ENews February 17, 2023

February 17, 2023

Alerts & Notices

• Reminder: Meeting of the Computer Club, Saturday, February 18 (tomorrow), at 1:00, via Zoom. For details click this link; the Zoom link will also appear in the OLLI daily schedule email.
• Reminder: Mason Jazz Festival, Saturday, February 18, all day, in Mason’s Harris Theatre, free and open to the public. See article below.
• Spring-term registration begins February 21 at 9:00 and continues throughout the term; spring term is March 27 through May 19.
• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, March 3; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, February 28, at 6:00.

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Nominating Committee Seeks
Board of Directors Candidates

 

By Marilyn Harriman, Board Member and Nominating Committee Chair


As five OLLI Board of Directors members end their three-year terms of office in May, the Nominating Committee is seeking candidates for the spring general election to fill their positions.

To be considered as a director candidate, qualifications include the member having the willingness to contribute energy, ideas, and time in support of OLLI and a desire to assume an active role in the governance of our organization.

Being a Board member is a great way to play an active role in OLLI’s transition to our future “new normal.” It’s also a great way to learn more about the inner workings of OLLI and meet other members.

Currently, Board members are working to increase membership and energize members in Northern Virginia to attend more in-person classes and events. Board members are also planning ways to optimize our Zoom program planning. There is also a need in the areas of marketing, finance, and fundraising.

If you are interested in being a Board member, want to help OLLI reach its goals, desire further information, or would like to nominate another OLLI Board member, please get in touch with the Nominating Committee chair, Marilyn Harriman, at mlwharriman74@gmail.com.

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It’s in Your Hands!
 
By Debby Mossburg, Outreach Committee Chair

Did you know that YOU can help OLLI to expand membership to keep us financially healthy and make a great program greater? A short piece that advertises the OLLI program has been approved and run in neighborhood newsletters at no cost and with good success. Would you be willing to make a phone call or send an email to have that same piece run in your neighborhood newsletter?

If you can help, we'll send you a PDF of the article with George Mason and OLLI logos. To follow up, or for any questions you may have, please contact Jim Dann at jimandsue70@gmail.com (phone: 703-690-7982), or Debby Mossburg at debby.mossburg@verizon.net (phone: 703-973-8080).

You’ve got the power to make a real difference! Thanks.

Editor’s Note: This article appears on a semi-regular basis to encourage your support of OLLI’s outreach program help recruit new members. Thank you.

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Jazz Events Reminder
 
By Darden Purcell, D.M.A.,
Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice


The Mason Jazz Festival is coming up on Saturday, February 18 (tomorrow), from 10:00 in the morning until 10:00 in the evening in the Harris Theatre on the Mason campus. It is free and open to the public. For more information, click here.

Also, later this month, the Mason Jazz Faculty return to Washington’s historic Blues Alley, in shows at 7:00 and 9:00 on Monday, February 27. For tickets, click this link.

Arriving with the summer, the Mason Jazz Camp will be held June 19-23. For registration and camp details, click here.

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Help Bring More Music and Art to OLLI
 
By Marianne Metz, Music and Art Program Planning Group Co-Chair

As winter term 2023 ends, OLLI program planners are busy planning classes for fall 2023 and winter 2024. Our Art and Music Program Planning Group will meet on Tuesday, February 28. We need your help!

Is there a topic in music, dance, film, architecture, painting, photography, or other visual arts that particularly interests you? Why not take the plunge and turn that interest into an OLLI class? If you’re not sure of the steps to take, start by joining the February 28 meeting to talk about it.

Or perhaps you have a family member or friend whose special passion could fuel an OLLI class. Or maybe you’d simply like an inside look into the process that creates our wonderful panoply of classes. (It’s much prettier than sausage-making.) In any case, you’ll enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded arts enthusiasts. We welcome new ideas and new people and would love to meet you.

The planning meeting will be held via Zoom at 10:00 on February 28. Zoom information will appear in that day’s daily-schedule email. In the meantime, if you have questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to contact any of the Art and Music Program Planning Co-Chairs:

• Chris Narbut (nickelpickel.chris@cox.net)
• Linda Harber (lharber@gmu.edu)
• Kosmo Tatalias (kosmotat@gmail.com)
• Marianne Metz (mandsmetz@gmail.com)

Corrected Course Description for F405Z

 

By Ellen Moody, OLLI Instructor

There is a corrected course description for spring OLLI class F405Z: Contemporary Italian Novels and Memoirs (English), eight sessions scheduled for Thursdays, 2:15 to 3:40. Some of the books to be reviewed have changed from those published in the spring catalog.

In this course, participants will read and discuss a group of Italian works to better understand the culture, history, and politics of Italy. These works will include: Natalia Ginzburg's memoir, The Family Lexicon (1963), which takes place in Turin and Rome before, during, and after WWII; Carlo Levi’s Christ Stopped at Eboli, a memoir of his time in exile in WWII (1947);  Primo Levi's Periodic Table (1984), a memoir of his using the periodic tables wittily; Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, the first of the Neapolitan Quartet books (2012); a non-fiction essay on life writing by Iris Origo and poetry by Elsa Morante (both sent via attachment). The course will have as subthemes Italian-Jewish writing, WWII, women’s and life-writing.

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George Mason School of Theater Proudly Presents
The Night Knights 

 

By Ruth Yamamoto, Production Manager/Adjunct Faculty Mason School of Theater

Looking for a play to enjoy with your grandchildren? Follow The Night Knights on their quest to put the kingdom to bed. What story will the princess want to hear tonight? Will the dragon need a glass of water? This order of knights is prepared for any bedtime demand. But will they ever get to go to sleep?

Designed for younger audiences, this whimsical, family-friendly play brings the battle for bedtime to silly, exuberant life. Created by Mimsi Janis and devised by The Mason Players from favorite fairy tales and bedtime stories, don’t miss this world premiere, with a sensory-friendly performance on March 4 at 11:00.

Directed by Mimsi Janis
March 3* at 8:00 in TheaterSpace (deLaski Building)
March 4 at 11:00** and 2:00***
Tickets $10: Click here

 *ASL interpreted and talkback to follow
** Sensory friendly
*** Audio described

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Join the Theater Lovers' Group for an Outing at a Group Rate

 

By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group

On Sunday, March 5, you and your guests are invited to join members of the Theater Lovers’ Group to attend the 2:00 matinee performance of How the Light Gets In at 1st Stage Tysons. The play, set in a peaceful Japanese garden and told as a Japanese fairytale, tells how four disparate people find a way to build a community of healing and hope. The theater is located at 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons. Plenty of free parking.

As we go to press, the tickets are $40/person, the group rate for ten attendees. If we have a group of 15 people, the cost will be $37/person.

In keeping with the Japanese theme, we will enjoy a Hibachi-style dinner at Sakura Restaurant, not far from 1st Stage Theater. Dinner (cooked in front of you) is optional.

If interested, please email Norma at njreck@cs.com ASAP, as reservations for tickets and dinner are being made now.

Thanks to Mary Mudd for taking this photo of Theater Lovers and their guests enjoying lively conversation and a yummy lunch at the Ornery Beer Co. before attending a wonderful musical performance of the Mason Cabaret at Harriman Theater on the Mason campus, February 4. A very fun afternoon was had by all!

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OLLI Weekly Conversations Continue – February 22 

Continuing our Wednesday conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on February 22 at 4:00. Our chosen topic this week is “Who Was Louise Weiss?”

 Are you familiar with Louise Weiss and her contributions to 20th century European culture? (Doris had never heard of her until a few months ago, so if you haven’t either, you are not alone.) She was an amazing woman, particularly for her time. Depending on our participants and their knowledge of Ms. Weiss, we will either host a mini-history presentation to explain what she did OR we will discuss her and perhaps other women who never gained longterm recognition. Your contributions are always welcome.

Check your daily schedule email for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some social time with Team Bloch.

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Volunteers Needed for OLLI Office

 

By Toni Acton, Member Services Committee Chair


OLLI depends on its volunteers! If you enjoy meeting people and
want to learn more about what makes OLLI “tick,” this is the job
for you.

As we start in-person and hybrid classes again this spring,
volunteers are needed to help in the OLLI office. This is a great
volunteer activity for both members who have been around for
years and “newbies” who want to get involved.

Greeting visitors, answering the phone, mailing out catalogs, and
just helping staff where needed; there is no time commitment –
we work around your schedule of classes. Once/month,
once/week – it can be whatever works for you!

If you think t

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