Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

OLLI E-News (Weekly Newsletter)

E-News-July-29-2022

by

OLLI E-News July 29, 2022
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Live From Korea, Well-received Series from George Mason Korea, Summer 2022
Note: Class Recordings Available on OLLI Website

July 29, 2020


Editor of the Week: John Nash
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • You should have received your catalog for fall 2022; it is available online at this link.
  • Priority registration for fall 2022 begins on August 16 at 9:00.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, August 5; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, August 2, at 6:00.

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Tallwood Book Club


 

By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator


The Tallwood Book Club will have two Zoom meetings between terms at its regularly scheduled meeting time of second Fridays at 2:30.

On August 12, we will be discussing The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. On September 9, we will discuss Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney. For each meeting, the Zoom link will be available in the OLLI Daily Schedule email for the day.

Fall is Coming. Get Ready!

 

 By John Nash, E-News Editor


Yep, fall is coming! And in the midst of the recent heat wave – with probably more to come – many of us think it can’t get here fast enough! However, we still have some glorious days of summer left that may include vacations in the mountains or at the beach. Let’s not wish too fast, huh?

During the ending of summer, we always can do some good planning for the fall. One of your top priorities will be reviewing the new OLLI fall catalog. If you didn’t receive your copy, you can always call the OLLI office at 703-503-3384 for a copy or go to the OLLI website to review a copy there. As ever, the program committee has assembled an outstanding array of topics with classes either on location or by Zoom. Fall registration is from August 15 to 24.

Another great source for activities is what you’re reading now -- the OLLI E-News. Not only will you keep up with the OLLI board activities and issues, but you will find many opportunities where your skills and services can help make a difference in the OLLI community.

You should also be reading the Arts and Music column by Shelly Gersten. This column shows all the performances at Mason Fairfax and the Hylton Theater in Manassas. Many of these performances are presented by the outstanding faculty and students at Mason and are often free.

OLLI is a community and a family. We develop friendships, we keep ourselves actively engaged, and we give ourselves “purpose.” Don’t categorize OLLI as just a few courses you’d like to take. It’s much more than that. But you have to make it happen!
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

STORM
 
It begins with a raging wind-tyrant,
Hasty, frantic, violently
Tossing leafy tempests
In defenseless swirls of agitation.
 
Then comes the battering rain,
Ascending from gentle thumps
To pounding anarchy,
Carelessly slicing greenery,
Carving random rivulets
In the muddy forest floor.
 
Only to be curtly replaced
With glistening sun-stars
Bedazzled in radiant
Luster of nature’s
Fresh calm.
                   Margie Wildblood

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Obituary: Thelma Weiner

Long-time member Thelma Weiner, who first joined OLLI in fall 1998 and was a continuing member since fall 2005, passed away on Saturday, July 23. A well-known Hollywood actress and performer in musical theater, she was a beloved presence in OLLI drama and musical events. She will be greatly missed by her many OLLI friends.

Thelma appeared in the movies, e.g., Murder at 1600 (a secretary), First Monday in October (senator’s wife), Avalon (Aunt Mollie), and an episode of Homicide. She also did numerous television commercials. She studied at the Juilliard School in New York and was a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Interment was at King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church, Virginia, following a memorial service on Tuesday, July 26.

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances July 29 through August 8


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 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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No Events Scheduled
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

No Performances Scheduled
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory and Pied Piper Theatre: Godspell
Fri, Jul 29, 7:00
Sat, Jul 30, 2:00 and 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $12.

Akeelah and the Bee
Sat, Jul 30, 3:00
Sun, Jul 31, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25, $20 senior, $12 under 12.

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

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Meetings & Clubs

Please note: 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 Jul 30 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Aug 1
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am		 What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Club
Tue Aug 2
 		  9:30 am
 4:30 pm		 Annex Art
Tai Chi Club
Thu Aug 4
 		 11:50 am
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Aug 5
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am		 Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Sat Aug 6 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Aug 8
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News?
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Aug 9
 		  9:30 am
 4:30 pm		 Annex Art
Tai Chi Club
Wed Aug 10  2:00 pm Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Aug 11
 		 11:50 am
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Aug 12


 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
11:30 am
 2:30 pm		 Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Cooking Club
Tallwood Book Club
Sat Aug 13 10:30 am Tai Chi Club

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About OLLI E-News

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

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate 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.

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E-News-July-22-2022

by

OLLI E-News July 22, 2022
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
OLLI President Lillian Brooks was Board meeting chair for in-person and Zoom attendees, July 15

July 22, 2020


Editor of the Week: Sheri Siesseger
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • In accordance with a Mason July 7 Health and Safety notice, wearing masks when inside OLLI spaces is now optional (see this link).
  • The OLLI office will be closed for summer break from Friday, July 29, reopening  Monday, August 15. 
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 29; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 26, at 6:00.

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July Board Meeting Highlights


By Gloria Loew, Secretary


The Board of Directors met on July 15. This Board is off to a great start working to help OLLI continue to have terrific programming even as COVID concerns remain.

Dr. Michele Romano is heading up a Health and Safety Advisory Group that will advise the Board on proper COVID precautions. Using reliable information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and others, she will suggest changes to OLLI procedures as necessary. Currently, OLLI has a mask-optional policy that aligns with CDC guidelines for Fairfax County, which is in the medium risk category. Members are encouraged to continue to wear masks and/or attend classes by Zoom if that makes them more comfortable. Members still need to be vaccinated to attend in-person classes. Updates to OLLI policy will be announced in the E‑News.

OLLI is exploring various fund-raising options to help support our programming. Please contact OLLI President Lillian Brooks or Executive Director Jennifer Disano if you have fund-raising expertise that can help us.

Zachary Teich is the new Chair of our Strategic Planning Committee.

Debby Mossburg’s Outreach Committee has been very active in developing tools to recruit and retain new members.

Our Special Events program planners are looking into expanding our offerings for members who are ready to get together in person. Marilyn Harriman and Luci Martel will head up a group that will plan excursions and diversions. Rita Way will make sure activities are COVID compliant.
COVID Update: July


By Michele Romano, Board Member and Healthcare Advisory Work Group Chair

If you’ve been listening to the news, you know that Omicron BA.5 is the dominant COVID variant in the U.S. right now and is really catching fire. It is highly transmissible.

However, the good news is that the vast majority of people who test positive are either asymptomatic or have typical cold symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, sinus congestion and headache, cough, body aches). This is very different from the original COVID of early 2020. Even though the present vaccines do not contain the Omicron variant, they still offer a great deal of protection. So far very few people are getting seriously ill (requiring hospitalization) or dying from BA.5. Even though the Center for Disease Control (CDC) places Fairfax and Loudoun at medium risk (masks optional), OLLI members should continue to wear masks on our campuses if they are at high risk or just feel more comfortable doing so. Please see ‘Health and Safety Protocols for OLLI Mason’ online.

I will be giving an extensive COVID‑19 Update via Zoom on Monday, Sept. 12 at 1:00 before fall term starts. Please come and bring your questions; the Zoom link will appear in the Sept. 12 OLLI daily schedule email. COVID data is moving at warp speed right now, so I suspect a lot will change by then.
Photo Club Visit to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
By John Olsen and Edward Marion
Photography Club Co-Coordinators
"As I started walking through the acres of water lilies and lotus blossoms, I had no idea of what magic lay ahead. I admired the pretty flowers blooming in countless shallow pools of water while dragonflies flitted among the blooms. The dirt paths were muddy in places after the recent rains and evoked memories of childhood long forgotten. The bright sunshine and the heat of the day drove me to a shady place under a tree. I savored the moments looking at the plants in the water and listening to birds singing nearby. I felt the mud under my shoes and felt euphoric as I wandered closer to the pools of water. I felt like a child again exploring an unknown landscape. Care and worries faded away. This was heaven."

These are impressions from Christine, one of our Photography Club members, from our July field trip. If you enjoy photography and exploring parks, museums, and neighborhoods, please consider joining the OLLI Photo Club on our field trips. Our trips are on the third Friday of the month in the morning and usually last between two to three hours, followed by congenial conversation over lunch in a local restaurant.

On the fourth Friday of the month, we share our favorite photos from the trip. Our members represent all levels of photography and a wide variety of camera gear, whether cell phone camera, point and shoot, or DSLR with a variety of lenses. We all enjoy the fun of photography, sharing our experiences and learning from one another.

We are also engaged in volunteer projects, such as providing photography to the Mason drama department and photographing the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics each September.  
We welcome new members! (Photo by Ed Marion)
Photo of the Month
The July 2022 Photo of the Month theme was monochrome. We selected Robert Kelberg's photo "The Pier" 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

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

What a Day!                        
My son, his son, and me, along for the ride, to
        a baseball game we would never win.    
It’s Little League Day at the Nationals’ Ball Park.
        Thousands of eight-to-twelve-year-olds
        Revved up for cotton candy, peanuts and…    
                a baseball thrown or hit from the playing field.              
         
Getting a baseball will consume the next two-and-a-half to three hours. A simple process.

  At the start of each half inning (top of the third, bottom of the eighth), ten or so boys rush down their respective aisles toward the field begging whatever player is warming up for the ball he’s using. Visiting players usually don’t throw their ball into a crowd unless they see a fan wearing their jersey.

It’s the bottom of the sixth. Grandson gets a head start to a prime spot at the railing. He waits and waits. An eternity for a nine-year-old. The Nat’s left fielder warms up with a teammate, then turns to chuck the ball to the boys in Grandson’s aisle.

Now the story takes a turn. The ball is in the air. Grandson thinks the player has made eye contact with him intending the ball for him. Thirteen other boys don’t see it that way. Grandson misses the tossed ball; it hits the concrete; a scrum ensues. A boy of small stature wiggles to the bottom and fetches it. Grandson can’t believe it. Running back to Dad he says, “That was my ball; he wanted me to have it.” Son gives Grandson a little hug, a few soft words and allows the disappointing cloud, with a tint of anger, to form and pass.

Grandson cools, finishes his cotton candy, and waits.
 
I imagine some 30 years from now, he will have channeled his passion for baseballs thrown from the playing field toward his own son and will have waiting soft words and a hug to help him through some “major” setback.
                                 The best part?
                                          I got to watch it all unfold.             

                                                           

                                                                             Bill Sinclair

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances, July 22 through July 30


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:

As of May 1, 2022 proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result is no longer required for events at the Center for the Arts, Harris Theatre, TheaterSpace, Hylton Performing Arts Center, and deLaski Performing Arts Building. Face coverings are recommended for indoor events at all venues. 

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No Events Scheduled
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

No Performances Scheduled
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory and Pied Piper Theatre: Godspell
Fri, Jul 29, 7:00
Sat, Jul 30, 2:00 and 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $12.

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For further details on the above event, see the  Hylton Center event calendar.

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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 Jul 23 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Jul 25
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Jul 26
 		 11:50 am
 4:30 pm		 Loudoun Non-Fiction Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jul 27
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 6:00 pm		 Memoir and More Writing Group
Theater Lovers’ Group
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Jul 28  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 29
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am		 Recorder Consort
Health Advisory Work Group
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Sat Jul 30 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Aug 1
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am		 What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Club
Tue Aug 2
 		  9:30 am
 4:30 pm		 Annex Art
Tai Chi Club
Thu Aug 4
 		 11:50 am
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Aug 5
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am		 Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Sat Aug 6 10:30 am Tai Chi Club

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About OLLI E-News

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

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate 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.

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E-News-July-15-2022

by

OLLI E-News July 15, 2022
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

The Dirty Knee Club Does Nice Work: 

Actual Photos (Not Zoom Screens!) of Tallwood Flora

(Photos by Paul Van Hemel)

July 15, 2022


Editor of the Week: David Gundry
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • In accordance with a Mason July 7 Health and Safety notice, wearing masks when inside OLLI spaces is now optional (see this link).
  • Note: The Reston-Loudoun Program Planning Meeting scheduled originally scheduled for Tuesday, July 19, has been postponed (see article below).
  • The OLLI pizza party planned for later in July has been postponed. It will be re-scheduled for a later date to be announced (e.g., in an OLLI Mason Communicator).
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 22; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 19, at 6:00.

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




By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co‑chair

 


So happy you asked! OLLI program planning groups are OLLI member volunteers responsible for reviewing and selecting course proposals each quarter. There are ten 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 on the ability to encourage people to present courses at OLLI. Program planning group members often work together to create, support, or present a class. Program planning groups are currently meeting via Zoom.

 

Keep in mind that no presenter receives monetary compensation for teaching at OLLI Mason. 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 [email protected] or Peggy O’Brien [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 two prior issues of E-News at the request of the author; it is repeated here to encourage members to participate and experience the rewards of program planning for OLLI.

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Reston-Loudoun Program Planning Group Meeting Postponed


By Barbara Wilan, Loudoun-Reston Program Planning Group Co-chair


The Reston-Loudoun Program Planning Group meeting originally planned for July 19 has been postponed. The new time and date is 10:00, Tuesday, September 13. The meeting is still planned to be located in Room 209 at Mason-in-Loudoun (21335 Signal Hill Plaza, Sterling, VA 20164, diagonally across Rte. 7 from the Potomac Run Shopping Center).

We welcome you to bring your programming ideas, as well as coffee or another drink to enjoy with doughnuts. However, the meeting is still planned to be hybrid so that those who cannot meet in person may view the meeting on Zoom.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 10:00, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 010203 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 827 2377 4249 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode. You may instead dial in at 301-715-8592.

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Share Your Life Stories with “Gen‑Z”



By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co‑chair

 


Dr. Spencer Crew is looking for a few OLLI members to work with his “History of the Family” fall course. Those of us who experienced intergenerational dialogue with his students in previous years found it personally rewarding.

 

This collaboration would require at least two meetings with two students assigned to you by Dr. Crew. If you are interested in sharing your life stories with university students during the fall 2022 (September-December) term, please contact him at the following e-mail address: [email protected]. He will respond to you with details about the class.

 

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in two prior issues of E-News; it is repeated here to encourage members to enjoy participation in an activity that your fellow members found enjoyable in a prior term.

Smart Music for Older Adults: Research Volunteer Opportunity!



By Emily Ihara, PhD, Department of Social Work Chair at Mason
 



Are you interested in how personalized music creates physiological reactions?

George Mason University is looking for adults ages 60 and above to participate in a research study called “Smart Music for Older Adults” (IRB #1904914) to explore the usage of wearable sensors in interventions using music. The aim of the research is to test wearable technology for a personalized music intervention for older adults. Participants will volunteer for about 60 minutes at a location with convenient parking, where they will listen to music while wearing a smartwatch (provided). Participants will get to listen to their favorite songs and then be interviewed by a member of the research team. The device will collect physiological measures such as heart rate and skin conductance and the research team will observe and record a video of reactions. After completion of the session, participants will be invited to participate in a 60-minute focus group to discuss their thoughts about wearable sensors. The total time to participate in this study will be no longer than 2 hours and 30 minutes.

If you or someone you know would be interested in participating, please contact Dr. Emily Ihara, Professor in the Department of Social Work, at [email protected] or [email protected] (703-993-2023) with the subject line "Smart Music.”
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

After Visiting the Zoo

Of Giant Pandas there are no maybes.
They must have Giant Panda babies.
Yet somewhere west of Peking
(Yes, I know, it's now Beijing)
Some other pandas make their homes,
But they're never sent as Sino Loans,
To places like our D.C. Zoo,
To pleasure folk like me and you!

So where are the Regular Baby Pandas
Of the very non-Giant Variety?
While not colossal extravaganzas
We bet they'd be Huge in D.C. society…

                    Mike Mc Namara

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances July 15 through July 25


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.

Back to Top of Page
At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No Events Scheduled
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

No Performances Scheduled

Back to Top of Page
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory and Pied Piper Theatre: Disney’s Moana JR
Fri, Jul 15, 7:00
Sat, Jul 16, 2:00 and 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $12.

Prince William Little Theater and Manassas Symphony Orchestra: The Sound of Music
Fri, Jul 15, 7:00
Sat, Jul 16, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adult, $25; senior and military, $20; under 12, $15.

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

Back to Top of Page

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: 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 Jul 16
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jul 18
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am		 Bridge Club
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Jul 19
 		  4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Thu Jul 21  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 22
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
Sat Jul 23 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Jul 25
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Jul 26
 		 11:50 am
 4:30 pm		 Loudoun Non-Fiction Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jul 27
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 6:00 pm		 Memoir and More Writing Group
Theater Lovers’ Group
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Jul 28  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 29
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am		 Recorder Consort
Health Advisory Work Group
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Sat Jul 30 10:30 am Tai Chi Club

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About OLLI E-News

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

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate 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.

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E-News-July-8-2022

by

OLLI E-News July 8, 2022
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
James Walkinshaw, Fairfax County Braddock District Supervisor, Spoke on Local Government, Including Strategic Plan Goals Supporting Lifelong Learning

July 8, 2022


Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Board of Directors meeting Friday, July 15, 10:00. All members welcome; Zoom meeting link will appear in the OLLI Daily Schedule email for July 15.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 15; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 12, at 6:00.

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Behind the Scenes in OLLI Zoom Classes


By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co‑chair
 
Ever wonder who those wonderful people are that “Allow” you to log in and “Admit” you to your OLLI Zoom classes? This technologically-astute group is equipped with a myriad of skill categories needed to support successful Zoom interaction. Each of them has been providing us with the ability to log in to see and hear our OLLI presenters since the coronavirus forced everyone to change their “in-person” habit of attending. They did not skip a beat. In addition to their own duties, they also provide guidance to presenters unfamiliar with the newly required technology for “Zoom only” as well as hybrid classes. Some of them were part of the tech support group even before Covid.
 
We are grateful for this tech-savvy group consisting of: Meg Przybylski, Mike Emery, Brenton Abrams, Irina Irchai, Richard Hoback, Nick Wenri, Bill Walsh, and Julija Pivo (who recently left the OLLI family due to her acceptance of a Fulbright Study Award). Be sure to thank them as you log off or leave your next OLLI class and commend them for remaining calm during challenging presentation quirks.

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Loudoun and Reston Program Planning Group Meeting


By Barbara Wilan, Loudoun-Reston Program Planning Group Co-chair
 


Please join us for our first live program planning meeting in over two years! Bring your coffee or another drink to enjoy with doughnuts and bring your programming ideas. Here are the details for this hybrid meeting:

  • Date and Time: July 19, 10:00-11:45 Eastern Time (US and Canada)
  • Location: Mason-in-Loudoun, Room 209.

Mason-in-Loudoun is located at 21335 Signal Hill Plaza, Sterling, VA 20164, diagonally across Rte. 7 from the Potomac Run Shopping Center.

This will be a hybrid meeting so that those who cannot meet in person may view the meeting on Zoom.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 10:00, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 010203 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 827 2377 4249 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode. You may instead dial in at 301-715-8592.

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What are OLLI Program Planning Groups and What do they Do?

By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co‑chair


So happy you asked! OLLI program planning groups are OLLI member volunteers responsible for reviewing and selecting course proposals each quarter. There are ten 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 on the ability to encourage people to present courses at OLLI. Program planning group members often work together to create, support, or present a class. Program planning groups are currently meeting via Zoom.
 
Keep in mind that no presenter receives monetary compensation for teaching at OLLI Mason. 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 [email protected] or Peggy O’Brien   [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 last issue of E-News; it is repeated here to encourage members to participate in program planning.

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Share Your Life Stories with “Gen‑Z”


By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co‑chair
 
Dr. Spencer Crew is looking for a few OLLI members to work with his “History of the Family” fall course. Those of us who experienced intergenerational dialogue with his students in previous years found it personally rewarding.
 
This collaboration would require at least two meetings with two students assigned to you by Dr. Crew. If you are interested in sharing your life stories with university students during the fall 2022 (September-December) term, please contact him at the following e-mail address: [email protected]. He will respond to you with details about the class.
 
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the last issue of E-News; it is repeated here to encourage members to enjoy participation.

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Computer Club
3rd Saturday, July 16 In Person and Via Zoom
Impact of Technology on Civil War Intelligence:
From Aerial Reconnaissance to Cryptology  
Learn in 30: Make a Mix Tape with Audacity

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, July 16, in person and via Zoom. You must observe OLLI/GMU Health protocols (see this link). Program activities begin at 1:00; the Zoom session usually opens at 12:45.
 
Impact of Technology on Civil War Intelligence: From Aerial Reconnaissance to Cryptology – Presented by Jim Anderson
 
At the outset of the Civil War, neither side had any organized intelligence structure. The two warring governments quickly recognized the importance of creating effective intelligence capabilities. The efforts included tradecraft techniques such as disguise, deception, and covert surveillance. The two sides also experimented with technologies (e.g., telegraphy, cryptology, and aerial reconnaissance). We will examine the various technical means used by Washington and Richmond to exploit tactical and strategic information to influence events on the battlefield.
Jim Anderson spent 3 years as an Air Force Officer and 27 years with the CIA, which included six overseas tours in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East. Since 2009, he has spoken frequently at OLLI on Civil War and American Frontier topics.
 
Learn in 30: Make a Mix Tape with Audacity – Presented by John Krout
 
Learn how to create audio segues, where the end of a song overlaps the beginning of the next song, for a seamless "mix tape" audio result. You will see and hear how to do this using the free Audacity software for Windows/Mac/Linux and your personal music collection.
John Krout is a regular presenter at our meetings a prolific author of articles appearing in 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 816743 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 823 0941 3026 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode.

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Do I Really Need a Corn Kernel Stripper?
                                                  
Declutter, the magazine article shrieks
accosting seniors at least once a week;
give it away, get rid of it, the authors advise
don't leave your offspring a nasty surprise;
vow to clean up this week, month or year
excuses won't make your junk disappear
Let yourself know that enough is enough,
you simply don't need to be hoarding this stuff.
 
Okay, I get it, now I can see
that those articles are intended for me;
I'm ready to begin the job;
and prove to you that I'm no slob.
 
I first tackle my crowded kitchen,
three stuffed drawers that I've been itchin'
to organize; before a minute is up I mutter,
"What in heavens name is that...an avocado cutter?"
Three fancy gifted garlic presses
are the kinds of things that create messes,
a pineapple ringer, a honey dipper,
a melon baller, a kale and herb stripper,
turkey forks, a crooked egg slicer,
corn ear holders, a potato ricer
broken tea cozies, graters big and small,
wine bottle stoppers, maybe two dozen in all,
brushes for basting
spoons made for tasting
seven colorful tongs
a miniature dinner gong
barbecue skewers, both steel and bamboo
a cracked glass juicer held together with glue
decorative cutters for vegetable trays
relics from long-gone party days.
 
Two wasted hours have gone down the tubes
pawing through junk I no longer use
now piled so precariously close to the sink
I can't even pour me a much-needed drink
I must find a cardboard box I can fill
and store on a shelf labeled "DONATIONS GOODWILL."
                                                                – Sandy Myles

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances July 8 through July 18


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. Face coverings continue to be required at all events. 

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No Events Scheduled
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

No Performances Scheduled

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory and Pied Piper Theatre: Disney’s Moana JR
Fri, Jul 15, 7:00
Sat, Jul 16, 2:00 and 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $12.

Prince William Little Theater and Manassas Symphony Orchestra: The Sound of Music
Fri, Jul 15, 7:00
Sat, Jul 16, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adult, $30; senior and military, $24; child $19.

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

Back to Top of Page

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: 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 Jul 9 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Jul 11
 		 10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 Spanish Club
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Jul 12  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Wed Jul 13  2:00 pm Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Jul 14  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 15
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am		 Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Homer, etc.
Sat Jul 16
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jul 18
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am		 Bridge Club
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Jul 19
 
 		 10:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Reston/Loudoun Program Planning Group
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Thu Jul 21  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 22
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
Sat Jul 23 10:30 am Tai Chi Club

Back to Top of Page
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.

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E-News-July-1-2022

by

OLLI E-News July 1, 2022
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
Dr. Lee De Cola Analyzed Six Series of Data Starting 1950 and Before, Seeking Patterns (e.g., Growth Acceleration) that May Offer Insight into Climate Change and Other Challenges; Winter Term 2022

July 1, 2022


Editor of the Week: John Nash
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 8; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 5, at 6:00.

The OLLI office will be closed and no OLLI classes are scheduled on Monday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday.

Back to Top of Page

What are OLLI Program Planning Groups
and What do they Do?



By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co‑chair
 
I'm so happy you asked! The OLLI program planning groups are OLLI member volunteers responsible for reviewing and selecting course proposals each quarter. There are ten 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 on the ability to encourage people to present courses at OLLI. Program planning group members often work together to create, support, or present a class. Program planning groups are currently meeting via Zoom.
 
Keep in mind that no presenter receives monetary compensation for teaching at OLLI Mason. 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 [email protected] or Peggy O’Brien   [email protected].
 
For other OLLI program planning group information contact staff program associates: [email protected] or [email protected]. Thank you.
Another Successful Community Outreach Program
By Dan Feighery, Photography Club Member, and Edward Marion, Photography Club Co-Coordinator
On June 22, three OLLI Photography Club members installed an extensive display of Senior Olympics photographs taken by club members at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington. Shown in the photo at the left is facility manager Teresa Taylor with Photography Club coordinators Ed Marion and John Olsen in front of one of two arrays of photographs mounted at the center.

Why do we find sports photography so appealing? It's the anticipation of capturing that single fleeting moment in the action when a bat connects with a ball, or while a person soars through the air performing the running long jump, and in recording their determination to succeed in the heat of the action.

The OLLI Photography Club welcomes persons who either have an interest in sports, or who desire to improve and build upon their photography skills, to join us when we photograph upcoming Northern Virginia Senior Olympics events scheduled between September 10 - 24. If you would like to join us, contact Photography Club coordinators John Olsen ([email protected]) or Ed Marion ([email protected]). Additional information can be found at the club’s website https://olli.gmu.edu/photography-club-overview/ and the information site for the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics https://nvso.us/.

Club Outreach Part 2: On June 28, one of us (Ed Marion) and club member George Bradshaw installed an exhibit of more Senior Olympics photos taken by the Photography Club at Oak Marr Recreation Center in Oakton (illustration below). Special thanks to Megan Baker, Oak Marr manager, for graciously supporting us.
 

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Tallwood Book Club July Meeting

 

By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator


The Tallwood Book Club will hold its July Zoom meeting on July 8 at 2:30. The July book for discussion is Susan, Nina, Linda and Cokie by Janet Napoli.
 
The August selection is The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi.

Share Your Life Stories with “Gen‑Z”



By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co‑Chair
 
Dr. Spencer Crew is looking for a few OLLI members to work with his “History of the Family” fall course. Those of us who experienced intergenerational dialogue with his students in previous years found it personally rewarding.
 
This collaboration would require at least two meetings with two students assigned to you by Dr. Crew. If you are interested in sharing your life stories with university students during the fall 2022 (September-December) term, please contact him at the following e-mail address: [email protected]. He will respond to you with details about the class.
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

A Bridge of Sighs Cannot Span
An Ocean of Despair
 
Jack Underhill

"…Looking at a dogwood does not make you
a blossom.  Nor can a bridge of sighs span an
ocean of despair. For that, you need oars." Devon Balwit
 
Over a million Americans
Have died of a mysterious virus
In the past two years—
more than died in the tragedy of
World War II.
 
Many elderly have been walled
Off from their children and grandchildren
Losing the loving touch of
Those they love.
 
Perhaps one in four has a friend
Or relative who was sick or has passed
And millions face depression.
 
It is not the young and vigorous
Who are gone, but the sick
And the old are most vulnerable.
The people of color in tough neighborhoods
Those America forgot 
And who have borne the brunt of poverty
And homelessness.
 
A bridge of sighs cannot span an ocean of despair.
Rather we must put our faith in a
Renewed commitment to become
The people that we could be.
 
We can attack poverty, loneliness, and inequality
And restore a sense of purpose as a nation
So that more, not just the few, can
Share the American dream.
 

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances July 1 through July 11


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. Face coverings continue to be required at all events. 

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.

Back to Top of Page
At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No Events Scheduled
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

No Events Scheduled

Back to Top of Page
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Mason 50th FilmFest: A League of Their Own (1992)
Fri, Jul 1, 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Free.

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

Back to Top of Page

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: 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 Jul 2  10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Jul 4 Holiday OLLI Office Closed
Tue Jul 5
 		  4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Thu Jul 7  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 8
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
 2:30 pm		 Recorder Consort
Photography Club
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Cooking Club
Tallwood Book Club
Sat Jul 9 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Jul 11
 		 10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 Spanish Club
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Jul 12  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Wed Jul 13  2:00 pm Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Jul 14  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 15
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am		 Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Homer, etc.
Sat Jul 16
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group

Back to Top of Page
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.

Back to Top of Page




E-News-June-24-2022

by

OLLI E-News June 24, 2022
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
Board of Directors Meeting, June 17

June 24, 2022


Editor of the Week: Sheri Siesseger
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • OLLI Personal Computer User Group will hold a special meeting Saturday, June 25 (tomorrow) at 1:00; for detailed information, see article below.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 1; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 28, at 6:00.

Back to Top of Page
June Board Meeting Highlights


By Gloria Loew, Secretary


The OLLI Board of Directors met on Friday, June 17. Officers elected for the upcoming year are: President Lillian Brooks, Vice President Mel Russell, Treasurer David Osterman, and Secretary Gloria Loew. A resolution was passed giving all officers authority to sign checks for OLLI.
 
The Board discussed OLLI plans to encourage more in-person meetings while continuing to provide capacity for virtual meetings through the hybrid component (e.g., using the technology capability installed in TA‑1). The July Board meeting is planned to be in-person with hybrid availability. Discussion also addressed enhancing the strategic plan to incorporate more efforts to recruit and retain new members.
Members with Healthcare Experience Needed

By Michele Romano, Board Member and Healthcare Advisory Work Group Chair


I am a retired physician and member of our OLLI Board of Directors. We are forming a Healthcare Advisory Work Group to help OLLI navigate the safety protocols for Covid-19 on our campus. Because most of us are seniors, we are in a higher risk category. The purpose of the work group will be to follow the science on an ongoing basis and make recommendations based on same. I will be chairing the work group which has also been dubbed CCIC (Cookies and Coffee in the Classroom). I’m looking for roughly five to ten members with healthcare backgrounds as well as non-healthcare members that I can call on for advice, input, and ideas along the way. This will be an ongoing workgroup. We will look at Covid-19 mitigation strategies and also monitor new and emerging diseases that have the potential to explode down the road (e.g., monkeypox, bird flu, seasonal flu variants). Please email me at [email protected]. I would be delighted to discuss this opportunity with you.

Thank you.
Special Joint Meeting—WAP, OPCUG, PATACS
June 25, 10:00-12:30, In Person and Via Zoom
Tech Journalist Rob Pegoraro
By Paul Howard, OPCUG Program Chair
It has been a long time, but you can finally heckle Rob Pegoraro in person. The freelance technology journalist (and former Washington Post columnist) will speak at the June 25 joint meeting of Washington Apple Pi, the OLLI PC User Group, and the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society. His topics will be recent developments in digital privacy, the prospects for new federal regulations governing the tech industry, and the state of wireless broadband in the US. For those of you who attend in person, Rob will bring at least one backpack’s worth of tech-event swag to give away. If you’ve gotten into the habit of backing creative types on Patreon, please have a look at Rob’s Patreon Page: 
https://www.patreon.com/robpegoraro/
 
Please click here for in-person meeting requirements.
 
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 10:00, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 816743 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 823 0941 3026 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode.
Outreach Committee Meeting
By Debby Mossburg, Outreach Committee Chair
Help us Spread the Word! Outreach Committee Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, June 28, 4:00.
Looking for a way to use your personal and professional skills to help OLLI? The Outreach Committee needs you! We welcome anyone interested in helping us to spread the word about this amazing learning community, but we especially need people with:
  • A background in journalism and/or a love of writing
  • Marketing and/or advertising experience
  • An interest in increasing the diversity of our membership
  • An enthusiasm for spreading the word about OLLI
Many of the benefits we enjoy as OLLI members are only possible with a robust membership. Joining our Outreach Committee is one way to help make sure we maintain one. Please contact Debby Mossburg at [email protected] if you want to be part of the solution or join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, June 28, at 4:00.
To join the Zoom meeting (Meeting ID: 891 7073 2027; Passcode: 766055), click this link. The link will also appear in the OLLI Daily Schedule email for June 28.
 
(Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the last E‑News; it is repeated here to encourage interest and participation.)
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

The Wordle Hurdle                                                           
 
So simple. So fun. So obsessive.
Is there anyone on the planet
Who has not discovered the joy,
Er, frustration, of Wordle? Designed
For introverts who tend toward obsessive/
Compulsive, its practice quickly becomes addictive.
 
Think of a five-letter word
Made up of frequently-occurring letters
In American English: I’ll try ‘trace,’
Which quickly deteriorates into only one
Correct letter, and that in the wrong square.
My chances of solving today’s in two steps
Fade quickly; I manage it in four.
 
Hardly bragging rights,
But stats leap to tell me
It’s my most frequent score.
                       jan bohall

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Obituary: Helen Anderson

Helen Anderson, a former OLLI member, died February 12, 2022, at the age of 83. She joined OLLI in the fall of 2004 and remained a member for more than ten years. She received a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Lawrence University.

Helen enjoyed music, theater, and all things Irish. She loved travel, and was able to visit Ireland, the Holy Land, Australia, and to take a cruise to Alaska. She married Warren H. Anderson in 1960 and lived in a dozen places, including Germany and Belgium, during his Army career.

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances June 24 through July 4


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. Face coverings continue to be required at all events. 

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No Events Scheduled
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

Mason Jazz Camp Student Concert
Fri, Jun 24, 2:00
Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Admission: Free.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Paul Anka in Concert
Sat, Jun 25, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $100, $80, $60.

PowerWorx Dance: Pump Up the Power
Sun, Jun 26, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.

Mason 50th FilmFest: A League of Their Own (1992)
Fri, Jul 1, 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Free.

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

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Meetings & Clubs

Please note: 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 Jun 25
 		 10:00 am
10:30 am		 Personal Computer User Group Special Session
Tai Chi Club
Mon Jun 27
 
 
 		  9:20 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News?
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Jun 28  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Wed Jun 29
 		  2:00 pm
 6:00 pm		 Memoir and More Writing Group
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Jun 30  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 1
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am		 Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Sat Jul 2 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Jul 4 Holiday OLLI Office Closed
Tue Jul 5
 		  4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Thu Jul 7  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 8
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
 2:30 pm		 Recorder Consort
Photography Club
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Cooking Club
Tallwood Book Club
Sat Jul 9 10:30 am Tai Chi Club

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About OLLI E-News

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

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate 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.

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OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

4210 Roberts Rd. Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
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Email: [email protected]

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