Executive Director Jennifer Disano, several OLLI members, and staff meet with residents at Woodleigh Chase senior living community to recruit new members, June 3
OLLI Personal Computer User Group meets Saturday, June 15 (tomorrow) in person and via Zoom; check the OLLI daily-schedule email for the Zoom link and other information.
Summer-term registration continues throughout the term, which begins June 24.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 28; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 25, at 6:00.
On Friday, June 7, Election Chair Marilyn Harriman opened the OLLI Board of Directors meeting at 10:00 with 14 Directors, Jennifer Disano (Executive Director) and 11 OLLI members/staff in TA‑1 and on Zoom.
The election chair and Board members affirmed new President Debbie Engleson, then affirmed the other Board of Director officers for this year of service. All four were voted signature authority for the OLLI bank accounts.
President: Debbie Engleson
Vice President: Emily Roudebush
Secretary: Bob Heyer
Treasurer: Dick Crawford
President Debbie Engleson indicated she will use a time clock for all those recognized to speak during meetings. As past OLLI treasurer, she reported that OLLI income is above budget and expenses are under budget through the second quarter of 2024.
Executive Director Jennifer Disano reported that we have resolved the OLLI malicious portal attack with no additional charges by the bank for transactions during this event, and no compromise of any member data. Additionally, she is working with the Loudoun County supervisor to locate places OLLI can use for future events in the Loudoun area. We have held a very successful briefing at Woodleigh Chase Retirement Community and expect to have some new OLLI members soon. Jennifer is also working with The Mather and expects to sign members from there as well.
Emily Roudebush reported that five video vignettes are in final editing to be used for marketing and on the OLLI website to tell the OLLI story. Additionally, the OLLI website redesign has gone through Beta testing. Next, the Website Committee will assess any issues found and propose timing and funding options for the Board's consideration.
Congratulations to our new Board officers and our newly-elected Board members Camille Hodges, Dick Crawford, Toni Acton, Suresh Mohla, and Zach Teich.
All OLLI members are welcome at our monthly OLLI Board meetings in Tallwood TA‑1 or on Zoom at 10:00 on the 3rd Friday of each month.
By Marilyn Harriman, 2024 Nominations and Election Chair
As noted in my article in the last issue, five candidates were elected to the Board in the recent election: Toni Acton, Dick Crawford, Camille Hodges, Suresh Mohla, and Zach Teich.
This year, voter turnout was 42%, one percent below last year, according to Administrator Susan Todenhoft. Four of the five electees are incumbents who will serve a second term of office; Suresh Mohla is a new Board director who begins his three-year term this month. Congratulations to our newly elected directors!
We bid farewell to director Debby Mossburg, who completed her term of service in May. She made many valuable contributions to the board, including being Outreach Chair, which she will continue.
Canvassing and recruiting Executive Committee officers was finalized at the end of May. Board directors elected the officer slate by acclamation. Our 2024-2025 officers are:
Debbie Engleson President
Emily Roudebush Vice President
Bob Heyer Secretary
Dick Crawford Treasurer.
Our new officers bring a wealth of non-profit board leadership experience to our organization and will guide us as we seek solutions in a post-Covid world.
Debbie Engleson has served one year on the OLLI Mason Executive Committee as treasurer, working with Executive Director Jennifer Disano and Finance Committee Chair David Osterman. Debbie previously served on a non-profit board, the National Council of Jewish Women, twice as president in two different cities.
Emily Roudebush has served on the OLLI Board for one year and leads the OLLI Promotion and Marketing Project. She also serves on another non-profit board, the New Dominion Chorale, and is ending her first year as president.
Bob Heyer is finishing his first year as secretary on the OLLI Mason Executive Committee and has served four years on the Board. He also serves on the Braddock Road Youth Soccer Club executive committee and previously served as chairman of the endowment fund at his church.
Dick Crawford will serve his second term on the OLLI Board. He was OLLI Mason Executive Committee vice president, 2023-2024, and has previously served on corporate and trade boards of directors, including as chairman of the National Council of Chain Restaurants. He also served as a government relations advisor to the board of directors of a large national chain restaurant.
By Emily Roudebush, Vice President, and Debby Mossburg, Outreach Committee Chair
Do you wish there was an easier way to share about OLLI with other seniors in your residential community? Do you take part in programs at a senior center or other senior-based group? Do you love your time with OLLI, and often find yourself talking about it with family, friends and neighbors, but still have trouble answering fully if someone asks, “What is OLLI, exactly?” or “Why shouldI join OLLI?”
OLLI Outreach can help! We have complete, up-to-date presentations, all ready to go, that detail the programs, activities and benefits available through OLLI. We love OLLI, too, and we’re happy to present to residence communities, senior centers, and other groups about all that OLLI has to offer. These presentations are a great way to spread the word and encourage new people to join the fun at OLLI! A presentation can be as short as ten minutes, as part of another activity, such as a luncheon or meeting, or can be offered as a stand-alone event, with more content and time for questions. So, if you live in a community with potential OLLI members, or you’re a member of a senior group that would like to learn more about OLLI, please send an email to Debby Mossburg at olli@gmu.edu, with Outreach in the subject line, to learn more about scheduling an OLLI Outreach presentation.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, who, by the way, are not related except in friendship) moderate a casual conversation on Zoom among OLLI members. Everyone is welcome to join in and express their thoughts and ideas or just listen to the discussion.
Our topic for June 19 is What are you reading now?
Summer is here! It often signals a change in our reading patterns or what the print media often label as "beach reads," although we decided last year that this was not a helpful term. We are curious to know what you are reading now and whether you would recommend the book to us. Rereading an old favorite? A newly released novel or nonfiction book? Have you found a particular genre or author you're hooked on? Please join us and share what you are enjoying now.
The topic for Wednesday June 26 is Which old clothes do we keep and why do we keep them? This was a topic suggested by an OLLI member.
It is fairly common to have clothes in your closet of various sizes if you tend to go up and down in weight. Some other cherished and saved items might be a wedding dress, bridesmaid dress, or mother-of the bride or groom dress. Favorite jeans? Power suit from pre-retirement days? "What I wore on the night when...?" Tuxedo? It doesn't need to fit to bring back memories. What's in your closet?
You can always join us on the OLLI 24/7 Chat Line; check the daily schedule for the Zoom link. No pre-registration or commitment required. (Or as we say at OLLI, no homework, no prerequisites, no academic degree needed.)
On Thursday, June 20, 11:00-1:00, join your OLLI friends and colleagues for a relaxing time in Tallwood’s backyard. This is a BYO event. Please bring your blanket, picnic lunch, and non-alcoholic beverage, and plan to relax under a tree on our expansive grass-lined grounds behind the academic buildings. Lawn chairs are welcome. We’ll also have picnic tables set up for those who’d prefer to sit above the grass.
The Diversions team will provide the entertainment with a cornhole game, croquet, and badminton. Located in the back of the Tallwood campus, 4210 Roberts Road, Fairfax, the plants, trees, and expanse of lawn make a welcome lunchtime sanctuary.
The long-range weather forecast looks very warm for June 20, with more clouds than sun. Sunscreen, light clothing, and a sunhat are recommended.
If you haven’t already signed up, register for Event 1202 in the member portal.
Some Programs Cannot Come to OLLI, But We Can Go to Them
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Co-Chair, and Diversity Advisory Group Co-Chair
OLLI is looking for presenters with expertise regarding American Indian history. Meanwhile…
Indigenous Voices of the Americas
Celebrating the National Museum of the American Indian. June 26–July 1, 2024
From the websitehttps://festival.si.edu:"At the 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall, Indigenous artists and makers, professional chefs and home cooks, musicians, dancers, athletes, and storytellers will demonstrate the depth of multigenerational traditions as well as new, innovative approaches to cultural expression.
Join a circle of celebration with stories, songs, and dance. Experience ancestral foods like the Three Sisters (beans, corn, and squash) and inventive, sustainable cuisine. Learn stories that underlie Indigenous sports and games. Hear how Indigenous youth are reclaiming their languages through spoken-word and hip-hop. Explore traditional arts that flourish in their connections to place and environmental knowledge."
Keep in mind that it’s hot in late June and early July! Those of us who have attended these festivals know it’s worth the trip, but don’t do too much in one day. Take your grandkids, bottled water, snacks, wear a hat, and enjoy.
Traveling with OLLI Mason: Iceland, December, 2023
By Zach Teich, Board Member
Eight intrepid OLLI Mason lifelong learners spent a week in Iceland in mid-December last year in OLLI’s recently established travel program. The tour, called Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights, was presented by Collette, a very experienced tour operator. The tour included airport transfers to/from Dulles International and from/to Reykjavik airport, the roundtrip flight, all land transportation and accommodation in Iceland, and most meals.
Pre-trip, Collette provided information about what we would see in Iceland, tips on clothing to bring, and the need to bring crampons for use walking on ice(!). The information package also contained what turned out to be a prophetic warning: there was no guarantee of actually seeing the northern lights; in fact, we had no luck seeing them.
In Reykjavik, we took a walking tour with a very knowledgeable local guide and had a marvelous dinner at a restaurant that featured Icelandic cuisine.
We also traveled to Vik, our base of operations for three days exploring the Golden Circle, which has a host of attractions both natural and man-made. Our hotel there was somewhat more basic than the one in Reykjavik but was comfortable and the buffet meals were very good.
In Vik, we saw geothermal areas, lava fields, waterfalls, glaciers, iceberg fields, black sand beaches, and three very interesting museums. We weren’t able to stop at the famous Blue Lagoon for a very good reason―the road was closed due to fear of an imminent volcanic eruption!
All-in-all, OLLI Mason’s Iceland trip with Collette was wonderful. Both hotels were modern and comfortable. The activity level was age-appropriate, and it included more strenuous options for those so inclined. Most importantly, even though the northern lights didn’t cooperate, there was no shortage of wonderful sights to see in Iceland.
Last week, we took down a roomful of Millennials in what was a true team effort. They were very gracious about their defeat. It was one of those rare nights where the ball happened to bounce our way each time.
Final question: Which small Caribbean island is known as the ‘Spice Island’ for the export of nutmeg?
We are skipping the next few weeks due to a recurring event at Lake Anne which makes parking difficult. As such, we do not plan to meet again until July 11th.
If you are interested in joining us in July at Kalypso’s in Reston, please text or e-mail: (423) 524-5149 or amount1963@gmail.com.
By Darden Purcell, D.M.A. Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice
Mason Jazz proudly announces a series of FREE concerts available this summer. These concerts are part of the Mason Jazz Camp and will take place in the Center for the Arts. No tickets or camp registration are required to attend! We hope to see you there for one or more of these great jazz concerts.
Mason Jazz Camp―MJC Faculty Showcase
Monday, June 24, 3:30-4:30
Center for the Arts Free and open to the public–no tickets/registration required. Click here for details.
Mason Jazz Camp―Leigh Pilzer
Tuesday, June 25, 3:30-4:30
Center for the Arts Free and open to the public–no tickets/registration required. Click here for details.
Mason Jazz Camp―Cyrus Chestnut
Wednesday, June 26, 3:30-4:30
Center for the Arts Free and open to the public–no tickets/registration required. Click here for details.
Mason Jazz Camp―The United States Air Force Airmen of Note
Thursday, June 27, 3:30-4:30
Center for the Arts Free and open to the public–no tickets/registration required. Click here for details.
Mason Jazz Camp―Student Showcase
Friday, June 28, 2:00-4:00 (Note–different time)
Center for the Arts Free and open to the public–no tickets/registration required. Click here for details.
Wings extended wide
a black bird glides high
against a backdrop
of peaked foothills
layered in swirling fog,
stands of dark evergreens
punctuated by snow,
lost to view after it enters
the faint green-yellow
of low-level vegetation
struggling for water.
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.
Mason Jazz Camp Performances
Mon, Jun 24, 3:30 - Mason Jazz Camp Faculty Showcase
Tue, Jun 25, 3:30 – Leigh Pilzer
Wed, Jun 26, 3:30 – Cyrus Chestnut
Thu, Jun 27, 3:30 – Airmen of Note
Fri, Jun 28, 2:00 – Student Showcase
Concert Hall
Admission: Free.
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., 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 Jun 15
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jun 17
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Bridge Club
Poetry Reading Club – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Tue Jun 18
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 Jun 19
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Jun 20
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:50 am
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Art and Music Program Planning Group online
Picnic in the Park
All the News – online
Chair Yoga Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jun 21
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
Dabbling Artists Club
Mah Jongg Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Sat Jun 22
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club - online
Mon Jun 24
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
What’s in the Daily News? – online Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Tue Jun 25
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Theater Lovers’ Group special event – hybrid, open to all
Chair Yoga Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 26
2:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Jun 27
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
Chair Yoga Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri Jun 28
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
1:00 pm 2:30 pm
Crafts and Conversation
Spanish Club
Homer, etc. – online
Photography Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life – 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.
colleagues for a relaxing time in Tallwood’s backyard. This is a BYO event. Please bring your blanket, picnic lunch, and non-alcoholic beverage, and plan to relax under a tree on our expansive grass-lined grounds behind the academic buildings. Lawn chairs are welcome. We’ll also have picnic tables set up for those who’d prefer to sit above the grass.
December last year in OLLI’s recently established travel program. The tour, called Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights, was presented by Collette, a very experienced tour operator. The tour included airport transfers to/from Dulles International and from/to Reykjavik airport, the roundtrip flight, all land transportation and accommodation in Iceland, and most meals.
Pre-trip, Collette provided information about what we would see in Iceland, tips on clothing to bring, and the need to bring crampons for use walking on ice(!). The information package also contained what turned out to be a prophetic warning: there was no guarantee of actually seeing the northern lights; in fact, we had no luck seeing them.
Circle, which has a host of attractions both natural and man-made. Our hotel there was somewhat more basic than the one in Reykjavik but was comfortable and the buffet meals were very good.
