ENews9-14

I get energy from people

By Harriet Kaplan

Kerin Braudaway, our administrator/registrar has a variety of duties, all of which interact with other staff and OLLI members. She feels she does not have a typical day. “Every day is different,” she says. “I never know what will hit me.” She has many responsibilities in addition to registration. She helps to arrange special events such as teacher and staff appreciation luncheons and the annual OLLI cookout and picnic. She serves as liaison with George Mason for obtaining needed repairs. Since she arrived at OLLI, there have been frozen water pipes, broken windows, and the need to clear roads. Kerin considers Mason “fabulous to work with.”

She supports instructors by helping Bill Walsh provide handouts and special equipment. She assigns classrooms based on course requirements and number of registrations. She also recommends which classes should be moved off campus and, along with Beth Davis, selects and contacts off-campus venues needed for future term activities. In addition, she is the person who schedules make-up classes. One of the crises this winter term was scheduling over 50 make-up classes!

Member services include responding to emails (sometimes hundreds of emails in a single day), handling of member applications for Mason ID cards, preparation of new member packets, and orientation of new members to OLLI. The most interesting part of her job is interacting with members, especially volunteers. She is a people person and likes the diversity of the membership. Kerin enjoys administrative work, particularly working with people. “I enjoy folks, both members and staff. I get energy from people.”

Kerin loves working at OLLI. There is a great deal of work, but she can depend on the support and encouragement of the staff. There are challenges and sometimes crises, but no negatives or frustrations. A major challenge is learning new procedures, particularly new technology. Much of the technology and many of the procedures used in her previous position as marketing manager for an HMO are obsolete.

For example, printing jobs which were then contracted out are now done in-house. “I feel every day I’m doing on-the-job training. I love my work.” Clearly, Kerin is a key person to contact for many services. She meets OLLI needs beautifully and loves every aspect of her job.

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Karen Hamilton, a long-time Fairfax English teacher at Frost Middle School, passed away in Texas on February 27. She was an LRI/OLLI member from 2001-2008 and served as a volunteer proofreader for the Publications Committee. When OLLI E-News was created in 2005, Karen became its chief proofreader and remained in that position even after Rod Zumbro promoted her to Deputy Editor in January 2006. She was so dedicated that she continued proofreading for us for months after she could no longer attend classes and had to let her membership expire. A farewell article appeared in the April 10, 2009, edition of E-News.
 
A memorial service for her will be held at Providence Presbyterian Church, 9019 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, on March 29 at 1:30.
 
Her obituary appeared in the The Washington Post on March 10 and can be seen here.

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Poetry Reading. Poet Gregory Orr will be the honored speaker at the Ellen Anderson Reading, a joint venture of the Poetry Society of Virginia and the Creative Writing Program at George Mason. Mr. Orr, the winner of many awards, teaches at the University of Virginia. Thu, Mar 27, 7:30 to 9:00 at Mason Hall, Meese Room. Free.

Health & Fitness Expo. This popular event features interactive health education activities, participatory demonstrations, and fitness instruction and challenges.  Community and on-campus organizations provide health information on topics such as nutrition, exercise, stress management, alternative therapies, and healthy self-care practices. Thu, Mar 27, 10:00 to 3:00. Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall. Free.

Visiting Filmmaker: Let the Fire Burn. Director Jason Osder has crafted a found-footage film that unfurls with the tension of a great thriller. On May 13, 1985, a longtime feud between the city of Philadelphia and the controversial radical urban group MOVE came to a deadly climax. Using only archival news coverage and interviews, Osder has brought to life one of the most tumultuous and largely forgotten clashes between government and citizens in modern American history. Sat, Mar 29, 7:30. Johnson Center, Cinema. A Q&A with filmmaker Jason Osder follows the screening. Free.

Lecture: Executive vice president of the Cato Institute David Boaz talks about capitalism and socialism.  Boaz has played a key role in the libertarian movement. He is a provocative commentator and a leading authority on domestic issues such as education choice, drug legalization, the growth of government, and the rise of libertarianism. Mon, Mar 31, 5:30, reception, 6:00 lecture. Johnson Center, Room D. Free.

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