What Really Goes on in Presidential and Other Political Campaigns?
By Ken Reid, OLLI Instructor
We are saturated with day-to-day media and social media coverage about the Trump/Harris race and many congressional races, but what really goes on inside the campaigns? How do candidates mobilize volunteers and resources to win? These and other topics will be discussed in two sessions on Wednesdays, October 2 and 9, from 2:15 until 3:40, exploring the upcoming political campaigns.
In this two-part class, Ken Reid, who served 10 years in local elected office in Loudoun County (elected four times) and is a veteran volunteer in presidential campaigns, will discuss: Part I, October 2: The impact of third parties and senate/house races in battleground states; Part II, October 9: How specific voting blocs are likely being targeted by the Trump and Harris campaigns. This is NOT a class about issues, personalities, scandals and who's up or down, but about the tactics the campaigns are deploying to win on November 5.
The instructor has coordinated volunteers for several local, state, and presidential campaigns since 2000, including the last seven presidential elections. He authored the books The Six Secrets to Winning ANY Local Election and Navigating Elected Office Once You Win!
This is an OLLI class (F712/F712Z) with the meeting URL at this link; meeting ID is 83595656143 and passcode (use no spaces) is 012777. For in-person attendance, go to Tallwood classroom TA-1. The class is not in the catalog, but you may register for it at the member portal.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Team Bloch is proposing the topic Ambiguous Book Endings for the conversation on Wednesday, October 2.
Our discussion on October 2 will focus on participants' preferences for book conclusions: do you prefer that the author neatly spell out the ending of the book or would you rather have the author leave some doubt about what happens next? In other words, how much ambiguity do you welcome—or even tolerate?
Some readers like to have the whole plot, character motivation, and action put forward in a literal manner, while others prefer to fill in their own portrayal and (creative) subjective endings. Also, how do you feel about book series, where the same characters take part in a sequel? Or several sequels? Do you like or dislike these?
Our social conversations are held every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 via Zoom. The sessions are fully participatory, and all are welcome to join us. You can find the Zoom link in the daily schedule sent out by the OLLI office every Wednesday morning. There is no sign up required; just log into the 24/7 Chat Line.
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator of Theater Lovers' Group
During OLL's upcoming Fall term, all of OLLI's members are invited to share in The Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) events, which include:
1. A Theater and Film Potpourri class (see page 13 in catalog) Tuesdays, October 22 to November 12. 11:50-1:15.
Classes will include live performances featuring Mason's Maestro Joe Walsh and talented theater students performing songs from 110 in the Shade (which TLG will see Friday, November 1, tickets $15); Catie Flye, the lead in Waverly Gallery, who will perform music of Joyce Grenfall; Mason's Edrie Means Weekly, who will address musical theater; and Ellen Price, local playwright who wrote The Heiress of Hawtrey Hall, which TLG saw in May.
2. An overnight trip to American Shakespeare Center Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Va., Friday to Sunday, from November 1 to 3. Tickets are $45/person and payment is due ASAP. For more information and paying for tickets, email Jean Tatalias [email protected].
3. An overnight coach trip to New York City, Tuesday/Wednesday, November 19/20. Dble: $525. Stay at Marriott on Times Square. New York your way! See a Broadway show or two, go to Radio City Music Hall or United Nations or museums or just shop, sight-see and dine at a fabulous restaurant or deli. For more information, email Norma at [email protected]
4. Two plays: A 2pm matinee to see Waverly Gallery at 1stStage on Sunday, September 29. Ten Tickets available for $25/person - phone 703-854-1856; and a 2pm matinee at Creative Cauldron on Sunday, October 13 to see A Sondheim Tribute Revue. Tickets are $47 - phone 703-436-9948.
5. NEW! Mark your calendars. On Wednesday, December 4, we go to Mason's Fenwick Library for a tour of a theatrical exhibit "The Change We Want to See" Artists and Social Transformation, plus a tour of theatrical items in Mason's Special Collections,
Editor’s note: This article is 300 words (out of 330 submitted by the author). The remaining 30 words may be viewed at this link. At the author’s request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.
Literature, Languages, and Theater: Teach or Plan Programs at OLLI
By Patricia Bangs, Literature, Theater, and
Writing/Languages Group Co-Coordinator
As part of a volunteer organization, many OLLI members have joined the ranks of our instructors or contributed to our program planning. The Literature, Language, and Theater (LLT) program planning group is seeking both.
Perhaps you are a former teacher missing the classroom experience or have a passion—no need for formal expertise—you would like to share. You may also know individuals in your community who would be good OLLI instructors. Or, if you have a topic you would like to have taught and may know of possible instructors, share it with us and we can contact them. For example, we need a Spanish instructor and also would like to expand our language offerings, including German and Italian.
The LLT program planning group is also inviting members to contribute to our LLT program planning process. In coordination with staff, we meet several times a year to review and plan course offerings for each term. Planning begins at least six months in advance and sometimes earlier. Members are invited to our semi-annual meetings in June and December. They are
advertised in the E-News, or you can contact me and I’ll add you to our email list.
If you would like more information about teaching OLLI literature, language, theater, or writing programs, please feel free to contact me or any of the other committee co-chairs below:
History Club Meeting Wednesday, October 2 By Doug Snoeyenbos, History Club Coordinator
The History Club will have its first virtual meeting of the year at 4:00 on Wednesday, October 2. The presenter will be Daniel Cain, who will address “The Collapse of the Soviet Union.” Daniel will examine the forces, individuals, and events of the Gorbachev era that were crucial to the demise of the USSR, and to the independence of the former Soviet republics and its former Warsaw Pact allies of Eastern Europe.
Daniel has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and political science from Ohio University, and also did post-graduate study at the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute (REEI), before moving to the Washington, D.C. area. He spent more than 30 years as an intelligence analyst for the federal government, including nearly 20 years at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.
Tallwood Book Club By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator
The Tallwood Book Club will meet in person on campus in October and November. We are assigned to the Cottage for meetings but can meet outdoors on the parking lot island if the weather permits.
Our meeting on October 9 will be at 1:30 and we will be discussing Old Filth by Jane Gardam. The November meeting will discuss Horse by Geraldine Brooks, also at 1:30. We will continue to choose books for December, January, and February, and perhaps March and April.
The September 2024 Photo of the Month theme was Variations on Your Theme. OLLI Photo Club members were invited to submit two photos varying on a factor -- e.g., color versus black-and-white. We selected Cookie (Ellen) Hilert's photo(s) "Egret at Huntley Meadows," which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.
-- By John Olsen and Edward Marion, Photography Club Co-Coordinators
The large basket
of soft balls of yarn
sits by the fireplace
unknitted and largely ignored
even by curious cats.
A collection that reflects
the multihued threads of travel -
whites and grays of Icelandic skies
blues of Norwegian waters
yellows of a Nova Scotia fall
and, of course, moss greens of Ireland.
Peeking through is a rich bronze
flecked with reds and golds
from Hungary but irresistible
in a Scottish shop.
I once felt pressured
to create wearables
for head and neck
but it never seemed these fibers
would be as beautiful in any other form
so I let go of that ambition
for the rich colors of their memories.
–Jacqueline Davey
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.
An Evening with Lea Salonga
Sat, Sep 28, 8:30
Concert Hall
Admission: $100, $75, $50.
Friends of the Center for the Arts Artists in
Conversation: Latin Social Dance Workshop with Ballet
Hispánico
Fri, Oct 4, 7:00
Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
3740 Blenheim Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030
Admission: FREE, but registration required; click here.
Ballet Hispánico
Sat, Oct 5, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus) Kollywood Night (in Nepali language)
Sat, Sep 28, 5:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30.
Hylton Family Series: Mario the Maker Magician
Sun, Sep 29, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.
Prince William Little Theatre: Ken Ludwig’s
Baskerville, A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Fri, Oct 4, 8:00
Sat, Oct 5, 8:00
Sun, Oct 6, 2:00
Fri, Oct 11, 8:00
Sat, Oct 12, 8:00
Sun, Oct 13, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $25 Adult, $20 Senior.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Jeff Hamilton
Sat, Oct 5, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion with guest artist Jeff Hamilton
begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert
Sun, Oct 6, 4:00
A family-friendly craft activity will take place in the
Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall prior to this
performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
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. 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 Sep 28
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Sep 30
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Oct 1
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
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
History Club – online
Spanish Club
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Oct 3
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Oct 4
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
2:30 pm
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Dance Club
Classic Literature Club – online
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Sat Oct 5
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Oct 7
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Oct 8
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Dabbling Artists Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Bridge Club
Tallwood Book Club
Spanish Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Oct 10
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Oct 11
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Dabbling Artists Club
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Grab’n’ Gab Coffee Klatch
Classic Literature Club – online
Homer, etc. – online
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.
everal local, state, and presidential campaigns since 2000, including the last seven presidential elections. He authored the books The Six Secrets to Winning ANY Local Election and Navigating Elected Office Once You Win!
