Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

OLLI E-News (Weekly Newsletter)

OLLI E-News July 24, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Board of Directors Meeting at Tallwood, July 17

July 24, 2026


Editor of the Week: Deborah Kruesi 
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Note: Member parking is available in the Fairfax Swimming Pool parking lot. If you park there, use only the half of the lot closest to Tallwood.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 31; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 28, at 6:00.
  • Look for your fall term catalog in the mail.  If you do not receive a catalog by the end of July, please contact the OLLI Mason office.
  • OLLI Mason will be closed for summer break during the first two weeks in August.

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"Got Course Ideas?” … Join the HSS/CE  

   
     By Camille Hodges, HSS/CE Planning Team Chair



OLLI is known for its great course ideas. In case you were unaware… many of these ideas come directly from you! We at OLLI need to know what courses/topics strongly reflect your interest and/or your desire to know more about. Also, let us know of any topics you would be willing to teach at OLLI. Our members are our strength when it comes to course proposals.

Check out the current catalog and decide which category might best support your area of expertise. Also, if you have personal contact with people who would be great OLLI instructors, please invite them to present as well.

The Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) team is committed to inviting presentations that support many areas including psychology, politics, cultural interests, inter- and intrapersonal interactions, human culture, ethics, and cultural awareness. Our team meets virtually three or four times per year and communicates continuously. 

To join the HSS/CE programming team, here’s the link: [email protected].

Got course ideas?  Here’s the link:
https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/.

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in an earlier E-News edition. It is repeated here to encourage member participation in program planning for HSS/CE.

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Pardon Our Mist

 
     By John McAndrew, Board Member and Dirty Knee Club Member


Have you come to class and been showered upon, almost tripped over a hose, or found yourself on an extremely wet sidewalk? Well, sorry about that, it’s the work of the Dirty Knee Club (DKC), also known as the Landscaping Committee, here at OLLI. We are OLLI members working to keep our flower gardens alive and well during this extremely hot summer. So far, so good.
 
There are six DKC members, and we could use three more people. We are an active, fun, kind bunch who enjoy making things nicer. We water the gardens in pairs; it’s more fun doing things together. We also have call-up meetings where the whole club gets together to make improvements or just have lunch, depending on the time of the year. If you are interested, please contact John McAndrew at 703-508-7088 (call or text).
 
BTW - We try to water in the morning because the water evaporates more slowly and helps mitigate pesky conditions like powdery mildew and fungus. Besides, it’s easier on the DKC members negotiating the intense heat. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding. Please take a moment to enjoy the beauty of the landscape surrounding your campus.

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

There is a silo in Centreville, Virginia at the intersection of Machen Road and Centrewood Drive.
 

THE ABANDONED SILO
 
The silent silo sits by the road
 
In the sprawling town of Centreville.
 
Once part of a huge farm,
 
Now a subdivision’s charm.
 
 
Someone decided to leave it—
 
An odd relic of the past.
 
Once storing corn and grain,
 
Now what does it contain?
 
 
Memories of bygone years.
 
Tumbles in its silo head
 
Cows, goats, pigs, and a horse
 
All gone, but without remorse.

                               ‒Joan Lunsford

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At this time, there are no performances scheduled for Arts & Music at Mason.
 
Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Fri Jul 24
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jul 25 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 27
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 OLLI Artists Club
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 28
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 29
 
 		 11:50 am
11:50 am
12:00 noon		 Investment Forum
Literary Roundtable – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Thu Jul 30
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jul 31
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Aug 1 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Aug 3

 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club – online
Poetry Reading Club - online
Chair Yoga and More - online
Tue Aug 4
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Aug 5
 
 		 12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Aug 6
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Aug 7
 
 		  9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Aug 8 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






 
OLLI E-News July 17, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Ben Greenberg shared insights on landscape and wildlife photography with the Photography Club, July 10

July 17, 2026


Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Note: Member parking is available in the Fairfax Swimming Pool parking lot. If you park there, use only the half of the lot closest to Tallwood.
  • Throughout the term, please use this online form to add or drop classes, clubs or other events. (Link is also available in the Daily Schedule email.)
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 24; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 21, at 6:00.
“Got Course Ideas?” … Join the HSS/CE Team!


By Camille Hodges, HSS/CE Planning Team Chair


OLLI is known for its great course ideas. In case you were unaware… many of these ideas come directly from you! We at OLLI need to know what courses/topics strongly reflect your interest and/or your desire to know more about. Also, let us know of any topics you would be willing to teach at OLLI. Our members are our strength when it comes to course proposals.

Check out the current catalog and decide which category might best support your area of expertise. Also, if you have personal contact with people who would be great OLLI instructors, please invite them to present as well.

The Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) team is committed to inviting presentations that support many areas including psychology, politics, cultural interests, inter- and intrapersonal interactions, human culture, ethics, and cultural awareness. Our team meets virtually three or four times per year and communicates continuously. 

To join the HSS/CE programming team, here’s the link: [email protected].

Got course ideas?  Here’s the link:
https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/.

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Photo of the Month


The July 2026 Photo of the Month theme was Compositional Techniques: Reflections. Reflections add depth, symmetry, and artistic abstraction to your images, transforming ordinary environments into compelling visual stories. We selected the photo Reston House Reflections July 2026 by Christine Brooks, 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 Lynne Cline, Photography Club Coordinators

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Seaside
 
dolphins near the horizon cavort
their way north for it is yet morning
we will look for them later in the day
as they leap in synchrony
 
once more together for our family week
we try to ignore the pesky jellyfish
swirling around our bodies, more
prolific this year it seems
 
the occasional horseshoe crab appears
at our feet, startling in his prehistoric look
as puzzling as we must look to him
a young boy throws him back to safety
into the steady outgoing waves
 
back in my chair I close my eyes
to better hear the breaking waves
rhythmic as a metronome
as they return from their depths
with gifts of shells and sea glass
bits of driftwood, shreds of seaweed
their whoosh a musicality all their own
 
                    ‒Jan Bohall

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Obituaries

Richard "Dick" Gan Young
Richard “Dick” Young, who first joined OLLI in spring 2007, died at home in Fairfax, Virginia, on June 20, 2026. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, Dick also earned a law degree from Georgetown University in 1965. Subsequently, he became a partner at the DC law firm, Beveridge, DeGrandi, Weilacher, and Young. He maintained long-standing passions for history, the natural world, the arts, and travel. In retirement, he was a pro bono mediator at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and taught classes on his diverse interests at George Mason University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).

A memorial service will take place in Northfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 147 Main Street. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Dick's memory to the Northern Virginia Swimming League (NVSL), 1909 Bridle Lane, Alexandria, VA 22308-2209, or the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, 4210 Roberts Road, Fairfax, VA 22032 (olli.gmu.edu). More information is available at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/richard-young-obituary?id=61832627#obituary.

Memorials may be made to Online condolences at www.directcremationservicesofvirginia.com.

Richard Blake Chobot, PhD
Richard Blake Chobot, who was the first OLLI Mason executive director in the early 2000s, died at home on July 7, 2026. A graduate of Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, Richard also received a Syracuse University doctorate in educational administration. As part of his long and varied career in education, consulting, and association management, he held a position as OLLI’s executive director at George Mason University. He was also on the Fairfax County Commission on Aging for many years.

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial for Richard at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 8800 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA, Monday, July 20 at 11:00, following visitation in the narthex of the church at 10:00. Burial will be at Fairfax Memorial Park Cemetery following the Mass.

Donations will be accepted at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Holy Spirit Conference, P.O. Box 11997, Burke, VA 22009, or at the website: https://svdphsconf.org/donate/. Further information is available at this link.

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Eating healthy can be challenging. Do we use the old tried and true food pyramid, the new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines or other nutrition recommendations? And why does it all have to be so complicated?? Consider using the Healthy Plate model. Check it out here> Healthy Eating Plate • The Nutrition Source.
From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances July 17 through July 27


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No Performances
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill
Body
Mason Exhibitions
Arlington
Through August 1
 
Pulp Fictions: the stories we tell about paper / the stories paper tells us about ourselves
Through August 14
Special Collections Research Center, Fenwick Library
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

No Performances

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Prince William Little Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Fri, Jul 17, 8:00
Sat, Jul 18, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 19, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $29 Senior, $25 Student, youth, military, group (8+).

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.

 
Sat Jul 18
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jul 20
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 21
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 22
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Thu Jul 23
 
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm
 6:00pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri Jul 24
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jul 25 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 27
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 OLLI Artists Club
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 28
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 29
 
 		 11:50 am
11:50 am
12:00 noon		 Investment Forum
Literary Roundtable – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Thu Jul 30
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jul 31
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Aug 1 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






 
OLLI E-News July 10, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

 

 

Suresh Mohla, Ph.D. endocrinologist, is teaching a course on the history of cancer treatment in America in the last 250 years, including recent research on immunotherapy, cancer vaccines, and personalized cancer treatments, summer 2026.

July 10, 2026


Editor of the Week: David Gundry 
Table of Contents
Alerts & Notices
 
  • Note: Member parking is available in the Fairfax Swimming Pool parking lot. If you park there, use only the half of the lot closest to Tallwood.
  • Throughout the term, please use this online form to add or drop classes, clubs or other events. (Link is also available in the Daily Schedule email.)
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 17; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 14, at 6:00.
How Can You Support Mason Students in Fall 2026? Act as an “Elder”



By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) Planning Group Chair 


Over the past several years OLLI members have served as elder mentors for undergrads in Dr. Spencer Crew’s course, “History of the Family” (HONORS 240-001). This fall, the course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-11:45. Although the class starts on August 25th, your participation will not begin until October/November, and you will not be required to attend in person.

The objective of your participation in this class is to share an impactful part of your personal life history via interviews with one or two Mason students. And, yes, many OLLI members with remarkable life experiences have shared their stories with Mason undergrads over the past few years. You may interact with your assigned students virtually or in person. Some have also video-taped their interviews to share via an OLLI presentation. This project has proven to be a cathartic experience for everyone involved and it can be the same for you as well.

Note that you will not be required to share your information publicly outside of the class should you choose not to, but the students will certainly internalize it.

Please contact Dr. Crew to sign up or ask questions: [email protected].
Computer Club
3rd Saturday, July 18
Italian Inventions
AI Prompts: Recipes for Success
 
By Paul Howard , OPCUG Program Chair


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, July 18, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45.

Italian Inventions―Presented by Leti Labell

Italy is often associated with art, architecture, and cuisine. But many people are not aware of the scientific contributions of Italians. Italy’s long history of innovation has left a profound mark on global technology, from ancient engineering to modern electronics. Italian inventors have shaped communications, energy, medicine, and everyday life in ways that still influence the world today. Italians have made major contributions to electronics, communication systems, computing theory, microprocessors and telecommunications. Italy's technological legacy continues to shape the world's technological landscape. This presentation will focus on Italian inventions that have had a profound impact on the sciences of Communications and Information Technology.

Leti Labell is an OPCUG and PATACS member with a lifelong love of computers. She has an MS in computer science and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Project Management Professional (PMP). She teaches Italian language to beginners, and she teaches a class (in English) about all things Italian.

Learn in 30: AI Prompts: Recipes for Success―Presented by Frank Fota

We have all grown accustomed to internet searches. Most of these searches are informational, meaning they seek an answer to a specific question or research a topic. Others are navigational, used to find a specific website or landing page. Some searches are transactional, aiming to buy a product or complete a task, while others are commercial, comparing products or reading reviews before a future purchase.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) operates differently. Instead of standard searches, AI uses "prompts." Prompts are specific instructions given to AI; clear instructions lead to high-quality results. In this presentation, Frank will share practical "recipes" you can use to prompt AI and consistently achieve great results.

Frank has over 30 years of experience building, troubleshooting, and repairing computers. He volunteers with Educate Africa, a Stafford, Virginia-based nonprofit, refurbishing computers for schools in Ethiopia. As a semi-retired health physicist, he possesses extensive expertise in radiation safety policies and procedures.; Frank retired from the U.S. Army Medical Department as a lieutenant colonel. He currently works as a contract part-time technical writer for Fluke Health Solutions, a subsidiary of the Fortive Corporation.

For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 and are now due for 2026 (and 2025, if you didn’t get around to paying earlier!)—please be prepared to pay the nominal dues in person at the meeting.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click:
https://olligmu-org.zoom.us/j/84681940279?pwd=4ynpoGpnoaxYvTYLRu2Nm9pNJdWPFc.1 to join the meeting and use passcode 437356. (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 846 8194 0279 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

John Prine Lullaby 

If by chance, I should find myself at risk, of falling from this jagged cliff, I look below and I look above, I’m surrounded by your boundless love.
—John Prine, “Boundless Love”

Recently, after contemplating the state of the world—Oh grievous error!
I turned on John Prine and heard his soothing lullaby—
perfect antidote for things too big for me to fix.
His plaintive voice and simple lyrics help me roll the world
into a ball and bounce it on down the road 
to the tune of “Boundless Love.”

Making me ponder the question…
Where would we be without Prine and the
other troubadours, poets…the truth-sayers?

And a deeper question yet…
Where might we go because of them?

                  ‒Sophia Elberti

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances July 10 through July 20


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.
At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No Performances
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill
Body
Mason Exhibitions
Arlington
Through August 1
 
Pulp Fictions: The stories we tell about paper / the stories paper tells us about ourselves
Through August 14
Special Collections Research Center, Fenwick Library
 
Mason Student and Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
No Performances

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Prince William Little Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Fri, Jul 10, 8:00
Sat, Jul 11, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 12, 2:00
Fri, Jul 17, 8:00
Sat, Jul 18, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 19, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $29 Senior, $25 Student, Military, Child.

Magic of Motown
Sat, Jul 18, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $84, $74, $64, $54, $44, $40, $34.

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat Jul 11 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 13
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 OLLI Artists Club
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 14
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 15
 
 
 		 11:50 am
11:50 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Literary Roundtable – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jul 16
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jul 17
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Game On: Talking Sports
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jul 18
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jul 20
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 21
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 22
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Thu Jul 23
 
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm
 6:00pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri Jul 24
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jul 25 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






 
OLLI E-News July 3, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

The photos show the OLLI Hiking Club group in Skyland Lodge, and in the famous Great Stalacpipe Organ room at Luray Caverns. (See Hiking Club Update article below).

July 3, 2026


Editor of the Week: Chitra Mohla
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Note: Member parking is available in the Fairfax Swimming Pool parking lot. If you park there, use only the half of the lot closest to Tallwood.
  • Throughout the term, please use this online form to add or drop classes, clubs or other events. (Link is also available in the Daily Schedule email.)
  • March in Fairfax July 4th parade. To sign up, contact Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chair at [email protected], 703-725-0965.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 10; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 7, at 6:00.

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From the Desk of the Executive Director

Shannon Kim Morrow Retirement
 

 
By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director



After eleven years of dedicated service, Shannon Morrow, Lead Program Associate, will be retiring from OLLI Mason at the end of July 2026. Shannon has been a steady, caring presence behind the scenes of our programs, working closely with instructors, volunteers, and staff to ensure the highest quality classes each term.

Shannon started as a site assistant, then served as registrar before taking on the programming role. She moved to the West Coast in 2024 and has continued joining morning meetings despite the time difference.

Shannon’s thoughtful approach, institutional knowledge, and commitment to lifelong learning have made a lasting impact on OLLI and our community. Her professionalism, kindness, and willingness to go the extra mile will be deeply missed by colleagues and members alike. The Monday Morning Lecture Series, one of our most popular classes, is especially notable, as Shannon identified speakers and planned the series. She worked tirelessly to coordinate each catalog (28 in all!) and built special relationships with many long-time instructors.

Please join us in thanking Shannon for her many contributions and wishing her all the best in a well‑earned retirement. We hope the years ahead are filled with new adventures, continued learning, and time to enjoy her family, pickleball, biking, hiking, and gardening.

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How Can You Support GMU Students in Fall 2026? Act as an "Elder"

  
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) Planning Group Chair



Over the past several years OLLI members have served as elder mentors for undergrads in Dr. Spencer Crew’s course, “History of the Family” (HONORS 240-001). This fall, the course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-11:45. Although the class starts on August 25th, your participation will not begin until October/November, and you will not be required to attend in person.

The objective of your participation in this class is to share an impactful part of your personal life history via interviews with one or two Mason students. And, yes, many OLLI members with remarkable life experiences have shared their stories with Mason undergrads over the past few years. You may interact with your assigned students virtually or in-person. Some have also video-taped their interviews to share via an OLLI presentation. This project has proven to be a cathartic experience for everyone involved and it can be the same for you as well.

Note that you will not be required to share your information publicly outside of the class should you choose not to, but the students will certainly internalize it.

Please contact Dr. Crew to sign up or ask questions: [email protected].

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Hiking Club Update
 


By Kathy Rones, Hiking Club Coordinator


On June 23, six of us braved wet weather and drove to Shenandoah National Park with the hope and expectation that the weather would improve and we would be able to hike Stony Man and another trail. Unfortunately, as we ascended into Skyline Drive, we saw it was totally socked in by the storm and heavy rain. We pivoted, at a member’s suggestion, and instead drove to nearby Luray, where we had lunch and toured Luray Caverns. It was interesting and fun! One great thing about hiking club is that you will have lots of time to get to know fellow members, since we carpool and drive some distance to our hiking locations. The photos at the top of this issue show our group in Skyland Lodge, and in the famous Great Stalacpipe Organ room at Luray Caverns.
 
We have this hike totally scoped out now, and I will be scheduling some SNP hikes on these or other trails in September and October. Fall is a wonderful time for hiking. I encourage you to register for OLLI Hiking Club Summer 2026 (now), and OLLI Hiking Club Fall 2026, when fall registration is open. On July 21, we will do a shaded, flat 6-mile hike on the scenic “C&O Canal Path” along the Potomac River in Point of Rocks, MD.

Note: in case of rain or high heat index, the fallback date is July 24.  Also, I am scheduling an OLLI Hiking Club interest group meeting at Tallwood on July 7, tentatively at 1:45 in TA-1. Watch E-News for updates and Zoom link. I will bring my hiking equipment in case anyone wants to see it, and welcome everyone’s ideas on places to hike in the fall and early winter.

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OLLI Artists Club

By Christine Narbut, OLLI Artists Club Coordinator



OLLI Artists hope you have enjoyed the art provided by OLLI members on the Café Wall. It’s now time to change the display for the next three months. As we celebrate summer and the 250th birthday of America, we invite you to submit your art for display.  We have frames and mats for 9 x 12 and 8 x 10 and can work with you for other sizes. Please title your art and include your name and medium on the back of the artwork. All art media such as acrylic, pastels, pencil sketches, pen & ink, oil, as well as watercolor, are welcome. We may not be able to accommodate very large submissions (24 x 36 or larger). 

After the display period (about three months), your art will be returned to you. Place your art in an envelope and deliver it to the OLLI Artists Club meeting on July 13 in the annex from 9:15-11:00, or leave it in the OLLI office. Indicate on the envelope that it is for OLLI Artists.

The OLLI Artists group meets every other Monday during the summer session in person and on Zoom. Feel free to join us in pursuing your artistic soul.


 

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Amazing Record Achieved by Tai Chi Instructor!



By Catherine Weir-Parker, Tai Chi Club Member



Jerry Cheng, the OLLI Tai Chi Club instructor, has taught 738 Zoom classes for us in the 6 years between May 2020 and May 2026! This may be a record for the most classes taught at OLLI Mason. It might even be a record for any teacher at any of the OLLIs around the country.

Initially, Jerry started teaching one class a week during term time. Our collective memory believes that was 2011. Before long a Tai Chi Club was organized for Saturday mornings at Tallwood. Many students attended the class and club. When the pandemic started in May 2020, Jerry suggested members could benefit from the gentle exercise of Tai Chi on Zoom three times a week, not just on Saturdays. Since then, we have had classes at 4:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, allowing Jerry time to return home from work, and also at 10:30 on Saturday mornings.

During those 6 years, Jerry, who is an active attorney, has missed teaching some classes due to court dates, client consultations, and vacations. That’s when the OLLI members who host the meetings share a recent recording of an earlier Tai Chi session. The 738-class total mentioned in the first sentence is when Jerry has led us in-person on Zoom (is that an oxymoron?).

Many OLLI members have been pleased to discover the benefits of regular physical activity that would not be possible without a virtual option. One attendee even attributes coming to Tai Chi classes for a reduction in his blood pressure without needing medication. Thank you Jerry for providing this opportunity for us, for our joints and muscles, and a chance to forget our worries for three hours each week!

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Ancient Italy Trip April 2027


By Laura Vinti, OLLI Instructor and Italy’s Hidden Gems Trip Coordinator



Have you ever dreamed of exploring the places where the Etruscans flourished, the Romans built their empire, and medieval towns have remained remarkably unchanged for centuries?

If so, this journey was created for you. Personally designed and hosted by cultural tour leader and OLLI instructor Laura Vinti, Ancient Italy: Etruscans, Romans, and Medieval Splendor is a 13-day journey through Central Italy (April 7–19, 2027) for a small group of just 10–14 travelers. Laura recently taught OLLI's History for Travelers course and will return this October with a new class featuring the Monterozzi Necropolis in Tarquinia, Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, and the medieval city of Siena—offering a preview of several of the remarkable places you'll experience on this tour. Along the way, you'll visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, magnificent archaeological parks, charming hill towns, and some of Italy's most beautiful countryside while enjoying regional cuisine, some of Italy's finest wines, carefully selected accommodations, and in-depth cultural experiences that go far beyond the usual tourist routes. For more information, visit  www.ItalysHiddenGems.com  or contact Laura at [email protected].

                 
   

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Photography Club

OLLI Photo Club Meeting on Friday, July 10

   
   
  By John Olsen, Photography Club Coordinator

 

Ben Greenberg will be the guest speaker at the OLLI Photo Club’s (OPC) next meeting on Friday, July 10, from 9:30-11:00. The OPC will meet in person in room TA-1 and on Zoom. The Zoom link can be found on the Daily Schedule email sent each weekday morning by 8:00, or on the OLLI member portal. Guests at OPC meetings are always welcome!

Ben Greenberg is an award winning landscape photographer, who enjoys teaching classes and workshops and mentoring individuals in their quest to improve their photography skills and decision-making. 

In March 2014 Ben published his first photography book, Natural Virginia.  A coffee-table-sized book, Natural Virginia features panoramic color landscape and wildlife photographs from throughout the state, celebrating its natural beauty and the need for its preservation. Ben is working on his second Virginia book focusing on the importance of the state’s national, state, regional, and local natural public lands. The book has a working title of Natural Public Lands of Virginia.

Ben’s photographs can be viewed on his two websites:  The OLLI Photography Club is delighted that Ben Greenberg will be our guest speaker on July 10th, sharing with us some of his favorite (and best) landscape photographs and the stories behind them.

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Theater Lovers' Group Planning Getaway to Broadway and the Big Apple This Fall  


By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers' Group, Coordinator


Have you ever wanted to see a show on Broadway or the Rockettes line dance, visit MoMa or ice skate in Rockefeller Center? All this (and more) is possible when you join Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) for their 'do-your-own-thing' motor-coach trip to NYC this fall.
 
 We will leave Fairfax at 9 a. m. on Tuesday, November 17 and return   Wednesday night November 18 about 11 p.m. We'll stay at the Marriott    Marquis in the Theater District, which makes touring, dining, and seeing   two Broadway shows convenient.

Kim, the tour director, will be on hand to help with planning your trip, purchasing show or tour tickets, making dinner reservations, etc. The cost includes round trip motor-coach transportation, lodging, and portage: $548 for a double room; add $178 for a single.

A deposit of $250 is due to Champlain Tours ASAP. Balance is due in August. If interested, please email Norma at [email protected] for more information. 

Remember we welcome guests, so feel free to invite your family and friends; they may want to visit Macy's and start their Christmas shopping early.

TLG members and guests dining at The Hamilton after enjoying marvelous June 28 performance of  Suffs at the National Theater

Editor’s Note: At the author’s request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.


 

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Colbert Rare Luminaire
 
Colbert
   Wise
    - Ass
Extraordinaire
 
Dares     
to laugh
at power’s
graft
 
His brilliance
ignites           
America’s
resilience
 
The baddies
are on the run
They can’t handle
a bit of fun
 
His every quip
our every laugh
calls us together
“Stand tall in all weather”
      
His jeers
embolden outraged peeps      
“Unveil the absurd”                        
Sagacity’s voice is heard          
 
The Colbert Chorus for Us
signals – “Proceed”
Thanks, Stephen
for taking the lead
 
Stephen Colbert
Jester Extraordinaire
has us tackling baddies                  
with our own savoir-faire
 
         ̶ Susan Rexroad

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances July 3 through July 13


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2568.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Brian Ganz in Concert: Piano
Thu, Jul 9, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill
Body
Mason Exhibitions
Arlington
Through August 1
 
Pulp Fictions: the stories we tell about paper / the stories paper tells us about ourselves
Through August 14
Special Collections Research Center, Fenwick Library
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
Mason Summer Piano Academy: Academy Faculty Recital
Mon, Jul 6, 4:30
Harris Theater
Admission: Free.
 
Mason Summer Piano Academy: Dr. Yukiko Fujimura in Concert
Tue, Jul 7, 4:30
Harris Theater
Admission: Free.
 
Mason Summer Piano Academy: Dr. Linda Monson and Dr. Anna Balakerskaia in Concert
Wed, Jul 8, 4:30
Harris Theater
Admission: Free.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Prince William Little Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Fri, Jul 10, 8:00
Sat, Jul 11, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 12, 2:00
Fri, Jul 17, 8:00
Sat, Jul 18, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 19, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $29 Senior, $25 Student, Youth, Military, Group (8+)

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.

 
Fri Jul 3
 		 11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Homer, etc. - online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jul 4 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 6
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 7
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 8
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu Jul 9
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Fri Jul 10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:30 pm
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tallwood Book Club – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jul 11 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 13
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 OLLI Artists Club
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 14
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 15
 
 
 		 11:50 am
11:50 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Literary Roundtable – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jul 16
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jul 17
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Game On: Talking Sports
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jul 18
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group

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About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






 
OLLI E-News June 26, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Board of Directors Meeting, Tallwood, June 5, 2026 (first meeting with the newly-elected directors and new officers)

June 26, 2026


Editor of the Week: Chloe DiStaso 
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 3; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 30, at 6:00.

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Why Teach at OLLI Mason?



By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/ Current Events (HSS/CE) Program Planning Group Chair

“On sharing knowledge … A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” — Father James Keller [1]

Did you know that Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary on November 11th of this year? Did you know that it was not always welcoming? What do you know about the cultural impacts of the Lincoln Highway or the Blue Ridge Parkway? And this, of course, leads us to the larger question: How do major government-sponsored roadways and airports affect local communities? And, yes, we almost had a major airport in Burke! 

These topics come under the heading of “Movement.” Migration is another aspect of movement. People move for various reasons, whether it is refugees fleeing a conflict or a family moving across town. The movement of people has a significant impact on societies and cultures, creating diverse communities in different parts of the world.

If you have expanded knowledge regarding these or other topics of interest, please consider teaching a single or multi-course session in 2027. And yes, we are scheduling for next year already! We at OLLI encourage our members to voluntarily share their knowledge by teaching a course or two in their fields of expertise and/or interest. As part of social sciences and current events, HSS/CE covers many sub-categories. Now is a great time to consider sharing your knowledge with OLLI members in 2027 and beyond. Here is the course proposal form for your convenience https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/.

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Red, White, and Brainpower: Trivia Party Highlights



By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chair



In a spirited display of teamwork, intelligence, and camaraderie, the George Mason Patriots Trivia Team, composed of Marianne Metz, Paul Van Hemel, David Green, Phyllis Krochmal, and Pat Coshland, emerged victorious over seven competing teams on May 29 at our Happy America Birthday Party. The 1776 Trivia competition, which brought together 42 OLLI members in multiple rounds, showcased the intelligence, dedication, and enthusiasm of our lifelong learners.

After enjoying cake and ice cream and singing happy birthday to America, OLLI participants self-organized into eight teams. The MC, our own Diversions Committee member Tom McDonald, kept the teams engaged with brief anecdotes about growing up in Massachusetts, where much of America’s rise to rebellion occurred. 

The winning Trivia team showed outstanding skill and determination throughout the event. They persevered after tying for first place with five other teams in the first round. Each member contributed insights and expertise, helping the team navigate challenging questions and tasks. Each first-place winning member took home Walter Isaacson’s The Most Important Sentence Ever Written.

Three additional teams competed in two tough lightning tie-breaker rounds, with two of them emerging with a tie for second place: the New England Patriots, with members Tim Harworth, Irene Harworth, Don Budowsky, and Corrine Swanson, and the Colonials, made up of team members Ann Smith, Kate Wanderer, Dean Wanderer, Margie Wildblood, and Joan Lunsford.

For 150 minutes, TA-1 buzzed with impressive knowledge of history, friendly rivalry, and mutual respect. Trivia participants can look forward to future competitions at our Tallwood campus, with the next scheduled contest on Friday, January 22, 2027.

A big thanks goes to Diversions committee members Gay Alper, Elaine Leonard, Mary Mudd, Doris Bloch, Leti Labell, and Tom McDonald for volunteering to make the event a success.



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Tallwood Book Club


By Elizabeth Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator


The Tallwood Book Club will meet in July and August on the 2nd Friday of the month at 2:30 on Zoom.

In July we will discuss Orbital by Samantha Henry and in August we will discuss Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks.






Don’t become the victim of a heat-related illness this summer. If the HEAT INDEX is in the Caution Zone or above, consider limiting or avoiding time outdoors. Remember to check the HEAT INDEX not only for the time you leave but also for the time you plan to return. Many weather apps will report this out hourly.
From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

            I Get to Age     

with each inhale and exhale

        a breath filling my lungs

        a breath leaving my lungs

        twenty thousand times a day

effortlessly with little or no attention

        until out of breath from
        exhaustion or swimming 

air allows for

        laughing, complaining, questioning, sleeping, 
        cursing, telling my story, worrying, arguing, 

age like air happens with little notice

        until it is noticed

        a health scare, near misses, shock of
        a friend dying too early

age happens when things slow down

        morning time with a cup of coffee

        an idle Saturday afternoon,
        evening time putting the kids to bed

age happens in meditation the consciousness 
        on each breath through the gentle inhaling and exhaling 
        relaxing the body and calming the mind until
        the day’s noise is silenced, mind and body are still
                        then
        notice the slow movement of age and

        appreciate flashes of moments past and those to come

                               -Bill Sinclair

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances June 26 through July 19


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Capital Wind Symphony: Heroes and Villains
Fri, Jun 26, 7:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

Mason Summer Band Camp Final Concert
Sat, Jun 27, 2:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

Brian Ganz in Concert: Piano
Thu, Jul 9, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill
Body
Mason Exhibitions
Arlington
Through August 1

Pulp Fictions: the stories we tell about paper / the stories paper tells us about ourselves
Through August 14
Special Collections Research Center, Fenwick Library
Mason Student and Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

Faculty Recital: Mason Summer Piano Academy
Mon, Jul 6, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

Dr. Yukiko Fujimura in Concert: Piano
Tue, Jul 7, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

Dr. Linda Monson and Dr. Anna Balakerskai in Concert
Wed, Jul 8, 4:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory Pied Piper Theatre: Disney’s The Lion King Jr.
Fri, Jun 26, 7:00
Sat, Jun 27, 10:00 and 2:00
Sun, Jun 28, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $20.

Prince William Little Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Fri, Jul 10, 8:00
Sat, Jul 11, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 12, 2:00
Fri, Jul 17, 8:00
Sat, Jul 18, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jul 19, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $29 Senior, $25 Student, youth, military, group (8+)
 

VISUAL ARTS 

Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat Jun 27 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 29
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 OLLI Artists Club
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Tue Jun 30
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 1
 		 12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jul 2
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Fri Jul 3
  		 11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Homer, etc.
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jul 4 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jul 6
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jul 7
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jul 8
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu Jul 9
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Fri Jul 10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:30 pm
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tallwood Book Club – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jul 11 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






 
OLLI E-News June 12, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Diversions Chair Marilyn Harriman Hosted a Revolution Trivia Contest for the US 250 Years Anniversary, at Tallwood, May 29, 2026

June 12, 2026


Editor of the Week: John Nash 
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Registration for summer term is under way and continues throughout the term, which begins June 22.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 26; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 23, at 6:00.

Join the Celebration! OLLI Members to March in Fairfax’s July 4 Parade

 

By Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chairperson


Love a parade? Don’t just watch one—be part of it!

Join Lisa Mariam, OLLI Mason Executive Director, and your fellow OLLI members on Saturday, July 4, as we help represent George Mason University in Fairfax City’s 250th Independence Day celebration.
             
Walk the easy, mostly flat 0.78-mile parade route through downtown Fairfax, greet a lively crowd of families and community members, and share our OLLI spirit with our colorful banner and giveaways.
 
Staging begins at 8:15 on Chain Bridge Road, with the parade stepping off at 10:00 and our part in it wrapping up around 11:00. Afterward, you’re invited to an optional lunch at PJ Skidoo’s. Free parking for parade participants is available near our parade staging area.
                   
Come celebrate, connect, and show your OLLI pride—sign up by contacting Marilyn Harriman, Diversions Chairperson, at [email protected].
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OLLI Ink Now Available

By Margie Wildblood and Sophia Elberti,
OLLI Ink Editors
Issue No. 16 of OLLI Ink is now available online as a flip-doc at the following link:

https://view.flipdocs.com/?ID=10015627_604399.

OLLI Ink is published annually. Its purpose is to present a literary publication that spotlights the creative side of OLLI members. At the indicated link, you will find prose, poetry, photography, and other creative productions of OLLI contributors. 

Check out the creative efforts of some of our OLLI members and begin preparing for your own submission in next year's issue.
 

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Tea, Anyone?

 

Carolyn Kramer, Excursion Coordinator


On a recent sunny day in mid-May, a group of OLLI members boarded a bus for a ride out to Rosemont Manor in Berryville, Va. for an afternoon tea. 

The visit began in what had once been a carriage house, where we sipped on flutes of Raspberry Tea Fizz during a brief overview of the history of the site.  Then on to the manor house, once the home of Harry F. Byrd, Sr., where everyone enjoyed a three-course tea of delicious savories, scones, and desserts. 

Before heading back to Fairfax, there was time to view the upstairs guestrooms, many named after famous people who had stayed there over the years.

In all, it was a lovely way for OLLI members to spend time together!

Opportunity to Participate in Paid Study on Aging in Place

 

By Lillian Brooks, Former OLLI President


Here is information on a study funded by NIH to identify resources that may be valuable to people aging in place in their communities.

The study involves participating in four sessions (in-person or online) spaced out over multiple months. Each session is up to 1.5 hours and participants will be compensated $45 per session, for a total of $180 for the study. Participants will be asked to share their daily experiences through a multiple-choice questionnaire and will be asked to rank and evaluate community resources that they might find helpful for successful and fulfilling aging in place. Name and other personal identifiable information are not collected.

More information is available at this link. Interested individuals may submit the application form at the following link: https://forms.gle/uiaMEMf7XU7b8f7E7.

Grandparents Club Interest Meeting

 

By Deborah Metcalf, Club Coordinator


Are you interested in joining a Grandparents' Club?

The idea is simple: create opportunities for grandparents and grandchildren to connect, play, and socialize together. Activities could include playground visits, picnics, splash pad outings, swimming, indoor play spaces, and other family-friendly events. It can serve as a platform to set up individual playdates with the overall goal of making new friends (grandparent as well as grandchildren). The club could expand to include grandparenting
workshops and seminars if members would like that - I am happy and open to new ideas to expand the scope of the club and meet the needs of fellow grandparents!

Zoom Interest Meeting
Tuesday, June 16
11:00 AM
 
If this sounds like something you would enjoy, please join us on Zoom to learn more, meet other grandparents, and share your ideas!

Meeting URL: https://olligmu-org.zoom.us/j/81822581438?pwd=mRf7ZudmUPkpbrv3foZBaGHe eosPR5.1
Meeting ID: 818 2258 1438
Passcode: 914596

Why Teach at OLLI Mason? 
 

By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) Program Planning Group Chair
 
“On sharing knowledge … A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” — Father James Keller [1]

Did you know that Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary on November 11th of this year? Did you know that it was not always welcoming? What do you know about the cultural impacts of the Lincoln Highway or the Blue Ridge Parkway? And this, of course, leads us to the larger question: How do major government-sponsored roadways and airports affect local communities? And, yes, we almost had a major airport in Burke!

These topics come under the heading of “Movement.” Migration is another aspect of movement. People move for various reasons, whether it is refugees fleeing a conflict or a family moving across town. The movement of people has a significant impact on societies and cultures, creating diverse communities in different parts of the world.

If you have expanded knowledge regarding these or other topics of interest, please consider teaching a single or multi-course session in 2027. And yes, we are scheduling for next year already!

We at OLLI encourage our members to voluntarily share their knowledge by teaching a course or two in their field/s of expertise and/or interest. As part of social sciences and current events, HSS/CE covers many sub-categories. Now is a great time to consider sharing your knowledge with OLLI members in 2027 and beyond.

Here is the course proposal form for your convenience: https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/.

OLLI Volunteer Positions Need Filling

 

By Deborah Engleson, Treasurer and Former President


HELP WANTED: Help OLLI Mason as we work to build our membership. We need several people to fill important vacant positions. Can you help?

Outreach is one of our most important committees. The role of the committee is to develop and disseminate promotional material and attend activities that promote OLLI and encourage membership. The committee meets regularly to strategize, help distribute catalogs, make presentations, and provide volunteers for the OLLI Information table at events. The chairperson works closely with the OLLI Mason.

Communications Associate. We need a new chairperson or co-chairs for this committee (Dean Salpini relocated out of state). If you like meeting the public and/or scheduling time to do so, this position is for you. A volunteer position description is available. Former chair Debby Mossburg will support with coaching.

Please contact Debbie Engleson, [email protected] or 330-573-6636 for more information.
Computer Club
3rd Saturday, June 20
Fireworks Photography
Member Luncheon
 

By Paul Howard , OPCUG Program Chair


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, June 20, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 1:45, since this meeting has no “Learn in 30” session because of the Member Luncheon this month.

Fireworks Photography―Presented by John Krout In this presentation, you will learn the presenter’s techniques for taking long-duration photos that make aerial fireworks bursts appear as you see them. 

First, learn the setting on your camera that must be adjusted to capture all the colors. Second, learn how to keep your shutter open for seconds at a time to capture bursts in their entirety. Third, learn, learn the cost and features to support your camera so that it does not move during long exposures. Fourth, learn how to include water reflections of aerial fireworks, say from the Reflecting Pool or the Potomac. Fifth, learn of local aerial fireworks shows prior to July 4 so you can practice the photo techniques before Independence Day itself. Sixth, learn about the favorite locations used by the presenter to take photos of fireworks shows, and even some parking tips. 

Most years, aerial fireworks shows are 7 to 15 minutes long. The latter is typical for the National Park Service in DC (NPS DC). In 1976, the 200th anniversary, the NPS DC show was 2 hours long. Since this is the 250th anniversary, and our President enjoys a spectacle, NPS DC has been told to launch five times the typical number of bursts in only twice the time, roughly 30 minutes. I think that the high rate may produce smoke far more quickly than breezes can carry smoke out of view. I hope they lengthen the 2026 show to 75 minutes, so the smoke does not accumulate. 

John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings and has won many awards for his photography.

Luncheon for Dues-Paid Members―From 12:45 to 1:50, catered again by Leti, Queen of Eats. If you haven't previously signed up, and your schedule is now clear, join us! Click the link below to make your reservation for our June pre-meeting lunch for dues-paid members. 
                       RSVP form - https://forms.gle/j3rCn4riKZtMJtM79.

For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 and are now due for 2026 (and 2025, if you didn’t get around to paying earlier!)—see
http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 1:45, please click:
https://olligmu-org.zoom.us/j/84681940279?pwd=4ynpoGpnoaxYvTYLRu2Nm9p
NJdWPFc.1 to join the meeting and use passcode 437356. (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 846 8194 0279 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).

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Special “What’s in the Daily News?” Announcement


By Ann Smith, What’s in the Daily News Member


“What’s In the Daily News” moderators want to invite you to a special in-person session on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 9:30 on the OLLI Fairfax campus. We meet year-round, so we are both a class during semesters, and a club. Every week, we generate a list of events from the previous week as a starting point for our lively discussion. We will be following our usual format, but we also want to acknowledge and celebrate our nation’s semi-quincentennial with tasty treats!

We hope you join us in June and get to meet some Zoom friends in person. What’s in the Daily News? Club summer registration is requested for planning and communication purposes.
 






Summer is peak tick season in Virginia but warmer temperatures mean that they are present year around. They are the cause of numerous illnesses, the most prominent in Virginia being Lyme Disease caused by the deer tick. Ticks can also cause Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, alpha-gal syndrome and erhlichosis. Prevention is key: Your Guide to Tick Prevention | News Center.
From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup
 
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Longing Berries
 
waiting for the season
of sugary blueberries
lost in chocolate
 
while raspberries bite back,
heavy sits the superfruit crown
but sharp enough that I don’t care
 
strawberries are boring,
blink – they’re everywhere,
best to stomp them down
 
cranberries, mulberries,
acai, boysenberries, currant,
and gooseberries
 
secretly, I bet
they all are longing
to be blackberries

          ‒Valerie Horton

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances June 13 through June 28


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.

Back to Top of Page
At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Melina’s Dance Company, Once Upon a Story
Showcase 2026
Sat, Jun 13, 11:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $22.

Melina’s Dance Company, Limitless Showcase 2026
Sat, Jun 13, 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $22.
 
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus

Flare: Finding a Sense of Place in the Chronically Ill
Body
Mason Exhibitions
Arlington
Through August 1
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
George Mason Jazz Camp: Faculty Showcase
Mon, Jun 22, 3:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

George Mason Jazz Camp: Steve Williams Mighty Little Big Band
Tue, Jun 23, 3:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

George Mason Jazz Camp: Roxy Coss, Saxophone
Wed, Jun 24, 3:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

George Mason Jazz Camp: US Army Blues Jazz Ensemble
Thu, Jun 25, 3:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

George Mason Jazz Camp: Student Showcase 
Fri, Jun 26, 2:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets or camp registration required.

Back to Top of Page
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory Actors Theatre: Disney’s Newsies, The Musical
Fri, Jun 5, 7:30
Sat, Jun 6, 7:30
Sun, Jun 7, 2:00
Fri, Jun 12, 7:30
Sat, Jun 13, 7:30
Sun, Jun 14, 2:00
Fri, Jun 19, 7:30
Sat, Jun 20, 7:30
Sun, Jun 21, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $30 Senior.

Showcase Dance Studio: Legendary
Sat, Jun 13, 11:00, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $41, $38, $35.

Virginia Dance Center: Dancing for the Good and the Wicked
Sat, Jun 20, 12:00, 5:00.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30, $23.

ARTfactory Pied Piper Theatre: Disney’s The Lion King Jr.
Fri, Jun 26, 7:00
Sat, Jun 27, 10:00 and 2:00
Sun, Jun 28, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $20.
 
Manassas Ballet Academy Recital: Sleeping Beauty & More!
Thu, Jun 11, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.


VISUAL ARTS 

Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

Back to Top of Page
For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

Back to Top of Page
Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat Jun 13 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 15
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:15 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 OLLI Artists Club
What’s in the Daily News?
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Poetry Reading Club – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jun 16
 
 		  1:30 pm
 2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Zoom Introduction – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 17
 
 		 10:30 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jun 18
 
 
 		  9:40 am
11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Reader’s Theater Club
All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jun 19
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Game On: Talking Sports – online
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jun 20
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jun 22
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
 4:00 pm		 Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jun 23
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 24
 
 
 		 12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turners Group – online
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Thu Jun 25
 
 		  3:00 pm
 4:30 pm
 6:00 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri Jun 26
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jun 27 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

Back to Top of Page

Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






 
OLLI E-News May 29, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Dr. Peter R. Henriques, History Professor Emeritus at George Mason University, presented a Capstone Lecture as a finale in a series spanning more than 25 years of talks to OLLI about George Washington, Tallwood, May 14

May 29, 2026


Editor of the Week: Deborah Kruesi 
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Registration for summer term is underway and will continue throughout the term, which begins June 22.
  • Reminder:  The Literature, Language, Theater, and Writing (LLT) Program Planning Group will meet Monday, June 8 at 1:00 via Zoom―see June 8 Daily Schedule.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 12; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 9, at 6:00.

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From the Desk of the Executive Director
Welcome Erika Koeniger to OLLI Mason

 
By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director
 

 

We are delighted to welcome Erika Koeniger, who joined OLLI Mason on May 18 as our new Program Associate.
 
Erika brings a strong background in community engagement, communications, and education. She recently earned her Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science from Texas A&M University, where she also held a variety of professional roles and volunteer leadership positions including Managing Editor of an academic journal. She worked on initiatives that connected communities, supported educational programming, and strengthened organizational communications—experiences that align beautifully with OLLI Mason’s mission.

In addition to her doctorate, Erika holds a Master of Public Administration and a B.A. in Human Services, further reflecting her longstanding commitment to public service and lifelong learning.
 
Erika is excited to bring her skills and energy to OLLI Mason and is equally enthusiastic about settling into her new home in Northern Virginia. Please join us in giving her a warm OLLI welcome when you see her around campus this summer!
 
At the same time, we share that Shannon Morrow, Lead Program Associate, will be retiring at the end of July 2026. Shannon has been a cornerstone of OLLI Mason’s program success, and we look forward to celebrating her many contributions in the weeks ahead.

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Volunteer Spotlight: David Osterman

 
By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director    



For the past eight years, David Osterman has provided steady, thoughtful leadership as finance chair of OLLI Mason—helping to ensure the organization’s financial strength and long-term sustainability.

In this critical role, David has guided the Board and staff through budgeting, financial planning, and oversight with care, clarity, and a deep sense of responsibility. His work behind the scenes has been essential in supporting OLLI Mason’s programs, operations, and continued growth. Whether reviewing financial reports, advising on strategic decisions, or helping navigate complex challenges including transitioning from cash to accrual accounting, David has brought a calm, analytical perspective that has strengthened the organization at every step.

Beyond his service as Finance Chair, David has generously contributed his time and expertise as a Board member from 2020-2023, serving as treasurer as well as being a member of the AV Committee.

We are deeply grateful to David for his service and the many ways he has strengthened OLLI Mason. His legacy of thoughtful stewardship and quiet leadership will continue to benefit the organization for years to come.

If you would like to nominate a volunteer for spotlight in the E-News please use this link: https://olli.gmu.edu/volunteer-spotlight/.

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Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Meeting
By Michele Romano, MD, and Suresh Mohla, PhD,
Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Co-Chairs

There will be a meeting of the Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group on Thursday, June 11, from 10:00-11:00. This will be Zoom only so please feel free to come in your fuzzy slippers with your favorite coffee mug. There will be a Zoom link in the Daily Schedule that morning.
 
If you are new to OLLI or have an interest in science, technology or health, please join us. You don't have to be an "official member" of the group, but we hope you will consider it. We need your thoughts, advice, recommendations, and help. If you have even a remote interest in presenting a class or know of someone who does, we would love to hear that also.
 
We'll see you (virtually) on June 11.
Tallwood Book Club

     By Elizabeth Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator



The Tallwood Book Club will be discussing two chapters from Andrew Solomon’s Far from the Tree at its Zoom meeting on Friday June 12 at 2:30. 
 
Future choices, in an as yet to be determined order, are The Life Impossible, The Great Divide, The Magnolia Palace, Orbital, Absolution, Memorial Days, The Art Thief, and The Stranger in the Woods.
 

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Downsizing  
             
keep or trash
gift or donate
shred school papers
burn ancient class notes
 
historical newspapers
and magazines stay
man on the moon
JFK, MLK, RFK
 
dump items with no
significant memory
store photos of people
the rest be gone
 
resist keeping junk
“I might need”
or “come in handy”
maybe others can use
 
after a lifetime
of accumulation
possessions whittle
down to near nothing
 
what I keep
is me
 
            Margie Wildblood

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances May 29 through June 21


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Prokofiev, Selections from Romeo & Juliet; Piano Concerto No. 3 with Claire Huangci, piano; Symphony No. 5
Sun, May 31, 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $75, $64, $54.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
No Performances

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Manassas Chorale: Lights, Camera, Music!
Fri, May 29, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30.

Virginia National Ballet Spring Recital
Sat, May 30, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $40.

Boyle School of Irish Dance
Sun, May 31, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $22.

ARTfactory Actors Theatre: Disney’s Newsies, The Musical
Fri, Jun 5, 7:30
Sat, Jun 6, 7:30
Sun, Jun 7, 2:00
Fri, Jun 12, 7:30
Sat, Jun 13, 7:30
Sun, Jun 14, 2:00
Fri, Jun 19, 7:30
Sat, Jun 20, 7:30
Sun, Jun 21, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35 Adult, $30 Senior.
 
Manassas Ballet Academy Recital: Sleeping Beauty & More!
Thu, Jun 11, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.


VISUAL ARTS 

Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat 30 May 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Art and Music Program Planning Group Meeting
Poetry Reading Club – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jun 2
 
 
 		 10:00 am
 
 2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Humanities & Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 3
 
 		 10:30 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu Jun 4
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jun 5
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon		 Crafts and Conversation
Board of Directors Meeting
Mah Jongg Club
Game On: Talking Sports – online
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Sat Jun 6 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Jun 8
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
 1:00 pm
 
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Poetry Writing Club – online
Literature, Theater, Writing and Languages Program Planning Group Meeting
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Jun 9
 		  2:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Jun 10
 
 
 		 10:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu Jun 11
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
 
11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Meeting
All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Jun 12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:30 pm
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tallwood Book Club – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Jun 13 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






 
OLLI E-News May 15, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
 
A large turnout of first-time visitors was welcomed to Tallwood on May 8-9 for a well-received OLLI Ideas Festival and Open House.

May 15, 2026


Editor of the Week: David Gundry 
Table of Contents
Alerts & Notices
 
  • Computer Club meeting on Saturday, May 16 (tomorrow), at 1:00. Check daily schedule for information.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 29; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 26, at 6:00.






It’s time to get outdoors. Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body and your first line of defense? Protect it so it can protect you. Sunscreens should be at least SPF 30, applied 30 minutes before sun exposure then every hour as well as after every time you come out of the water. Don’t forget the ears. Men, don’t forget the scalp. UV Protection | UT MD Anderson.
From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup

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Save the Date: LLT Program Planning Group to Meet June 8 at 1:00



 By Patricia Bangs, LLT Program Planning Group Co-Chair



The Literature, Language, Theater, and Writing (LLT) Program Planning Group will meet Monday, June 8 at 1:00 via Zoom to plan our winter 2026 term and beyond.

OLLI-Mason members are invited to attend and bring ideas for literature, theater, writing, or language programs, as well as possible resources. This could include individuals you may know who might want to teach or any other thoughts on this popular OLLI program area.

The meeting Zoom link is below. We will send out a reminder, and the meeting will also appear in the June 8 Daily Schedule.

Topic: Literature, Theater, Writing and Languages Program Planning Meeting

Time: June 8, 2026 1:00 Eastern Time (US and Canada)

To Join Zoom Meeting: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/96031467316

Meeting ID: 960 3146 7316

Thanks to all who can come. See you on June 8.
-- Pat Bangs, [email protected]
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop


Small Talk

What do you do?
I raise inklings.
Is there a market for them?
Yep.
Do they make good pets?
Depends on the owner.
What do you mean?
Well, inklings can be needy. Some owners like needy. Some don’t.
Sounds intriguing.
I don’t raise intriguings. But I would say they could be like inklings if you’re the right kind of owner.
Do you think I could be the right kind of owner?
I don’t have an inkling.
Didn’t you say you raise them?
I do. But I don’t try to match them with suitable owners.
Why not?
I haven’t a clue.
                                
                          ‒Ed Sadtler

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National Community Band Concert



 By Linda Harber, Co-President, Friends of Music at Mason



Here is information for the upcoming National Community Band Concert at the George Mason University Center for the Arts, presented by the Fairfax Wind Symphony and Mason’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music. I think OLLI members will enjoy the concerts, many of which are held during the daytime.
Obituary: Kathrina (Kathie) K. West

Kathie West, who first joined OLLI in fall 2005, died on May 6, 2026. To her many friends at OLLI, she will be remembered and loved as founder of OLLI Players for seniors, and for her enthusiastic participation in countless roles in that group. She was also active in her local community as a member of the Potomac Green Playmakers.

A great storyteller, she wowed her family and friends with playful drama and wit. Kathie was an inspiration to many students at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, VA, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA, directing fall plays and spring musicals over many years.

A Celebration of Life for Kathie will be held May 20, 2026, at Demaine Life Celebration Center in Sterling (45511 E Severn Way, Sterling, VA 20166). Visitation will begin at 11:00, with services immediately following.

In honor of Kathie’s courageous journey, the family welcomes flowers or memorial donations to https://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/donate/.

More information is available at the following link:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/sterling-va/kathrina-west-12875645.


Here’s a tribute written by OLLI member Wendy Campbell:
 
  Kathie West joined OLLI in 2005 shortly after retiring as a drama instructor at Thomas Jefferson High School. Because she sparkled, she rapidly became a central figure at OLLI, running classes in theater and serving on the Board of Directors. Everybody knew Kathie and loved her energy and the joy she took in life, the universe, and everything.

    

She created and ran the OLLI Players, reaching out and performing for retirement communities throughout northern Virginia. She was instrumental in turning out numerous Murder Mystery performances which many of us participated in, both as performers and audience. She helped to run the second year of Grandcamp. She was a friend to everyone who knew her. Kathie passed peacefully in her sleep on May 6th after fighting liver cancer for only a month. Well loved, deeply missed, always remembered. She was my friend. 
Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances May 8 through May 25


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites for performances, talks etc. For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/

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.

Back to Top of Page
At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No performances
 
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/) 
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

No Performances

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Manassas Ballet Theatre: Don Quixote
Fri, May 15, 7:30 
Sat, May 16, 3:00 and 7:30
Sun, May 17, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $81, $71, $60, $50, $40.

Somers Voice: Raisin—The Musical
Sat, May 16, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 17, 3:00
Sat, May 23, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 24, 3:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $45.

Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra: America at 250, A Musical Mosaic
Sun, May 24, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30 Adult, $27 Senior.    


VISUAL ARTS 

Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

Back to Top of Page
Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat May 16
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer Club
Mon May 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 May 19
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed May 20
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu May 21
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 22
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat May 23 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon 25 May   OLLI Closed Memorial Day
Tue 26 May
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed 27 May
 
 
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu 28 May
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm
 6:00 pm		 Large Program Planning Group Meeting
All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri 29 May
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 1:00 pm		 Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
1776 Trivia Party
Sat 30 May 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

Back to Top of Page
About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

Back to Top of Page

Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






 
OLLI E-News May 8, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Annual Meeting and Picnic, Tallwood, May 1

May 8, 2026


Editor of the Week: Paul Van  Hemel
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • You should have received a ballot for voting in the election of five members to the Board of Directors. Voting continues through May 15. Candidate statements are available on the website at this link.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 15; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 12, at 6:00.

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From the Desk of the Executive Director
Join Us May 8-9 for OLLI Ideas Festival

 
By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director

 

We are pleased to present a sampling of OLLI programs and activities at the inaugural OLLI Ideas Festival. Offerings include member favorites like Walk and Talk and Investment Forum as well as special programming such as the Panel on Global Perspectives on Longevity, a Tea Ceremony, and Meet the Restauranteur.

Check out the full schedule here. Join us May 8 and 9 for bold ideas and fascinating discussions with our remarkable community of curious learners and instructors.  

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Computer Club
3rd Saturday, May 16
The Informed Technology Consumer: Do you still have a landline?
What’s New with Zoom?
PC Clinic in the Annex
 
By Paul Howard , OPCUG Program Chair



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, May 16, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45 (Zoom link below).

The Informed Technology Consumer: Do you still have a landline?―Presented by Victor Rezmovic This presentation will provide a guide to modern connectivity solutions for the home and while traveling. We will contrast traditional wired internet with newer cellular home networks and mobile hotspots, highlighting how users can maintain web access even in rural areas or during emergencies via satellite messaging. The talk also explores VoIP technology and Google Voice as cost-effective alternatives to standard landlines for managing phone calls. To improve internal coverage, solutions include utilizing Wi-Fi extenders and mesh networks to eliminate signal dead zones. Finally, we will touch upon streaming services to replace cable television and the integration of smart devices within the Internet of Things (IOT).

Since retiring, Victor Rezmovic, PhD, has dedicated himself to teaching practical uses of technology such as using the Cloud, disconnecting from cable TV, and staying safe online. He has been teaching at Montgomery College and several adult learning centers since 2017. His current obsession is learning practical applications for the uses of AI.

Learn in 30: What’s New with Zoom―Presented by Mike Emery PATACS has been using Zoom since 2013 to provide a way for members in distant locations, or those unable to conveniently attend physical meetings to participate in the organization's primary activities.  As the lead site assistant for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, Mike heads a team providing hundreds of Zoom classes and activities via Zoom every year.
      
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 2026 (and 2025, if you didn’t get around to paying earlier!)—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

PC Clinic in the Annex
Get hands-on help with your computer and technology problems from PATAC experts. Bring in your computer, and we’ll help you lose the ‘blues’―system slowdowns, unwanted programs, virus and malware. We can help install new RAM, optical drives, hard discs and software. Be sure to read the Clinic Rules—click the link: Clinic Rules.
 
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click:
https://olligmu-org.zoom.us/j/87181894687?pwd=jeej4aqXUEcbKuULWcx9ACtgISnrCF.1 to join the meeting and use passcode 468224. (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 871 8189 4687 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).

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Theater Potpourri: Theater Classics to World Premieres to a Voting Rights Musical


By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers' Group, Coordinator


Did you know that the story of Little Women is a semibiographical novel of the author Louisa May Alcott? Sarah Elbert posits that "within Little Women can be found the first vision of the 'All-American girl' and that her various aspects are embodied in the differing March sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy." The story, set during the Civil War years, gives insights into the typical lives of women during that era. Theater Lovers' Group will go to the Creative Cauldron on Sunday, May 17 to see the 2pm performance of Little Women: The Musical. To purchase tickets, phone 703-436-9948 or go online to creativecauldron.org and use the code SSS to get $15 off all Sunday shows. Optional dinner after the show TBD. 
 
NEW DATE! On Wednesday, May 27, Theater Lovers' Group will attend 7pm performance of Pippin at Signature in Shirlington, with optional dinner beforehand TBD. A delightful tale of Pippin, Charlemagne's son, and his various (sometimes disastrous, hilarious) efforts, to become the hero he dreams of being. Tickets are going fast. Go to sigtheatre.org to select your seat and purchase your ticket.
 
On Wednesday and Thursday, July 15 and 16, Theater Lovers' Group travels to the Contemporary American Theater Festival for an overnight trip to nearby Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to see several world premieres. We need one more person to get a discount rate of $63/person for tickets. We will carpool. Lodging information and more will be forthcoming. For more details, email [email protected].
 
Broadway comes to PBS! This Friday at 9pm, Great Performances will feature the recorded 2024 Broadway hit Suffs, a musical, for your - free- viewing pleasure. Based on my having seen the show on Broadway, I can't say more than it is a show everyone can benefit from seeing. It's the story of the suffragette fight for women's voting rights - and it is a musical that you can enjoy while learning from and about history. So, pull up your chair, invite your children and grandchildren, friends and neighbors to watch a very entertaining piece of history delivered musically.
 
Guests are always welcome to join us at our theater events. Please email [email protected] if you will be joining us or have any questions. To join TLG, go to OLLI's member portal and search for Theater Lovers' Group.

Editor's Note: At the author's request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.

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‘Game On! Talking Sports Club’ Invites All OLLI Members
By Dennis VanLangen and Steve Greenhouse,
Game On! Talking Sports Club Co-Coordinators
If you're among the many Washington, DC metro-area sports fans who spent summer evenings watching Nationals games on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, you already know the warm, familiar voice of Bob Carpenter. For 20 seasons—from 2006 through 2025—Bob was the television play-by-play voice of the Washington Nationals, before retiring after a long and distinguished broadcasting career.

Now he's coming to OLLI! The Game On! Talking Sports Club is delighted to welcome Bob as our featured guest on Friday, May 15, at 10:00 via Zoom. He'll share stories and reflections from a remarkable career, and we expect a lively and enjoyable conversation.

This session is open to all OLLI members. Watch for the Zoom link in your daily schedule email. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Sebastian

When first he came into our home we knew he
wouldn’t  be  here  long  enough  to  comfort
whichever one of us would be left stranded
single in a chill and lonely house. He lived like
a banked fire, embers heating our lives, flaring
with unexpected attacks, antics and zooms.
He made us smile. When for three days he
declined to eat food carefully heated or drink
the  tuna  water  he  loved,  we knew  he  was
dying. Sunday we woke to find him curled and
cold beside our bed. He was a good cat.
 
                            ‒Carolyn Wyatt

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances May 8 through May 24


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/
and if you miss a live performance, there is a pay-per-view for many: https://cfa.gmu.edu/events/paid-digital-performances. 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 above) or visit the venue's box office.

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.

Back to Top of Page
At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Brigham Young University Alumni a capella Concert
Fri, May 8, 7:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $55, $45, $35.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Living the Prescription
Through May 8, 2026
Founders Gallery, Arlington Campus
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 
Dewberry School of Music Honors Recital
Sat, May 9, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: Free.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre: Oliver!
Sat, May 9, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 10, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30 Adult, $24 Senior.

Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. and the Ils Sont Partis Band
Sat, May 9, 5:00 and 8:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35.

Manassas Ballet Theatre: Don Quixote
Fri, May 15, 7:30
Sat, May 16, 3:00 and 7:30
Sun, May 17, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $81, $71, $60, $50, $40.
 
Somers Voice: Raisin—The Musical
Sat, May 16, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 17, 3:00
Sat, May 23, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 24, 3:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $45.

VISUAL ARTS 

Offerings to the Potomac: Acknowledging Indigenous Place
Through May 15, 2026
Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery, Manassas Campus
 
Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
 
Sat May 9 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon May 11
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue May 12
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed May 13
 
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu May 14
 
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 15
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm		 Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Talking Sports – online
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat May 16
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer Club
Mon May 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 May 19
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed May 20
 
 
 
 		 10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 noon
 4:00 pm		 Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu May 21
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 22
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat May 23 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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Notice: You received this newsletter because either you are a current OLLI member or you have been provided a courtesy copy. If you are an OLLI member who did not renew your membership, you can continue to receive our newsletter by emailing the office at [email protected] with your request. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it each week, please email the office and ask to be added to the courtesy-copy list.

Copyright 2026 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone 703-503-3384, Fax 703-503-2832


 






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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University · 4210 Roberts RD · Fairfax, VA 22032 · USA

 
OLLI E-News May 1, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Dr. J.P. Singh, Schar School of Policy and Government, 
Presented the Inaugural Distinguished Professor Lecture:
Global Cultural and Technology Flows―Tallwood, April 24

May 1, 2026


Editor of the Week: John Nash
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Voting for election of five members to the Board of Directors starts after today’s OLLI annual business meeting and continues for two weeks. Candidate statements are available on the website at this link.
  • Note the new start time of 11:30 for the annual garden party and picnic at Tallwood, Event 1102F. Register at the member portal.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 8; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 5, at 6:00.

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From the Desk of the Executive Director
 

OLLI Members Are Welcome at OLLI Ideas Festival, May 8-9



By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director
 


You are likely aware that we will host our very first OLLI Ideas Festival at Tallwood on May 8–9, 2026. It’s a free, two-day open-house event to inspire continued learning and connection in our adult community. The event will feature sample classes, clubs, demonstrations, and activities to showcase the OLLI experience.

The festival will close with a panel discussion, “Global Perspectives on Longevity,” on Saturday, May 9 at 3:00, featuring experts from Mason. You are welcome to stop by for one session, one day, or both days. Bring a picnic lunch or order lunch from food trucks on site.

We encourage you to share this exciting news with friends, family, and anyone you know who might be interested in exploring new passions and connecting with others. Flyers are available at the main office.

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Successful First Event for OLLI Hiking Club

 

By Kathy Rones, OLLI Hiking Club Coordinator


Six intrepid OLLI members braved raindrops and a few rock scrambles to hike on April 22 from Riverbend Park to Great Falls Park, and back. It was 4 miles total. We had lovely views of the Potomac River - the serene section at Riverbend, the spillway, the old canal portion, and of course the Great Falls. We saw some blooming wildflowers and lots of greenery all along the hike. We heard pileated woodpeckers, saw Canada geese, black vultures (with distinctive white tips on the underside of their large wings), and other wildlife.

If you are interested in joining us on future hikes, please register for this club. In the meantime, you can send an email to [email protected] and I will include you on emails about new hikes. In May, we will go to Shenandoah National Park for a day of hiking.

It's a Win-Win-Win-Win Situation

 

By John Nash, E-News Editor



A “win-win situation” is good but when you hit a four-win sequence, that's remarkable! That's just what happened last week when photographers from the OLLI Photo Club again provided photographic support for the Mason student opera. Each year, OPC photographers take photos of two dress rehearsals of the student opera and provide the digital photographs to the Department of Vocal Studies and the students to download and use as desired.

This spring's performance, occurring April 24 and 25, were two operas by Gian Carlo Menotti: The Telephone and The Old Maid and the Thief. There were two dress rehearsals as each opera is double-cast, allowing performers to gain experience through changing roles.

OPC photographers George Bradshaw, Dan Feighery, Bob Kelberg, and Tom Simpson spent two evenings roaming the Harris Theater during the rehearsals taking unrestrained photos of the performances. “We photographers have a chance to see a bit of the stagecraft that brings the scripts to life: the director's and maestro's instructions; the preparation of the sets and costumes; the work of the stage, sound, and lighting managers, and so much else needed for a successful production,” said George Bradshaw.

So this effort is definitely a four-win situation: OLLI and the OPC are able to give back to Mason for the wonderful support the university provides to OLLI; the photographers gain or improve their skills; the Department of Vocal Studies receives a collection of professional-quality photographs which can be used in promotions, teaching, and archives; and, not least, the students have access to individual photographs they can use as they progress up their professional ladders.

History Club Meeting


 
By Doug Snoeyenbos, History Club Coordinator


The History Club will meet virtually at 4:00 on Wednesday, May 6, to hear from Georgetown University history professor Michael Douma. Professor Douma will present on the life and times of Grant Thorburn (1773-1853), a Scottish immigrant to New York City, who opened that city's first seed store and eventually operated a greenhouse in the city. Thorburn, who lived to be nearly 90, was also known for his reminiscences of early New York. He claimed to have known everyone from George Washington and Thomas Paine to Jenny Lind. Many of the stories he told appear to be based on truth, or at least some truth. His ideas on marriage, bachelors, women, and social mores were published in newspapers across the country. Thorburn was a seed seller, a scribbler, a bit of a historian, a Christian moralist, and above all, an eccentric, an endlessly fascinating man who stood just 4 foot 10 inches, or as some joked 3 foot 6, in stockings. 

Professor Douma is an associate research professor at the Georgetown McDonough School of Business, where he is the director of the Institute for the Study of Markets and Ethics. He also teaches courses in the Georgetown history department and the School of Foreign Service. He is the author of four books and editor of four more. 

I have heard Professor Douma present before, and found him lively, learned, and likeable. This will be an entertaining and interesting meeting. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop


Night Calls

In this season between seasons
with windows still cracked open
inviting in the gentle cadences of night,
an owl hoots softly, hauntingly
from far off in the forest.

     Awoken, I silently ask
     Did you hear it? Should I wake you?

I try to make myself as still
as the evening air,
yearning for another call,
and there it is again
now echoed by another
from closer woods, as they engage
in their back-and-forth refrain
“Whocooksforyou.”

     Now I know I must ask but, even before I do,
     you turn and answer - Yes, I hear.

                   ‒Jacqueline Davey

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances May 1 through May 11


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/
and if you miss a live performance, there is a pay-per-view for many: https://cfa.gmu.edu/events/paid-digital-performances. 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 above) or visit the venue's box office.

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.

Back to Top of Page
At the Fairfax Campus Venues

The Center Will Not Hold
Sat, May 2, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Center for the Arts
Admission: $65, $56, $41.

Brigham Young University Alumni a capella Concert
Fri, May 8, 7:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $55, $45, $35.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Living the Prescription
Through May 8, 2026
Founders Gallery, Arlington Campus
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

Mason Electronic Music Ensemble (MEME) Concert
Fri, May 1, 8:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001
Admission: Free.

Spring: Dance Innovations 
Fri, May 1, 2:00 and 7:00
Sat, May 2, 7:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $19 Adult, $14 Senior.

Musical Theater Ensemble: Songs for a New World
Fri, May 1, 7:30 
Sat, May 2, 2:00 and 7:30 
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace
Admission: Pay what you can.
 
Dewberry School of Music, Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert: Concerto Competition Winners Spring 2026
Sun, May 3, 7:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $24 Adult, $19 Senior.

School of Dance: May Studio Series
Tue, May 5, 7:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A301
Admission: Pay what you can.

Dewberry School of Music Honors Recital
Sat, May 9, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: Free.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)
 
Manassas Symphony Orchestra, Classical Tradition with Lisa Tyler, Piano
Fri, May 1, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35 adult; $30 group (10+).

Manassas Symphony Orchestra, German Masters with Andrew Sords, Violin
Sat, May 2, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35 adult; $30 group (10+).

Virginia National Ballet: Life in the Fast Lane
Sun, May 3, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55; $50; $45; $40; $35.

Dance Academy of Loudoun
Sun, May 3, 4:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $50.

ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre: Oliver!
Sat, May 9, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 10, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30 Adult, $24 Senior.

Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. and the Ils Sont Partis Band
Sat, May 9, 5:00 and 8:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $35.


VISUAL ARTS 

Offerings to the Potomac: Acknowledging Indigenous Place
Through May 15, 2026
Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery, Manassas Campus
 
Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

Back to Top of Page
For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

Back to Top of Page
Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.

 
Sat May 2 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon May 4
 
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue May 5
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed May 6
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
History Club – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu May 7
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 8  9:30 am Crafts and Conversation
Sat May 9 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon May 11
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue May 12
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed May 13
 
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Thu May 14
 
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 15
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm		 Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Talking Sports – online
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
Sat May 16
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer Club

Back to Top of Page
About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

Back to Top of Page
 
OLLI E-News April 24, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Board of Directors Meeting: Tallwood, April 17, 2026

April 24, 2026


Editor of the Week: Chloe DiStaso
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • Voting for election of five members to the Board of Directors starts May 1, after the OLLI annual business meeting and continues for two weeks. Candidate statements are available on the website at this link.
  • Note the new start time of 11:30 for the annual garden party and picnic at Tallwood, Event 1102F. Register at the member portal; see article below.
  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 1; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, April 28, at 6:00.

Back to Top of Page
From the Desk of the Executive Director

Who’s Who on OLLI Mason Staff



By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director


You may notice some new faces around OLLI Mason this spring. We are thrilled to welcome Operations Manager, Lissette Sanchez, and a new Communications Associate, Kim Rotondo. We’ve also been reorganizing some of our staff roles, and here’s a breakdown to help you understand the new structure:

Susan Todenhoft, Technology Manager: Formerly OLLI’s administrator, Susan will be focusing on our website, member portal, video library, and other software and automation.

Mike Emery, Lead Site Assistant: Mike is now the lead site assistant responsible for training and supervising the team of six site assistants, and for Zoom, as well as our computer hardware, and AV technology.

Lissette Sanchez, Operations Manager: 

Lissette is coordinating OLLI’s administrative functions including scheduling, ordering and distributing the catalog, office volunteer liaison, G-numbers, facility management, and select events such as the facility picnic and teacher appreciation. She is joining the team on April 20. Please stop by the office to welcome her!

Lissette brings over 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including serving as a CEO and COO for mission-driven organizations in the DC region. She specializes in operations, team development, and aligning systems to support strong, engaged communities. She is delighted to join OLLI Mason and contribute to its vibrant learning community.

Kim Rotondo, Communications Associate: 

Kim is taking over as communications associate as Nancy Klein prepares to retire. Kim’s first day at OLLI Mason is May 4. The communications associate is responsible for planning, creating, and implementing communication and marketing strategies that promote OLLI Mason programs, events, and membership. Kim will coordinate digital and print marketing, manage content across multiple platforms, and support outreach initiatives.

Kim brings a background in communications, marketing and community outreach to her role as communications associate. Kim has extensive experience developing digital content, coordinating events, and managing multi-channel communications to engage diverse audiences. She previously owned a small business, leading marketing communications, promotional campaigns, and community engagement initiatives. Kim is an active member of the Northern Virginia Alliance League. Earlier in her career, she worked in research and project management roles supporting federal programs through outreach, data collection, and reporting.

Please have patience as these people complete training and transition to their new roles.

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Farewell to Nancy Klein


By Lisa Mariam, Executive Director


Nancy Klein has announced her retirement as of May 2026. Nancy joined OLLI Mason in August 2018 and has been a valued member of the team for more than seven years. She initially served as a site assistant and then worked as the program and communications associate. In 2024, she transitioned to working remotely from North Carolina as the communications associate.

Throughout her tenure, Nancy has been a steady and reliable presence behind the scenes, ensuring that OLLI members receive timely and accurate information through the Communicator, E‑Blast, and E‑News. She has also played an essential role in the production of each term’s catalog, contributing her expertise and attention to detail.

In her role as communications associate, Nancy collaborated closely with the Outreach Committee and the Member Survey Working Group. OLLI is especially grateful for her recent accomplishments, including updating the Member and Instructor Handbooks, revitalizing the OLLI Mason Fund campaign, and leading marketing efforts for the OLLI Ideas Festival.

OLLI Mason deeply appreciates Nancy’s dedication, professionalism, and camaraderie over her 7½ years of service. She will be greatly missed, and we extend our warmest wishes as she embarks on her next chapter.

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Are you or a loved one thinking about downsizing, relocating to an adult community, or changing level of care? THE POSITIVE AGING SOURCEBOOK is a good place to start. Click on the link to order your free copy of the:

Positive Aging Sourcebook (All Maryland - Virginia - DC).
You can also pick one up in the OLLI Café at Tallwood.

From the Healthcare Advisory Workgroup

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop
 

Letter to the Editor


Dear Editor,

Hmm . . ., I had 35 students registered for my class, but only 10 of them showed up. Where was everyone? I was very disappointed to see so few students when I expected closer to the numbers who had registered. I researched, planned, and prepared for months leading up to my class, so that added to my frustration. I heard that some members register for multiple classes that are scheduled at the same time. And then they decide at the last minute which class they’ll actually attend. And I’ve also heard that they go in and out of classes as they please to other classes that are at the same time. They can do this because their membership fee covers everything and they don’t get charged a fee per class. What a wonderful fee structure for members! I know they don’t mean to be discourteous, but I guess some members simply don’t think about us instructors who volunteer our time and effort into providing such great classes. I wonder if I should continue volunteering to teach if this is what I should expect.

OLLI members, please be respectful of our wonderful volunteer instructors. Thank you so much!

                                  Shannon Kim Morrow, Lead Program Associate

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Obituary: Martha Ellen Kossoff

Martha Kossoff, who joined OLLI in 2020, died April 6, 2026, at the age of 74. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of North Carolina (UNC) and continued there to obtain a Master’s degree in school psychology. She worked nearly 40 years as workforce development program developer at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale.

Martha’s commitment to education and lifelong learning is reflected in her OLLI membership. At OLLI Mason, she also volunteered as a proofreader for the OLLI E-News. Devoted to her family, she took joy in the next generation.

A memorial service will be held at Citty Funeral Home, 308 Lindsey Street in Reidsville, North Carolina, on Saturday, May 2nd at 11:00.

A second service will be held at Martha’s church, Foundry Methodist, 1500 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC, on June 7th at a time to be determined.
More information is available at this link.

An Upcoming Potpourri of Theater Opportunities

By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group

You have heard that “Variety is the spice of life.” The upcoming theater events the Theater Lovers’ Group (TLG) is offering to its members, as well as to all OLLI members, in the next several months certainly adheres to that notion.

Broadway Bound

TLG members and guests are off to the Big Apple for a do-your-own-thing overnight motorcoach trip, leaving on Tuesday, November 17 and returning on Wednesday, November 18. Here’s your chance to catch a Broadway play or two, visit museums, enjoy a Radio City Music Hall performance, shop for the holidays, sightsee, etc. Kim and Trevor will help you purchase tickets and plan your trip. We’ll stay at Marriott Marquis Times Square. The trip costs $548 for a double; plus $178 for a single. To sign up for the trip and for more information, email me at [email protected]. 

Little Women: The Musical

This classic, which features the loveable March family girls growing up during the Civil War, will be performed at the Creative Cauldron on Sunday, May 17 at 2pm. To select your seat and purchase tickets at senior rates, go to creativecauldron.org or phone 703-436-9948. Please email me that you will be joining TLG. Optional dinner after the show TBD.

Pippin: The Musical

Pippin will be performed in the round at Signature Theater on Saturday, June 20 at 2pm. The show follows Pippin, Charlemagne’s restless heir, on his many forays as he searches for a purpose in life and greatness. What does it mean to be extraordinary? To select your seat and ticket price range, go to sigtheatre.org or phone 703-820-9771. Military discount is available. Email me that you will be joining TLG. Optional dinner after the show TBD. 

Theater Festival, Opera, and more

TLG offers a wide variety of theatrical activities, such as tours, lunches, and other cultural pursuits. To receive all emails about all TLG activities, go online to OLLI’s member portal and sign up for Theater Lovers’ Group.

Editor's Note: At the author's request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.
Come For The BBQ, Stay for the Fun: OLLI’s Garden & Picnic Party



By Marilyn Harriman

 

Don’t miss OLLI’s biggest spring get-together—an afternoon of great food, easy conversation, and outdoor fun. If you haven’t registered yet, now’s the time!

Join us for our annual Garden and Picnic Party (event #1102F). Register online or with our registrar, Peg. Please bring a potluck side dish to share—and enjoy Red, Hot and Blue BBQ, provided by the OLLI staff.

The Event begins at 11:30 (note the time change from the catalog), immediately following our annual business meeting in TA-1.

Potluck: what to bring (please bring an item that serves four people, based on your last name)

  • Last name A–H: grains, potatoes, rice, beans, vegetables
  • Last name I–R: a salad (fruit, lettuce, or vegetable)
  • Last name S–Z: a dessert

Along with your dish, bring a serving utensil and label it with a small sign listing key ingredients (for example, “chocolate cake with walnuts”).

Location: Please place potluck items on the tables in the Annex classroom (adjacent to the main office). Beverages will be available in the OLLI Café.

Dining will be at picnic tables on the breezeway, in the lower parking lot, and in TA-1. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll set up inside in TA-1, TA-3, and TA-2.

Lawn Games—including Cornhole, Croquet, and Badminton—will be set up in OLLI’s backyard behind the lower parking lot.

The Garden Party & Picnic is always a spring favorite at OLLI—come celebrate the season with us. Register today, bring your favorite dish to share, and plan to stay for a fun, festive afternoon!

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances April 24 through May 4


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/
and if you miss a live performance, there is a pay-per-view for many: https://cfa.gmu.edu/events/paid-digital-performances. 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 above) or visit the venue's box office.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

The Center Will Not Hold
Sat, May 2, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Center for the Arts
Admission: $65, $56, $41.
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
Voices Held in Earth: Mary Bowron’s Silent Witnesses
Through April 24, 2026
School of Art & Design 1st Floor Lobby
Fairfax Campus
 
Living the Prescription
Through May 8, 2026
Founders Gallery, Arlington Campus
 
Pulp Translations: Paperworks from George Mason MFA Alumni
Through June 26, 2026
Fenwick Gallery
Fairfax Campus
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
 

Mason Opera: Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Telephone and The Old Maid and the Thief
Fri, Apr 24, 8:00
Sat, Apr 25, 2:00 and 8:00
Sun, Apr 26, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $25 Adult, $15 Senior.

Special Event: Doug Varone and Dancers
Sat, Apr 25, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion with Artistic Director Doug Varone, moderated by George Mason University School of Dance Director Susan Shields, begins one hour prior to the performance.
Center for the Arts
Admission: Free, but tickets are required.

Groove Theory A Capella Concert
Mon, Apr 27, 8:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001, de Laski Rehearsal Room
Admission: Free.

Guitar Ensemble Concert 
Tue, Apr 28, 6:30 
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A323
Admission: Free.

Mason Choirs Concert: Echoes of a Nation: 250 Years in Memory and Song
Tue, Apr 28, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $19 Adult, $14 Senior.

Piano Chamber Ensemble 
Wed, Apr 29, 5:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A323
Admission: Free.

Dewberry School of Music: International Jazz Day Concert 2026
Thu, Apr 30, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $19 Adult, $14 Senior.

Mason Electronic Music Ensemble (MEME) Concert
Fri, May 1, 8:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001
Admission: Free.

Spring: Dance Innovations 
Fri, May 1, 2:00 and 7:00
Sat, May 2, 7:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $19 Adult, $14 Senior.

Musical Theater Ensemble: Songs for a New World
Fri, May 1, 7:30 
Sat, May 2, 2:00 and 7:30 
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace
Admission: Pay what you can.

Dewberry School of Music, Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert: Concerto Competition Winners Spring 2026
Sun, May 3, 7:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: $24 Adult, $19 Senior.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Hylton Performing Arts Center 16th Anniversary Gala 2026
Sat, Apr 25, 6:00 Reception, Didlake Grand Foyer
7:00 Dinner and Program, Merchant Hall
Admission: $350 (includes cocktail reception and dinner).
 
Manassas Symphony Orchestra, Classical Tradition with Lisa Tyler, Piano
Fri, May 1, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35 adult; $30 group (10+).

Manassas Symphony Orchestra, German Masters with Andrew Sords, Violin
Sat, May 2, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35 adult; $30 group (10+).

Virginia National Ballet: Life in the Fast Lane
Sun, May 3, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55; $50; $45; $40; $35.

Dance Academy of Loudoun
Sun, May 3, 4:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $50.


VISUAL ARTS 

Offerings to the Potomac: Acknowledging Indigenous Place
Through May 15, 2026
Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery, Manassas Campus
 
Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.

 
Sat Apr 25 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Apr 27
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Apr 28
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Apr 29
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 2:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Apr 30
 
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm
 6:00 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri May 1
 		 10:00 am
 1:00 pm		 Annual Meeting
Annual Garden Party and Picnic
Sat May 2 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon May 4
 
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue May 5
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed May 6
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
History Club – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu May 7
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 8  9:30 am Crafts and Conversation
Sat May 9 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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About OLLI E-News

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 Editors: David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi

Weekly Editor Team: Chloe DiStaso, David Gundry, Deborah Kruesi, Chitra Mohla, John Nash,
Paul Van Hemel
 
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas Appich, 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.

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OLLI E-News April 17, 2026
Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Photography Club Members Tom Simpson and John Olsen Presented a Talk on Travel Photography Based on 2024 and 2025 Trips to Oslo, Bergen, and the Fjords of Norway: Tallwood, April 10, 2026

April 17, 2026


Editor of the Week: Chitra Mohla
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

  • The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, April 24; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, April 21, at 6:00.

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1207E Bus Excursion to VA Holocaust Museum on May 21-
Open to Friends and Relatives


By Gay Alper, Trip Coordinator


How is the VA Holocaust Museum different than the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC?
The museum in Richmond is one of only several places in the country that offers an interactive opportunity to speak with a survivor.

In their Dimensions in Testimony theater, attendees will be enabled to have a conversation with a pre-recorded video image of a Holocaust survivor―a cutting-edge exhibit.

This organized bus trip will be canceled if there are not at least 25 people registered by April 30; click this link for the member portal to register.

Coordinator: Gay Alper
Thursday, 8:45 – 5:00, May 21
Bus Trip
Limit: 30
Fee: $87 includes museum admission

The bus will leave promptly at 9:00 from the Fairfax Swimming Pool parking lot (4200 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA). On arrival we will visit the Dimensions in Testimony theater and hear the story of a Holocaust survivor. Participants can ask questions to her “hologram” which is a pre-recorded video interview, made to look 3D. We will break for lunch in a room at the museum. Participants must pre-order and pre-pay online for lunch which will be delivered from a nearby designated restaurant to the lunchroom. (Registrants will be contacted with details by the coordinator prior to the excursion.)

We will then view a short video and meet Rena Berlin, currently a museum docent.

Rena Berlin taught our OLLI winter-term class, 'Learning About the Holocaust in Today’s World, Part One,' followed by Part 2 for spring term. Rena, or a 2nd docent will lead us on a tour of the museum. The bus will depart the museum at approximately 3:30.

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Computer Club
3rd Saturday, April 18
2026 Consumer Electronics Show and More
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts
 
By Paul Howard , OPCUG Program Chair



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, April 18 (tomorrow), in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session opens at 12:45 (Zoom link below).

2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and More―Presented by Rob Pegoraro (Editor’s Note: Information is updated below.)
Sights and Sounds: What's new in the world of consumer electronics and related technology?
  • My changing tech toolset: how I changed out notetaking apps only weeks before CES, the only way I regularly apply AI to my work, and my decision to fire Intuit from tax-prep work.
  • A year and change of Trump 2.0 tech policy: control-freakery at the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), dereliction of duty in Congress, and more thrilling news about the state of technology policy these days.
  • My sense of where self-driving cars are heading: I've now taken rides in Waymo, Zoox and Tesla vehicles without a human at the wheel, but that doesn't mean I'm universally sold on the concept.
  • Whither the Washington Post: what it's been like to watch the mothership steered onto the rocks, and how I've been going in finding replacement sources for local news.
 
Rob Pegoraro tries to make sense of computers, consumer electronics, telecom services, the Internet, software and other things that beep or blink through reporting, reviewing and analysis. You can find him at PCMag, Fast Company, Wirecutter, and many other outlets. From 1999 to 2011, he was the Washington Post’s tech columnist. He once received a single-word e-mail from Steve Jobs and may be the only person to have written for both Reader's Digest and Boing Boing.

Learn in 30: Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts―Presented by Frank Fota Want to move faster and work smarter in Windows 11? Join us for an interactive presentation by PATACS Director at Large Frank Fota, who will demonstrate the power of keyboard shortcuts. You’ll discover how simple key combinations can streamline your daily workflow, minimize mouse use, and boost productivity across common tasks—from window management and desktop navigation to file organization and system controls.
This guided session organizes essential shortcuts into practical, easy-to-learn categories, helping you build lasting muscle memory for effortless efficiency. Whether you’re a casual user or a power user in the making, you’ll leave with tools to make Windows 11 feel faster, smoother, and tailor-made for you.

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 2026 (and 2025, if you didn’t get around to paying earlier!)—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:
https://olligmu-org.zoom.us/j/87181894687?pwd=jeej4aqXUEcbKuULWcx9ACtgISnrCF.1 to join the meeting and use passcode 468224. (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 871 8189 4687 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method).

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Photo of the Month
 


The April 2026 Photo of the Month theme was Basic Elements of Composition-Color: Submit photos with a dominant color theme, such as blue, red, or gold. We selected Ed Marion's photo "Hello Sunshine: Red Winged Blackbird 2026," 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 Lynne Cline, Photography Club Coordinators

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Port of Call                            
 
As a young man I sailed the horizons.
       In the quiet harbors Calliope would sing.
              I longed to join in chorus
                      but my ship had a schedule to keep.
 
Gulls and years rode the ensuing gale.
        In the windless lulls
               her dampened whisper still sounded.
                      I yearned to respond forthrightly
                             yet the vessel was fully laden.
 
Oh Queen of Muses!
       At long last I am the Captain!
              Which course will I steer
                     to truly heed your call?
 
                                                  ̶ Daniel J. Gore

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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances April 17 through April 27


By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) has several web sites of performances, talks etc.
CFA ticket purchase page
Center for the Arts YouTube channel 
Hylton ticket purchase page
The new https://masonartsamplified.gmu.edu/
music.calendar.gmu.edu/
theater.calendar.gmu.edu/
dance.calendar.gmu.edu
masonexhibitions.org/
and if you miss a live performance, there is a pay-per-view for many: https://cfa.gmu.edu/events/paid-digital-performances. 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 above) or visit the venue's box office.

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.

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At the Fairfax Campus Venues

No performances
 
Fairfax and Arlington Campuses Visual Arts
(details can be found at https://www.masonexhibitions.org/)
 
The Prescription is Home
Through April 18, 2026
Mason Exhibitions, Arlington Campus

Voices Held in Earth: Mary Bowron’s Silent Witnesses
Through April 24, 2026
School of Art & Design 1st Floor Lobby
Fairfax Campus

Living the Prescription
Through May 8, 2026
Founders Gallery, Arlington Campus

Paper as Politic
Gillespie Gallery, School of Art and Design
April 13 ̶ 23, 2026
Mason Student and Faculty Performances

(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)

Mason Bands Anniversary Concert: 55 Years of Mason Bands
Fri, Apr 17, 7:30
Center for the Arts
Admission: $24 Adult, $19 Senior.
 
George Mason School of Theater: Airness
Fri, Apr 17, 7:30
Sat, Apr 18, 2:00 and 7:30
Sun, Apr 19, 2:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace
Admission: $19 Adult, $9 Senior.
 
Shawn Purcell Jazz Combos and Steel Pan Ensemble Concert
Mon, Apr 20, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Admission: Free.

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At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

The U.S. Army Concert Band
Fri, Apr 17, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Free.
 
Ordway Ballet: The Wizard of Oz
Sat, Apr 18, 1:00 and 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $41, $38, $35 Adult; $39, $36, $32 Senior.
 
TheaterWorks USA: Click, Clack, Moo
Sun, Apr 19, 1:00 and 4:00
(4:00 performance is sensory-friendly.)
Merchant Hall
Admission: $24.


VISUAL ARTS 

Kevin Jones: Reflections in Black and White
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Through June 20, 10:00

Offerings to the Potomac: Acknowledging Indigenous Place
Through May 15, 2026
Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery, Manassas Campus

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For further details on any of the above events, see the CFA Event Calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

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Meetings & Clubs

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).

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. 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.
  Annual Meeting Annual Garden Party and Picnic Annual Meeting Annual Garden Party and Picnic
Sat Apr 18
 		 10:30 am
 1:00 pm		 Tai Chi Club – online
OLLI Personal Computer User Group
Mon Apr 20
 
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Apr 21
 
 		  2:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Apr 22
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Spanish Page Turner Club – online
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Thu Apr 23
 
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:00 pm
 4:30 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Apr 24
 
 
 
 
 
 		  9:30 am
 9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
 2:00 pm
 4:00 pm		 Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc.
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – online
French Conversation and Happy Hour – online
Sat Apr 25 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Apr 27
 		  9:30 am
 4:00 pm		 What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue Apr 28
 
 		  2:00 pm
 3:45 pm
 4:30 pm		 Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Wed Apr 29
 
 
 
 
 		 11:50 am
12:00 noon
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 1:30 pm
 2:00 pm		 Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
OLLI Artists Club
Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Apr 30
 
 
 		 11:50 am
 3:00 pm
 4:30 pm
 6:00 pm		 All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri May 1
 		 10:00 am
 1:00 pm		 Annual Meeting
Annual Garden Party and Picnic
Sat May 2 10:30 am Tai Chi Club – online

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OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

4210 Roberts Rd. Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone: (703) 503-3384
Email: [email protected]

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