a Death Cafe across the country and the world by merely registering online.

Heads up for the following week’s conversation: November 2: Daylight Savings Time – Pros and Cons and projections for the future of DST.

Each week, we pre-select a topic and advertise it in the OLLI E‑News, the OLLI E‑Blast and/or Communicator, and the OLLI Daily Schedule email (so it will be “in your face” and hard to miss). If you have a suggestion for a topic that will be of interest to members, please do send it to one of us: ([email protected] or [email protected]).

Check your Daily Schedule for the Zoom link each Wednesday and plan on some social time with Team Bloch.

Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail Walk and Talk

By Marilyn Harriman and Bob Heyer,
OLLI Walk & Talk Co-Chairs

Phyllis Krochmal led club members on an invigorating 60‑minute W&OD Trail walk on October 18. Starting at the Vienna Community Center on a sunny, chilly morning, the walkers headed east down the old Washington and Old Dominion Railroad tracks trail. They spotted deer among the trees, the city’s official monument to LOVE, the old railway station, and a refurbished caboose.

The asphalt path is buried amongst the tall trees full of Kudzu vines, making the path well protected and surrounded by the beauty of changing autumn leaves at this time of year. The trail itself stretches 52 miles from Purcellville through Leesburg to Arlington. The club hopes to cover most of the course over time.

Afterward, several group members enjoyed coffee and breakfast treats at the Caffe Amouri. The chatter was loud, and time was equal to the walk; worth cutting OLLI class for the camaraderie!

Upcoming walks include a walk led by Carol Esteki at Seneca Regional Park, 9:00, in Great Falls, on Friday, October 28; and a walk led by Debby Mossberg on Fairfax trails, starting on Prosperity Avenue, 8:00, in Fairfax, on October 31. To sign up and learn more details, register for the club through the OLLI member portal or phone the main office at 703-503-3384.

Walkers also need to RSVP with a cellphone number to one of the club co‑chairs for each walk to let us know we can expect you on a specific walk day. This is so we know to look for you and can contact you in case of walk schedule changes.
Marilyn Harriman: [email protected]
Bob Heyer: r[email protected]

Photo of the Month

The October 2022 Photo of the Month theme was open (not specified). We selected George Bradshaw's photo "Eastern State Penitentiary," taken at Eastern State Penitentiary Museum in Philadelphia, which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.

-- By John Olsen and Ed Marion, Photography Club Coordinators

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Story Retelling

The ocean conveys a certain fascination
With its perennial ebb and flow
For one who first glimpsed its waves
As an adult, touched by their eternal nature,
Steady, reliable, ongoing. They kiss the shore
With regularity.
We scan beyond the breakers
For dolphin fins, and only now and then find them,
Reciprocal leaping in the delight of each other
And in the coolness of early morning.
We often return, drawn by a story
Forever retold.
                     jan bohall
                     Fall 2022

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, October 21 through October 31

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test result for most events except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the webpage with event details.

Specific requirements are detailed and any future policy changes may be found here: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy.

Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website, Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No scheduled events.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

Mason Opera Scenes
Fri, Oct 21, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.

Mason School of Theater: Head Over Heels
Thu, Oct 27, 8:00
Fri, Oct 28, 8:00
Sat, Oct 29, 2:00
Sat, Oct 29, 8:00
Sun, Oct 30, 2:00
Admission: $35 General Public, $15 Students, Staff, Seniors, Groups

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Bennie Herron: Zero and One
Through Nov 6
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

Prince William Little Theatre: Peter and the Starcatcher
Fri, Oct 21, 8:00
Sat, Oct 22 at 2:00
Sat, Oct 22, 8:00
Sun, Oct 23, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Adult $20, senior $17, youth $13.

Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Celebrations
Sat, Oct 22, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.

Mummenschanz Theater Troupe
Sun, Oct 23, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

United States Navy Concert Band
Fri, Oct 28, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Free.

Aida Cuevas: Mariachi and Vocal Forms
Sat, Oct 29, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

Farruquito: Flamenco
Sun, Oct 30, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Oct 22	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Oct 24	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Oct 25	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 26	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm	Bridge Club Spanish Club Mah Jongg Club Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu Oct 27	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 28	9:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 12:00 noon	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. Photography Club
Sat Oct 29	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Oct 31	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Nov 1	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 2	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 4:00 pm	Bridge Club Mah Jongg Club History Club
Thu Nov 3	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 4	10:00 am	Annual Town Hall Meeting
Sat Nov 5	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

About OLLI E-News

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

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, Jane Hassell

Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: [email protected].
Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words.
Search E-News: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News at ENews Archives. To search the content within issues, use Search or enter your search term(s) in Google followed by “site:olli.gmu.edu/” without the quotes.

An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase.

E-News-October-14-2022

October 14, 2022 by Ernestine Meyer

OLLI E-News October 14, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us
Loudoun Newsletter

Dr. Boyoung Kim, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychology at Mason: Trust in Human-Robot Interaction, Monday Lecture, October 3

October 14, 2022

Editor of the Week: John Nash

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
Tour of the Historic Pohick Church Explained Our Heritage
Boo! to You...and a Party, too!
OLLI Weekly Conversations
Upcoming Mason Jazz Performances in October That You Will Enjoy
What Do a Dramaturg and Musical Theater Have in Common?
Poet's Corner
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

Personal Computer User Group, in person (Tallwood TA‑1) and via Zoom, Saturday, October 15 (tomorrow) at 1:00.
Board of Directors meeting, Friday, October 21, 10:00, in person (Tallwood TA‑1) and on Zoom. All members welcome.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, October 21; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, October 18, at 6:00.

Tour of the Historic Pohick Church Explained Our Heritage

By Marilyn Harriman, Special Events Planning Group, Co-Chair

On October 7, 35 OLLI members spent the morning visiting and touring historic Pohick Church in Lorton. The tour began with a 30‑minute talk by three knowledgeable docents, Fred Crawford, Marleen McCabe, and Susan Schultz. The docents enlightened participants about the church’s history, beginning with stories about its founders: vestrymen Thomas Baron Cameron (Lord Fairfax), George Washington, and George Mason.

The docents explained how early church parishioners kept warm in the deep of winter by keeping heated bricks under their feet in pew boxes. OLLI members also heard about the defacing and destruction of the church building during the Civil War. They saw remnants of Civil War graffiti

on the interior wall and the building façade. the group explored the cemetery and heard from the cemetery warden, Sandra Caesar. She explained that local Lorton families donated land for the cemetery and that some descendants attend the church today. The graveyard serves Pohick Church members, families with plots, and the larger Lorton community via the Memorial Garden.

Some participants took advantage of shopping at the Golden Dove Gift Shop, while others finished their visit with a stroll in the flower gardens in the courtyard.

It was a beautiful, sunny day for members to learn about one of the area’s earliest churches and community life during colonial and post-revolutionary days. Church docents remarked how much they enjoyed the OLLI group because of their enthusiasm and engagement. It was an excellent day for OLLI members to get out and learn about local history. (Photo by Marilyn Harriman)

Boo! to You...and a Party, too!

Mark Your Calendar for the Halloween Party October 21

By Marilyn Harriman, Special Events: Diversions Chair

Halloween comes only once a year. So, don’t miss your opportunity to party and celebrate the event with your OLLI friends. We’ll gather on Friday, October 21, 3:00-5:00 at Tallwood for refreshments, professional palm reading, a costume contest, pumpkin decorating, and photo opportunities with celebrities, including Elvis, Audrey Hepburn, and George Washington.

Bring a friend and be prepared to have a wicked good time!

OLLI Weekly Conversations

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

OLLI weekly conversations continue – October 19: Use Your Imagination.

Continuing our Wednesday conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on Wednesday October 19 at 4:00, where any and every OLLI member is most welcome to join us to talk about our chosen topic: This week it will be "Where in the World Would You Most Like to Live, If Health and Money Were of No Concern?"

We foster an informal interactive experience, and we want to hear from you. Share your favorites. No sign-ups needed; participation is totally open and spontaneous. Check the emailed Daily Schedule or just use the OLLI Chat-Line meeting ID.

This is an open-ended topic. Feel free to indulge your locational fantasies, although we suggest that Gulf Coast Florida might not fit into your current plans. Tahiti? Some remote Italian village that you might even own? Vermont mountain cabin? Manhattan condo? Castle in France? Ranch in Montana? Costa Rica? Northern Virginia? (Or maybe you have already made that "big move.") Please do share the Why's of your choice/wishes with us.

Heads up for the following week’s Conversation – October 26: Death Cafes.

Each week we pre-select a topic, and advertise it in the OLLI E-News, the OLLI E-Blast, and the OLLI Daily Schedule (so it will be “in your face” and hard to miss.) If you have a suggestion for a topic that will be of interest to members, please do send it to one of us: ([email protected] or [email protected]). We love receiving your suggestions.

Check your Daily Schedule for the Zoom link each Wednesday and plan on some social time with Team Bloch.

Upcoming Mason Jazz Performances in October That You Will Enjoy

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

The next concert in our Reston jazz series is October 20, FREE and open to the public! Concerts are presented outdoors at the Reston Town Square Park 5:00 to 6:15 on Thursdays and will run through the end of October. This one is by the Raymond Mason Group (Caribbean jazz); join us!

Guitarist and Mason jazz faculty member Shawn Purcell will perform Monday, October 17 at Blues Alley to mark the release of his Origin Records CD "180." Performances are at 7:00 and 9:00. Featuring organist Pat Bianchi (Pat Martino/Lou Donaldson), drummer Jason Tiemann (Benny Golson, Ed Cherry), vocalist Darden Purcell, and trombonist Ben Patterson, the 180 album includes ten Purcell original compositions and one standard by the great Johnny Mandel. To purchase tickets: click here.

The Mason Jazz Ensemble performs its fall concert Wednesday,
October 19 at 8:00 in Harris Theatre. This concert will feature outstanding soloists and will pay tribute to the great big bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones, Rob McConnell and more! Tickets available at this link.

What Do a Dramaturg and Musical Theater Have in Common?

Come to OLLI’s TLG Meeting to Find Out

By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator for Theater Lovers’ Group (TLG)

Theater Dramaturgy—Do you know what a theater dramaturg is? Have any idea of why they are an essential part of a production team for a play? According to Court Theatre, “a dramaturg delves into the script, reading it numerous times, providing a textual analysis, and diving into the history of the text and the playwright. They provide information about the history of past productions of the play and contribute to design and production meetings.”

On Wednesday, October 26, from 4:00 to 5:30, Mason’s Associate Professor Kristin Johnsen-Neshati will speak virtually with our TLG meeting about the responsibilities of a dramaturg. It is quite a revelation to realize the impact that this little known, behind-the-scenes role has on a play. Mark your calendars and be sure to join other Theater Lovers for a really unique, virtual session.

A Special Invitation—On Sunday, October 30, you are invited to join Theater Lovers when we attend the 2:00 matinee performance of Mason’s fall musical Head Over Heels at the Center for the Arts. It is laugh-out-loud musical theater that will make you smile and want to sing along, for those of you who remember the GoGo’s. Choreographer Stefan Sittig and his phenomenal dancers add more zest to the already lively tunes sung by Mason’s talented students under the musical direction of Maestro Joe Walsh and Director Erin Gardiner. You will enjoy the hilarious antics of the members of a royal family trying to save their kingdom from oblivion. Senior tickets are $15 per person. Go to https://cfa.gmu.edu to purchase tickets. Feel free to invite friends who are not OLLI members. We will go to dinner at a nearby restaurant after the show (optional). If interested, please email Norma at [email protected] so I can make reservations.

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Simplicity

Blue sky, blue water, white cresting gulls
Warm, gentle breeze and ocean sound lulls
The endless stream of her life’s longings
Withheld by remorseful misgivings

Destiny to find a long-lived dream
Like a dark night lit by a moonbeam
Her spirits renewed by ocean sounds
Uplifted, happiness knows no bounds

Delight in true authenticity
She will celebrate simplicity
- Chitra Mohla

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, October 14 through October 24

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket page or the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No scheduled events.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

Fall Choral Festival Concert
Sat, Oct 15, 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free.

Faculty Artist Showcase
Sun, Oct 16, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.

Mason Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band
Mon, Oct 17, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adult $12, senior $8.

Mason Jazz Ensemble
Wed, Oct 19, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Adult $12, senior $8.

Mason Opera Scenes
Fri, Oct 21, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Bennie Herron: Zero and One
Sep 6 through Nov 6
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

Manassas Ballet Theatre: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Fri, Oct 14, 7:30
Sat, Oct 15, 7:30
Sun, Oct 16, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $65, $55, $45, $35, $25.

Prince William Little Theatre: Peter and the
Starcatcher
Fri, Oct 14 and 21, 8:00
Sat, Oct 15 and 22, 8:00
Sun, Oct 16 and 23, 2:00
Sat, Oct 22 at 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Adult $20, senior $17, youth $13.

Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Celebrations
Sat, Oct 22, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.

Mummenschanz Theater Troupe
Sun, Oct 23, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Oct 15	10:30 am 1:00 pm	Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group
Mon Oct 17	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Oct 18	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 19	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 2:00 pm	Bridge Club Mah Jongg Club Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Oct 20	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 21	9:15 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 3:00 pm	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. OLLI Halloween Social
Sat Oct 22	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Oct 24	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Oct 25	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 26	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm	Bridge Club Spanish Club Mah Jongg Club Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu Oct 27	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 28	9:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 12:00 noon	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. Photography Club
Sat Oct 29	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

About OLLI E-News

An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase.

E-News-October-7-2022

October 8, 2022 by Ernestine Meyer

OLLI E-News October 7, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us
Loudoun Newsletter

The Dirty Knee Club, Co-Chaired by Sally Berman and Sigrid Carlson, Continues a Long Tradition of Landscape Maintenance at Tallwood

October 7, 2022

Editor of the Week: Sheri Siesseger

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
Weekly Conversations Continue – October 12 MYSTERIES
OLLI Walk and Talk Club News
Computer Club
Mason Jazz Performances in October Include Happy Hour in Reston and More
Let’s Party!
Tallwood Book Club
Poet's Corner
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee Klatch, Friday, October 14, 10:00-11:30, Tallwood, TA‑1. All members welcome.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, October 14; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, October 11, at 6:00.

Weekly Conversations Continue – October 12 MYSTERIES

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

Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, we (Team Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on Wednesday, October 12 at 4:00, where any and every OLLI member is most welcome to join us to talk about our chosen topic: Mysteries (of all sorts, e.g., novels, movies, TV shows and series, podcasts, audiobooks). We foster an informal interactive experience, and we want to hear from you, OLLI members. Share your favorites. No registration needed; participation is totally open and spontaneous. Check the Daily Schedule or just use the OLLI Chat Room meeting ID.

Mystery Novels, Movies and TV Shows: What are you reading? Watching? Who’s your favorite character or characters? Recommendations welcomed. Should OLLI provide a future class on mysteries? Is anyone currently writing a novel or have you done so in the past? Do you want to tell us a Halloween-related story? Please share with us.

Heads up for the following week’s conversation: October 19: Where In the World Would You Most Like to Live?

Each week, we pre-select a topic and advertise it in the OLLI E‑News, the OLLI E‑Blast, and the OLLI Daily Schedule email (so it will be “in your face” and hard to miss.) If you have a suggestion for a topic that will be of interest to members, please do send it to one of us: ([email protected] or [email protected]). We love receiving your suggestions.

Check your Daily Schedule for the Zoom link each Wednesday and plan on some social time with Team Bloch (who are totally unrelated in case you were wondering.)

OLLI Walk and Talk Club News

By Bob Heyer and Marilyn Harriman, Board Members and Walk and Talk Club Co-Chairs

The OLLI Walk and Talk Club will take its next trail exploration to Lake Newport in Reston on Tuesday, October 11. Starting at 8:00 from Browns Chapel Park, 1686 Browns Chapel Road, walkers will navigate a 2.4-mile path. If you’d like to join us on this or future walks, contact Marilyn Harriman at [email protected] or Bob Heyer at [email protected].

On September 27, twelve club members found the “Hidden Pond” in the West Springfield park at the end of Greeley Boulevard, where many frogs and turtles swim daily.

The nature center in the garden provides guidance, maps, and displays of wildlife, pavilions, and trails. We ventured down the paths and found a basketball court, children’s jungle gym, an amphitheater, an open field for activities, and a meandering stream to follow through narrow pathways.

The tracks were marked with foot-long color strips on the trees along the narrow path. We traversed up and down the rolling hills and froze at times to see the deer feeding and moving about. As we transitioned to different color paths, we had to be alert for tree roots on the path and tree markings.

It was a most pleasant and refreshing hour walk seeing the beauty of the woods and meandering stream, but we could have spent a couple of hours exploring more.

Computer Club

3rd Saturday, October 15 In Person and Via Zoom
Favorite iOS Apps and Cross-Device Synergies (Including Windows!)
Learn in 30: Scan QR Codes for Windows Apps

By Paul Howard, OPCUG Program Chair

The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, October 15, in person and via Zoom. You must observe OLLI/George Mason health protocols (see this link) if attending on campus. Program activities begin at 1:00; the Zoom session usually opens at 12:45. Coffee and soft drinks will be available; details on individually packaged snacks are being worked out.

Favorite iOS Apps and Cross-Device Synergies (Including Windows!) – presented by Gabe Goldberg
Though iPhones/iPads come with numerous/assorted native (built-in) apps, they're also "blank slates," ready to be customized (and filled!) with one's personal selection/collection of apps. How do you find/select the (relatively) few to use from the bazillions in the app store? And how do you know how much storage and data each app is using? This presentation will explore the app store for browsing/selecting/installing apps, tour a few of Gabe’s favorite apps, describe app management tools, and show some useful screen shortcuts. He will highlight apps from his iOS/iPadOS experience; most, or equivalents, are also available for Android devices. Note: everyone has their own favorite/essential apps, so be ready to mention a few of yours!

Gabe has had a long career in the software industry, including writing for AARP, industry and computer publications, and The Washington Post. Gabe has been an Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG) advisor for more than a decade, serving as that organization's liaison with user groups in eight states.

Learn in 30: Scan QR Codes for Windows Apps – Presented by John Krout
This presentation will describe how to obtain, install, and effectively use a free Windows application. You will learn how to save any presentation slide as a photo file on your Windows computer rapidly using a keystroke. If the saved image contains a QR code, then you can scan the QR code in the saved image later, at your own pace, after the presentation ends.

John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology and photography topics, and author of many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.

See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 for 2022—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 085407 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 885 2504 2358 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial 301-715-8592.

Mason Jazz Performances in October Include Happy Hour in Reston and More

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

I have curated a series for the Reston Town Center and Reston Community Center, booking some of the best musicians in the area! This outdoor concert series is FREE and open to the public! Concerts are presented 5:00 to 6:15 outdoors at the Reston Town Square Park on Thursdays and will run through the end of October. Join us for this ongoing concert series!

Guitarist and Mason jazz faculty member Shawn Purcell will perform Monday, October 17 at Blues Alley to mark the release of his Origin Records CD "180." Performances are at 7:00 and 9:00. The album includes ten Purcell original compositions and one standard by the great Johnny Mandel. To purchase tickets: click here.

The Mason Jazz Ensemble performs its fall concert Wednesday, October 19 at 8:00 in Harris Theatre. This concert will feature outstanding soloists and will pay tribute to the great big bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones, Rob McConnell and more! Tickets available at this link.

Let’s Party!

By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chair

Join your OLLI friends for a wicked good time on Friday, October 21, 3:00-5:00 at the Tallwood campus for a fun Halloween party. Refreshments, including snacks, candy, and beverages, will be served.

Enjoy a range of entertainments:

Visit Ariana LightningStorm, a professional palm reader, for a five-minute private reading
Take a selfie with a celebrity, including George Washington, Audrey Hepburn, and Elvis
Decorate a pumpkin in the Annex
Whack a pinata for a chance at a candy stash
Wear a costume and compete for prizes

Bring a friend or spouse!

To sign up: Register for event 1104 by October 19 in the member registration portal.

Tallwood Book Club

By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator

The Tallwood Book club, which meets via Zoom at 2:30 on second Fridays, has scheduled the following books for discussion:

October 14 – Oh William by Elizabeth Strout
November 11 – Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
December 9 – My Antonia by Willa Cather
January 13 – Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
February 10 – The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Event links will appear in the OLLI Daily-Schedule email. Join us.

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

A fall flourish

The first brave yellow leaf
S
A
     I
        L
           E
              D
Pirouetting gliding
to land on the ground
Getting a front row seat
Awaiting the soloists and clusters
Who would soon show off their own
acrobatics

Here’s the marks

     9.0 for innovative route
     9.5 for enchanting collaborations
     8.8 for dramatic landing
    10.0 for pure pleasure

A fall flourish
before settling down
to rest together
                 Susan Rexroad

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, October 7 through October 17

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Virginia Opera: The Valkyrie
Sat, Oct 8, 8:00
Sun, Oct 9, 2:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $70, $40.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

New Sound Collective Concert
Fri, Oct 7, 8:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001, de Laski Rehearsal Room
Admission: Free.

Symphony Orchestra Concert
Wed, Oct 12, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adult $12, senior $8.

Fall Choral Festival Concert
Sat, Oct 15, 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free.

Faculty Artist Showcase
Sun, Oct 16, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.

Mason Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band
Mon, Oct 17, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adult $12, senior $8.

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Bennie Herron: Zero and One
Continues through Nov 6
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

Naseebo Lal! Pakistani Folk Singer
Fri, Oct 7, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $29 to $250.

Manassas Chorale: Broadway in Manassas!
Sat, Oct 8, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25, $23.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Oct 8	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Oct 10	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Oct 11	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 12	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 6:00 pm	Bridge Club Spanish Club Mah Jongg Club Conversations with Brenda and Doris Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Oct 13	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Reston Book Club Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 14	9:15 am 9:30 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 11:30 am 2:30 pm	Recorder Consort Photography Club Craft and Conversation Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee Klatch Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. Cooking Club Tallwood Book Club
Sat Oct 15	10:30 am 1:00 pm	Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group
Mon Oct 17	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Oct 18	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 19	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 2:00 pm	Bridge Club Mah Jongg Club Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Oct 20	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 21	9:15 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 3:00 pm	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. OLLI Halloween Social
Sat Oct 22	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

About OLLI E-News

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E-News-September-30-2022

September 30, 2022 by Ernestine Meyer

OLLI E-News September 30, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us
Loudoun Newsletter

Ilya Somin, a Professor of Law at Mason, Argues in a Monday Lecture Series Class "Free to Move" that Foot Voting Offers Strong Advantages Over Ballot Box Voting for a More Open World, September 26

September 30, 2022

Editor of the Week: John Nash

Table of Contents

Alerts and Notices
An OLLI Summons
Antietam Day Trip September 23
History Club Meeting
Join the Friends of Theater for a World Premiere and Music by the Go-Gos
OLLI Weekly Conversations Continue – October 5: Travel
Member Achievement
News from OLLI’s Poetry Workshop
Poet's Corner
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts and Notices

You may now add or drop a class using the add/drop form available at this link.

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

An OLLI Summons

By Barbara Wilan, Loudoun Program Planning Group Chair

Please help us find a solution for program planning at OLLI. We all like Zoom, and it will continue to be part of the OLLI program as life continues to normalize. However, many of us are committed to returning to the OLLI program that we loved prior to the pandemic: in-person classes, social events, and vibrant committees. Zoom and hybrids are going strong, but we fear for the in-person program, which brought many of us to OLLI in the first place.

Our problem has been getting our members to sign up for and come to in-person classes and social events. We need your opinions and suggestions for the best way to restore a strong in-person program. We know that you know what we need to do to attract you and our other members.

To that end, we will be forming a focus group to meet in-person on the Loudoun campus during October or November. We miss you, and we miss the old OLLI. Please help us restore OLLI’s live events.

If you are interested in helping us by joining our focus group, please contact Barbara Wilan at [email protected]. Once we get a group formed, we’ll pick the day and time.

Antietam Day Trip September 23

By Luci Martel, Special Events Program Planning Group Co-Chair

On September 23, long-time OLLI instructor and civil war historian, Jim Anderson, led an enthusiastic group of 20 OLLI members on a day trip to the Antietam Battlefield in Maryland. It was a perfect fall day with the weather cooperating (albeit a little windy) and Jim provided an outstanding overview of the entire battle. It was a wonderful way to kick off the 2022 fall term!

The group toured all of the tragic battle spots which, with Jim's narrative, helped explain why this was one of the most devastating battles of the Civil War. More than 23,000 were killed or wounded that day. (Photos by Luci Martel)

History Club Meeting

By Elizabeth Lambert, History Club Coordinator

The first meeting of the History Club for the 2022-23 season will be held on Wednesday, October 5 at 4:00. It will be a virtual event. Our speaker will be Doug Snoeyenbos speaking on The Presidential Election of 1876. Doug describes it as one of the closest and most controversial in American history and it has many implications for our current Presidential elections. We will look at what made the Election of 1876 so unique, how it exposed weaknesses in the Electoral College system, and how it was eventually resolved as well as the consequences of that election, which included the end of Reconstruction.

Those who heard Doug speak at a History Club presentation last year know it will be an excellent meeting. Because the meeting will be virtual, any and all OLLI members, near and far, can have access to it. Be sure to put Wednesday, October 5, at 4:00 on your calendar.

Join the Friends of Theater for a World Premiere and Music by the Go-Gos

By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers' Group Coordinator

Please join us this Sunday, October 2, 2022, from 4:00 to 5:15 for a light-hearted theatrical treat from the comfort of your home. The free, virtual, two-part program begins with Mason’s talented theater students performing songs from Head Over Heels, a laugh-out-loud love story about the hilarious escapades of a royal family set to the music of the Go Gos. Director Erin Gardiner and Music Director Joe Walsh will be on hand to expertly take us behind-the-scenes of the play. Choreographer Stefan Sittig and his dance students will demonstrate the process of integrating dance and movement into the play. You can see Head Over Heels at the Center for the Arts from Thursday, October 27 through Sunday, October 30. For tickets and more information, please go to theater.gmu.edu.

To round out this exciting program, Djola Branner, Director of the School of Theater, will discuss what motivated him to write Sutta. The fun play, choreographed by Ahmed Maaty, is set in 2017. Branner uses movement, music, and text as theatrical language to tell the story of a young doctoral candidate whose research takes him to a Buddhist monastery. Mason’s talented theater students will bring Sutta to life by reading some scenes from the play. You can attend the world premiere of Sutta at the TheaterSpace from Friday, November 18 through Sunday, November 20. For tickets and more information, please go to theater.gmu.edu.

To RSVP or for more information, email [email protected] or phone Rachel Ingle at 703-993-3927. The deadline to RSVP is Saturday, October 1 (tomorrow!). The Zoom link will be emailed to you shortly before the event on Sunday, October 2.

Everyone is welcome, so invite your family and friends to join you for this special Friends of Theater event. Be sure to save the date! See you there.

OLLI Weekly Conversations Continue – October 5: Travel

By Doris Bloch, Co-Moderator

Continuing our Wednesday Conversations Series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on October 5 at 4:00, where any and every OLLI member is most welcome to join us to talk about our chosen topic: Travel (a fascinating topic and lots to discuss!). It will
combine a learning experience, a getting-to-know you experience, and just a friendly outlet where we can all relax and relate. No sign-ups needed; participation is totally open and spontaneous. Check the Daily-Schedule email or just use the OLLI Chat Line meeting ID.

October 5: Travel – Where have you been recently? Where have you been dreaming of going? What precautions are you taking? Share any horror stories or good experiences with us. We love to hear them. Cancelled trips? Lost luggage? Quarantine stays in foreign surroundings? Tour group feedback? We can all learn lessons from your tales, whether good, bad, indifferent.

Heads-up for the following week’s Conversation: October 12: Mystery Novels, Movies and TV Shows – What are you reading? Watching? Who’s your favorite? Recommendations welcomed. Should OLLI provide a future class on mysteries? Is anyone here currently writing a novel or has in the past? – please do share with us.

Each week we pre-select a topic, and advertise it in the OLLI E-News, the OLLI E-Blast, and the OLLI Daily-Schedule email (so it will be “in your face” and hard to miss.) If you have a suggestion for a topic that will be of interest to members, please do send it to one of us ([email protected] or
[email protected]). We love receiving your suggestions. Our first conversation was devoted to discussing Word Games based on apps, mainly, but not exclusively, those played on cellphones. The “mothership” of these is Wordle, sponsored by the New York Times but available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike.

We are working on a list of games to share with OLLI members. OLLI puzzle-mad folks, stay tuned. Check your Daily Schedule for the Zoom link each Wednesday and plan on some social time with Team Bloch (who are totally non-related, in case you were wondering).

Member Achievement
News from OLLI’s Poetry Workshop

By Jan Bohall, Poetry Workshop Co-Moderator

Congratulations to three of our OLLI poets who recently had poems accepted by literary publications! Susan Bennett placed her poem, ‘The Coat Rack Reflects,’ with the Artemis Journal; both Susan Rexroad and Margie Wildblood will have their poems, ‘a frothy occupation’ and ‘Ashes’ respectively, in the NoVA Bards 2022: Anthology of Northern Virginia Poetry.

In addition to the Workshop, all three poets are studying the craft with Ed Sadtler and Carolyn Wyatt in their course, So You Wanna Write Poetry? here at OLLI.

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

SYMPHONIC NIGHTMARE

I’ve played for years in a symphony,

So I don’t really need your sympathy

When I tell you of a dream I had one night

Which may hint at my precarious plight.

In the dream I was late for a concert, you see—

It started at 7:30, not eight, the prior decree.

I heard the National Anthem as I came through the door

“How could I get to my seat on stage?” I implored

The surprised stage manager (what did he know?)

Rigged up a chandelier for me, my violin, and bow.

I swung over the orchestra and descended so low

That I jumped right into my chair, and was ready to go.

No one even noticed my braggadocio.

Joan Lunsford
November 6, 2021

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, September 30 through October 10

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

MOMIX: Viva MOMIX
Sat, Oct 1, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.

Virginia Opera: The Valkyrie
Sat, Oct 8, 8:00
Sun, Oct 9, 2:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $70, $40.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

New Sound Collective Concert
Fri, Oct 7, 8:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001, de Laski Rehearsal Room
Admission: Free.

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Bennie Herron: Zero and One
Sep 6 through Nov 6
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Music for the Young and Youthful
Sun, Oct 2, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.

Alicia Ward: Cello Concert
Wed, Oct 5, 1:30
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Lunch, concert, and dessert reception: $60,
Concert and dessert reception only: $35.

Naseebo Lal! Pakistani Folk Singer
Fri, Oct 7, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $29 to $250.

Manassas Chorale: Broadway in Manassas!
Sat, Oct 8, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25, $23.

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

Sat Oct 1	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Oct 3	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Oct 4	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 5	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 2:00 pm 4:00 pm	Bridge Club Mah Jongg Club Memoir and More Writing Group History Club
Thu Oct 6	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 7	9:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc.
Sat Oct 8	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Oct 10	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Oct 11	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 12	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 6:00 pm	Bridge Club Spanish Club Mah Jongg Club Conversations with Brenda and Doris Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Oct 13	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Reston Book Club Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 14	9:15 am 9:30 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 11:30 am 2:30 pm	Recorder Consort Photography Club Craft and Conversation Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee Klatch Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. Cooking Club Tallwood Book Club
Sat Oct 15	10:30 am 1:00 pm	Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group

About OLLI E-News

An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase.

E-News-September-23-2022

September 23, 2022 by Ernestine Meyer

OLLI E-News September 23, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us
Loudoun Newsletter

In-Person Fall Kick-Off Coffee for New and Continuing Members, Fairfax, September 15, 2022

September 23, 2022

Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
Highlights of the September Board of Directors Meeting
Vaccine Facts
Wednesday Conversations with Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch
Join the Hospitality Committee
Special Invitation: Join OLLI’s Theater Lovers for Two Upcoming Theater Events
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 30; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, September 27, at 6:00.

Highlights of the September Board of Directors Meeting

By Gloria Loew, Secretary

The Board of Directors met on September 16 at Tallwood. President Lillian Brooks noted the in-person fall 2022 coffee klatch held on September 15 to welcome new members. It was a huge success, with more than 40 people attending. People were happy to be back together in person and the room was LOUD! Lillian also announced a retreat for Board members and committee chairs to work toward implementing the new OLLI Strategic Plan; the retreat will be held on November 12.

Michele Romano, chair of the Health Advisory Work Group, reported that the group is focusing on helping OLLI members feel better about coming to campus and participating in person. The group is planning activities and providing communication to keep us informed about COVID. They say that we are safer on the OLLI campus than we can be anywhere else because we are all vaxxed. OLLI members are encouraged to make personal decisions about wearing masks.

Debby Mossburg, chair of the Outreach Committee, noted that the committee is working aggressively and innovatively to increase our membership. They are distributing fliers and catalogs, writing articles for publication in community newspapers, and speaking to organizations that are helping their soon-to-be retirees find new activities.

Paul Howard, chair of the Ad-Hoc Website Committee, stated that the committee is working to make our website more attractive to potential members and more functional for current members.

Toni Acton described efforts by the Welcome Engagement Team to actively welcome new members.

Executive Director Jennifer Disano reported that our current membership is just under 1000 and we are working hard to increase that number. She also noted that Mason facilities staff continue to spruce up Tallwood. They recently fixed TA‑2 after a tree limb came through the roof. Jennifer also described that our programming volunteers are working to beef up our Reston and Loudon classes.

Treasurer David Osterman presented the treasurer’s report, after which resolutions under new business were tabled until the next meeting. This allowed time for the Board members and guests to attend a pizza party lunch at noon.

Vaccine Facts

By Jane Harrison, Healthcare Advisory Workgroup Member

Beginning fall term 2022, it is helpful to assess the state of COVID vaccinations in the US. Although never intended to eradicate the disease, vaccines remain highly effective in lowering fatalities and reducing hospitalizations. Now that federal, state, and local government, business, and institutions no longer mandate restrictions, individuals must now protect themselves and the general public.

In brief, being “fully vaccinated” by government definition typically means that you have received the original two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one of Johnson and Johnson. The Pfizer and Moderna products are mRNA vaccines, which function as protein information carriers to prompt the body to make specific proteins. They instruct cells to produce the spike protein found on the coronavirus. In turn, this protein prompts the body to make an immune response. In July, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) approved Novavax, a more traditional vaccine that contains no genetic material. This vaccine is very similar to protein-based influenza vaccine and may encourage those who have resisted the newer mRNA technology to be more likely to get vaccinated. About 68% of Americans are now vaccinated, and 85% of Fairfax County residents 18 and older, and 77% total of county residents are fully vaccinated.

Cold weather favors Coronavirus and Influenza. Experts expect a moderate resurgence this fall, with a “possible fall wave” in early December. The updated bivalent booster from Pfizer and Moderna (the first vaccine to be updated since the original in 2020), is meant to target Omicron BA-4, BA-5. Dr. Fauci of the NIAID states that if the variant remains BA-5, a major surge is not expected. Some experts feel that side effects may be fewer also, since the dose is lower. The recommendation is to wait approximately two months from your last vaccination or coronavirus infection to get the new booster. OLLI will continue to closely monitor and adjust regulations for in-person attendance as needed.

The bivalent booster is now available. To find a vaccine site, go to vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682) Mondays through Fridays to schedule an appointment.

OLLI members are encouraged to keep all their vaccinations up to date, including for pneumonia, hepatitis, and herpes zoster (shingles). You can also receive the new coronavirus booster and the flu shot at the same time. It’s important to remember that both take about two weeks to become fully effective. Vaccination becomes even more important as we age to prevent serious complications of disease; talk to your health care provider about your vaccination status.

For questions or comments, please contact Michele Romano, Chair, Health Advisory Workgroup at [email protected].

Wednesday Conversations with Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch

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

Everyone is invited to join our Wednesday Conversation series. The Wednesday Conversations allow OLLI Members to chat at a dedicated time, day, and on a topic specific to each week. The goal is to entertain, educate, and socialize within our community of lifelong learners and it promises to be a lot of fun. Certainly, the first one of the series, held on September 14, was great. The topic was "Word Games," and we came up with quite a number; they will be the subject of a future E-News article so that everyone can share in the list.

The second Wednesday Conversation was held on September 21: The Royals (QEII, King Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, spouses, offspring, the future line of succession, the future of the Commonwealth, and the Corgis).

Future dates and planned topics include:

September 28: What's for Dinner? How have your shopping and eating habits changed since the pandemic? Do you think that you will revert back to earlier habits? Are you cooking more or cooking less? Ordering out? Signing up for home delivery of ready-prepared foods or those meal delivery packages? And what about all those sourdough starters?

October 5: Travel – Where have you been recently? Where have you been dreaming of going? What precautions are you taking? Share any horror stories or good experiences with us – we love to hear them. Cancelled trips? Lost luggage? Quarantine stays in foreign surroundings? Tour group feedback? We can all learn lessons from your tales – good, bad, indifferent.

October 12: Mystery Novels, Movies and TV Shows: What are you reading? Watching? Recommendations welcomed. Should OLLI provide a class on mysteries? Is anyone here currently writing a novel? Please share with us.

All of these start at 4:00. Note that they are extensions of our Chat line zoom using the same meeting ID and password, but at specific times/days and on specific topics. Look for the meeting ID and topics on the Daily Schedule email.

Join the Hospitality Committee

By Elaine Leonard, Hospitality Committee Chair

If you like to bake or prepare easy-to-make appetizers, come share your skills with OLLI by becoming a member of the Hospitality Committee. This committee is in charge of serving, providing food, and decorating for five events during the year.

We provide finger foods for members' kick-off coffees and meetings. We also plan the holiday luncheon in December and assist with the annual picnic in May. These events introduce new members to OLLI, welcome back current members, provide updates on happenings at OLLI Mason and, best of all, foster socializing with friends.

To join, please contact me at [email protected]. We would love to have you!
(Photos by Paul Van Hemel)

Special Invitation: Join OLLI’s Theater Lovers for Two Upcoming Theater Events

By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers’ Group Coordinator

Little Women, a Musical: This Saturday, September 24, the Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) will attend the 2:00 matinee performance of Little Women, a musical, at NextStop Theatre in Herndon, Virginia. Little Women is "candid, humble, charming, and a great addition to other adaptations like it," according to Broadway World Washington, D.C. "Sure to please any fan of this classic story."

Tickets are $40/person (group rate) and can be charged to your credit card by phoning Nora at 703-298-0667; she will seat our group together. You MUST tell Nora that you are with OLLI's Theater Group to get the group rate. Your guests (who do not have to be OLLI members) can also get the $40 group rate. There are only a few spaces left, so phone Nora ASAP.

NextStop Theatre is a professional company, located at 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, Virginia. There is plenty of free and convenient parking. If you want to carpool, email me at [email protected] to let me know.

We will have an optional post-theater dinner at A Taste of the World restaurant, just steps away from the theater. If you would like to join us, please email me so I can make the reservations.

Masks are required. NextStop has rigorous covid protocols in place.

Ford's Theatre and the Lincoln Assassination: On Wednesday, September 28, from 4:00 to 5:30, TLG will hold its club meeting virtually. Jake Flack, Deputy Director of Education, Ford's Theatre, will present a unique program about Ford's Theatre and the Lincoln assassination. During his presentation, he will answer questions such as: What was Washington, D.C. like for President Lincoln? Who are some of the people that the President met and knew? Flack will give us a close-up look at historical and contemporary images, using maps, photography, and illustrations. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.

You are invited to join us for this not-to-be-missed theatrical program from the comfort of your own home.

Mark your calendar: Wednesday, September 28 from 4:00 to 5:30. Look for the Zoom link in OLLI's Daily News email.

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Always in My Heart
Sometimes I can’t remember
the names of friends, coworkers,
artists, and performers.

I can’t recall titles
of movies, books, and TV shows.
I forget which days
my favorite series are shown
and I neglect to watch.

But I can recite “In 1492
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”
I can sing the Bosco song
and all the words to
“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.”

I can’t remember the dates
the dearest of loved ones died.
Sometimes I even forget I can’t
just pick up the phone and call.

Carolyn F. Wyatt

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, September 23 through October 3

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Kristin Chenoweth in Concert: For the Girls
Sat, Sep 24, 8:30
Concert Hall
Admission: $125, $85, $65 (included with Arts by George! Ticket).

MOMIX: Viva MOMIX
Sat, Oct 1, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

No Performances Scheduled

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Bennie Herron: Zero and One
Sep 6 through Nov 6
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

KC Dance Center: Kollywood Night 2022
Sat, Sep 24, 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.

Mike Super: Magic and Illusion
Sun, Sep 25, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.

Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Music for the Young and Youthful
Sun, Oct 2, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates; also, check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for event information.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week 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 Sep 24	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Sep 26	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Sep 27	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Wed Sep 28	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm	Bridge Club Spanish Club Mah Jongg Club Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu Sep 29	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Sep 30	9:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc.
Sat Oct 1	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Oct 3	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Oct 4	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 5	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 2:00 pm 4:00 pm	Bridge Club Mah Jongg Club Memoir and More Writing Group History Club
Thu Oct 6	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 7	9:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc.
Sat Oct 8	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

About OLLI E-News

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E-News-September-16-2022

September 23, 2022 by Ernestine Meyer

OLLI E-News September 16, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us
Loudoun Newsletter

Limb Damage to TA-2 Classroom at Tallwood, September 12 (No Harm to Personnel or Equipment); It Is Under Repair by Mason Facilities

September 16, 2022

Editor of the Week: Dave Gundry

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
OLLI Walk & Talk Club: Mason District Park
COVID Update for September 16
What are OLLI Program Planning Groups and What Do They Do?
You Can Do OLLI Program Planning!
Photo of the Month
Poet's Corner
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

Registration for the fall term 2022 continues on a space-available basis. The term begins September 19.

The Computer Club meets Saturday, September 17 (tomorrow) at 1:00 via Zoom and in person at Tallwood.

The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, September 23; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, September 20, at 6:00.

OLLI Walk & Talk Club: Mason District Park

By Marilyn Harriman and Bob Heyer, Board Members and Walk & Talk Club Coordinators

Reminder! Next Monday, September 19, we meet at 8:00 and will walk trails around OLLI Tallwood for 45 minutes. Meet at the picnic tables in the breezeway adjacent to the restroom building.

If you plan to attend, please email Marilyn ([email protected]) or Bob ([email protected]) with your “yes” so we’ll know to wait for you. If you are running late, please call one of us on our cell phones: Marilyn at 703-725-0965; Bob at 571-214-8597.

In case of rain, we will text you and reschedule the walk for Tuesday, September 20, at the same time and meeting place.

On Monday, September 12, 13 walkers had the opportunity to see Mason District Park, a beautiful park that we never realized had so many paths and facilities.

THANK YOU to Michael Nephew as a wonderful guide. Without him, we would still be lost in the woods! We walked up and down dirt paths across quaint bridges, gravel paths along the meandering stream, and then a few paved tracks across the steel bridge, enjoying the beauty of walking among many large, tall trees, fall leaves, and newly planted and protected trees!

We are so lucky to have Fairfax County keep up these parks. Along the path, we found a wonderful concrete pavilion with many in-ground benches for free concerts during the summer, six tennis courts, and a jungle-gym play area.

There is also a doggie park. At one point, at the top of a hill in the attached picture (Tony Harriman took the picture), Michael stopped to tell us where five different paths went among trees all around; someone said, “Ah, Seven Corners in the woods!”

We also noted areas were missing low growth due to deer in the area, and a few orange signs indicating hunting deer this fall. We had a great time in a beautiful forest, interrupted only by conversations among our 14 walkers.

Thanks to Michael Nephew's guidance, we did wonderfully well, enjoying a great Fairfax County park. We will do this again in Mason District Park and cover different trails.

COVID Update for September 16

By Michele Romano, Health Advisory Committee Chair

The news is good. COVID-19 is on the decline in Fairfax County. Cases per 100,000 have dropped from 262 on July 16 to 116.8 as of September 12. The infectivity rate (R0) has been < 1.0 since August 11, indicating that the disease is on the decline. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) places us in the low-risk category (Green). However, we know this could change as we get closer to the winter respiratory season; fingers crossed.

Here is what OLLI is doing to help decrease the risk:

A link is posted on the Daily Schedule with our health and safety protocols.
OLLI requires that all members and staff coming to campus be fully vaccinated.
OLLI continues to urge everyone who is at higher risk, has concerns, or feels uncomfortable, to wear a mask. Check out Chris Narbut’s mask review in the E-News (September 2) as well as the CDC website for further guidance.
Masks continue to be mandated on all OLLI and Mason group transportation.
We have excellent air filters and hand sanitizers everywhere.
The 2023 winter term (when the risk of respiratory infections is highest) will be via Zoom only.
The Health Advisory Workgroup will continue to monitor CDC, Fairfax County, and Virginia Department of Health tracking websites. If things start to change, we will notify the Board and OLLI members via email, E-News, or E-Blast asap.
Look for a variety of health-related topics and updates (both good and bad) in the E-News.

What can OLLI members do:

Stay up to date on all vaccines and boosters.
Stay current on risk, spread, and guidelines via COVID websites (see above).
If you choose to wear a mask, be sure it’s a good one.
Stay home and test if you are sick.
Stay up to date on CDC, Mason, and OLLI health and safety protocols.

We are at higher risk because of our age and the vulnerabilities that go with it (e.g., heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, weakened immune system). But we take those vulnerabilities with us wherever we go (e.g., concerts, weddings, funerals, church, air travel, graduations, babysitting, dining out). OLLI is probably one of the safest gathering venues because:

Our age group takes our health seriously.
We are all vaxxed and most are boosted.
We are conscientious and responsible; we won’t knowingly put other members at risk.
We are intelligent and capable of making the best choices for ourselves and our families.

I doubt you will find this level of precaution anywhere else. You are probably better off on an OLLI campus than anywhere else you go. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you can email me at [email protected].

What are OLLI Program Planning Groups and What Do They Do?

By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Cochair

So happy you asked! OLLI program planning groups are OLLI member volunteers responsible for reviewing and selecting course proposals each quarter. There are thirteen program planning groups, each responsible for a specific topic. You will find them listed in the Table of Contents of each OLLI catalog. The members meet regularly to brainstorm ideas for course presentations, discuss possible presenters, create courses, and contact instructors for possible future classes. In addition, each program planning group reviews course proposals submitted independently by interested persons who desire to share their expertise. Courses are discussed and confirmed by program associates who keep track of classes and determine their scheduling.

Who can join a program planning group? Anyone interested in supporting a particular course topic may join a program planning group. We rely on personal and professional contacts and the ability to encourage people to present courses at OLLI. Program planning group members often work together to create, support, or present a class; many groups now meet via Zoom.

Keep in mind that no presenter receives monetary compensation for teaching at OLLI/GMU. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each of our instructors.

For information regarding joining the Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group contact: Camille Hodges at [email protected] or Peggy O’Brien at [email protected].

For other OLLI program planning group information contact:
staff program associates: [email protected] or [email protected]. Thank you.

Editor’s note: This article appeared in the preceding issue of OLLI E-News. It is repeated here at the author’s request to encourage member participation.

You Can Do OLLI Program Planning!

By Shannon Kim Morrow, Program Associate

“That class on Synergies between Climate Change, Human Rights, and Race was great!”

“I loved the instructor who taught Black Flags and Red Lines...”

“Your friend’s class on Defeating Isis was so informative.”

“That instructor sure knows a lot about gender issues!”

“I just registered for 981Z!”

What do all these classes have in common? Well, they were taught by instructors recruited by someone at OLLI who knows them personally.

Have you loved certain OLLI classes? Are there particular kinds of classes you like or would like to see more of? Have you wondered how OLLI gets its rich assortment of diverse offerings? OLLI’s program planning groups do a fabulous job recruiting instructors and you may join any of these groups. But you don’t have to be a program planner to influence what courses get on the schedule.

Many of the instructors and topics come to OLLI because members like you ask people they know to teach at OLLI. Do you go to a vet, the doctor, church, or have friends who teach or who are in the military or government? Do you have friends or family members with special expertise, skills, hobbies, or talents? Any member may reach out to people they know or someone they meet and ask them to teach at OLLI. Potential instructors don’t have to have a teaching background or experience in lecturing. If you know someone you think would make a wonderful contribution to our program, have him or her complete the course proposal form: https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/ or email smorrow4@gmu.edu or [email protected] for more information. If you want to join a program planning group, you will be welcomed, but even if you just want to start small, you too can participate in OLLI programming!

Photo of the Month

The September 2022 Photo of the Month theme was night photography. We selected Lynne Cline's photo "Artemis-1 on the Launch Pad" which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.

-- By John Olsen and Ed Marion, Photography Club Coordinators

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Susan Bennett: a Haiku

heatwave bakes dry earth

moist breeze tickles fragrant blooms

thumping rain arrives

Note These Special Mason Music Events

By Dr. Linda Apple Monson, Director, Mason School of Music

Mason Musical Season

The fall Mason musical season opens with a celebration performance by faculty and students led by Dr. Linda Apple Monson on Sunday, September 18 at 3:00 in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.

Arts by George

Arts by George! has raised more than $2 million since it began in 2006. This annual benefit event supports student scholarships at George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. The evening begins on September 24 by showcasing the remarkable talents of Mason students amid an array of spectacular food and beverages, and culminates with a performance at 8:30 by Kristin Chenoweth. Admission: $350.

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, September 16 through September 26

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket page or the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test result for most events, except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the web page with event details.

Specific requirements are detailed and any future policy changes may be found here: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy.

Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Comedian Jay Pharoah
Fri, Sep 16, 9:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $35, $25.

Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel: American Pianistic Treasures
Sun, Sep 18, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.

Kristin Chenoweth in Concert
Sat, Sep 24, 8:30
Concert Hall
Admission: $125, $85, $65 (included with Arts by George ticket).

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

Grand Piano Celebration
Sun, Sep 18, 3:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $20, $15 senior.

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Bennie Herron: Zero and One
Sep 6 through Nov 6
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

An Evening with Norm Lewis
Sun, Sep 18, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $70, $55, $40.

KC Dance Center: Kollywood Night 2022
Sat, Sep 24, 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.

Mike Super: Magic and Illusion
Sun, Sep 25, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates; also, check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for event information.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Sep 17	10:30 am 1:00 pm	Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group
Mon Sep 19	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Sep 20	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Sep 21	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 2:00 pm	Bridge Club Mah Jongg Club Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Sep 22	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Reston Book Club Tai Chi Club
Fri Sep 23	9:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 12:00 noon	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. Photography Club
Sat Sep 24	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Sep 26	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Sep 27	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Wed Sep 28	1:45 pm 1:45 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm	Bridge Club Spanish Club Mah Jongg Club Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu Sep 29	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Sep 30	9:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc.
Sat Oct 1	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

About OLLI E-News

An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase.

OLLI E-News (Weekly Newsletter)

October 21, 2022

Alerts & Notices

October 14, 2022

Alerts & Notices

Tour of the Historic Pohick Church Explained Our Heritage

Boo! to You...and a Party, too!

Upcoming Mason Jazz Performances in October That You Will Enjoy

What Do a Dramaturg and Musical Theater Have in Common?

October 7, 2022

Alerts & Notices

September 30, 2022

Alerts and Notices

OLLI Weekly Conversations Continue – October 5: Travel

September 23, 2022

Alerts & Notices

September 16, 2022

Alerts & Notices

OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

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

OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

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