April 24, 2026

• Alerts & Notices
• Who’s Who on OLLI Mason Staff
• Farewell to Nancy Klein
• THE POSITIVE AGING SOURCEBOOK
• Poet's Corner
• Obituary: Martha Ellen Kossoff
• An Upcoming Potpourri of Theater Opportunities
• Come For The BBQ, Stay for the Fun: OLLI’s Garden & Picnic Party
• Arts & Music at George Mason
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• Voting for election of five members to the Board of Directors starts May 1, after the OLLI annual business meeting and continues for two weeks. Candidate statements are available on the website at this link.

• Note the new start time of 11:30 for the annual garden party and picnic at Tallwood, Event 1102F. Register at the member portal; see article below.

• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 1; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, April 28, at 6:00.

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Susan Todenhoft, Technology Manager: Formerly OLLI’s administrator, Susan will be focusing on our website, member portal, video library, and other software and automation.

Mike Emery, Lead Site Assistant: Mike is now the lead site assistant responsible for training and supervising the team of six site assistants, and for Zoom, as well as our computer hardware, and AV technology.

Lissette Sanchez, Operations Manager: 

Lissette is coordinating OLLI’s administrative functions including scheduling, ordering and distributing the catalog, office volunteer liaison, G-numbers, facility management, and select events such as the facility picnic and teacher appreciation. She is joining the team on April 20. Please stop by the office to welcome her!

Lissette brings over 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including serving as a CEO and COO for mission-driven organizations in the DC region. She specializes in operations, team development, and aligning systems to support strong, engaged communities. She is delighted to join OLLI Mason and contribute to its vibrant learning community.

Kim Rotondo, Communications Associate: 

Kim is taking over as communications associate as Nancy Klein prepares to retire. Kim’s first day at OLLI Mason is May 4. The communications associate is responsible for planning, creating, and implementing communication and marketing strategies that promote OLLI Mason programs, events, and membership. Kim will coordinate digital and print marketing, manage content across multiple platforms, and support outreach initiatives.

Kim brings a background in communications, marketing and community outreach to her role as communications associate. Kim has extensive experience developing digital content, coordinating events, and managing multi-channel communications to engage diverse audiences. She previously owned a small business, leading marketing communications, promotional campaigns, and community engagement initiatives. Kim is an active member of the Northern Virginia Alliance League. Earlier in her career, she worked in research and project management roles supporting federal programs through outreach, data collection, and reporting.

Please have patience as these people complete training and transition to their new roles.

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By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director

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Positive Aging Sourcebook (All Maryland - Virginia - DC).
You can also pick one up in the OLLI Café at Tallwood.

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Letter to the Editor

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An Upcoming Potpourri of Theater Opportunities

By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group

You have heard that “Variety is the spice of life.” The upcoming theater events the Theater Lovers’ Group (TLG) is offering to its members, as well as to all OLLI members, in the next several months certainly adheres to that notion.

Broadway Bound

TLG members and guests are off to the Big Apple for a do-your-own-thing overnight motorcoach trip, leaving on Tuesday, November 17 and returning on Wednesday, November 18. Here’s your chance to catch a Broadway play or two, visit museums, enjoy a Radio City Music Hall performance, shop for the holidays, sightsee, etc. Kim and Trevor will help you purchase tickets and plan your trip. We’ll stay at Marriott Marquis Times Square. The trip costs $548 for a double; plus $178 for a single. To sign up for the trip and for more information, email me at [email protected]. 

Little Women: The Musical

This classic, which features the loveable March family girls growing up during the Civil War, will be performed at the Creative Cauldron on Sunday, May 17 at 2pm. To select your seat and purchase tickets at senior rates, go to creativecauldron.org or phone 703-436-9948. Please email me that you will be joining TLG. Optional dinner after the show TBD.

Pippin: The Musical

Pippin will be performed in the round at Signature Theater on Saturday, June 20 at 2pm. The show follows Pippin, Charlemagne’s restless heir, on his many forays as he searches for a purpose in life and greatness. What does it mean to be extraordinary? To select your seat and ticket price range, go to sigtheatre.org or phone 703-820-9771. Military discount is available. Email me that you will be joining TLG. Optional dinner after the show TBD. 

Theater Festival, Opera, and more

TLG offers a wide variety of theatrical activities, such as tours, lunches, and other cultural pursuits. To receive all emails about all TLG activities, go online to OLLI’s member portal and sign up for Theater Lovers’ Group.

Editor's Note: At the author's request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.

By Marilyn Harriman

Don’t miss OLLI’s biggest spring get-together—an afternoon of great food, easy conversation, and outdoor fun. If you haven’t registered yet, now’s the time!

Join us for our annual Garden and Picnic Party (event #1102F). Register online or with our registrar, Peg. Please bring a potluck side dish to share—and enjoy Red, Hot and Blue BBQ, provided by the OLLI staff.

The Event begins at 11:30 (note the time change from the catalog), immediately following our annual business meeting in TA-1.

Potluck: what to bring (please bring an item that serves four people, based on your last name)

• Last name A–H: grains, potatoes, rice, beans, vegetables
• Last name I–R: a salad (fruit, lettuce, or vegetable)
• Last name S–Z: a dessert

Along with your dish, bring a serving utensil and label it with a small sign listing key ingredients (for example, “chocolate cake with walnuts”).

Location: Please place potluck items on the tables in the Annex classroom (adjacent to the main office). Beverages will be available in the OLLI Café.

Dining will be at picnic tables on the breezeway, in the lower parking lot, and in TA-1. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll set up inside in TA-1, TA-3, and TA-2.

Lawn Games—including Cornhole, Croquet, and Badminton—will be set up in OLLI’s backyard behind the lower parking lot.

The Garden Party & Picnic is always a spring favorite at OLLI—come celebrate the season with us. Register today, bring your favorite dish to share, and plan to stay for a fun, festive afternoon!

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