Allen Wright, former specialist at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, presented a comprehensive and informative course on the story of Wonder Woman, feminism, and the history of female superheroes―summer 2024
On Friday, July 19, President Debbie Engleson opened the OLLI Board of Directors meeting at 10:00 with 14 Directors, Jennifer Disano (Executive Director), and 13 OLLI members/staff in TA‑1 and on Zoom.
We are continuing to investigate potential locations in Loudoun and Reston for classes and meetings. Cascades Senior Center and Library, which are close to our previous Loudoun campus location, share a parking lot and could meet our needs between them. Since the number of members in these locations has been reduced, we need more volunteers to help generate new memberships and support these events.
The OLLI Website Committee has been working diligently to make our website easier to navigate and more attractive to new members. Our video snippets are being completed now and will be embedded in our website, as well as be available for events and briefings.
Chair Marilyn Harriman and the Diversions Committee have been very active with events for 2024 and 2025. The Walk and Talk Club had 16 members march in the Fairfax City Fourth of July Parade. Our June OLLI Picnic at Tallwood was most successful. Events coming up into 2025 are the fall Kickoff Coffee, Oktoberfest, Game Day Bash, Holiday Party, St. Patrick’s Day, Annual Dance Party, OLLI Picnic and Potluck in the Park, and Trivia Event.
Chair Kathryn Russell and the OLLI Programming Team have been providing many wonderful classes with highly qualified teachers. They take members’ ideas and locate veteran instructors to present them, assist in developing classes, create schedules, and design the great catalogs we see each quarter. We NEED more volunteers to help and fill the team as the members are aging out.
The “Dirty Knee Club” and Mason workers have done a wonderful job planting the blooming flowerbeds around the Tallwood buildings. Mason has also been busy refurbishing our walkways between classrooms and repairing our air conditioning in TA‑1.
See you in September at our next OLLI Board Meeting in Tallwood TA‑1 and on Zoom at 10:00 on Friday, September 20.
Do you like to dance, listen to music, meet people, and have fun? Join us for a "dance club interest meeting" via Zoom on Tuesday, July 30 at 2:00. The Zoom link will be included in the OLLI daily schedule.
No expertise in dancing is needed. Your ideas and suggestions are welcome for making this another great OLLI activity. If you have questions, please email Lila Goldstein at mailto:lwgoldstein@gmail.com.
Editor’s note: This article appeared in prior E–News issues; it is repeated here to foster interest in an OLLI dance club.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00, Team Bloch moderates an online conversation on OLLI's 24/7 chat line. Each week we choose a different topic and encourage sharing of our thoughts, experiences, and opinions.
Team Bloch's topic for July 31 is Which Option Is More Reasonable – to Rent vs. Own Where You Live?
At this point in our lives, do we really need to own the home we live in? Sure, many of us have a lot of stuff and need a place to put it. There are great storage units in the area for this. Do you want to deal with replacing windows and appliances, calling the plumber or the electrician? Maybe it is much easier to rent a home and call the superintendent when there is a problem? Throughout our lives, the consensus was to own your home. Do you think that is still true?
Join us at 4:00 on the 31st to give us your opinion(s)—lots of pros and cons on this topic. OLLI's daily-schedule email will provide you with the Zoom link.
No lush pampered lawn for me
Beautiful “weeds” under the tree
Moss abounds in the cool shade
Forming a soft pillow-like glade
Purple henbit sparkles in the green
Yellow buttercup always the queen
Squirrels finding their acorns around
Ground birds pecking as grubs abound
A pollinator’s retreat, wild blooms arise
As the sun heats brilliant blue skies
Green and wild, I’ll take lush anytime
Soon nature will show in all its prime
–Sally Sibley
*My father was an expert gardener. I am an enthusiastic wannabe. When he was quite elderly, he visited me and I was showing him all the weeds in the lawn. He said “green is green.” Sweet.
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Sulaiha Mastan, affectionately known to her friends as “Su.” An extraordinary woman, Su moved to our community from Malaysia and earned her PhD in clinical psychology from George Mason University.
In the early years of her career, Su served as a forensic psychologist for Fairfax County, an experience that inspired her to establish a private practice. For the past 15 years, she worked as a clinical psychologist at Kaiser Permanente, providing invaluable support to both adolescents and adults. During her tenure at Kaiser, Su created an award-winning program for transgender youth, showcasing her dedication and innovative spirit.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Su was a cherished member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). She initially joined as a student, but her commitment and passion led her to volunteer in the OLLI office and contribute significantly to the newly formed Diversity Advisory Committee, even amidst her serious illness.
Su's legacy of compassion, dedication, and service will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She will be profoundly missed.
She is survived by her beloved daughter Helina and partner of many years, Lou Riggs. Lou can be reached at Louriggs@gmail.com.
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.
No performances this month, but single tickets for next season's performances go on sale for non-subscribers August 1. Check CFA ticket purchase page for schedule of performances.
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. 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 Jul 27
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 29
9:30 am
10:00 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Bridge Club
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Tue Jul 30
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Dance Club Interest Meeting – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 31
4:00 pm
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Aug 1
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Aug 2
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
Dabbling Artists
Mah Jongg Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Sat Aug 3
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Aug 5
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Poetry Reading Club – online
Tue Aug 6
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Aug 7
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Aug 8
11:50 am
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
All the News – online
Chair Yoga Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Aug 9
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
2:30 pm
Photography Club – online
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Tallwood Book Club – online
Caregivers Support Group – 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, 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.
