- This is the last call for anyone interested in becoming a candidate for the 2017 OLLI Board of Directors. Contact Terri Feldmayer, Chair, Nominating Committee; Tel: 793-725-9627; Email: [email protected].
- Special Event Committee Meeting, 1:45‒3:45, Wednesday, April 5, Social Room Annex at Tallwood.
- OLLI member volunteers are always needed and welcome; check out opportunities on the OLLI website at this link.
The Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Friday, May 5, 2017, at 10:00, at Tallwood. The agenda for the meeting will include:
Reports from the OLLI president and executive director;
Brief speeches by the candidates for election to the Board and opportunity for members to ask questions of the candidates, moderated by the Nominating Committee.
The vote for electing the Board of Directors will take place from Friday, May 5, through noon on Friday, May 19, 2017.
Election Procedure
Recognizing the accuracy, convenience, and efficiency of electronic balloting, the bylaws allow for electronic transmission, and members are encouraged to use this method of voting. To comply with the bylaws, on April 29, directions on How To Vote For BOD Candidates will be emailed to the OLLI membership, included in the OLLI E-News, and provided as a handout in classrooms. Printed directions will be mailed to those without email.
Any OLLI member who requests a paper ballot will receive one by mail with a preaddressed return envelope marked BALLOT ENCLOSED. Please notify the OLLI office to request a mailed ballot. Use this ballot to vote for up to six candidates. You can mail the ballot to OLLI or drop it in a ballot box at Tallwood, Reston, or Loudoun. Since you do not sign the ballot or return envelope, your vote remains completely anonymous. To be counted, all ballots must be received by noon on May 19, 2017.
Do not lose your ballot: No member having lost, damaged, or destroyed his/her paper ballot may receive a second ballot. Making more than six choices will invalidate your ballot. Similarly, more than one ballot per envelope, any ballot not in the furnished BALLOT ENCLOSED envelope, or any ballot not received by May 20 will be invalid.
If you have questions about the election process, please contact Terri Feldmayer, chair of Nominating Committee: [email protected] or 703-725-9627.
Beautiful Music to Enjoy By John Nash, E-News EditorOne of the OLLI program treasures is the Music Sampler presented by Dr. Kathryn Hearden, professor of vocal studies at Mason. In this eight-week program offered during the past several terms, students and faculty display their musical talents for OLLI members. Dr. Hearden has coordinated the presentations of instrumental and vocal programs, making this a “win-win” situation by offering the opportunity for university musicians to present their talents and OLLI members to enjoy outstanding music.As an example of these programs, this past Tuesday, Abigail West, a harpist student of Prof. Elizabeth Blakeslee, displayed her skills on the harp and answered questions about the instrument. Abigail, from a musical family in Richmond, is a Mason junior minoring in music.There are still six programs lined up for this term and OLLI member are encouraged to come and enjoy this wonderful music. As a special note, on Tuesday, April 4, Dr. Linda Apple Monson, director of the School of Music, will present a piano program entitled, “The Joy of Music,” entertaining us with her skills as a pianist and lecturer.The Music Sampler is offered from 9:30 to 11 each Tuesday at the Fairfax Lord of Life Lutheran church. There’s still space and time to enjoy the amazing talents from the Mason School of Music, so add this special program to your OLLI calendar now. (Photo by John Nash)
The next meeting of the History Club will be Wednesday, April 5, at 2:15 in TA‑1. Professor Williamson Murray, author of A Savage War: A Military History of the Civil War, will answer the question: “Why another book on the military history of the Civil War? ” For one thing, the scope of Murray’s study brings together the many facets of the war as it was fought in the east and the west, the historical forces at play in the conflict, as well as the personalities of the major figures who had such decisive roles in the war. Author or co-author of some 24 books on military history, Professor Murray is the one qualified to answer the question he poses.
All OLLI members and their guests are invited to attend meetings of the History Club. Please join us on Wednesday, April 5 at 2:15 in TA‑1.
Humanities and Social Sciences Planning Committee Meeting
By Camille Hodges and Johnnie Hicks, Co-Chairs, Humanities and Social Sciences Planning Committee
The Humanities and Social Sciences Planning Committee will meet on Friday morning, April 7 at 9:30 in TA-1. Come join us as we plan our exciting 2017 fall courses and begin looking toward 2018 winter and spring. Perhaps you have a topic in mind, or have feedback from a previous course … or maybe you would just like to come and spend quality time with some hard-working, fun-loving OLLI folks. Whatever the reason, we hope to see you there!
During Mason’s spring break, March 10-19, seven OLLI members joined 10 others to participate in Mason’s cultural tour of Portugal, traveling from Lisbon to Porto with stops in between.
Portugal is a fascinating country that, surprisingly, is not yet one of the top tourist destinations. The key word is “yet” as the history, culture, and support - including the super-friendliness of the people and great food - have been changing that focus for the last several years.
The local tour guides were excellent, helping us to understand the complex history of the country that, along with Spain, once came under Moorish influence, and to renew our knowledge of childhood history about the Portuguese seafaring conquests…remember Prince Henry the Navigator? We learned that today the growing tourism industry is ranked as a top income-generator, the country is 60 percent reliant on renewable energy, and that education in all categories ranks high among the population. In addition to the historic sites, on a more personal nature, we confirmed that the food and wine are terrific! “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much fish…and it was all good,” commented one tour member.
OLLI members are welcomed to join the global cultural tours. This is a wonderful way to visit some exciting destinations often while enjoying the company of other OLLI members. Anyone interested in future trips can contact Rita Rowand, Mason Cultural Tours program manager, [email protected], 703-993-5146.
Joining OLLI members for several days were the Mason provost and his wife. Pictured left to right and up the stairs are Dr. S. David Wu and Sheau-Ping Wu, Richard Taschler, Barbara and Leo Killen, Marian Taschler, Charlene and Bob Ward, and John Nash. (Photos by John Nash)
Funeral services for Benny Meyer, who became an OLLI member in fall 2002, will be at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, 9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA, on Friday April 7 at 1:00.
Performances, Mar 31 through April 10 By Shelly Gersten, E-News Staff WriterFor tickets for either Center for the Arts (CFA) or Hylton, 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 Hyltonticket purchase page.
At the Fairfax Campus Venues
The 7 Fingers of the Hand: Cuisine & Confessions Circus and Theater Meets Onstage Cooking
Sat, Apr 8, 2:00 and 8:00
Sun, Apr 9, 4:00
Pre-performance discussion: Member of the company
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Virginia Tech Wind Ensemble and Combined Choirs
Mon, Apr 10, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adults, $10; seniors, $7.
Gallery Exhibit: Betty Ganley: Petals and Reflections
Continues through Apr 15.
The Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00 - 6:00, Thu, 10:00 - 8:00 and two hours before performances.
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.
Hylton Performing Arts Center 7th Anniversary Gala
Sat, Apr 1, 6:00
6:00, Reception;
7:00, Dinner;
8:30, After Gala Party
Merchant Hall
Admission: $300 ($145 non-deductible); After Gala Party only: $75 ($50 non-deductible).
Mason School of Dance: Dance Gala Concert
Sun, Apr 2, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adults, $25; seniors, $15.
Asaph Dance Ensemble: Spring Celebration
Sun, Apr 9, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adults, $30; seniors, $15.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office, with direct web links added when available. The list is accurate as of mid-week but to check anytime for the latest information, please view the latest forecast of upcoming 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, kickoff coffees, etc. (bolded below).
Sat Apr 1
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Wed Apr 5
1:45pm
1:45pm
2:15pm
Bridge Club–TA-3 Special Event Prog. Planning Comte.–Annex
History Club–TA-1
Fri Apr 7
9:15am
9:30am9:30am
11:00am
11:00am
1:00pm
Recorder Consort–TA-3 Humanities and Social Sciences Program Planning Committee–TA-1
Craft and Conversation Group–Annex
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex
Dr. Who Club–TA-3
Sat Apr 8
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Wed Apr 12
1:30pm
1:45pm
1:45pm
Tallwood Book Club–Annex
Bridge Club–TA-3
Spanish Club–TA-2
Fri Apr 14
9:15am
9:30am
9:30am
11:00am
11:00am
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Photography Club–TA-1
Craft and Conversation–Annex
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Technical Editor: Irene Osterman
Associate Editor: Sheri Siesseger
Weekly Editorial Team: Jean Boltz, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Leslie Vandivere,
Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Lorna Moran, Susan Van Hemel, Polly Johnsen
Backup Chief Editor: Alice Slayton Clark
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 – 6:00 Tuesday for that week's issue (6:00 Monday 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.
West, a harpist student of Prof. Elizabeth Blakeslee, displayed her skills on the harp and answered questions about the instrument. Abigail, from a musical family in Richmond, is a Mason junior minoring in music.There are still six programs lined up for this term and OLLI member are encouraged to come and enjoy this wonderful music. As a special note, on Tuesday, April 4, Dr. Linda Apple Monson, director of the School of Music, will present a piano program entitled, “The Joy of Music,” entertaining us with her skills as a pianist and lecturer.The Music Sampler is offered from 9:30 to 11 each Tuesday at the Fairfax Lord of Life Lutheran church. There’s still space and time to enjoy the amazing talents from the Mason School of Music, so add this special program to your OLLI calendar now. (Photo by John Nash)
the super-friendliness of the people and great food - have been changing that focus for the last several years.
enjoying the company of other OLLI members. Anyone interested in future trips can contact Rita Rowand, Mason Cultural Tours program manager, 
.