Candidates Announced for 2024 Board of Directors Election
By Marilyn Harriman, 2024 BOD Nominating Committee Chair
The 2024 Board of Directors (BoD) Nominating Committee is excited to announce this year’s candidates for five BoD positions open in May. Elected directors serve for three years and may serve two consecutive terms.
This year, we have four incumbent candidates. The four incumbents are ending their first term and running for a second three-year term.
Each incumbent actively contributes to helping OLLI meet its strategic goals. They are Toni Acton, Dick Crawford, Camille Hodges, and Zach Teich. The nominating committee has recruited a fifth candidate, Suresh Mohla, to our list of candidates. Suresh volunteers as a teacher and a member of the Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group, and of the Health and Safety Advisory Committee. Candidate statements for all five will be published on our website, in the classroom “Green Rooms,” and in the OLLI Communicator throughout April. Voting by electronic ballot begins on May 3.
At this point in the election cycle, OLLI members may run for office through a signature petition. Members who choose to run by petition must collect signatures from a minimum of 5% of our active membership (46+ signatures). The final day for an OLLI member to submit a signature petition to be included on the ballot for this year’s BoD election is April 23. Petitions must be presented to the nominating chair, Marilyn Harriman, or OLLI Administrator Susan Todenhoft (Tallwood office). The main prerequisites to becoming a candidate for election to the Board are being an active OLLI member, a commitment to fostering OLLI’s mission, and a willingness to attend Board meetings. Additional attributes are in our OLLI policy guide.
Jennifer Disano Announces Travel Opportunities at Kick-Off Coffee
By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chair
OLLI Mason is jetting off to lands near and far this year and next. Executive Director Jennifer Disano announced at our March 21 spring kick-off coffee that our staff and Board of Directors are working with travel companies to offer trips for our members. Some already took advantage of the opportunity in December when they flew to Iceland. In the fall, members can experience the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Jennifer said that the New Mexico trip and additional trips can be found on the Travel page of the OLLI website, and the page will be updated as trips are added.
Other highlights of the coffee event included a popular activities fair that Debby Mossburg, Board member and outreach chair, organized in TA‑2 and the Annex. With representatives from 27 clubs and organizations stationed in both locations, the rooms quickly filled with OLLI members seeking information and ways to sign up.
The formal program began with standing room only in TA‑1 as President Lillian Brooks welcomed new members and introduced Board members who were present. Lillian announced the five candidates running for this year’s Board of Directors election in May and urged everyone to vote.
Program Planning Committee chair Kathryn Russell invited us to review our spring catalog again and consider adding another class or two. She reminded us that registration is ongoing even though the spring term has begun.
Although the first day of spring started chilly, the camaraderie inside the Tallwood campus was heartwarming. The Diversions Committee helped elevate the mood with homemade baked goods, lemonade, and iced tea, and our OLLI staff provided hot coffee and tea.
(In addition to the photos at the top of this issue, more kick-off coffee photos, uncropped and in full resolution are available at this link.)
OLLI Mason Members Participate in an Intergenerational Conversation About Israel and Palestine
By Nancy Klein, Communications and Program Associate
The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, along with The University Libraries and The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, collaborated to host an intergenerational conversation. This event, on March 20, utilized the “Dialogue & Difference Project” developed by Dr. Patricia Maulden of the Carter School and now carried forward by Isaac Jasper. OLLI Mason members and Mason Carter School students explored their lived experiences and had the opportunity to speak and listen to feelings, opinions, and thoughts regarding the current events surrounding Israel and Palestine.
OLLI Mason Executive Director Jennifer Disano called the event “a major success and a model for future intergenerational conversations across the Mason campus and beyond.” OLLI member Pat Bangs agreed, stating that the event “was an incredible opportunity to meet and admire students who want to make a difference. I was reminded of the diversity of this generation and have great hope for their future contributions. It was a unique and valuable opportunity for OLLI members and students to discuss issues that are important to us, in a setting that allowed passionate, conflicting opinions to be voiced in a respectful manner.” OLLI member Richard Crawford seconded the value of the event. “It was a rare opportunity to listen and learn with Generation Z, gaining fascinating insights on how social media influences their understanding. I was impressed with their analytical approach to conflict resolution; what they may lack in experience is offset with their critical thinking and intelligence.”
Event participants voiced enthusiasm for planning and participating in future intergenerational conversations, recognizing their value and significance. Anne Osterman, Dean of Libraries, stated, “The Libraries were honored to host and provide informational resources for this event. It is important to our mission to support learning and scholarly conversation. Not only did this event create a meaningful intergenerational dialogue, but it also provided a real-world opportunity for student facilitators to practice their skills. We hope to have more of this kind of event in the future.”
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group
Discount Tickets for OLLI Members at ExPats Theatre this Weekend Karin Rosnizeck, founder of ExPats Theatre, which performs at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, located at 1333 H Street, NE, D.C., has given us a discount for tickets to Migraaaaants or There's Too Many People on This Damn Boat now playing at ExPats through April 7. To purchase discount tickets, go to ExPatsTheatre.com, then click on the BUY TICKETS button, and enter the Promo ARTIST (one word, singular, all caps). Migraaaaants is a dark comedy based on real experiences of people who have migrated. The show illustrates ExPats motto: "A little theater grappling with big ideas."
Tuesday, April 9 at 11:50: Join us to Meet Representatives from Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia Founded during the Depression by unemployed actors, Barter Theatre is the nation's longest running professional theater. Katy Brown and Terrence Jackson will meet with us via Zoom Tuesday from 11:50 to 1:15 to tell us about its storied long history, famous actors who got their start there, and the fascinating, innovative programs and events being held there today. Get the link in OLLI's daily schedule under Theater Potpourri class.
NEW! Sunday, May 5: Theater Lovers to see Matinee of The Heiress of Hawtrey Hall A Regency romantic comedy, The Heiress of Hawtrey Hall was written by a young local playwright, Ellen Dean Price. It will be performed in Old Town Hall in the City of Fairfax by the City of Fairfax Theatre Company at 2:00. Grace Coventry, the young heiress of Hawtrey Hall, is grappling with a dilemma: How can she protect Hawtrey Hall and maintain her financial independence against meddling relations and insistent suitors? Or will she get trapped in an unwelcome match? Group rate tickets will be announced shortly. Dinner after the show is optional.
For more information and to sign up for the May 5 show, email me at njreck@cs.com.
It’s time to put on your dancing shoes! Come dressed in your favorite retro threads or come as you are in 2024 and enjoy the sounds of the 1950s, ’60s, and ‘70s at our dance party on April 19 from 3:00-5:00. TA‑1 at Tallwood will be transformed into a dance hall with all the familiar accessories—a wall to stand against, chairs for chatting with friends, a dance area, and a snack table.
D.J. Captain Dave will spin the platters while we reminisce, listen, and, if you’d like, dance to the tunes we rocked and strolled to when we were a bit younger. The Diversions Committee will provide refreshments—party food like you used to eat—and liquid thirst-quenchers.
If you haven’t registered yet and want to join the party, register through your member portal for event #1101. There is no cost, but we need to know how many are coming so we can plan for the food and drinks.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate an OLLI Zoom discussion on April 10 at 4:00.
For April 10, the discussion topic is Cruising. Everyone has an opinion on cruise trips: some love them; some cannot tolerate them; some fear sea-sickness. What is your opinion? Large ship, small ship, casual style, formal evenings, casinos and night club shows, evening learning lectures, adventure tours, relaxed days at sea—various styles abound. What do you prefer? What little hints do you have to share about how to make the most of your cruise?
Join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 on the 24/7 Chat Line. Registration is not required—or even possible! All members are welcome.
By Darden Purcell, D.M.A., Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice
As noted in prior E‑News issues, Mason’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music is hosting several jazz concerts this spring, some ticketed and some free! Listed below are two events coming up this month.
Mason Jazz Vocal Night: Monday April 8, 8:00 (announced in a previous issue)
Center for the Arts
Tickets: Click here.
Join Dr. Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio, the DOWNBEAT award-winning Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, and Forest Park High School Platinum Vocal Jazz (director Lara Brittain) for an evening of swinging standards and classic hits from the Great American Songbook. $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students
Steel Pan Ensemble, Latin American Ensemble, and Braddock Road Brass Band Ensemble: Monday April 15, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Join the Mason Steel Pan Ensemble, directed by Victor Provost, the DOWNBEAT award-winning Latin American Ensemble, directed by Dr. Juan Megna, and the Braddock Road Brass Band, directed by Graham Breedlove, in a celebration of music around the world! From New Orleans to the Caribbean to Brazil, this concert has something for everyone! Free and open to the public; no tickets or registration required.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468. You can also buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below) or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this linkto 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.
Mutts Gone Nuts
Sat, Apr 6, 11:00 and 2:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $15.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Three Great Romantics
Sun, Apr 7, 7:00
A pre-performance “Young Artists Musicale,” featuring piano students of Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association members, will take place from 6:00 to 6:30 in the main lobby of the Center for the Arts
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Martha Graham Dance Company
Sat, Apr 13, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place on the third level of the Center for the Arts lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
Chorale Broadway Showcase: Broadway at the Movies Sat, Apr 6, 2:00 and 8:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $20 Adult, $15 Senior, $5 Students.
American Festival Pops Orchestra: American Icons
Sat, Apr 6, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Mutts Gone Nuts
Sun, Apr 7, 1:00 and 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.
Reduced Shakespeare Company
Sat, Apr 13, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week, but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc., bolded below. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Apr 6
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Apr 8
9:30 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Tue Apr 9
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Apr 10
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Tallwood Book Club
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Mah Jongg Club
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Apr 11
11:40 am
4:30 pm
All the News
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Apr 12
8:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
Teacher Appreciation Event
Mah Jongg Club
Photography Club – online
Crafts and Conversation
Classic Literature Club – online
Homer, etc. – online
Healthcare Advisory Workgroup
Cooking Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Sat Apr 13
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Apr 15
9:30 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Apr 16
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Tai Chi Club
Wed Apr 17
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Apr 18
11:50 am
4:30 pm
All the News
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Apr 19
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
3:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Classic Literature Club – online
Homer, etc. – online
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Caregivers Group
60s Dance Party
Sat Apr 20
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger,Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: ollienewseditor@gmail.com. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
Karin Rosnizeck, founder of ExPats Theatre, which performs at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, located at 1333 H Street, NE, D.C., has given us a discount for tickets to Migraaaaants or There's Too Many People on This Damn Boat now playing at ExPats through April 7. To purchase discount tickets, go to 
ter Theatre is the nation's longest running professional theater. Katy Brown and Terrence Jackson will meet with us via Zoom Tuesday from 11:50 to 1:15 to tell us about its storied long history, famous actors who got their start there, and the fascinating, innovative programs and events being held there today. Get the link in OLLI's daily schedule under Theater Potpourri class.
e.
some ticketed and some free! Listed below are two events coming up this month.