Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

OLLI E-News (Weekly Newsletter)

E-News-June-4-2021

by

OLLI E-News June 4, 2021
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

OLLI Players: Younger than Spring, and Spring Has Sprung, May 2021.

June 4, 2021


Editor of the Week: Sheri Siesseger 
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Priority registration for the summer term ended June 1, but registration continues on a space-available basis. The online catalog is available at this link.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 18. Submissions are due by 6:00 pm, Tuesday, June 15.

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From the Desk of the Executive Director: 
OLLI’s 30-Year Anniversary Teacher-Appreciation Event


By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director


Our annual OLLI Mason teacher-appreciation event (via Zoom) occurred on May 26 during this 30th anniversary of our institute’s founding. The event included remarks by OLLI President Paul Howard and Kathryn Russell of our Program Committee. Also speaking were special guests and OLLI instructors Dr. Peter Stearns, Mason University Professor/Provost Emeritus; John Rybicki, retired pastoral associate at the Riderwood retirement community in Maryland; Ben Gold, long-time docent at the US Supreme Court; and Dr. Linda Apple Monson, Director of Mason’s School of Music.

Dr. Stearns presented a great lecture on the history of pets, and Dr. Monson gave a wonderful piano performance. Fortunately, this event was recorded, and I encourage you to click on this link to share in appreciating OLLI’s terrific volunteer instructors and to enjoy the remarks and presentations by our special guests. You will be glad you did!
Fun Facts for OLLI’s 30-Year Anniversary


By Ray Beery, OLLI Member and Former President


In 2021, OLLI celebrates its 30th year of classes for seniors. This feature provides fun facts and interesting milestones about our institute each week that E-News is published throughout the year.

June 4
The open house on September 5, 1996, was held in “the most awful weather imaginable” due to Hurricane Fran. The electricity went on and off, but 100 people attended, and 11 were interested in joining the Learning in Retirement Institute (LRI). (LRI News Oct 96)

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Summary of Special OLLI Board of Directors Meeting, May 21


By Marguerite Johnson, Secretary


A special meeting of the OLLI Board of Directors was held May 21, 2021, to review and approve the replacement of the OLLI Board Handbook with the OLLI Policies and Procedures Manual.

Resolution 210521-01 "Resolved, that the Board approve the replacement of the OLLI Handbook with the OLLI Policies and Procedures Manual" passed with a unanimous vote.

Governance Committee chair Lillian Brooks stated that the Policies and Procedures Manual is the bedrock of the organization as it explains who we are and how we operate. This new document is more readable and up to date. Procedures that were unclear or missing have been added. President Paul Howard thanked Lillian and her team including Peter Ansoff, Janet Geffner, and Dick Crawford for all their hard work over the past 15 months.

The new Policies and Procedures Manual can be found on the OLLI website under Main Menu – Documents.
Loudoun and Reston Program Planning Groups to Meet June 8 and June 15
By Shannon Morrow, Program Associate
All OLLI members are welcome to join us for the next Loudoun Program Planning Group meeting on Tuesday, June 8, at 10:00. No experience necessary; we would love to have your ideas. Click this link to join the Zoom meeting on June 8 (meeting ID: 830 4090 2833; passcode 645321). Or dial in at 301-715-8592.

Please also join us on Tuesday, June 15 at 10:00 for the next Reston Program Planning Group meeting. Click here to join the Zoom meeting on June 15 (meeting ID: 846 5570 5699; passcode: 246810). Or dial in at 301-715-8592. Again, your ideas are encouraged.

Thank you.
Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group to Meet June 10
By Michele Romano, M.D., Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Co-chair
The Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group will meet on Thursday, June 10, at 4:00 via Zoom. Please come with your thoughts and ideas for future courses and hear what is in the works for upcoming terms. If you are not presently a member and would like to join the group, we would love to have you. Please email me at [email protected] and we will add you to the list. The Zoom link will be sent in a separate email, and it will also appear in the daily schedule email for June 10. We look forward to seeing you. 

Computer Club to Meet June 19

3rd Saturday, June 19 via Zoom
The History of Technology: From Fire to Fiber Optic
A Space to Work In—or Two or Three
By Paul Howard, OPCUG Program Chair

The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, June 19 at 1:00 via Zoom.

The History of Technology – Presented by Ray Van Dyke. From humankind’s earliest days, tools were key to survival. From the first days, technology has driven us to new heights, and many cultures have shared in this endeavor. This lecture will explore many of these contributions and showcase the acceleration of technological innovation. Contributions of the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and others, through to the critical revolutions of today, will all be discussed in a lively format, placing various inventors in their times.

Ray Van Dyke is an intellectual property/patent practitioner and educator in the Washington area.

Learn in 30: A Space to Work In—or Two or Three – Presented by Tom Gutnick. There's a great productivity feature that seems to be a secret, whether you're working with Windows, MacOS, or Linux. If you only ever do one thing at a time on your computer, you can skip this, but if you're frequently juggling lots of open windows for various projects, here's a way to work more effectively. Virtual desktops (also called spaces or workspaces or virtual displays) allow you to organize related windows into independent compartments, with a few clicks or keystrokes. Tom will show what it can do for you and how to set it up.
 
PATACS member Tom Gutnick is the owner of Sunny Banana IT Consulting—Technology without the Turmoil, and is an instructor at NOVA Community College. 
 
See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 for 2021—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

Attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 1:00. Please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 794756, or enter meeting ID 948 9296 8399 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode.
Photography Club to Meet June 11
   
By John Olsen and Edward Marion,
Photography Club Coordinators
Marie Joabar will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Photography Club, starting at 9:30 Friday, June 11. She will present tips and techniques for capturing the moon, snow scenes, waterfalls, and fireworks displays.

Marie has been immersed in photography and photography education for more than 20 years and is passionate about sharing her knowledge about photography, cameras, and digital technology with others. She finds just the right way to take complicated concepts and explain them in a logical, easy-to-understand way.

Marie founded Capital Photography Center in January 2012 to offer a range of photography classes taught by professional photographers and photographic educators.
 
In addition to running her business and teaching, Marie finds time to enjoy her own photography. Among her favorite subjects are people, both candid and posed; and country and city landscapes. Her work can be viewed on her website at www.mariejoabar.com.

Originally from Michigan, Marie has lived in Alexandria, Virginia, for the past 30+ years with her husband. 

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Tallwood Book Club to Meet June 11


By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator


The Tallwood Book Club will meet on the second Fridays during the summer months and throughout the fall.
 
The selection for discussion on June 11 is The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. The July selection for discussion is Hamnet by Maggie O'Ferrell.
 
The meetings are from 2:30 until 4:00 via Zoom. Consult the emailed daily OLLI schedule for the meeting link and information.
Can You Help the Development Committee Find Grants?


By Angela Talaber, Development Committee Co-chair


The OLLI Development Committee recently met to plan a strategy for obtaining funds to help OLLI realize a hybrid program that will carry us into the future. One option is for OLLI to apply for grants from community-oriented partners.
 
Grants are highly competitive and, as such, much time and preparation is required to find grant opportunities, plan a project, and then develop a proposal. I am hoping that in our diverse membership there are members who have had grant experience and would be willing to assist OLLI in this effort. If you are that person, please contact Angie Talaber at [email protected].

Thank you.
Share Your Family History with Mason Students!

By Camille Hodges, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Current Events Program Planning Group Co-Chair
 

We are happy to welcome Dr. Spencer Crew back to the Mason campus following his leave of absence working as the Interim Head of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). He is currently looking for 10 OLLI members to participate in his fall 2021 course, “History of the Family.” This will involve being interviewed by Mason students in his course, which will be in session from September to December. OLLI members who previously participated in this intergenerational exchange described sharing their family history with Mason students as a personally rewarding experience. The class is currently scheduled to meet virtually on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-11:45. However, you will not be required to meet with students every week.
 
If you are interested in participating or want more details, please contact Dr. Crew at [email protected].
Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop
Puzzled Light
    by Lydia Lewis
 
My mind is a puzzle box with
drilled holes lovingly spaced in
artful random order.
 
At times inner light shines forth
and casts a brilliant illuminating
sense of wonder.
 
In other hours there is only shadow
and I grope for pieces of flint and
steel to ignite the divine spark.
 
Most days a half light shines
leaving me to puzzle whether or
not to just accept this twilight.
Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances, June 4 through June 24


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


 
Virtual Performances
Although Mason’s campus is shut down, online entertainment continues for us to access and enjoy. 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 send an email to Brianna Schoen at [email protected]. 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 events scheduled. All events in Fairfax are postponed until the end of September.
 
Mason Student & Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

Lunchtime with The Arts at Mason: Mason Faculty Brass Ensemble 
Reston Town Square Park
Thu, June 10, 12:30
Admission: Free.
 
Lunchtime with The Arts at Mason: Mason Cabaret
Reston Town Square Park
Thu, June 17, 12:30
Admission: Free.
 
Lunchtime with The Arts at Mason: Mason Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble
Reston Town Square Park
Thu, June 24, 12:30
Admission: Free.
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Hylton on the Hill: Lua Project
Sat, Jun 5, 4:00
Pre-function: Beacon Hall Lobby
Admission: $25.
 
Boyle School of Irish Dance: Spring Recital
Sun, Jun 6, 11:30, 2:00, and 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.
 
Hylton on the Hill: The Rock-A-Sonics
Sat, Jun 12, 4:00
Pre-function: Beacon Hall Lobby
Admission: $25.
 
Virginia National Ballet: Spring Recital
Sun, Jun 13, 12:00 and 3:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35.
 
The Ballet Arts Ensemble of Fairfax
Tue, Jun 15, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: call box office at 703-993-7759.
 
Hylton at Home: Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra
Thu, Jun 17, 7:15
Hylton Center Facebook page, and YouTube channel.
 
Virginia Dance Center: Dancing in Wonderland
Sat, Jun 19, 11:00 and 3:30
Sun, Jun 20, 11:00 and 3:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20.
For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.
Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised 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 Jun 5 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Jun 7
 
 		  8:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am		 Gentle Yoga Club
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Club
Tue Jun 8
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
 4:30 pm		 Annex Art
Loudoun Program Planning Group Meeting
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jun 9
 		 10:30 am
 2:00 pm		 Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Finance Committee Meeting
Thu Jun 10


 
 		  9:30 am
11:50 am
 4:00 pm

 4:30 pm		 Coffee Klatch
All the News
Science, Technology & Health Program Planning Group Meeting
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jun 11
 

 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am		 Photography Club
Craft and Conversation
Homer, Etc.
Cooking Club
Sat Jun 12 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon Jun 14
 		  8:30 am
 9:30 am		 Gentle Yoga Club
What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Jun 15
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
 4:30 pm		 Annex Art
Reston Program Planning Group Meeting
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jun 16
 
 		 10:00 am
10:30 am
 2:00 pm		 Mah Jongg Club
Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Jun 17
 

 		 10:00 am

11:50 am
 4:30 pm		 Humanities, Social Sciences, & Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jun 18
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am		 Craft and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Homer, Etc.
Sat Jun 19
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group

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About OLLI E-News

Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Roz Stark, 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.

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E-News-May-21-2021

by

OLLI E-News May 21, 2021
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
Toni Acton Hosts Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee Klatch, May 14 – Topics: Post-Pandemic OLLI; Class Recordings; Tallwood Construction

May 21, 2021


Editor of the Week: David Gundry
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • The E-News that was distributed last week showed an incorrect date at the top for the date of the issue; the correct date was May 14, 2021.
  • Voting in the Board of Directors election ends at noon today, May 21; you should have received a ballot in an email with subject “2021 OLLI Ballot for Board of Directors.”
  • Priority registration for the summer term begins May 24 and continues through June 1. The online catalog is available at this link.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 4; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 1, at 6:00.
Fun Facts for OLLI’s 30-Year Anniversary


By Ray Beery, OLLI Member and Former President


In 2021, OLLI celebrates its 30th year of classes for seniors. This feature provides fun facts and interesting milestones about our institute each week that E-News is published throughout the year.

May 21
Learning in Retirement Institute (LRI) held a five-year celebration party on April 13, 1996 at The Virginian retirement community in Fairfax.

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OLLI ChatLine Topic for Next Week


By Doris Bloch, Program Committee Co-chair



Talk with OLLI friends at any time on this 24-7 open ChatLine. Arrange a time to meet friends online or drop in for an organized discussion. We have scheduled one specific time and topic for a chat this week:
  • Monday, May 24, 4:30-5:30—Topic: Genealogy. Do you know where your ancestors were born?

Look for links to this and any future ChatLine events in your inbox as part of the daily schedule email. Have feedback or an idea on a time/topic? Click here to email Doris Bloch.

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Photo of the Month



The May 2021 Photo of the Month theme was Trees. We selected Robert Kelberg/Gertrude Sherman's photo "Trees 4-21-01," which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.

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

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

(haiku based on T. S. Eliot’s poem, The Family Reunion)

the nighttime ambush
lies beyond the tight lipped smile
of a cold blue moon
                       Tony Rounds

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Obituary: Richard Pelszynski

Richard Pelszynski of Fairfax Station, VA, died May 2, 2021. He was a current OLLI member, as is his wife, Patricia. He graduated from Ohio State University and was commissioned in the US Navy. He received an MBA in management and marketing from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. He was interred at Quantico National Cemetery on May 14.

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances, May 21 through June 7


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


 
Virtual Performances
Although Mason’s campus is shut down, online entertainment continues for us to access and enjoy. 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 send an email to Brianna Schoen at [email protected]. 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

Mason School of Theater: Luther's Trumpet
Fri, May 28, 8:00
Virtual Event – Professional cast supported by Mason students
REGISTER
Mason Student & Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
No performances scheduled
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Powerworx Dance: Finding power Through Dance
Sat, May 22, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.

Manassas Ballet Theatre Artist Chat: Giselle
Tue, May 25, 7:15
Free Virtual Event

Seán Heely Celtic Band
Sat, May 29, 4:00
Hylton on the Hill
Admission: $25, Buy Tickets

Manassas Ballet Theatre: Giselle (Streaming)
Sun, May 29, 7:30
Admission: $25 (30-day streaming period) at Manassas Ballet Theatre’s online ticket platform
 
For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.
Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised 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 May 22 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon May 24
 
 
 		  8:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am
 4:30 pm		 Gentle Yoga Club
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Club
Chatline: Genealogy
Tue May 25
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
 4:30 pm		 Annex Art
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed May 26
 		 10:30 am
 4:00 pm		 Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu May 27
 
 		 11:50 am
12:15 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Special Events Program Planning Group
Tai Chi Club
Fri May 28
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Craft and Conversation
Homer, Etc.
Photography Club
Sat May 29 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
     
Tue Jun 1
 		  9:30 am
 4:30 pm		 Annex Art
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jun 2
 
 		 10:30 am
 2:00 pm
 6:00 pm		 Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Jun 3
 		 11:50 am
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jun 4
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am		 Craft and Conversation
Homer, Etc.
Sat Jun 5 10:30 am Tai Chi Club

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About OLLI E-News

Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Roz Stark, 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.

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E-News-May-14-2021

by

OLLI E-News May 14, 2021
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Annual Meeting and Presentation of Board Candidates, May 7

May 14, 2021


Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • OLLI Personal Computer User Group (OPCUG) meets via Zoom May 15 (tomorrow) at 1:00; details available at this link.
  • Voting continues in the Board of Directors election, which runs until May 21; you should have received a ballot in an email with subject “2021 OLLI Ballot for Board of Directors.”
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 21; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 18, at 6:00.

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Fun Facts for OLLI’s 30-Year Anniversary


By Ray Beery, OLLI Member and Former President


In 2021, OLLI celebrates its 30th year of classes for seniors. This feature provides fun facts and interesting milestones about our institute each week that E-News is published throughout the year.

May 14
A compilation of Learning in Retirement Institute (LRI) poetry was published in March 1996; printing was subsidized by LRI; booklets were sold at $2.50 each. Poems dated back to the first Poetry Workshop in spring 1991. Later, Poets of Tallwood was published in 2008 and Poets of OLLI in 2012.

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Summer Literature Course (F403) Book Change and Film Addition


By Shannon Morrow, Program Associate


There are two changes to Ellen Moody’s summer course, F403, Post-Colonialism and the Novel; the changes are reflected in the course registration in the member portal. One change substitutes a book of short stories, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's East into Upper East, for her older novel, A Backward Glance. The second change is the addition of a second film that the class will view: Mira Nair's 1993 The Namesake. Everything else stays the same:

F403 Post-Colonialism and the Novel
Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, June 23–July 28
Instructor: Ellen Moody
Class limit: 40
In this course we will explore identity and gender politics, colonialism, emigration, and slavery in three books: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s East into Upper East, Caryl Philips’s Crossing the River, and Jane Mander’s The Story of a New Zealand River. We will look at how people are affected by history, law and custom, violence, cultures, economic and geographical circumstances, as well as the sheer need for survival. The class will see/discuss Mira Nair's 1993 film The Namesake & Jane Campion’s 1993 film, The Piano.
Ellen Moody taught in senior colleges until 2012 and for eight years at two OLLIs. She is a published scholar, with specialties in the 18th through 20th centuries, with a special love of historical and political novels.

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Reston Book Club
By Nancy Scheeler and Luci Martel,
Reston Book Club Coordinators
The Reston Book Club will meet via Zoom on Thursday, May 20, at 4:00. The selection will be The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante.
 
The book is a coming-of-age story—one at which Ferrante is a master. The novel’s main story tells of a teenage girl as she grapples with the discomfort of becoming a young woman and learning how to deal with adults and their myriad of “stories.” The book also focuses on the duality of Naples, its neighborhoods, and its residents. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A DATE CHANGE.

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OLLI ChatLine Topics for Next Week!


By Doris Bloch, Program Committee Co-chair


Talk with OLLI friends at any time on this 24-7 open ChatLine. Arrange a time to meet friends online or drop in for an organized discussion. We have scheduled a few specific times and topics for chats this week, including:
  • Monday, May 17, 4:30-5:30—Topic: Washington Capitals hockey. Love them, win or lose?
  • Wednesday, May 19, 4:30-5:30—Topic: Future classes. Your ideas and suggestions for OLLI classes to offer in our 2022 terms.
Look for links to this and any future ChatLine events in your inbox as part of the daily schedule email. Have feedback or an idea on a time/topic? Click here to email Doris Bloch.

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

The Big Payoff*
 
My mom and her sisters did not watch
The Price is Right
They didn't need to
They had their own pricing game called
Shopping
The object – give grocers as little money as possible
 
Winnings included
massive bragging rights
Relishing double coupons redeemed on sale items
by crowing
They were practically giving it away!
was a guaranteed crowd pleaser
Getting a cashier to void a wrongly keyed price
deserved dramatic retellings
 
Strategies included poring over
store circulars
and charting where to go
 
  A & P meat
  Waldbaums produce
  Shop Rite paper products
 
Amateur mistakes
They never admitted
 
  Not demanding rain checks
  Not checking receipts
  Not using coupons before expiration
 
For all its joys and diversions
mom's game was junior league
compared to my Italian grandma’s
Her Brooklyn neighborhood
was full of mom-and-pop shops
with six kids she mastered the art of
Let's Make a Deal.
 
  The walk away
  The hard bargain
  The never back down
 
Being a pro, she didn't brag
She didn't need to
She has six eye-witnesses and me
keeping her legend alive
 
                        Susan Rexroad
 
*The Big Payoff was a 1950’s game show where my parents were contestants. They won their honeymoon, a week at Mount Airy Lodge in the Poconos, and their bedroom set.

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Obituary: Elizabeth Bolton

Elizabeth (Liz) Bolton, who joined OLLI in 2001 and was a member and lifelong learner for many years, died on April 15. A graduate of the University of Maine in 1959, she was a resident of Reston since its early days in 1969. An avid traveler, Liz took advantage of the Road Scholar program of educational travel for adults. A memorial in Maine will be planned for August. More information is available at this link.

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances, May 14 through May 31


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


 
Virtual Performances
Although Mason’s campus is shut down, online entertainment continues for us to access and enjoy. 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 send an email to Brianna Schoen at [email protected]. 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

Mason School of Theater: Luther's Trumpet
Fri, May 28, 8:00
Virtual Event – Professional cast supported by Mason students
REGISTER
Mason Student & Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
No performances scheduled
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Manassas Ballet Theatre: Giselle
Fri, May 14, 7:30
Sat, May 15, 2:00
Sat, May 15, 7:30
Sun, May 16, 3:00
Sat, May 29, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $40 to $70, Buy Tickets
 
Ordway Conservatory: Thumbelina
Thu, May 20, 7:15
Virtual Event: Hylton Center
Admission: Free

Seán Heely Celtic Band
Sat, May 29, 4:00
Admission: $25, Buy Tickets
For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.
Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised 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 May 15
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon May 17  4:30 pm ChatLine: Washington Capitals hockey
Tue May 18  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Wed May 19
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
ChatLine: Future classes
Thu May 20
 		  4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri May 21
 
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
 2:00 pm		 Craft & Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, Etc.
Cooking Club
Sat May 22 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon May 24
 
 		  8:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am		 Gentle Yoga Club
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Club
Tue May 25
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
 4:30 pm		 Annex Art
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed May 26
 		 10:30 am
 4:00 pm		 Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu May 27
 
 		 11:50 am
12:15 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Special Events Program Planning Group
Tai Chi Club
Fri May 28
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Craft and Conversation
Homer, Etc.
Photography Club
Sat May 29 10:30 am Tai Chi Club

Back to Top of Page
About OLLI E-News

Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Roz Stark, 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.

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E-News-May-14-2021

by

OLLI E-News May 14, 2021
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Annual Meeting and Presentation of Board Candidates, May 7

May 14, 2021


Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • OLLI Personal Computer User Group (OPCUG) meets via Zoom May 15 (tomorrow) at 1:00; details available at this link.
  • Voting continues in the Board of Directors election, which runs until May 21; you should have received a ballot in an email with subject “2021 OLLI Ballot for Board of Directors.”
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 21; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 18, at 6:00.

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Fun Facts for OLLI’s 30-Year Anniversary


By Ray Beery, OLLI Member and Former President


In 2021, OLLI celebrates its 30th year of classes for seniors. This feature provides fun facts and interesting milestones about our institute each week that E-News is published throughout the year.

May 14
A compilation of Learning in Retirement Institute (LRI) poetry was published in March 1996; printing was subsidized by LRI; booklets were sold at $2.50 each. Poems dated back to the first Poetry Workshop in spring 1991. Later, Poets of Tallwood was published in 2008 and Poets of OLLI in 2012.

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Summer Literature Course (F403) Book Change and Film Addition


By Shannon Morrow, Program Associate


There are two changes to Ellen Moody’s summer course, F403, Post-Colonialism and the Novel; the changes are reflected in the course registration in the member portal. One change substitutes a book of short stories, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's East into Upper East, for her older novel, A Backward Glance. The second change is the addition of a second film that the class will view: Mira Nair's 1993 The Namesake. Everything else stays the same:

F403 Post-Colonialism and the Novel
Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, June 23–July 28
Instructor: Ellen Moody
Class limit: 40
In this course we will explore identity and gender politics, colonialism, emigration, and slavery in three books: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s East into Upper East, Caryl Philips’s Crossing the River, and Jane Mander’s The Story of a New Zealand River. We will look at how people are affected by history, law and custom, violence, cultures, economic and geographical circumstances, as well as the sheer need for survival. The class will see/discuss Mira Nair's 1993 film The Namesake & Jane Campion’s 1993 film, The Piano.
Ellen Moody taught in senior colleges until 2012 and for eight years at two OLLIs. She is a published scholar, with specialties in the 18th through 20th centuries, with a special love of historical and political novels.

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Reston Book Club
By Nancy Scheeler and Luci Martel,
Reston Book Club Coordinators
The Reston Book Club will meet via Zoom on Thursday, May 20, at 4:00. The selection will be The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante.
 
The book is a coming-of-age story—one at which Ferrante is a master. The novel’s main story tells of a teenage girl as she grapples with the discomfort of becoming a young woman and learning how to deal with adults and their myriad of “stories.” The book also focuses on the duality of Naples, its neighborhoods, and its residents. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A DATE CHANGE.

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OLLI ChatLine Topics for Next Week!


By Doris Bloch, Program Committee Co-chair


Talk with OLLI friends at any time on this 24-7 open ChatLine. Arrange a time to meet friends online or drop in for an organized discussion. We have scheduled a few specific times and topics for chats this week, including:
  • Monday, May 17, 4:30-5:30—Topic: Washington Capitals hockey. Love them, win or lose?
  • Wednesday, May 19, 4:30-5:30—Topic: Future classes. Your ideas and suggestions for OLLI classes to offer in our 2022 terms.
Look for links to this and any future ChatLine events in your inbox as part of the daily schedule email. Have feedback or an idea on a time/topic? Click here to email Doris Bloch.

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

The Big Payoff*
 
My mom and her sisters did not watch
The Price is Right
They didn't need to
They had their own pricing game called
Shopping
The object – give grocers as little money as possible
 
Winnings included
massive bragging rights
Relishing double coupons redeemed on sale items
by crowing
They were practically giving it away!
was a guaranteed crowd pleaser
Getting a cashier to void a wrongly keyed price
deserved dramatic retellings
 
Strategies included poring over
store circulars
and charting where to go
 
  A & P meat
  Waldbaums produce
  Shop Rite paper products
 
Amateur mistakes
They never admitted
 
  Not demanding rain checks
  Not checking receipts
  Not using coupons before expiration
 
For all its joys and diversions
mom's game was junior league
compared to my Italian grandma’s
Her Brooklyn neighborhood
was full of mom-and-pop shops
with six kids she mastered the art of
Let's Make a Deal.
 
  The walk away
  The hard bargain
  The never back down
 
Being a pro, she didn't brag
She didn't need to
She has six eye-witnesses and me
keeping her legend alive
 
                        Susan Rexroad
 
*The Big Payoff was a 1950’s game show where my parents were contestants. They won their honeymoon, a week at Mount Airy Lodge in the Poconos, and their bedroom set.

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Obituary: Elizabeth Bolton

Elizabeth (Liz) Bolton, who joined OLLI in 2001 and was a member and lifelong learner for many years, died on April 15. A graduate of the University of Maine in 1959, she was a resident of Reston since its early days in 1969. An avid traveler, Liz took advantage of the Road Scholar program of educational travel for adults. A memorial in Maine will be planned for August. More information is available at this link.

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances, May 14 through May 31


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


 
Virtual Performances
Although Mason’s campus is shut down, online entertainment continues for us to access and enjoy. 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 send an email to Brianna Schoen at [email protected]. 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

Mason School of Theater: Luther's Trumpet
Fri, May 28, 8:00
Virtual Event – Professional cast supported by Mason students
REGISTER
Mason Student & Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
No performances scheduled
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Manassas Ballet Theatre: Giselle
Fri, May 14, 7:30
Sat, May 15, 2:00
Sat, May 15, 7:30
Sun, May 16, 3:00
Sat, May 29, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $40 to $70, Buy Tickets
 
Ordway Conservatory: Thumbelina
Thu, May 20, 7:15
Virtual Event: Hylton Center
Admission: Free

Seán Heely Celtic Band
Sat, May 29, 4:00
Admission: $25, Buy Tickets
For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.
Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised 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 May 15
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon May 17  4:30 pm ChatLine: Washington Capitals hockey
Tue May 18  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Wed May 19
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
ChatLine: Future classes
Thu May 20
 		  4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri May 21
 
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
 2:00 pm		 Craft & Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, Etc.
Cooking Club
Sat May 22 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon May 24
 
 		  8:30 am
 9:30 am
11:00 am		 Gentle Yoga Club
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Club
Tue May 25
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
 4:30 pm		 Annex Art
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed May 26
 		 10:30 am
 4:00 pm		 Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu May 27
 
 		 11:50 am
12:15 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Special Events Program Planning Group
Tai Chi Club
Fri May 28
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Craft and Conversation
Homer, Etc.
Photography Club
Sat May 29 10:30 am Tai Chi Club

Back to Top of Page
About OLLI E-News

Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Roz Stark, 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.

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E-News-May-7-2021

by

OLLI E-News May 7, 2021
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
 
Dr. Ann Phillips, US Institute of Peace, Presents Class on Armenia and Azerbaijan for Course on World Hotspots in 2021, April 28

May 7, 2021


Editor of the Week: John Nash
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices


Today is the first day of voting in the Board of Directors election, which runs until May 21; detailed information is available at this link.

The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 14; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 11, at 6:00.

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Fun Facts for OLLI’s 30-Year Anniversary


By Ray Beery, OLLI Member and Former President


In 2021, OLLI celebrates its 30th year of classes for seniors. This feature provides fun facts and interesting milestones about our institute each week that E-News is published throughout the year.

May 7
The first location for Learning in Retirement Institute was Mason’s Commerce II Building (staff would move into the hallway during class time) at 4085 University Drive, with no charge to OLLI for use of this space. Later other sites in Fairfax City were offered free, including City Hall, the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program, the Gold’s Gym Building, and the Juvenile Justice Courthouse of Fairfax County.

Kudos to OLLI Program Planning Chairs



 By Kathryn Russell, Program Committee Co-chair   


We’re all probably browsing the beautiful summer catalog now, deciding which courses to sign up for, lamenting that we have to choose between so many attractive offerings. As you turn the pages, I hope you’ll pause at the beginning of each subject area section to note the names of OLLI’s program planning co-chairs. These are the dedicated volunteers who labor tirelessly year-round to develop courses.

You’ll also find some new co-chairs’ names, OLLI members whose enthusiasm and special interests have prompted them to join the exciting planning process. When we asked them to tell a little about their backgrounds and interests, these are their responses in their own words:

Dorothy Gudgel:  Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages:
 “I first joined OLLI in the fall of 2018 when I retired as an adult education English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher with the Fairfax County Public Schools. An avid reader and lifelong lover of literature, my heroes have always been writers, dating back to my college days. . . I am very happy to assist with Literature Planning committee in Reston!” 

Linda Harber:  Art and Music:
“I joined OLLI in 2018 after retiring from George Mason University as their VP of Human Resources, Payroll and Faculty/Staff Life. We used to promote OLLI at our annual Retirement Benefits Fair. . . I have always loved music, arts and theater. . . and was so happy to get back to them in retirement. OLLI and Friends of Music at Mason (FOMM) have brought these back to me.”

Christine Narbut:  Art and Music:
 “. . .I joined OLLI because of the variety of class offerings, including water-color classes. . . I had recently retired from the Fairfax County Health Department. . . and found in OLLI an incredible variety of challenging educational programs. As a registered nurse and educator, I am excited to be a member of the OLLI community and participate in the health, talents, and education that the OLLI community offers its members.”

Notice also that some other names have been added to our co-chairs lists fairly recently:
  • Marvin Singer: Economics and Finance
  • Mark Dodge and Michele Romano: Science, Technology, and Health
  • Linda Bergman: Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages.
We’re so grateful to our program chairs for their ongoing efforts to produce an engaging, robust program. And we invite all OLLI members to join the planning process. These groups meet several times a year on Zoom. Watch for announcements in E-News, Connections email, and daily schedules. You are cordially invited to tune in, find out how your program is made, and participate in the process.

Computer Club

3rd Saturday, May 15 via Zoom
Offline Maps for Android Devices
By Paul Howard, OPCUG Program Chair


 
The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, May 15 via Zoom. Program activities begin at 1:00.

Offline Maps for Android Devices – Presented by John Krout. All map apps for portable devices depend on two data sources: GPS signals from satellites, and map images from cell towers.
Have you ever visited an area where cell phone service is spotty or simply not available? There are many such places in the US, including popular national parks. That condition makes it difficult to use apps such as Google Maps or Waze to navigate. Those apps depend on downloading maps via cell towers; they stop displaying maps when cell towers are not accessible.

John’s demo will show you how two Android map apps can use offline maps, meaning maps stored on the phone or tablet. These maps work fine when cell tower service is either not available, low bandwidth, or when demand exceeds supply, meaning a crowd is overtaxing the one and only nearby cell tower. It turns out that downloadable offline maps for the entire US, Canada and western Europe are available online for free.

A frequent OPCUG meeting presenter, John also is the author of many of the articles on the PATACS Zoom reference page, and many PATACS Posts newsletter offerings.

See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 for 2021—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

Attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 1:00. Please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 794756, or enter meeting ID 948 9296 8399 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode.

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Photography Club

John Olsen and Edward Marion,
Photography Club Coordinators
Local Wildlife Photographer to Speak
at the OLLI Photo Club

Sometimes, our passion for something manifests itself in many ways, and occasionally, that which we become passionate about begins to define us.

At the next OLLI Photo Club meeting on Friday, May 14, attendees will see and hear how one man’s early interests and hobby turned into his passion to educate others about the beauty and importance of our natural environment.

Robert D’Souza, an electrical engineer who has taught that subject for many years in the Fairfax County Public Schools, will discuss his passion for wildlife photography and how he traveled extensively in all seven continents to record his important images, which he uses in teaching about environmental issues.

“I plan to show some of my photographs to emphasize our fascinating world, which for me, never ceases to create a sense of wonder. I hope this inspires one to travel after we’re free to do so again, and discover - and photograph - the marvels of our magnificent planet,” said D’Souza.

Plan to join the next Photo Club gathering at 9:30, Friday, May 14 – on Zoom, of course. The OLLI Daily Schedule will provide information on how to connect.

And remember, the OLLI Photo Club is a free benefit of your membership. It is a wonderful way to improve your photography skills or just see what other OLLI members are accomplishing with their cameras and smart phones.

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Coffee Klatch on May 14 - What’s Next After the Pandemic?

  

  By Toni Acton, Member Services Committee Chair


Join your OLLI friends at the Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee Klatch on Friday, May 14, from 10:00 to 11:30 for a bit of online socializing and a lively discussion of OLLI after the pandemic. In-person vs. Zoom classes? Should we continue recording classes? Should vaccinations be required for in-person classes? Register for Event #1104 via the member portal or contact the registrar at [email protected].

OLLI ChatLine Topics for Upcoming Week

 

By Doris Bloch, Program Committee Co-chair


Talk with OLLI friends at any time on this 24-7 open ChatLine. Arrange a time to meet friends online or drop in for an organized discussion. We have scheduled a few specific times and topics for chats this week, including:  
  • Monday, May 10, 4:30-5:30—Topic: Cicadas. Love them, hate them? Any memories from 17 years ago to share? Any yummy recipes to share for the red-eyed invaders? Or other socially redeeming attributes to offer? How do they affect your outdoor experiences? Your gardening? Your sleep? 
  • Wednesday, May 12, 4:30-5:30—Topic: Social Networks. We had an interesting class on social networks a week or two ago. It would be interesting to hear what kinds of social networks your membership at OLLI have generated. Have they endured? Changed? If you attended or viewed the presentation, was it relevant to you? (An aside: the chatline is yet another approach to developing and fostering social networks that OLLI is trying out here.) Your thoughts are appreciated.
Look for links to this and any future ChatLine events in your inbox as part of the daily schedule email. Have feedback or an idea on a time/topic? Click here to email Doris Bloch.
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Three Apples: Transformed the World

Luscious, golden, scintillating
Mysterious, tantalizing
The forbidden fruit of knowledge
A bite led to Adam’s bondage

Sitting beneath the leafy boughs
Newton awakens from a drowse
An apple falls down with a thud
Nascent notions bloom from the bud

For enlightenment and insight
Steve Jobs' Apple shines a bright light
Newton’s apple, forbidden bite
A symbol of brilliant foresight
                – Chitra Mohla

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances, May 7 through May 17


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


 
Virtual Performances
Although Mason’s campus is shut down, online entertainment continues for us to access and enjoy. 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 send an email to Brianna Schoen at [email protected]. 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

Mason School of Theater: Luther's Trumpet
Fri, May 28, 8:00
Virtual Event – Professional cast supported by Mason students
REGISTER
Mason Student & Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

Mason School of Dance: Black Voices Screening
Fri, May 7, 7:30
Virtual Event
REGISTER
 
A Song of Freedom: Featuring world premieres by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton and Michael W. Nickens
Sat, May 8, 8:00
Virtual Event
REGISTER
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Manassas Ballet Theatre: Giselle
Fri, May 14, 7:30
Sat, May 15, 2:00
Sat, May 15, 7:30
Sun, May 16, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $40 to $70, Buy Tickets.
For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.
Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised 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 May 8 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon May 10  4:30 pm ChatLine: Cicadas
Tue May 11  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Wed May 12
 		  4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Spanish Club
ChatLine: Social Networks
Thu May 13  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri May 14
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
 2:30 pm		 Photography Club
Craft & Conversation
Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee Klatch
Classic Literature Club
Homer, Etc.
Tallwood Book Club
Sat May 15
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Tue May 18  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Wed May 19  4:00 pm Mah Jongg Club
Thu May 20
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Memoir and More Writing Group
Tai Chi Club
Fri May 21
 
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
 2:00 pm		 Craft & Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, Etc.
Cooking Club
Sat May 22 10:30 am Tai Chi Club

Back to Top of Page
About OLLI E-News

Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Roz Stark, 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.

Back to Top of Page

E-News-April-30-2021

by

OLLI E-News April 30, 2021
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
April 6 Class on Literature and Society in Victorian England, One of Eight by Kay Menchel, English Literature Instructor

April 30, 2021

Editor of the Week: Sheri Siesseger
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Annual membership meeting and first day of voting in Board of Directors election, Friday, May 7; detailed information is available at this link.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 7; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 4, at 6:00.

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From the Desk of the Executive Director–Research Study Participation Opportunity


By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director

 

Amy Adams, executive director of Mason’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation, is offering an opportunity for OLLI members to participate in a series of surveys to support COVID-19 research in Virginia. Her previous interactions with members led her to expect us to enjoy this fun research study.

The Mason Institutional Review Board has approved the following subject and description of the study:

Subject: COVID-19 Impact Study for Residents of Virginia

Description: COVID-19 has touched all of us in different ways. COVIDsmart is a digital health study led by George Mason University, Eastern Virginia Medical School – Sentara Healthcare Analytics and Delivery Science Institute (HADSI), and Vibrent Health. The study is looking for individuals to share feedback about their experiences with COVID-19 in order to help public health leaders better respond to the pandemic and future public health crises.

You can participate in COVIDsmart by completing surveys on your computer or mobile device from wherever you are. Your data is securely collected. All answers are privacy-protected. It will take about 25-35 minutes to complete the initial set of surveys, and you can expect to contribute around 45 to 60 minutes each month.

By taking this survey, you will be automatically entered to win a $50.00 gift card. There will be 20 drawings a month for eight months. An extra entry is earned with each survey finished. There will also be four drawings for a $500.00 gift card for anyone who completes the entire study. Participants will be eligible to win one (1) $50.00 monthly gift card and one (1) $500.00 grand prize gift card.

Join the study or learn more here: https://www.covidsmartstudy.org/.

Contact the study team Monday through Friday, 9:00–5:00 EST.
Phone: 757-446-7991
Email: [email protected]

Thank you.
The COVIDsmart Research Team

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Fun Facts for OLLI’s 30-Year Anniversary


By Ray Beery, OLLI Member and Former President


In 2021, OLLI celebrates its 30th year of classes for seniors. This feature provides fun facts and interesting milestones about our institute each week that E-News is published throughout the year.

April 30
Founding member Audrey Markham-Sullivan reminds us that having the George Mason University president’s wife (Joanne Johnson) teach a class on literature led to the university giving our institute space at Tallwood.

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Election Procedure: How to Vote for Board of Directors Candidates


By Rita Way, Nominating Committee Chair
 

There are eight candidates for the five vacant positions on the Board of Directors. Their photos and bios are easily accessible on the candidate page of our OLLI website at this link.

Recognizing the accuracy, convenience, and efficiency of electronic balloting, the bylaws allow for electronic transmission. Because of the current pandemic crisis, members are able to use only this method of voting. You will receive a link by email on May 7, 2021, by noon to cast your ballot. The link will remain active until you have cast your ballot or until noon on Friday, May 21. If you do not receive an email on May 7, contact the OLLI office ([email protected]).
 
If you have questions about the election process, contact Rita Way at [email protected].
OLLI Ink Invites You to Browse
By Caroline McNeil, OLLI Ink Editor
Like any magazine that invites page turning, OLLI’s annual literary journal has something new and engaging at every turn—and the turning takes just a click of your mouse. Now online as a “flip-doc,” OLLI Ink 2021 is accessible via this link.
 
With pieces as short as haikus and as long as memoirs and stories, the writing comes from a wide spectrum of OLLI members, including, but not limited to, those in the writing workshops. This year, photos from OLLI’s Photography Club also engage the reader and reward browsing.
 
So, browse to find out what it would be like to be stuck alone at night on a flooded road during the monsoon season in India; to lobby Members of Congress in person at the Capitol Building; to trace your father’s experience in the Battle of the Bulge; to take your family dog to live in Ghana.
 
Turn the page to discover a Corona Rap (“yes, jack, we were bushwhacked…”) a ballad about the five-string banjo; a poem in support of semicolons;;;;;; another about stardust (yes, real stardust) in our everyday lives; a poem about the ancient Chinese Magic Square; poems contemplating current events and a white man’s angst; a poem in the form of a French Huitain.
 
Keep turning and you’ll come across stories—about an invisibility potion; playing basketball at age 81; a family argument overheard; the mystery of a neighbor’s disappearance . . . and more.
 
Happy browsing!
History Club Meeting Announcement


By Elizabeth Lambert, History Club Coordinator


The last meeting of the History Club until next fall will take place on Wednesday, May 5 at 4:00. Our speaker will be Peter Ansoff, and his subject is intriguingly titled “A Flag That Never Was: The Origins of the ‘First Navy Jack.’” Peter says that the flag, with its stretched-out rattlesnake and 13 red and white stripes, is a familiar image in American history books, and the Navy has flown it since 1976 to commemorate its heritage. However, as we shall learn, the flag appears to be an accidental invention by 19th century historians. As OLLI members know, Peter’s presentations are always full of interesting facts that hinge on unexpected twists and turns. As usual, we will meet by way of Zoom, and you won’t want to miss this presentation.
Tallwood Book Club


By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator


The Tallwood Book Club will be discussing these selections during May and June. The Zoom meeting time remains 2:30 to 4:00 on second Fridays of each month.
 
May 14: The Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea
June 11: The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
 
Questions? Contact Betty Ellerbee at [email protected].
OLLI ChatLine Scheduled Topics
By Doris Bloch, Program Committee Co-chair
Talk with OLLI friends at any time on this 24-7 open ChatLine. Arrange a time to meet friends online or drop in for an organized discussion. We have scheduled a few specific times and topics for chats this week, including:
  • Monday, May 3, 4:30-5:30—Topic: Mystery authors, books, TV series. Share your favorite genres, and characters. 
  • Wednesday, May 5, 4:30-5:30—Topic: OLLI Clubs. Do you know about our 25 clubs? Some are ongoing in virtual mode; a few are on hiatus. Do you belong to any? Support any? Have suggestions for improving them or adding new ones? Do you want your club to return to the classroom—perhaps as a pilot in our gradual return to face-to-face interaction? Your thoughts are appreciated.
Look for links to this and any future ChatLine events in your inbox as part of the daily schedule email. Have feedback or an idea on a time/topic? Click here to email Doris Bloch. 
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Grow Up, Already!
 

Dennis the Menace is always five.

Full of tricks: will he survive?

Jeremy in “Zits” is sixteen—

Never a man, just a teen.


Will Dennis break a vase, or Margaret’s heart?

Whom will he tease, deceive, or outsmart?

Will Jeremy ever clean his room,

Be nice to his mom, or become a groom?
 

These boys are captured at just one age

We’ll never see them at a later stage.

I, for one, would like to take a peek, then,

to see their future life as grown men.

                                             Joan Lunsford

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Obituary: Phyllis Furdell

Phyllis Furdell, member since 2009, died on December 22, 2020. Her employment field was urban policy; she co-authored a book on how city governments could address unemployment issues. A pastel artist, her paintings reflected her love of cities and her background in urban issues. At OLLI, she enjoyed studying art as well as philosophy and science.

You are invited to attend a memorial service for her to be held on Tuesday, May 18, at 2:00, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington, VA. The service will take place in the church's Memorial Garden where Phyllis' remains will be buried, and everyone is welcome to say a few words during the service. A friend is assembling a remembrance booklet with photos and other items (e.g., examples of her art and poems, articles about her); if you would like to contribute something, send it as soon as possible to [email protected]. Further information is available at this link.

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances, April 30  through May 10


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer
 

Virtual Performances
Although Mason’s campus is shut down, online entertainment continues for us to access and enjoy. 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 send an email to Brianna Schoen at [email protected]. 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 Performances
Mason Student & Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
International Jazz Day
Fri, Apr 30, 8:00
www.youtube.com/channel/UCGcK838C5wFwlXMgknxPr6A/videos or https://cfa.calendar.gmu.edu/international-jazz-day
 
Mason School of Theater: Runaways
Fri, Apr 30, 8:00
Sat, May 1, 2:00
Sat, May 1, 8:00
A. Linwood Holton Jr. Plaza, Fairfax Campus, Mason Pond Area
TICKETS for Fri, April 30, 8:00
TICKETS for Sat, May 1, 2:00
TICKETS for Sat, May 1, 8:00

Strings Chamber Ensemble Concert
Tue, May 4, 6:00
Information will be posted at music.gmu.edu.
 
Mason School of Dance: Black Voices Screening
Fri, May 7, 7:30
Virtual Event
REGISTER
 
A Song of Freedom: Featuring world premieres by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton and Michael W. Nickens
Sat, May 8, 8:00
Virtual Event
REGISTER
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Music International Grand Prix
Sat, May 1, 2:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center

Asaph Dance Ensemble: Reflections to Revival
Sun, May 2, 3:00
Virtual Event
Buy Tickets $60

Hylton Center Celebration of the Arts Alliance
Thu, May 6, 7:00
Virtual Event
REGISTER
For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised 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 May 1 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Mon May 3  4:30 pm ChatLine: Mystery Authors, Books, TV Series
Tue May 4  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Wed May 5
 
 
 		  4:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm
 6:00 pm		 Mah Jongg Club
History Club
ChatLine: OLLI Clubs
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu May 6  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri May 7 10:00 am Virtual Annual Business Meeting
Sat May 8 10:30 am Tai Chi Club
Tue May 11  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Wed May 12
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Memoir and More Writing Group
Spanish Club
Thu May 13  4:30 pm Tai Chi Club
Fri May 14
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
 2:30 pm		 Photography Club
Craft & Conversation
Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee Klatch
Classic Literature Club
Homer, Etc.
Tallwood Book Club
Sat May 15
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group

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About OLLI E-News

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

Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Roz Stark, 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.

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