By Marilyn Harriman, Board Member and Nominating Committee Chair
Congratulations to the following members elected to the OLLI Board of Directors in the 2024 election:
Toni Acton
Dick Crawford
Camille Hodges
Suresh Mohla
Zach Teich
Thank you to all of the candidates for your willingness to run for election to serve on the OLLI Board of Directors.
By Harry Johnson and Camille Hodges, Diversity Committee Co-Chairs, and
Debby Mossburg, Outreach Committee Chair
Northern Virginia is a community rich in diversity. OLLI Mason―frankly—is not. As avid learners looking to expand our awareness of the world around us, we believe that attracting more members from communities such as Black/African American, Asian, Latino, and other under-represented NOVA communities will only enrich our own experiences at OLLI. To accomplish this goal, we need your help. If you have a connection to any of these communities, we’d like to explore with you ways that we can introduce them to OLLI and share information about the benefits of OLLI membership. Such inroads might be through community centers, clubs and organizations, newsletters, gathering places, and other venues yet to be discovered. We’re looking for volunteers who simply want to offer ideas and suggestions, as well as those who may want a more active role in our outreach effort. We value your input and are looking forward to hearing from you. Please email us at olli.gmu.edu with Diversity in the subject line.
Have you witnessed history in the making? If so, OLLI wants your story for a fall 2024 class entitled I Was There. The class will present the personal stories, photos, and videos of OLLI members who participated in important historical events, either at or behind the scenes. The stories might include, for example, Vietnam, subsequent combat activity, presence at the Tiananmen Square protest, or deliberations in the halls of power about what US policy should be in response to world events. Please email John Quinn at skinsnats@gmail.com with information about what you did or saw. John will contact you to work out the details.
If you love knowledge and competition, consider joining us on Thursdays for trivia at Kalypso’s in Reston (same complex as the Lake Anne Osher campus). We play as a team (Los Viejos).
The game starts at 7:00. Andi and I are usually there around 6:30 to hold a table. If you decide to give it a try, please text or e-mail in advance: (423) 524-5149 and amount1963@gmail.com.
Update: Our inaugural session was somewhat of a roller-coaster. However, we managed a respectable 4th place finish thanks to the final question. Final question: What word is based on the Greek words for “sharp” and “dull.”
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group
NYC Your Way November 19-20, 2024
We're spreading the news to all OLLI members that a party bus will leave Fairfax for an overnight stay at the Marriott Marquis Times Square Hotel on Tuesday, November 19. We'll get to The Big Apple mid-afternoon in time to have a fabulous dinner and see a show of your choice that evening. Next day, Wednesday, November 20, you will have plenty of time to do your own thing—shop for the holidays, take a city tour, visit a museum, see a matinee performance, see Rockefeller Center dressed for the holidays, etc.—before leaving late afternoon to return home about 11:00. Overnight parking is free.
Ask Trevor
Need help with discount tickets, making restaurant reservations, and planning what to do? No problem! Our seasoned tour guide Trevor Major is on hand to answer all your questions. Phone him at 804-869-5285 or email him at trevor2@gmail.com. OLLI members will be meeting with Trevor via Zoom on Tuesday, June 25 at 2:00—be sure to sign up for the meeting. Participants will meet later at OLLI so we can coordinate who wants to do what and when.
Deposit Due
The cost of lodging, transportation, handling of luggage, etc. is $525 double or $675 single. Also included is a $45 voucher for a breakfast at the Marriott.
To hold your space, a deposit of $250 is due now. Make the check payable to Champlain Tours and mail it ASAP to Champlain Tours, PO Box 8585, Burlington, VT 05402.
Please email Norma at njreck@cs.com if you need more information and if you will be joining us on the trip so we can coordinate.
Help spread the news to your friends and family. Remember that guests are always welcome and need not be OLLI members.
On May 10, an adventuresome and curious group of OLLI members drove out to the Chantilly area of Loudoun County to spend the morning at the National Botanic Garden. After an introductory talk in the Stone Barn, we had time to explore the various garden areas and to view the whimsical Hobbit Town and Folly Castle, both of which were constructed from reclaimed materials.
Interesting sculptures are scattered throughout the park. Members interested in horticulture embarked on an informative walking tour to learn about the various types of cacti, bamboo, and other plants on the grounds. In all, it was an enjoyable way to spend a Friday morning at this little-known gem of Northern Virginia. See photos at the top of the issue.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will host discussions both on June 5 and June 12 at 4:00.
Our topic for June 5 at 4:00 is When Did Your Family Arrive in America? This is partly genealogy, partly family lore. Also why did they leave their previous home and immigrate? Who and what did they leave behind? There are likely lots of stories to be told behind the scenes and shared with us all.
The topic for June 12 is Book Club Varieties. There has recently been a spotlight thrown on book clubs that do not follow the traditional pattern—for example, the “Silent Book Club,” which we talked about a few months ago. Another variation is a topic-based club, where each member reads a book based on the “assigned” topic, such as WWI biography, and each then enlightens all the club members at the next meeting on what they learned or enjoyed. Another variant is the Online Book Club, where the members never get together in person. Still one more type is refreshment-based, where the nibbles served reflect the chosen book’s setting(s). What’s your preference?
Feel free to join us on Zoom using the 24/7 Chat Line login. Our conversations usually run about an hour, and we encourage you to participate. Everyone gets an opportunity to share their opinions and we all learn a lot.
Team Bloch conducts our Wednesday Conversation every week, but there is no need to register or otherwise commit to joining in. It’s all ad hoc.
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, June 15, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45.
It’s All About the Drone/Fairfax County Public Safety UAS Program—Presented by Roy Shrout
Drones can be found in almost every city and county in the United States. In 2020 alone, around 1 million consumer drones were purchased in North America. As of December 31, 2023, the FAA reports that they have 790,918 drones registered in their database. This includes 369,528 commercial drones, 416,095 recreational drones, and 5,295 paper registrations. There are 368,604 individuals who are certified as Part 107 Remote Pilots. To help keep safety as a key component to anyone who flies a drone, the FAA implemented a new safety program called TRUST in June 2021. The law requires that all recreational flyers must first pass a short aeronautical knowledge and safety test prior to flying their drone. So far 667,165 persons have passed this test.
The presentation will focus on two parts.
Part 1: Drone Basics: show and tell and a few videos
What types of drones are available to the public?
What can you do with them?
Safety
Where and when are you allowed to fly (airspace, weather, parks, applicable law)?
Types of required certification/training
Registration
Part 2: Fairfax County Public Safety Program
What steps were used to create the program?
What is the program?
How is it being used today?
The talk will also address the concerns and issues that continue to be raised regarding internationally manufactured drones and what happens if they are banned.
Roy Shrout served as the Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management for the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management from 2006 until he retired in April 2020.
This session will include a PC and Tech Support Clinic in the Annex; you must register in advance for clinic and be a member of OPCUG or PATACS to receive assistance from our tech helpers. Click here to access the clinic link.
See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 and are now due for 2024 (and 2023, if you didn’t get around to paying earlier in the year!)—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 389574 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 857 2717 9449 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method), or dial in at 301-715-8592.
Ephemera
The loving couple collected the slenderest of twigs
To build a fragile nest in our neighbors’ cherry tree.
In mere days she laid three pure white eggs.
Two weeks later they hatched into greedy mouths
That quickly grew and flew away.
The flimsy nest soon fell apart
As if it had never been.
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.
National Community Band Festival: Day 1
Sat, Jun 1, 4:00-9:00
Clark County Community Band 4:00
City of Falls Church Ensemble 5:15
The Main Street Community Ensemble 6:15
Herndon Regional Wind Ensemble 7:45
Center for the Arts
Admission: $19 Adult, $16 Senior.
National Community Band Festival: Day 2
Sun, Jun 2, 1:00
The Cathedral Brass
Arlington Concert Band
Fairfax Wind Symphony
Center for the Arts
Admission: $19 Adult, $16 Senior.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Celebrating Gershwin at 100
Sun, Jun 9, 4:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $65, $55, $40.
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 1
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 3
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 4
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 5
10:30 am
4:00 pm
The Investment Forum
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jun 6
11:50 am
4:30 pm
All the News – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jun 7
9:30 am
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
Mah Jongg Club
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Homer, etc. – online
Sat Jun 8
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 10
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Bridge Club
Poetry Writing Club – online
Tue Jun 11
10:00 am
4:30 pm
LLT Program Planning Group Meeting – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 12
10:00 am
10:30 am
4:00 pm
Board Game Club
The Investment Forum
Mah Jongg Club – online
Thu Jun 13
11:50 am
4:30 pm
All the News – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jun 14
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
2:30 pm
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Tallwood Book Club – online
Sat Jun 15
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
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.
restaurant reservations, and planning what to do? No problem! Our seasoned tour guide Trevor Major is on hand to answer all your questions. Phone him at 804-869-5285 or email him at 
