Dr. Yerin Choi, Mason doctoral graduate in piano performance, discussed her dissertation on the solo piano pieces of Jiesun Lim in September 21 recital during OLLI’s 2021 fall-term
Music Sampler series.
One of our members received an email purportedly from an OLLI instructor, although the email address from which the email was apparently sent is not the instructor’s actual email address. The email stated that the sender (instructor) had tried unsuccessfully to order a birthday gift card online for the sender’s niece and requested the member to purchase the gift card, and then notify the sender (at the phony email address).
Although on its face the request might seem to be a transparent fraud, it builds on a plausible relationship that the OLLI member might have with an OLLI instructor, in hopes that the possible relationship might make the request plausible also. We are unsure of the origins of this particular scam; however, it is likely that the action of clicking on the scam link or replying to the scam resulted in an email exposure.
To protect yourself, please be cautious and skeptical. No OLLI instructor or staff member will ever request that you purchase something from a third party on their behalf.
To learn more about the latest phishing scams associated with Mason go to this link. To protect yourself from scams, please review Fairfax County advice; click here.
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, January 15, via Zoom. Program activities begin at 1:00; the Zoom session usually begins at 12:45.
Science—Opinion, Fiction, or Reality? – Presented by Lorrin Garson – There are many in our culture, and worldwide, who believe science is just another opinion among many. Not so. Using chemistry as an exemplar, the following will be discussed: (a) sources of science information, (b) publishers of science, (c) where research is done and who does it, (d) how science information is vetted, (e) errors and fraud in science, and (f) (briefly) science education.
Lorrin Garson had a long career in technical publishing of chemical information. His presentations to our computer groups are famous for their thorough research and clarity in explaining topics such as cryptography, encryption of personal data, cloud storage, and the origins of personal computers.
Learn in 30: Tiles and Airtags for Tracking – Presented by John Krout. This presentation will introduce you to tiles and airtags, small battery-powered devices that can be attached to your property. These are designed to help you find misplaced or stolen property by using an app on your smart phone or tablet.
By far the most widely publicized use of tiles and airtags is to find checked luggage lost by an airline. Tiles and airtags can also help you find your car in a large parking lot, as well as find your purse, key ring, wallet, bicycle, stroller, and even pets and small children.
A frequent meeting presenter, John was the author of many of the articles on 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 2022—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 757899 or enter meeting ID 883 4829 4760 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode.
The Tallwood Book Club will continue to meet via Zoom on the second Friday of each month at 2:30. Refer to the OLLI daily schedule email for Zoom link and other information.
The selection for the January 14 meeting is Tightrope by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. The selection for the February 11 meeting is The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.
Happy New Year to everyone! I’m sure you often have wondered why the new year occurs when it does. Why isn’t it in April when the flowers are blooming, or when the federal budget begins (if it does), or even rotating among the months so none will feel left out?
In the old days – around 150 BC and before - everyone used an ugly, old lunar-based calendar which had become very inaccurate over the years. The first of the year seemed to bounce around, depending on who was in power.
The first time the new year was celebrated on January 1st was in Rome in 153 B.C. The new year was moved from March to January because that was the beginning of the civil year, the month that the two newly elected Roman consuls began their one-year tenure. But this new year date was not always strictly or widely observed, and many people still celebrated on March 1 or whenever.
Finally, Julius Caesar, as dictator and “sole decider,” missing a few of his wife's birthdays, created a new solar-based calendar which he named after himself and declared January 1 definitely was the official new year! So there! Sadly, the Julian calendar also had a few flaws and it was finally replaced in the 16th century by the Gregorian calendar.
Interestingly, there are many other calendars: Jewish, Chinese, Muslim, Hindu, and others based on such things as religious events, astrological occurrences, growing seasons, or whatever else that might seem reasonable at the time. We even have an OLLI calendar, but we stuck with the traditional beginning on January 1. Caesar is happy!
I recall one January day when
winter sunshine fell about New York.
It was mild on the cross street
where we lived, brighter at 37th at
the park, to which I took the kids.
Dozens of Christmas trees lay on
the curbs along our familiar route.
Traffic was light. The city, sad,
disconsolate, took comfort,
looking up in some surprise at the
unexpected sun.
At the park wrought iron railings took us
in and with the leafless branches made
striped light. We were the only three that
afternoon to see the winter sunlight falling
on the abiding benches and the swings.
Pamela Cooper-Smuzynski, OLLI member since 2007, lost a battle to cancer on December 26, 2021. As an enthusiastic OLLI member, Pam particularly liked courses in the 400 series—literature, theater, and writing. She also enjoyed “Trip Tales.”
Pam taught elementary school in Georgia and South Carolina, and in this area, she was the founding librarian at Sangster Elementary School in Springfield, Virginia. As an elementary school librarian, she loved books, literature, and reading, especially to and with children. She will be missed by her friends at OLLI.
Arrangements for a private celebration of her life are being planned. Further information is available at this link.
As Mason’s campuses reopen, programs are offered at both Fairfax and Manassas campuses, along with virtual events. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for all audience members. 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 atbschoen@gmu.edu. 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 also can be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.
Gallery Exhibition: Zia Palmer -Women of the Same Blood Ongoing through Sun, Jan 9 Hylton Performing Arts Center
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free
Gallery Exhibit: 10th Annual Prince William County Public Schools Student Exhibition
Tue, Jan 11 – Sun, Feb 20
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free
Dance, Etc. School of the Arts: 40th Winter Concert
Sat, Jan 15, 7:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $20
ARTfactory Pied Piper Theatre: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Sat, Jan 22, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jan 23, 3:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20 adult; $16 youth (ages 12 and under); Early Bird Special (through 1/16/22): $16 adult; $14 youth
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 Jan 8
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Jan 10
9:30 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Jan 11
9:30 am
11:00 am
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jan 12
10:30 am
2:00 pm
Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Jan 13
10:00 am
11:50 am
12:15 pm
4:30 pm
Program Planning Committee
All the News, Continued Special Events Program Planning Group
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jan 14
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
2:30 pm
Photography Club
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Tallwood Book Club
Sat Jan 15
10:30 pm
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jan 17
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Club
Tue Jan 18
9:30 am
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jan 19
10:00 am
10:30 am
2:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Jan 20
11:50 am
4:30 pm
All the News, Continued
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jan 21
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Homer, etc.
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
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: 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. 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.
. But this new year date was not always strictly or widely observed, and many people still celebrated on March 1 or whenever.
