OLLI President's Message July 7 OLLI at Fourth of July Parade in Fairfax
By Lillian Brooks, President
Marilyn Harriman and Bob Heyer organized the OLLI Mason “Walk & Talk” club to march in the City of Fairfax Fourth of July Parade. Thank you to all who came out to celebrate Independence Day in style. The “Walk & Talk” members are pictured at right with Mason President Gregory Washington and his wife Nicole Washington. Below are some additional photos by George Bradshaw. What a fun day for all!
Theater Lovers' Group to Visit Contemporary American Theater Festival – You are Welcome to Join Us
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group (TLG)
Where else can you see the newest plays in a state's oldest capital? Only at the renowned Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF), which is held annually during the month of July at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV, a stone's throw from Fairfax. TLG members and our guests will carpool to CATF on Thursday, July 27, to see two shows; then we'll overnight at the Clarion Inn in Harpers Ferry. On Friday, July 28, the group will catch another show followed by a discussion before heading home. Needless to say, we will do some fine dining at some of the interesting local restaurants and enjoy the charming ambience of a quaint town devoted to the arts.
The group price for each ticket is $49; for three shows it is $147/person. The group rate at the Clarion Inn is about $133/person. The Clarion is within a few miles of CATF and offers comfortable amenities plus a hot breakfast.
The plays we will see are all premieres: Overview Effect and either Spiritus or Redeemed on Friday (your choice) and Your Name Means Dream on Saturday, followed by a discussion.
If you have any questions or are interested in joining our group, please email Norma at [email protected] ASAP. Guests are always welcome.
On Friday, June 30, TLG held its first in-person meeting since Covid-19 kept us sequestered in our homes. We had a lovely lunch at Hamrock's in Fairfax and a brief meeting about TLG, CATF, American Shakespeare Center (ASC) trip scheduled for October 21, and suggestions for TLG activities. Thanks to Jean Tatalias for the photos of the group shown below.
Mark your calendars: The July TLG meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19. The TLG meeting will feature a speaker from ASC, which is always informative and fascinating. Stay tuned.
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, July 15, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session usually opens at 12:45.
Scientists Are Human – Presented by Lorrin Garson
There is a common perception that scientists are somehow different than "normal" people, perhaps a bit quirky or strange. We will look at fourteen scientists—all chemists and educators. All are, or were, accomplished scientists, including five Nobel Prize winners, and two are undeniably stinkers. With one exception, all are known to the presenter, and some are friends.
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: Surge Protection and Faulty AC Wiring – Presented by John Krout
If your 3-wire Alternating Current (AC) receptacle lacks a connection to ground, a problem that cannot be seen, then surge protection will not work, and the surge protection warranty is void. In this presentation, find out why that invisible problem is so common, and how you can use an inexpensive device to determine whether the 3‑wire AC sockets for your computers, HDTVs, smart phone and tablet chargers, and other electronics are properly wired.
John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology, and photography topics. He has authored many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 425219 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 838 7155 8407 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial in – 301-715-8592.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on July 12 at 4:00. Our chosen topic this week is “Reading Non‑Fiction."
What non-fiction has caught your eye in the last 12 months? Are you a poetry fan? A biography addict? History nut? Do you like to read about world-wide political affairs? Dramas? So many genres, so little time. Are you a broad generalist or a focused specialist? Do you comb the book reviews in the newspapers or online to get recommendations? Or do you solicit suggestions from friends? Get inspiration from OLLI instructors? Ask your local library for ideas? All of the above?
We would love to hear from you and to share your ideas with others in our conversational hour.
Check your daily schedule for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some social time with Team Bloch.
Member Achievement:
Jacqueline Davey, Poetry Winner 2023
By Carolyn F. Wyatt, Board Member and Poetry Writing Instructor
Congratulations to OLLI member Jacqueline Davey who is among the adult winners of the Fairfax County Public Library’s (FCPL) 2023 contest in honor of National Poetry Month.
In her keynote address, current Fairfax County Poet Laureate Danielle Badra remarked: “In “Tomato Plants” by Jacqueline Davey, the poet transports us through our senses. The poet writes, ‘Drawn by / spiky spades of leaves / and downy stems / I drink deeply of / their bitter spiced aroma / enriched by the sun.’ The poet goes on to describe the way this scent is reminiscent of a grandfather whom the poet barely knew. The rich imagery and skillful use of alliteration form a poem that the reader can truly empathize with.”
All the winning poems are available on the FCPL website at this link.
If you would like to receive notifications about some of the FCPL spotlight adult events, send a message to [email protected]. You will receive 1–2 monthly emails.
OLLI member Paul Murad died January 24, 2022; he was 78. A resident of Vienna since 1984, he had worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency for many years. Previously, he had worked at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center and, after two years in the Army, he earned his master’s degree in aeronautical engineering and astrodynamics at New York University in 1968. For more detail on his life, click this link.
A memorial service honoring the life of Paul Armand Murad will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, July 18 at 3:00 (please arrive by 2:00). After the ceremony, there will be a reception at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBM-HH) starting at 4:15. Information to know for visiting Arlington National Cemetery is available at this link. For specific information about JBM-HH base access, click here.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, 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 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 link to 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.
ARTfactory's Pied Piper Theatre: Disney's Descendants: The Musical
Fri, Jul 7, 7:00
Sat, Jul 8, 2:00 and 7:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $20 Adult, $15 senior and under 17.
Prince William Little Theatre and Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Oliver
Fri, Jul 14, 8:00
Sat, Jul 15, 2:00 and 8:00
Sun, Jul 16, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35, $30, $25.
Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. 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 Jul 8
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Jul 10
9:30 am
10:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Bridge Club
Tue Jul 11
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jul 12
11:00 am
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
Spanish Club
Memoir and More Writing Group
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Jul 13
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 14
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Photography Club
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Cooking Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tallwood Book Club
Sat Jul 15
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jul 17
10:00 am
Bridge Club
Tue Jul 18
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jul 19
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Spanish Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Jul 20
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 21
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Homer, etc.
Stay Active and Independent for Life
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, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, 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: [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.
Marilyn Harriman and Bob Heyer organized the OLLI Mason “Walk & Talk” club to march in the City of Fairfax Fourth of July Parade. Thank you to all who came out to celebrate Independence Day in style. The “Walk & Talk” members are pictured at right with Mason President Gregory Washington and his wife Nicole Washington. Below are some additional photos by George Bradshaw. What a fun day for all!
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