The OLLI Board of Directors met on Friday, October 18, at 10:00 with 14 Directors, Jennifer Disano (Executive Director), and 11 OLLI members/staff in TA‑1 and on Zoom.
President Debbie Engleson encouraged the Board and OLLI members to attend the OLLI Town Hall meeting on Friday, November 1, followed by the OLLI Oktoberfest party with a German style Oompah band.
Healthcare Advisory Working Group (HAWG) chair Michele Romano noted that the group will continue releasing snippets on health news through E-News and E-Blast.
OLLI Executive Director, Jennifer Disano, recognized that our membership has stabilized at a current 939 members. New members using the first-year $300 promotion are given a voucher to reduce the second-year membership to $375. Jennifer also noted that due to longtime volunteer retirements, we need volunteers for the curriculum committees in all subject areas. The staff has assumed some of the roles temporarily.
OLLI Treasurer Dick Crawford reported that we are on target for both expenditures and income. He will present the proposed 2025 budget at the November Board meeting for discussion.
Governance Committee Chair Peter Ansoff recognized Marilyn Harriman’s extensive report on the election process and recommendations. After three meetings, the committee recommended two resolutions to the Board. A synopsis of resolutions that were passed is:
Each year the Nominating Committee will recommend five candidates to replace those Board members vacating their positions.
OLLI members are limited to serving two three-year terms on the Board.
Before closing, Board member Toni Acton recognized that this fall we have 92 new OLLI members, whose badges carry a GREEN DOT. Please recognize and welcome them into the OLLI membership.
All members are welcome at our next OLLI Board meeting in Tallwood TA‑1 or on Zoom at 10:00 on Friday, November 15. “Come one, come all” to sign up and attend our OLLI holiday party at the Fairfax Country Club on Friday, December 6, 11:30-2:30.
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 16, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45.
Wrestling with Windows 11—Presented by Charlie Bosch
Windows 11 isn’t new, but lots of folks haven’t taken the plunge yet. But, in less than a year, Microsoft will drop support for this version (or you’ll have to pay $30 a year for security updates for a limited additional time.) Here’s an opportunity to learn about some of new features and how to use this version of Windows. Your old computer might just expire tomorrow and you’ll need to jump into the Win11 world!
Charlie Bosch is an IT professional and new member of PATACS, having previously been part of the Fredericksburg PC User Group.
Learn in 30: Will It Still Open? Maintenance of Old Electronic Records —Presented by Patty Davis
In the past, most records were maintained on paper. Although this meant that they had to be lugged from location to location, for the most part, there was no concern that they would be able to be read in the future. Today most records—from bank statements to family photos—are kept electronically.
Starting in July of 2024, even the US Government directed agencies to no longer produce paper, and the National Archives will not accept paper records directly from agencies. With these records now created and maintained on digital media, it raises the question, "Can users still access records that are 10, 20, or more years old?" Patty Davis, former Fredericksburg PC User's Group president and Certified Archivist will explore the history of electronic records and steps that the average person can take to ensure that in the future your electronic records will still be accessible.
This session will include a PC and Tech Support Clinic in the Annex. You must register in advance for the clinic, and be a member of OPCUG or PATACS to receive assistance from our tech helpers. Go to the Clinic Link: https://www.patacs.org/clinicpat.html.
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 last 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 045284 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 897 3557 7784 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method), or dial in at 301-715-8592.
Amelia Draper of NBC 4 to Speak November 13
By Shannon Morrow, Lead Program Associate
Amelia Draper, a meteorologist with NBC’s Storm Team4, will speak at OLLI on Wednesday, November 13. Her talk will include how forecasts are made, what goes into a television forecast, and trends being seen on television. Be prepared with your weather or climate questions! Her forecasts can be seen during the midday and evening editions of News4 and on NBC Washington digital properties.
Amelia joined News4 in March 2013. A native of Frederick, MD, she had wanted to forecast the weather in Washington, DC, since she started studying meteorology at Penn State University. In fact, she graduated from college early so she could start working.
Her first job was with CNET in State College, PA. While forecasting the weather there, she became very familiar with weather phenomena such as lake-effect snow, which helped her land her next job as weekend meteorologist for WJET/WFXP in Erie, PA. Erie recorded its second snowiest winter on record during her first year there. From there, she joined the morning shift at WIVB-WNLO in Buffalo.
The opportunity to be closer to family and friends brought her back to the DC area as a member of Washington’s NBC weather team. She brought extensive experience covering snowy winters, spring storms, and summer heat.
Support Our Mason Students through the Student Support Advocacy Center
By Camille Hodges, OLLI Board Member and Chair of the Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group
Are you looking for a way to support our Mason students? While some things have changed, some remain the same. After paying tuition, many students cannot afford food and personal items. Mason’s Patriot Pantry can help with this constant need. To access the Patriot Pantry, please visit the web site at this link, then go to the Donations page. You may donate food and/or personal items in person or online. Thank you.
By Darden Purcell, D.M.A., Mason Director of Jazz Studies and Jazz Voice
Mason is hosting several great jazz concerts this month. Two are coming up next week. We hope you will join us!
MASON JAZZ VOCAL NIGHT
Monday, November 11, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Tickets: Click here.
Join Dr. Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio, the DownBeat award-winning Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble and special guests, Stone Bridge High School (director Christine Tarrant) for an evening of swinging standards and classic hits from the Great American Songbook.
++++++++++++++++++
STEEL PAN ENSEMBLE | JAZZ COMBOS
Wednesday, November 13, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Free and Open to the Public
The Mason Steel Pan Ensemble (directed by Victor Provost) and Jazz Combos (directed by Wade Beach) perform their fall concert. Enjoy performances by composers Victor Provost, the Hunter Tones, Roy Hargrove, John Bliss (resident student composer), Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Luis Bonfa, Raymond Taylor, Lester Judson, Vince Guaraldi, and more!
By Camille Hodges, OLLI Board Member and Chair of the Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group
November 1 is All Saint’s Day, a Christian holiday, as well as the Mexican holiday called Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos. The Hindu faith may observe Diwali at the end of October or early November. On November 11 we celebrate Veterans Day, which was initially called Armistice Day. It was first recognized in 1938 as a national holiday, but the name was changed in 1954 to honor American veterans of all wars.
November is also Native American Heritage Month. As part of a month-long series of activities, Starr Chief Eagle will be performing Hoop Dancing on November 29 at the National Museum of the American Indian.
On Thanksgiving Day, Americans celebrate not only the harvest, but also friends and family. Enjoy!
She handed me a box, wrapped with care,
and ribboned in rich, shiny taffeta.
With effort, she controlled her excitement.
Zahra was a student, I, her graduate advisor.
Her family emigrated from Afghanistan
fifteen years ago.
I raised the top of the red silk-lined box.
Inside, I saw a circular disc of concentric blue tones.
Attached was a finely-tied sisal rope,
strung with dark blue beads --
a wall hanging.
Each exterior circle of the disc was sumptuously adorned
with complex shapes of interconnecting
lapis lazuli, black onyx, and aquamarine stones.
A milky-white round protrusion graced the center of the disc,
the middle of which held an aquamarine orb with an intense black “pupil.”
The impression: an eye of terror.
It was disquieting, disturbing, yet exquisitely alluring.
Would I want to hang this strange object
in my home?
“What is this?” I asked Zahra.
It’s an evil eye – to repel negative energy and provide protection to a household.
In my home country,
it’s been an important cultural object
for many hundreds of years.
I thought you would appreciate it.
She smiled, her eyes shining.
I now understood the sincerity and trust, affection and appreciation
that this “evil” eye
expressed to me.
I would hang it prominently.
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.
Arturo Sandoval
Sun, Nov 10, 7:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Virginia Opera: Carmen
Saturday, Nov 16 at 7:30
Sunday, Nov 17 at 2:00
A pre-performance discussion with faculty member Richard Leech will take place in Monson Grand Tier, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $70, $40.
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus) Mandy Gonzalez
Sat, Nov 9, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion with Mandy Gonzalez begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Tara McNeill and Alexander Bernstein
Wednesday, Nov 13 at 1:30
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall
Admission: Concert and dessert reception: $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 Nov 9
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Nov 11
9:30 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Nov 12
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Nov 13
12:00 noon
1:30 pm
1:30 pm
1:30 pm
2:00 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Tallwood Book Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Thu Nov 14
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri Nov 15
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
2:30 pm
Crafts and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Classic Literature Club – online
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Sat Nov 16
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Nov 18
9:30 am
11:00 am
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Poetry Reading Club – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Nov 19
10:00 am
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston & Loudoun Program Planning Group – online
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Nov 20
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Dabbling Artists Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Nov 21
11:50 am
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
All the News – online
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Nov 22
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
12:00 noon
Dabbling Artists Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Photography Club
Chair Yoga and More – 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: [email protected]. 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.
