November 14, 2025

• Alerts & Notices
• Thanksgiving Message
• Holiday Party Reminder
• Holiday Sing-Along on December 8
• Join the Theater Lovers for a Side-Splitting Class and to Attend a Poignant Play
• Save the Date: Literature, Language, Theater, and Writing Program Planning Group to Meet
• French Conversation Club
• Wednesday Team Bloch Conversation Topic for November 19
• Poet's Corner
• Arts & Music at George Mason
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• Complete the fall term survey to offer OLLI your suggestions on how to improve your membership experience.

• Look for the OLLI winter catalog in the mail. All offerings are now ‘Add to Cart;’ you no longer need to prioritize courses. Register early to increase your chances for enrollment.

• The OLLI Mason office and campus will be closed November 24th-28th.

• Register by today (November 14) on the member portal for the annual OLLI holiday party, which will be at the Country Club of Fairfax on December 2, 11:30-2:30; cost is $50.

• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 28; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 25, at 6:00.

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Thanksgiving Message

 

By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director


I’m deeply grateful to be part of OLLI Mason. Each day brings a chance to see curiosity turn into conversation and ideas into understanding. It is a privilege to witness members coming together around
something as meaningful as learning. Whether joining a class or club, attending an event, or exploring a recorded class in the video library, each opportunity is a reminder of what can happen when we learn together.

With warmest wishes for Thanksgiving,
Lisa

Holiday Party Reminder

 

By Debbie Engleson, OLLI President


Oh dear – did you forget to make your reservation for the Holiday Party? It’s the biggest event of the year! You still have time – but not much. The event is December 2nd (a Tuesday this year) at 11:30 at the Country Club of Fairfax. We need your reservation by Friday, November 14th.

In addition to seeing your friends and having a delicious lunch, you will be treated to entertainment provided by the Jazz Group from George Mason. To register for the event, log in to your member portal and type 1204F Annual Holiday Party in the search engine. When you register, you will be asked to choose your entrée and pay the $50 lunch fee.

The lunch entrée options are chicken piccata, three-cheese ravioli with tomato basil cream sauce, or Thai chopped chicken salad. All meals include beverage and dessert, and a cash bar will be available. And don’t forget to bring a friend. Who knows, you or your guest may be one of the lucky ones to win one of the three door prizes.

Holiday Sing-Along on December 8

 

By Linda Harber, Friends of Music at Mason President


This year’s Holiday Singing for Fun event is December 8, from 10:00-noon, in TA-1. There will be song sheets and piano accompaniment. We welcome all interested OLLI members to join us for this fun celebration of the holiday season. No registration is required. The accompanying lovely poster was made by Linda Gordon.

Plan to join us for a fun morning sing-along!

Join the Theater Lovers for a Side-Splitting Class and to Attend a Poignant Play

 

By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group


You all are invited ...
The place to be this coming Tuesday, November 18 from 11:50 am to 1:15 pm is TA-1 at Tallwood. Be prepared to be wowed. All OLLI members are invited to either be there in person or tune in via Zoom. What's the big draw? Washington's Only Original Political Satirical Musical Comedy Revue, also known as Hexagon for these 70 side-splitting years now. Hexagon members will perform some numbers and show clips of their past (and uproariously hilarious) performances.

"I've never been to anything like this before and I can't wait until the next one," said a recent fan.
 
Hexagon will present the next one – Lollapalosers – during the month of April in 2026, when Theater Lovers Group plans to attend a matinee. The show will be in keeping with their mission which is "to uplift lives and strengthen our community by harnessing the power of theater." 

Find the link in OLLI's Daily Schedule or, better yet, come early, grab a cup of coffee, meet the presenters and your fellow theater lovers.

Why people go to the theater ...
"For my money, Birthday Candles is precisely why people go to the theater," says the Chicago Tribune. Birthday Candles is a poignant and funny play that takes the audience through the highlights, heartbreaks, and extraordinary moments that make up one women's ordinary life. Theater Lovers will attend the 2 pm matinee on Saturday, December 6, at 1stStage with optional lunch before the show. 1stStage has set aside 15 tickets for $25 each for us. Phone them at 703-854-1856 and tell them you are with OLLI to get your reduced-price ticket. Email Norma at [email protected] to let her know you have purchased a ticket. Prices go up when the fifteen $25 tickets are sold out.

Editor's Note: At the author's request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.

Save the Date: Literature, Language, Theater,
and Writing Program Planning Group to Meet 

By Patricia Bangs, Literature, Theater and
Writing/Languages Program Planning Group Co-Chair

Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Time: 10:00
What: Literature, Language, Theater (LLT), and Writing Program
Planning Group Meeting
Via Zoom

Whether you enjoy the classics or spy novels, sci-fi, or memoir, want to learn a language, explore playwrights and the world of theater, or hone your writing skills, we need your thoughts and ideas. 

Please join us for our quarterly program planning group meeting for literature, theater, writing and language program planning on Tuesday, December 9 at 10:00, via Zoom.

We will be reviewing past terms and looking forward to planning summer 2026 and beyond. All OLLI members can contribute to the excellent programming offered to our membership. Bring ideas for literature, theater, writing, or language programs, and possible instructor resources for this popular programming area. And, of course, if you or anyone you know would like to join our program planning group, here is your opportunity to see the process in action. Spread the word. See you on December 9.

The Zoom link will be published in the November 28 OLLI-E-News and available in the December 9 OLLI Daily Schedule.

If you would like to be added to our LLT mailing list for a reminder, or have any questions please email Pat Bangs at: [email protected]. Thank you

French Conversation Club

 

By Doris Bloch, French Conversation Club Coordinator

A few weeks ago, there was an article in the OLLI E-News about forming a French Conversation Club. Seven OLLI members expressed interest initially. If you missed that article, please know that all OLLI members are welcome to become involved in such a club. Feel free to send a message telling us of your interest to [email protected] and get on the e-mail list.

Wednesday Team Bloch Conversation Topic for November 19

By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co-Moderators

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