OLLI Annual Town Hall Meeting, In Person and Zoom, Tallwood, November 3
November 10, 2023
Editor of the Week: David Gundry
Table of Contents
Alerts & Notices
The OLLI Office will be closed for holiday breaks from November 20 to 25 and December 16 to January 2, 2024.
Reminder: Theater Lovers’ Group event Sunday, November 26, to attend the 2:00 matinee of the musical Ragtime at Signature Theater. Please email Norma Reck at njreck@cs.com with any questions.
Winter term registration begins on November 28 at 9:00.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 24; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 21, at 6:00.
Reminder: Register by November 14 for Holiday Party
By Debbie Engleson, Board Member and Treasurer
Time is running out! You need to register by November 14 to join fellow OLLI members and guests for the OLLI Holiday Party. Enjoy the music of the recorder group as you check in on Friday, December 1.
Where: The Country Club of Fairfax at 5110 Ox Road, Fairfax.
Starting at 11:30, there will be socializing and a cash bar, with lunch served at 12:15.
Following remarks and door prizes, you will be treated to the music of the Fairfax High School Carolers.
For lunch, choose chicken marsala, pasta primavera, or spinach salad with grilled chicken as entrées. All meals include beverages and dessert. You can indicate your choice of entrée and pay the $50 fee when you register on the OLLI portal(Event 1203). Registration ends on Tuesday, November 14.
Register now and bring a guest. You don’t want to miss this lovely event!
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, November 21, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session usually opens at 12:45.
A Day in the Mobile Life—Presented by Roy Wagner
I will discuss how I use my “mobile” devices in a “typical” day and compare it with how life was before we had mobile devices available to us. I’ll talk about using my mobile phone and tablet through a typical day in my life.
OLLI member Roy Wagner served as President of Washington Apple Pi (wap.org) for three years and hosts the monthly ‘Clubhouse’ Zoom meetings. He began using Apple products in 1987, while fighting with Windows machines in the work environment.
Learn in 30: Why Do Printer Drivers Sometimes Take So Long to Print Photos?—Presented by John Krout
One night, your presenter's son asked why his Windows computer took more than 15 minutes to start printing a billion-pixel photo he downloaded from NASA. Your presenter too has experienced that delay many times, most recently when he self-published his 2024 Calendar containing most of the multi-photo panoramas he has taken over the past 20 years. This will continue to happen: even smartphone photos now can exceed 40 megapixels in size, and one recent phone shoots 200 megapixel photos. Plus, many phones now take huge composite panoramas. This presentation will explain the two major purposes of a printer driver, and simple steps you can take to make photos print quickly, and even upload quickly.
John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology and photography topics, and author of 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 206627 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 860 6157 6830 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).
Save the Date: Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages Program Planning Group Meeting
By Pat Bangs, Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages Program Planning Group Co‑Chair
Date: Thursday, December 7
Time: 10:00-11:30
Whether you enjoy the classics or spy novels, sci-fi or memoir, want to learn a language, or explore playwrights and the world of theater, we need your thoughts and ideas.
Please join us for our semi-annual all‑campus program planning group meeting for literature, theater, and writing/language program planning on Thursday, December 7, at 10:00 via Zoom.
We will be reviewing past terms and looking forward to planning for summer 2024 and beyond. All OLLI members can contribute to the excellent programming offered to our membership. Bring ideas for literature, theater, and writing/language programs, possible resources, such as individuals you may know who might want to teach, or any other thoughts on this popular OLLI program area. And, of course, if you or anyone you know would like to join our group, here is your opportunity to see the process in action. Spread the word; see you on December 7.
The meeting Zoom link from Shannon Morrow, our staff program associate, is https://gmu.zoom.us/j/93862178369. We will resend it again closer to the meeting. If you would also like to be added to our mailing list for a reminder, or have any questions, please email me at: pbangs68@gmail.com.
Humanities, Social Sciences, and Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
By Camille Hodges, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Current Events Program Planning Group Co-Chair
The Humanities, Social Sciences, and Current Events (HSS/CE) Program Planning Group will meet on Tuesday, November 14, at 10:00, via Zoom. The Zoom link for the meeting appears below.
The OLLI Fall Session ends tomorrow; you should have received the winter catalog in your mailbox by now. Course offerings are high quality as usual.
The Multicultural Committee is “in-progress” and needs additional members if you’re interested or can suggest someone. So far, the main idea is that all OLLI committees continue to strive to be as “multicultural/multi-ethnic” as possible when considering course offerings as we encourage a more diverse membership. Look for an article in the OLLI E-News soon.
The Old Town Hall in Fairfax is a great venue; you are encouraged to park across the street in the library parking lot (underground). It’s easy and a short walk across the street.
Summer 2024 course proposals are due January 26.
We are working on a couple of presenters who have not committed yet.
The next HSS/CE meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 16, 2024.
Fall 2024 proposals are due March 8. (Dr. George Oberle, Mason Assistant Professor of History and Art History, may present in the fall of 2024.)
Still looking for discussions on: “banned/challenged” books (Yes, Charlotte’s Web is one of them); possible constitutional issues confronting the Supreme Court.
Others?
II. Updates from Shannon and Nancy
III. Updates from committee members/What ideas can we help you with?
IV. Other information to share? Questions? Comments?
The Town Hall meeting in TA-1, Tallwood, on November 3 was opened by OLLI President Lillian Brooks with 36 members on Zoom and 24 members in person. Those in person enjoyed the fall coffee and many confections provided by the Diversions Committee. Lillian introduced the Board members present. Lillian noted that our Strategic Plan objectives are to continue to recruit new and diverse members from the many ethnic groups in the Northern Virginia area. We would like to have more people in the classrooms as well as enjoying our in-person events (e.g., fall kickoff and Halloween parties, the December 1 holiday party). We are also offering OLLI-sponsored travel for our members (Iceland this year, next year to the Far East (Japan and Korea), and Albuquerque during the balloon festival).
Jennifer Disano was introduced and recognized for her outstanding ten years of service as our Executive Director, and for building the OLLI Mason program. This year OLLI won the prestigious ArtsFairfax Award which gave us a lot of county-wide attention. Jennifer noted that we currently have 940 members, close to the national average of 933 members for the 125 OLLIs in the country. We enjoy in-person, Zoom and hybrid classes at all three campuses, using classrooms at Tallwood five days a week, at Reston one to two days a week, and at Mason Loudoun one day a week. We are reaching out to local retirement communities, such as the three Silverstone locations and others, to offer some classes and packages for a fee to entice new memberships. We are also working to update our OLLI website and advertising materials, as well to locate potential donors and possibly a sponsor. Our biggest challenge is to locate volunteers for the Board of Directors and the many different things that OLLI is involved with for the present and future.
There were many questions and comments at the Town Hall from the Zoom and in-person audiences, helping to amplify and clarify the details of our many OLLI activities.
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 November 15 at 4:00, where every OLLI member is welcome to join us to talk about our topic: Keeping and Firing Friends.
We all know that FRIENDSHIP is important. Socialization is a most important factor in our mental well-being, our staying engaged in life, and our physical welfare. Friends help bridge the loneliness gap. As we retire from the workplace and perhaps dial our activities down a bit, friendships tend to change or disappear. During the Covid pandemic, many of us had to put our friendships on pause and isolate ourselves. For all those reasons, friendships require work on everyone's part to maintain. The backbone of any friendship is one where both sides put in equal effort and support.
The Atlantic recently ran an article about "How to Break Up with Your Friends." But in that article they cited six different types of expectations for friends: genuine regard (they like you for what you are), self-disclosure (you feel safe to discuss personal stuff), instrumental aid (they help you move or send you a meal when you are sick), similarity (you enjoy some of the same things), enjoyment (you are happy to spend time with them), and agency (what externals they can help you with). An important point is that no one friend can likely offer all of these things and you might want to have several "overlapping" friends, each of whom can satisfy a few of those expectations. It may be unrealistic to "break up" if a friend doesn't meet all those criteria—maybe it is better to overlook the gaps? What does a "friend" mean to you?
Join us via the OLLI 24/7 Chat Line on November 15. See the OLLI daily schedule email for the Zoom meeting ID and password.
Note: Team Bloch is taking a week off from our Wednesday Conversations Series on November 22, the day before Thanksgiving. We will resume the Wednesday following, November 29.
Always around. Facing it is daunting.
It’s been there (here) since the beginning
when there was nothing but nothingness.
God turned nothingness into
light, dark, day, night, sun, moon,
stars, seas, fish, sky, birds, land, animals,
humankind, and a day to rest.
The Big Bang exploded nothingness into
electrons, quarks, protons, neutrons,
particles, waves, helium, hydrogen,
carbon, iron, dark matter, proteins,
carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids.
Still lots of nothingness.
nothing to do, nothing new, nothing changes,
nothing here, nothing to look forward to,
nothing good, nothing to talk about,
ain’t worth nothin’.
In the meantime, take your nothingness and
clean up the kitchen, confront a problem,
provide what’s missing, do what’s next,
write a poem, paint a picture, savor a
reddish-orange sunset, apologize, admire
a neighbor’s hydrangea, smile at a stranger,
wonder at all the stars, watch a four-year old
discover bike balance,
delight in the miracle of life.
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 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 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.
Virginia Opera: The Barber of Seville
Sat, Nov 11, 7:30
Sun, Nov 12, 2:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Following the Sun, November 12 matinee, Virginia Opera Resident Scholar Joshua Borths will lead a post-performance discussion with the artists in the Center for the Arts main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $70, $40.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra with Renée Fleming
Sat, Nov 18, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $100, $75, $50.
Family Series: B—The Underwater Bubble Show
Sun, Nov 19, 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $25.
Chanticleer
Sat, Nov 25, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $58, $49, $34.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Festive French Fare
Sun, Nov 26, 7:00
Pre-performance “Young Artists Musicale,” featuring piano students of Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association members, will take place from 6 to 6:30 in the main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
Brass Day
Sat, Nov 11, 10:00 until 4:00
Harris Theatre, deLaski Performing Arts Building, several Fairfax campus sites
Admission: Free, but registration is required.
Registration link coming soon @ music.gmu.edu.
Steel Pan Ensemble, Latin American Ensemble
Tue, Nov 14, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Jazz Combos, Braddock Road Brass Band
Wed, Nov 15, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Mason School of Theater: fallen
Thu, Nov 16, 8:00
Fri, Nov 17, 8:00
Sat, Nov 18, 2:00 and 8:00
Sun, Nov 19, 2:00
TheatreSpace, deLaski A105, and other Fairfax campus sites
Admission: $30 adult, $15 senior.
Piano Chamber Ensembles
Mon, Nov 27, 7:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A323
Admission: Free.
Ju Yun: Celestial Carnival
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Through Jan 6
Admission: Free.
Manassas Ballet Theatre: Colin―Son, Marine, Hero
Thu, Nov 9, 7:30
Fri, Nov 10, 7:30
Sat, Nov 11, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $65, $55, $45, $35, $25, (Free for veterans and service members; up to two tickets each with ID. Free tickets are limited and only available in person at the Hylton Center Ticket Office).
American Roots Series: Seven Voices—A Tribute to Patsy Cline
Sun, Nov 12, 4:00
Sun, Nov 12, 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30, (Free for veterans and service members; up to two tickets each with ID. Free tickets are limited and only available in person at the Hylton Center Ticket Office).
Matinee Idylls: Virginia Opera, A Taste of Opera
Tue, Nov 14, Lunch at 12:30, concert at 1:30
Gregory Family Theater
Admission:
Lunch, concert, and dessert reception: $65
Concert and dessert reception only: $40.
Gian Marco, Diego Torres En Concierto
Thu, Nov 16, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $169, $139, $119, $99.
Sonia De Los Santos
Sat, Nov 18, 11:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $15.
Steep Canyon Rangers
Sat, Nov 18, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance, featuring Steep Canyon Ranger musicians Aaron Burdett, Graham Sharp, and Mike Ashworth.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Axial Dance: Winter Wonderland
Sun, Nov 19, 3:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $12.
Virginia National Ballet: The Nutcracker
Fri, Nov 24, 2:00 and 6:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $45, $40, $35, $30, $25, $20.
Northern Virginia Ballet: The Nutcracker
Sat, Nov 25, 2:00 and 6:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35 adult, $25 senior.
A Canadian Brass Christmas
Sun, Nov 26, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
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 Nov 11
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Nov 13
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Reading Club
Tue Nov 14
9:30 am
10:00 am
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Annex Art Humanities/Social Sciences and Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Publicity & Publications Committee Meeting
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 15
10:00 am
10:30 am
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
Spanish Club
Conversation with Team Bloch
Thu Nov 16
11:30 am
11:50 am
4:30 pm
Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 17
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Recorder Rehearsal
Homer, etc.
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Party with Paint!
Sat Nov 18
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Nov 20
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Writing Group
Tue Nov 21
9:30 am
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Thu Nov 23
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 24
11:00 am
1:00 pm
Homer, etc.
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Sat Nov 25
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Nov 27
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Reading Group
Tue Nov 28
9:30 am
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 29
10:00 am
10:30 am
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Conversation with Team Bloch
Thu Nov 30
11:30 am
11:50 am
4:30 pm
Diversity/Multicultural Committee
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Dec 1
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 pm
1:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Annual OLLI Holiday Party
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, 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.
the recorder group as you check in on Friday, December 1.
