OLLI Mason was Awarded the Arts Fairfax Education Award, October 26
November 3, 2023
Editor of the Week: John Nash
Table of Contents
Alerts & Notices
Alert: Change of date for the Theater Lovers’ Group outing for a Sunday 2:00 matinee of the musical Ragtime at Signature Theater. The event will be at 2:00 on Sunday, November 26. Please email Norma Reck at njreck@cs.com with any ticket questions and let her know you will join the group, and if you are interested in the 12:00 lunch.
REMEMBER TO VOTE! If you haven’t already voted, Tuesday, November 7 is Election Day. November 4 is the last day for early in-person voting in Fairfax. The Virginia legislature is currently split; the House of Delegates has a Republican majority while the Senate has a very small Democratic majority, so every vote is important in determining what legislation passes in the next couple of years.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 10; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 7, at 6:00.
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 8 at 4:00. The topic will be: Your News Sources!
Where do you get your news? Daily or weekly newspaper, digital or paper? Or on your phone? Or on your computer? Mainstream media or other sources such as newsletters or blogs? Which sources do you have confidence in, and which do you distrust? How do you discern the bias inherent in certain stories?
Check your daily schedule for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on discussion with Team Bloch on November 8.
Grandma Sylvia’s Guide to the Stock Market: Win the Great Game and Sleep Well at Night, by OLLI member and author Sylvia Auton, was selected as a recommended book choice for the week of October 28. Fairfax County Public Library's “Wowbrary" had Auton's book among the weekly choices for "the newest stuff at your library"—see the accompanying figure.
You rest; You rust! I'm not sure where I first heard that, but I believe it's true. With “inactivity” a person can lose out on lots of things . . . including a few years of life.
As we drift into our “golden years”―we never say “old!” We all have a tendency to slow down as we age, which is good. But slowing down doesn't mean we must stop. Sometimes we have to look a little harder for opportunities that interest us and keep us active. Recently, there have been several articles in E-News suggesting various ways to actively participate in OLLI, from running for a board position, participating on committees, joining discussion groups, or teaching an OLLI class. For many years, members of the OLLI photo club have volunteered to take pictures of Mason events. It's a way we can return the good will of Mason while helping us improve our photography skills. OLLI members need only to express an interest to find many volunteer opportunities to enrich their lives.
In addition to volunteer opportunities at OLLI, we can find ways to stay active within our religious institutions, local communities, and support groups. Volunteer Fairfax, for example, offers a list of organizations and groups who can always use support.
I recently moved to a retirement community in Loudoun County where the word “retirement” just doesn't exist. There are so many opportunities to become involved. I recently used my photography skills to take pictures of four residents who had achieved the wonderful age of 100 plus. They were delightful to work with, and I learned so much from their conversations. One doesn't get to be 100 years old without some incredible experiences!
People often are reluctant to volunteer; they fear they will be given too much responsibility or the activity will demand too much time. There's an easy solution: just make clear your interest level and available time, and then participate in a rewarding activity.
Volunteering is like exercising: it doesn't take a whole lot to reap some incredible benefits. Many opportunities to be involved are right here in OLLI! Keeping those mental and physical gears in motion will certainly add years to your life . . . and ensure there is no rust forming! Remember: motion is lotion!
Fall
My goldfinches have flown south
My brave hummingbird is Mexico bound
Bees just a desperately buzzing few
Acorns hailing in a damaging torrent
Squirrels frantically hiding their bounty
Leaves of gold drifting slowly down
The chill is gentle but a clear call
It must be fall
―Sally Sibley
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.
Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens: American Railroad
Sun, Nov 5, 7:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
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 Sunday, 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.
David Amoroso: Belleza Brutal
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Through Nov 4
Admission: Free.
The U.S. Army Band Star-Spangled Spectacular with Christopher Jackson
Sat, Nov 4, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Free but tickets are no longer available. Audience members without tickets will be seated pending availability of open seats prior to the start of the performance.
Ju Yun: Celestial Carnival
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Nov 7–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).
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 4
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Nov 7
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 8
11:00 am
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
Spanish Club
Tallwood Book Club
Bridge Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Nov 9
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 10
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Classic Literature
Homer, etc.
Cooking Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life
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
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
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!
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
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.
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cently used my photography skills to take pictures of four residents who had achieved the wonderful age of 100 plus. They were delightful to work with, and I learned so much from their conversations. One doesn't get to be 100 years old without some incredible experiences!
