A March 26 class with instructor Bunnie Jordan, quilter, quilt appraiser, and author, highlighted the history of quilts of Virginia, with actual quilts shared for close examination
- Reminder: Mason Jazz Vocal Night: Monday, Apr 14, 8:00; Center for the Arts, Tickets – Click this link.
- Reminder: Jazz Combos/Braddock Road Brass Band: Tuesday, Apr 15, 8:00; Center for the Arts, Free – click here.
- The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, April 18; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, April 15, at 6:00.
We know that OLLI has many experienced and talented members. Share your expertise with the rest of us! We offer a great many classes each term and are always looking for new program ideas.
Do you have a unique interest you could share with OLLI students? Did you do something in your formerly employed or volunteer life that you are still passionate about? Do you have a friend who would make a great instructor? Did you see a class at another OLLI that you would like to have here? Or perhaps you have been in a class that gave you an idea for a course. Let’s spread the wealth and add some new ideas to OLLI programs.
Program planning chairs would love to hear from you. They are listed at the beginning of each subject section of the catalog. You can always contact Kathryn Russell, Program Committee co-chair, with your ideas. Let's make it happen for an exciting OLLI program!
Notice of Annual Meeting and Board of
Directors Election
By Robert “Bob" Heyer, Secretary, Board of Directors
The annual membership meeting will be held in classroom TA-1 on the Fairfax (Tallwood) Campus and on Zoom on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 10:00. The agenda for the meeting will include:
- Reports from the OLLI President and Executive Director
- Introduction of the 2025 board candidates
- Opportunity for questions and answers.
The election for the Board of Directors will take place from noon, Friday, May 2, through noon on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Election Procedure - How to Vote for BOD Candidates. You may vote for up to five candidates for the five vacant positions on the Board of Directors. Their photos and bios are easily accessible on the candidate page of the OLLI website at this link.
Recognizing the accuracy, convenience, and efficiency of electronic balloting, the bylaws allow for electronic transmission. You will receive an email on May 2, 2025, containing a link, allowing you to cast your ballot electronically. The subject line will read: 2025 OLLI Ballot for Board of Directors. The link will remain active until you cast your ballot or until noon on Friday, May 16. Remember to check your spam and junk folders for this email; if you do not receive this email on May 2 contact the OLLI office at [email protected].
If you have questions about the election process, please contact Norma Reck, the nominating committee chair, at [email protected].
The solution to pollution is dilution. We all know that hand washing decreases the spread of germs but when and for how long? Click onAbout Handwashing | Clean Hands | CDCfor the answers. The sweet spot is 20 seconds (just hum Happy Birthday twice).
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) conducts a casual, drop-in conversation on Zoom every second week on Wednesday at 4:00. Each session is on a different topic.
The topic for Team Bloch's Wednesday afternoon chat on April 16 is “What are Your Fears?” This could be a very personal subject and may differ for everyone; on the other hand, there are certain universal fears we probably all encounter as we age. Team Bloch suggests a few: running out of money, being alone, losing independence, just to start the discussion ball rolling. A related topic (possibly more productive) is “How Do You Face Your Fears?” We all have different ways of coping with difficulty – and each situation likely requires a different approach.
You may listen in as a lurker or join the discussion – it's up to you. However, we encourage you to voice your thoughts so that way we all may benefit and learn from each other.
The zoom link is always found in the email with the daily schedule on the relevant morning. Log on and join us on April 16 or any future session.
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, April 19, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45.
Artificial Intelligence – An Overview—Presented by Rob Truman
What is AI and how can I use it today? First, we will examine how Google and Microsoft are incorporating chatbot technology within their own applications (Gemini and Copilot). There will follow an examination of chatbots as a whole and where the technology is currently headed in the field of AI search. There will also be a brief overview of other AI technology such as deep fakes, voice cloning, and robotics, with a look at the good and bad of AI.
Rob is a member of Computer Booters of Sun Lakes Computer Club and serves on their Board of Directors as their web director. He has over 40 years of experience in information technology and Internet-related fields. He is a retired U.S. Navy chief electronics technician and has worked as a technical support professional for Microsoft over the years. Rob holds a Master of Arts degree in adult education and a Bachelor of Science degree in information technology (BSIT). He is a staunch proponent of lifelong learning and runs a website/blog called GeezerTek which focuses on helping the senior community with their technology needs. Rob also volunteers and teaches adult education technology classes through his local community college and their lifelong learning program: New Adventures in Learning.
Intro to Windows Narrator and Text-to-Speech—Presented by John Krout
Windows Narrator is a text-to-speech feature that has been included in Windows starting in Windows 2000. As of Windows 10, the audio quality is quite good in English. Why might Windows Narrator be useful to you? If you do not feel happy about recording your own voice, you can instead use Windows Narrator to record a voice reading your script. This can be useful when you want to record a custom text tone as a gift for your relatives and friends. This can also be useful to narrate a slide deck presentation for your user group or other organization.
John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings and for APCUG on a wide range of computer, technology and photography topics, and author of many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.
See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 and are now due for 2025 (and 2024, if you didn’t get around to paying earlier!)—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 340191 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 8681 36 20 720 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method), or dial in at 301-715-8592.
Little Things
Weeks ago I lost
a single black glove,
a driving glove amortized
by years of use.
Last week I lost
a leather glove also black
and ended up with a pair.
It made me happy.
As happy as the day
you brought me flowers
for no reason.
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.
Chorale Broadway Showcase 2025:
A Choral Tribute to Disney Magic
Fri, Apr 11, 8:00
Sat, Apr 12, 2:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $20 Adult, $15 Senior.
Jazz Vocal Night
Mon, Apr 14, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $15 Adult, $10 Senior.
Mason Symphonic Band
Wed, Apr 16, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $15 Adult, $10 Senior.
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 12
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Apr 14
9:30 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Apr 15
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
3:45 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Dabbling Artists Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Apr 17
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Apr 18
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
2:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat Apr 19
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Apr 21
9:30 am
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Apr 22
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Apr 23
12:00 noon
1:30 pm
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Games Club – online
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Thu Apr 24
11:50 am
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Apr 25
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Dance Party
Classic Literature Club – online
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, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: [email protected]. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
The topic for Team Bloch's Wednesday afternoon chat on April 16 is “What are Your Fears?” This could be a very personal subject and may differ for everyone; on the other hand, there are certain universal fears we probably all encounter as we age. Team Bloch suggests a few: running out of money, being alone, losing independence, just to start the discussion ball rolling. A related topic (possibly more productive) is “How Do You Face Your Fears?” We all have different ways of
