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September 15, 2017
Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel
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Alerts & Notices
Reminder: Computer Club meeting, 3rd Saturday, September 16 (tomorrow), Tallwood, 12:30/1:00. For details, click here.
Fall-term Kickoff Coffee, Tallwood TA-1, 10:00, Friday, September 22; register for Event 1102. Followed immediately by informal planning meeting for a new OLLI club, Ethnic Eats.
Flu shots, Tallwood TA-1, Friday, September 22, 12:00-2:00. Sign up in the Tallwood office or call to register 703-503-3384.
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Course Proposals for
Spring and Summer Terms 2018
 By Alice Slayton Clark, Communications and Program Associate
Calling all longstanding and new OLLI instructors! Please be aware that the deadline for course proposals for spring term is October 13. Spring term 2018 runs from March 26-May 18. If you haven’t submitted your proposal yet, please do so soon.
If you need more time, the deadline for course proposals for summer term is February 9, 2018. Summer term 2018 runs from June 18-July 27.
You can find the course proposal form at: https://olli.gmu.edu/olli-course-proposal-form/. Please fill it out in its entirety, click “submit,” and the OLLI program planners will be in touch with you soon thereafter about your offering. Thanks for your support for OLLI programming!
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Loudoun News
 By Kathie West, OLLI Member and Loudoun Reporter
We are looking forward to a wonderful session of classes in Loudoun this fall. Come to the KICK-OFF COFFEE on September 27 for coffee and socialization, and offer creative ideas for classes that you want at Loudoun. We need input and willing instructors. What is your passion for a class you would like to attend or a class you would like to teach? Start with one class and see how that feels and then go on to four classes! Also, put on your calendars a meeting on October 10 at 2:15 to discuss the possibility of starting a few clubs Loudoun. There are many who might like to try a new recipe or two, or learn how to draw or to act. What kind of club could you offer to host?
Also on October 18 at 2:15 there will be a listening tour at Loudoun where you can talk all you want about anything that you love or are concerned about with our executive director. Check the OLLI website Quick Links for the Loudoun Newsletter for a posted notice each month. We are only a stone’s throw from Tallwood! Thanks for listening and reading. Loudoun is alive and well and we want to keep it that way.
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Reston Book Club
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By Nancy Scheeler and Luci Martel, Book Club Coordinators |
The Reston Book Club will meet at the United Christian Church, Reston on September 28, 2017, at 2:15 (Please note this is a change of dates). The book for discussion is The Door by Hungarian writer Magda Szabo. The Door was originally published in Hungary in 1987 and translated into English in 1995 for American publication. The novel begins with Magda, the narrator, recounting the recurring dream that haunts her in her old age. As Madga explains, after waking up from this dream, she is forced to face the fact that “I killed Emerence.” The story that follows is her attempt to explain what she means by this sentence; it is the comprehensive story of a decades-long relationship with her housekeeper Emerence.
All OLLI members are welcome.
The October 19 selection is Disgrace, 1999 Man Booker winner, by J. M. Coetzee, 2003 Nobel Prize winner and a two-time Man Booker award winner.
The November 9 selection is The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes.
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| The Tom Swift Squad Needs You!
Interested in technology? Learn with us!
By Paul Howard, Audiovisual Support Committee Chair
OLLI’s Audiovisual Support Committee (a.k.a. The Tom Swift Squad) seeks additional volunteers to help ensure the smooth employment of OLLI’s audiovisual resources. Our primary mission is to help instructors, liaisons, and staff with any audiovisual issues that might arise during the classes we attend.
We’ll be meeting at 2:00 on Wednesday, September 20th, in TA-1. Our activities for this meeting will include training on OLLI’s AV equipment used in classrooms and remote locations. We’ll be discussing future equipment arrangements and reviewing our materials for volunteer and staff training.
Please let me know if you’re planning to attend or would like to become a “Swiftie,” even if you can’t attend this meeting. Contact me by email (preferred) or phone (703-860-9246).
For more information on the Audiovisual Support Committee, see its web page.
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Music Sampler
 By Manuel Pablo, Board Member
Dr. Linda Apple Monson, Director of the Mason School of Music, sends her OLLI Music Sampler friends word of an upcoming concert, A Grand Piano Celebration, on Sunday September 17, at 3:00, in the Concert Hall at the Mason Center for the Arts. She is encouraging your attendance by promising a fabulous concert including works by well-known composers (e.g., Chopin, Beethoven, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev). Information and tickets available at http://cfa.gmu.edu/calendar/2565/.
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Special VIP Offer to OLLI Members from Maestro Luke Frazier of the American Pops Orchestra
 By Martha Powers, Board Member
 Those of you who have been in Luke Frazier’s OLLI classes know that he never fails to put on a great show! And because he appreciates OLLI members, he’s going to show us a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T at his next concert…
The American Pops Orchestra will be performing Saturday, September 16th (TOMORROW night) and Luke is offering OLLI members a special deal: use the special code OLLI and your ticket will be upgraded to VIP status for FREE! Tickets are available at: http://theamericanpops.org/s3/respect/.
VIPs get a great seat, food and drink, and a chance to meet the artists after the show.
Arena Stage has underground parking available, plus valet parking for just $25! There’s also a convenient parking lot next to the Safeway and CVS on 4th street (just two blocks from Arena), so no need to search for a parking space on the street.
Join Luke and friends for this special concert!
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Potomac River Kayak Festival
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By Ed Marion and Dan Feighery, Members of OLLI Photography Club |
Recently, several members of the OLLI Photo Club photographed a couple of pretty exciting events and showed their results at a Photography Club meeting in August.
We attended the Potomac River Kayak Festival held August 18‑19 at Great Falls. It was absolutely thrilling to witness men and women guide their tiny kayaks through a series of three challenging and dangerous rapids. The last and steepest rapid is more than a 60-foot drop straight down. Kayakers would, in turn, become totally submerged and then reappear, holding their paddles high into the air above their heads to signal success. It was truly remarkable to watch. We were able to position ourselves on approved lookouts to get the best pictures; it was a great opportunity to test our skills in getting unique action shots. More kayaking action from a competition practice session can be seen at this link.
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Solar Eclipse!
 By George Bradshaw and Hillary Rubin, Members of OLLI Photography Club
 Other photos featured at the August meeting of the Photography Club were of the August 21 solar eclipse. We traveled to South Carolina to witness and record this amazing event. One of us (Bradshaw), in Anderson, SC, in the parking lot of the hotel with many other people, used cameras on tripods to record the absolutely spectacular event. Final photos with information can be seen at this link.
The other author (Rubin) was in Lexington, SC, with family, pointing and clicking pictures just before, during, and after totality. The “diamond ring,” when the sun just begins to reappear, was breath-taking. At 1:30 we put on our “sun” glasses and began watching the moon creep over the sun, slowly heading from east to west forming crescents as it crawled onwards. After 25 minutes, just as the moon approached  the last curve, the sun flashed a bright orange “C” as its final farewell. At the same time, on the eastern curve, a dazzling burst, a diamond ring, blazed with a rainbow prism and lit up the sky. THEN IT HAPPENED! It was the longest two minutes and the shortest two minutes. The light switched off. And the world was navy blue. And we looked up. And it was still. And it was quiet. And it was cool. And it was soft. And it was awesome!
All OLLI members are invited to attend the Photo Club meetings held each month on the second Friday (guest speakers) and fourth Friday (workshops) at Tallwood.
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Photo of the Month
 The September 2017 Photo of the Month theme was Photo of People Taking Photos. We selected Ed Marion’s photo “Double Exposure,” 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 Angela Talaber, Photography Club Coordinator
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Three Tallwood Secrets
By Manuel Pablo, Board Member
Secret #1: Tallwood has a secret drawer
The desk which holds the microwave, just to the right as you exit the Social Room, has a secret. The bottom left-hand drawer is a Calendar Exchange! All those unsolicited 2018 calendars, the ones with the collection of cute kitties, or blooming flowers, or famous beaches, or whatever, which are already arriving unsolicited in your mailbox, but are too good to throw away, go in here. Need a calendar of just the right size or theme for your desk, or to record your OLLI classes, or keep track of doctor appointments? Grab the perfect calendar from this drawer. At last! An intelligent recycle!
Secret #2: Tallwood has a secret terrace
Ever wonder where the path to the right of the Potty Barn goes? The left path goes to the Cottage; the right one goes to the landscaped terrace built by the Dirty Knees Club. There are tables, chairs, and shade, and this time of year a cascade of fluttering leaves and perfect temperatures to enjoy a leisurely lunch or an after-class coffee. Sshhh! No one knows it’s there!
Secret #3: Just like home
Coffee got cool because the lecture riveted your interest? Want to enjoy your favorite yogurt for lunch, but you don’t want to lug an insulated cooler to class? No problem. The Social Room at Tallwood has a small microwave that will warm that coffee in a minute (literally), and a fridge that will keep your yogurt cool until the end of class, just like home. Don’t forget it, however, because unlike home, any food there on Friday afternoon gets trashed!
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| Poet’s Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop
Seize
in tension-filled days the peace of simplicity —
watch budding blooms that cannot decide to advance or retreat
catch the grin of a baby scrambling to escape her grandmother
remember to notice the grandmother’s joy
rejoice in the multi-shaded greens of new leaves
relish the sun on your back and life-renewing rain
breathe deeply when the air is fresh
snatch from hiding each moment of delight —
and your center is armed to hold
— Betty Smith
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Arts & Music at George Mason
Performances, September 15 through 25By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer
For tickets for either Center for the Arts (CFA) or Hylton, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue’s box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket page or the Hylton ticket purchase page.
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At the Fairfax Campus Venues
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Fairfax Jubilee with Amit Peled
Sat, Sep 16, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $65, $53, $39.Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: A Bernstein Birthday Bash
Sun, Sep 17, 7:00
Please note: For this performance, there will be a pre-performance discussion in place of the Young Artists Musicale. An interactive Q&A will conclude the program.
Concert Hall
Admission: $42, $36, $25.
ARTS by George!: An Evening Like No Other
Sat, Sep 23, 5:00; performance at 8:00
The evening begins with an array of student performances amid an array of food and beverages, and culminates with Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara.
Admission: $275/person ($120 tax deductible); performance only: $100, $85, $60.
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| Mason Student & Faculty Performances
(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
A Grand Piano Celebration
Sun, Sep 17, 3:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adults, $20; seniors, $15.Potomac Arts & Mason Wind Symphony Young People’s Concert
Sun, Sep 24, 2017, 3:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Children (up through grade 12), $5, Adults, $10; seniors, $5.
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| At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)
Gallery Exhibit: Iconographic Visions, Works by Julia Dzikiewicz and Michael Fischerkeller
Sep 12 – Oct 21
The Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00 – 6:00, Thu, 10:00 – 8:00 and two hours before performances.
For more information, visit https://cvpa.gmu.edu/gands.
Gallery reception (Sep 28) now open only to Friends of the Hylton Center. Contact Jacque Connor at 703-993-7150 or jconnor8@gmu.edu for more information.
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Under the Streetlamp
Sat, Sep 16, 8:00
Pre-performance discussion: Member of the company.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $54, $46, $32.
Arts Alive!
Sun, Sep 17, 1:00
The 6th annual arts festival features activities for all ages, multiple stages of performances indoors and out, plus food and craft vendors. Visit pwcartscouncil.org for a full schedule and list of participants.
Admission: Free.
One Noble Journey: A Box Marked Freedom
Sat, Sep 23, 3:00 and 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Adults, $22; seniors, $20.
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| For further details on any of the above events, please see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar
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Meetings & Clubs
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office, with direct web links added when available. The list is accurate as of mid-week but to check anytime for the latest information, please view the latest forecast of upcoming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kickoff coffees, etc. (bolded below). |
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| Sat Sep 16 |
1:00pm |
Computer Club–TA-1 |
| Wed Sep 20 |
1:30pm
1:45pm
2:00pm |
Mah Jongg Club–TA-2
Bridge Club–TA-3
A/V Committee–TA-1 |
| Fri Sep 22 |
9:15am
9:30am 11:00am
11:00am
12:00pm |
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation–Annex
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex
Photography Club–TA-3 |
| Wed Sep 27 |
1:45pm
1:45pm |
Bridge Club–TA-3
Spanish Club–TA-2 |
| Thu Sep 28 |
2:15pm |
Reston Book Club–UCP |
| Fri Sep 29 |
9:15am
9:30am
10:00am
11:00am
11:00am
1:00pm |
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation–Annex
Theater Lovers’ Club–TA-1
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex
Chess Club–TA-2 |
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OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Technical Editor: Irene Osterman
Associate Editor: Sheri Siesseger
Weekly Editor Team: Jean Boltz, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Leslie Vandivere,
Paul Van Hemel
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Polly Johnsen, Shirley Springfloat
Backup Chief Editor: Alice Slayton Clark
Submissions. Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: ollienewseditor@gmail.com.
Deadline – 6:00 Tuesday for that week’s issue (6:00 Monday for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words.
Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by “site:olli.gmu.edu/” without the quotes.
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