OLLI E-News (Weekly Newsletter)

ENews January 27, 2023

OLLI E-News January 27, 2023

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

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Board of Directors Meeting, Tallwood, January 20

January 27, 2023

Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
January Board Meeting Highlights
Health and Safety Update, January 2023
The Joy of Classroom Teaching
History Club
Join Theater Lovers' Group for a Talk, a Cabaret, and 46 Plays
Weekly Conversations Continue – February 1
OLLI Walk & Talk Club News
Photo of the Month
Poet's Corner
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

Note: At this time, OLLI staff are no longer checking COVID vaccination cards. For any in-person activities, masks continue to remain optional, but members who wish to wear them are welcome to do so. (Of course, for the 2023 winter term, classes are virtual only.)
Note: The Mason music academy has a program to receive donations of old musical instruments. If you have an instrument to donate that you think might be suitable, click here.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, February 3; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, January 31, at 6:00.

January Board Meeting Highlights
By Gloria Loew, Secretary

Photo by Paul Van Hemel January 20, 2023

The OLLI Board of Directors met at Tallwood on January 20. Some of the key topics discussed were:

President Lillian Brooks and ED Jennifer Disano have begun talking with several senior living community organizations in the area to explore ways in which we might offer our programming to them through a mutually beneficial association.

The Board continues to work on activities from the strategic plan to strengthen our organization.

A resolution was approved to appoint Marilyn Harriman to chair the Nominating Committee that will develop a slate of candidates for the five new Board members who will be elected this spring.

The Board discussed the updated COVID guidelines developed for members by the Health Advisory Workgroup consistent with GMU and CDC guidelines of Mason and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A resolution was passed to approve the OLLI budget for 2023.
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Health and Safety Update, January 2023

By Michele Romano, MD, Health Advisory Work Group Chair

Winter has arrived with all its winter viruses including COVID. Historically, winter virus season is over by mid-March, just in time for OLLI spring term.

To prevent infection, slow transmission, and protect yourself, individuals should follow the latest CDC guidelines: What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19 | CDC. The key is to stay home if you do not feel well.

XBB 1.5 is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S. It is so contagious that most of us will be exposed to it this winter. The good news is that very few people are getting seriously ill or dying from it. Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, people who have been exposed but are asymptomatic should wear a good mask (N95, KN95) indoors and around others for 10 days. There is no need to isolate just for exposure. Do test on day 6, though, to be sure you are still negative.

When OLLI welcomes everyone back for in-person classes in spring, you will see some changes on the OLLI Health and Safety Protocols link. All members are still required to personally attest that they are fully vaccinated against COVID with the original 2‑shot series. However, you will no longer have to show us your vaccination card. Even though masks continue to remain optional, we support all those who wish to wear one.

The Joy of Classroom Teaching

By Barbara Wilan, Loudoun Program Chair

There is a special magic that thrives only in a live classroom, and I love being the magician who generates that magic. I hear the laughter. I see the engaged, intelligent faces as they interact with me and the material and come to a new understanding. I feel the pleasure that my students get from learning something new, listening to their own and their classmates’ responses to the material, and, best of all, enjoying being with me and each other. For me, as a teacher and as a human being, there is nothing like that atmosphere and that connection. I feed off of the energy and enthusiasm in the classroom.

But every magician needs an audience who responds to the magic; every teacher needs learners who are engaged and committed to learning.

There are no good teachers without good students. Please come back to the classroom. OLLI needs you. Your instructors and fellow students need you.

History Club

By Elizabeth Lambert, History Club Coordinator

The February meeting of the History Club will take place on Wednesday, Feb 1 at 4:00. Elva Card will give a presentation on Mary McLeod Bethune. Born the fifteenth of seventeen children to parents who had been slaves, and educated in church schools, Bethune went on to found the National Council of Negro Women, to serve as director of the Division of Negro Affairs in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s National Youth Administration, and to be a member of the U.S. Delegation at the founding of the United Nations. Her story is an amazing one and a fitting topic for Black History month. All OLLI members are invited to attend this month’s Zoom meeting of the History Club at 4:00 on Wednesday, February 1.

Join Theater Lovers' Group for a Talk, a Cabaret, and 46 Plays

By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers’ Group Coordinator

Don't miss meeting Nicole Hertvik, editor and publisher of DC Theater Arts, today on Zoom from 1:00 to 2:30 when she talks about "Washington, D.C.: The Nation's Theater Capital?" Learn why theater in the Delaware/Maryland/Virginia area should be considered a national theater arts model and which theaters in the area focus on your kind of theater. Look for the Zoom link in today's OLLI daily schedule under Theater Lovers' Group meeting. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Ready for some toe-tapping music that will make you want to dance in the aisle and hum all the way home? Then come join OLLI's Theater Lovers on Saturday, February 4, at the 2:00 matinee of the Mason Cabaret: Baby Dream Your Dream, The Women of Broadway, to be performed in the Harris Theatre. But first, in keeping with the cabaret spirit, we'll have lunch (optional) at Ornery Beer Company, located on the corner of North Street and University Drive in Fairfax City, with a free parking garage next door. Senior tickets for the Cabaret are $15 and can be purchased online at theater.gmu.edu.

February is president's month. So, what is a better way to celebrate than to see a performance of 46 Plays for America's First Ladies on Sunday, February 12, at the 2:00 matinee at NextStop Theatre in Herndon? An entertaining, hilarious way to learn about American history through the eyes and experiences of America's first ladies. First, we'll gather for lunch (optional) at Carrabba's Italian Grill, located right across from the theater on Sunset Hills Road. Tickets cost $47 and can be purchased online at NextStopTheatre.org ASAP.

If you would like to join the Theater Lovers for either of the lunches and theater events, please purchase your tickets online, then email Norma at njreck@cs.com to let me know so I can include you in our restaurant reservations. Guests are always welcome at our events, so feel free to invite friends and family. If you have any questions, please email me.

Weekly Conversations Continue – February 1

By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators

Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on February 1 at 4:00. Our chosen topic this week is the artificial intelligence application ChatGPT. The app has written us a poem:

On a Wednesday afternoon, Doris and Brenda host a chat,

For OLLI members to tune in, And discuss this and that.

Mysteries, books, and travel too, Pet peeves and Open AI,

The topics are announced in the E-News, For all to hear and say.

Only one hour to share and learn, But oh what fun it brings,

To sit and chat with friends, On a Wednesday afternoon, it rings.

So join in, won't you, For a whimsical hour,

With Doris and Brenda, And their OLLI followers.

Check your Daily Schedule for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some social time with Team Bloch.

OLLI Walk & Talk Club News

Club Members Walk On Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail

By Bob Heyer, OLLI Walk & Talk Co-Chair

Debby Mossburg led a group of 26 OLLI Walk & Talk members along the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail (GCCCT), starting at the King Arthur Road bridge crossing. We began later than usual at 2:00 on a beautiful sunny 60° plus day on January 18. Debby briefed the group that the GCCCT runs through some of Fairfax County’s most scenic areas, from Great Falls Park on the Potomac River and going south to the Occoquan River. As Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Gerry Connolly supported a proposal in 1997, and the Cross Country Trail was born.

The group headed northward towards the I-495 Beltway. Our group quickly stretched out, with the faster walkers striding up front and the less aggressive walkers talking their way along the trail. Although the path was paved, the vegetation, trees, and undergrowth along the stream were beautiful and like being in a secluded forest; only the noise of beltway traffic and airplanes overhead let us know we were in an urban environment. At 30 minutes into the walk, we turned around and headed back to our starting point to meet and go for coffee, sweets, and more, socializing at the Breeze Bakery and Café, a Korean/European-styled bakery. Debby Mossburg made it one of the MOST rewarding afternoons for all in the winter!

OLLI Walk & Talk February Winter Walks

By Marilyn Harriman, OLLI Walk & Talk Co-Chair

Weather permitting, the OLLI Walk & Talk Club will gather Friday, February 3, at 10:00 at Mason District Park, where Michael Nephew will show us more of the trails he introduced us to in September. This walk will be about an hour in length. Parking: Enter Mason District Park, 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, and turn right. Follow the road to the parking lot and park there.

Afterward, we will gather at Tous Les Jours Bakery, 4243 John Marr Drive, Annandale, for a hot beverage and continued conversation (optional).

Tuesday, February 7, the club will meet at 2:00 at Wakefield Park, 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale, with Co‑Chair Bob Heyer leading us. This walk will be about an hour. Parking: As you enter the park, parking is on the left.

Afterward, those who want a snack or beverage will meet at the Swiss Bakery at 5224 Port Royal Road, Springfield.

On Tuesday, February 14, members will gather at Huntsman Lake Park in West Springfield at 2:00. Co‑Chair Marilyn Harriman will lead walkers on the trails for about an hour. Parking: From Fairfax County Parkway, turn onto Huntsman Blvd. Drive past the Huntsman (Giant Grocery) shopping center (on your right) and take a right on the street just after the shopping center: Dorothy Lane.

The park entrance we’re using is at the very end of Dorothy Lane. There is a semi-circle for cars to park. You may need to park in front of someone’s house depending on how big our group is and what other cars are parked there.

Afterward, those interested in a hot beverage and/or snack will meet at Chloez Café, 5622 Ox Road, Unit F, Fairfax Station.

RSVP: Email Marilyn or Bob (mlwharriman74@gmail.com rheyerw64@gmail.com) about the date(s) you will be coming, so we can wait for you. Call if you are running late: Marilyn: 703-725-0965; Bob: 571-214-8597.

OLLI Registration: Walkers are required to register for the club. If you haven’t yet, it’s easy: Log into the OLLI member portal and type in the search box “OLLI Walk and Talk Club Winter 2023” or Call 703-503-3384.

Cell Phone Numbers: If you have not, please provide your cell phone number. We need it to contact you in case of inclement weather or last-minute updates.

Photo of the Month

The January 2023 Photo of the Month theme was open. We selected John Olsen's photo "View of Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan" 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 Ed Marion, Photography Club Coordinators

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

                 Directionally Challenged

In 500 feet turn right at the next light.
       Really?
In two miles, turn left onto Rolling Road.
       That doesn’t make sense.
BILL. Have you been here before? I have. Many times.
What’s with you? Every direction I provide, You second guess, go off on your own, request my directions again, usually with a nasty tone. I’m sick and tired of it.
       Who is this?
Who do I sound like? By the way, you missed your turn. Make a u turn at the next light.   Pull over? This may be hard to hear.
       What??
You ask for directions and then argue with them. You do this with me, your wife, others. If what they say doesn’t comport to your preconceptions, you become obnoxious. You waste a lot of time for yourself and others. Am I infallible? I’d like to think so given the billions of dollars spent on developing me. How much money has been spent on you? Why not trust, just trust, what I say?
       You may have a point. Ok, I’ll try.
Proceed to the route and then turn right onto Rolling Road.
       No way. That’s just wrong.
You’re hopeless.
                     I pity your wife.
                                                 -- Bill Sinclair

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, January 27 through February 6

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test result for most events except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the webpage with event details.

Specific requirements are detailed and any future policy changes may be found here: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy.

Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of 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. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

The Acting Company: The Three Musketeers
Sat, Jan 28, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

Silkroad Ensemble: Uplifted Voices
Sun, Jan 29, 8:00
Concert Hall

A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
The artists will participate in a post-performance discussion from the stage.

Admission: $55, $47, $33.

Virginia Opera: Fellow Travelers
Sat, Feb 4, 8:00
Sun, Feb 5, 2:00
Concert Hall

A pre-performance discussion featuring Virginia Opera Resident Scholar, Joshua Borths, will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Following the Sat, Feb 4 performance, PEN/Faulkner Award finalist Thomas Mallon, author of the 2007 novel Fellow Travelers on which this opera is based, will participate in a post-performance discussion from the stage.
Following the Sun, Feb 5 matinee, Virginia Opera Resident Scholar Joshua Borths will lead a post-performance discussion with the artists in the Center for the Arts main lobby.

Admission: $110, $70, $40.

Sankofa Danzafro: The City of Others
Sat, Feb 6, 8:00
Admission: $15-$45, Pay-What-You-Wish in $5 increments (click here).

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

Dewberry Faculty Artist Series: Clarinet and Percussion
Sun, Jan 29, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.

Dewberry Faculty Artist Series: Kerry Wilkerson, bass-baritone
Sun, Feb 5, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.

Mason Cabaret
Fri, Feb 3, 8:00
Sat, Feb 4, 2:00 and 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $30 Adult, $15 senior.

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

11th Annual Prince William County Public Schools Student Exhibition
Through Feb 18
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

ARTFactory’s Pied Piper Theatre: Big Fish
Sat, Jan 28, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jan 29, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20 Adult, $16 senior.

Machine de Cirque
Sat, Feb 4, 8:00
Sun, Feb 5, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $48, $41, $29.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Jan 28	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Jan 30	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Jan 31	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Wed Feb 1	4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm	Mah Jongg Club History Club Conversations with Doris and Brenda
Thu Feb 2	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Feb 3	9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am	Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc.
Sat Feb 4	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Feb 6	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Feb 7	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Wed Feb 8	1:45 pm 2:00 pm 4:00 pm 6:00 pm	Spanish Club Memoir and More Writing Group Mah Jongg Club Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Feb 9	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Feb 10	9:30 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 11:30 am 2:30 pm	Photography Club Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. Cooking Club Tallwood Book Club
Sat Feb 11	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

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 Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel
Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, Jane Hassell

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: 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.
Search E-News: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News at ENews Archives. To search the content within issues, use Search or enter your search term(s) in Google followed by “site:olli.gmu.edu/” without the quotes.

An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase.

ENews January 13, 2023

OLLI E-News January 13, 2023

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us

Homer, etc., January 6: A small group coordinated by Jan Bohall enjoys reading and analyzing traditional and contemporary classics
from which members read aloud during weekly meetings

January 13, 2023

Editor of the Week: John Nash

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
OLLI President's Message January 13
Washington, DC: The Nation's Theater Capital?
OLLI Walk & Talk Club Report
Computer Club
Reston Book Club
Tallwood Book Club
WANTED: Poetry and Prose for OLLI Ink 2023
Poet's Corner
Obituary: Judith H. Baxter
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

Board of Directors will meet 10:00, January 20, via Zoom. All members welcome; Zoom link will appear in the daily schedule.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, January 27; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, January 24, at 6:00.

OLLI President's Message January 13

By Lillian Brooks, President

First of all, I want to wish all OLLI members and their families a happy and healthy new year. As expected, 2022 was another vibrant year for OLLI. I have only been president for the last six months, but I quickly discovered that there is a lot to do to keep OLLI running. I continue to meet with various committee chairs and attend OLLI functions. The Board members are all worker bees and always have something to show or tell me. I have also worked closely with Executive Director Jennifer Disano on various projects and found some ways we hope we can bring in more members and more funding for OLLI. I especially enjoyed our meeting with the George Mason Provost and staff to discuss creative ways to enhance our partnership with the university. I learned what it takes to utilize technology to bring our programming to members.

As you know, in January and February there will be Zoom classes only. Last year there were multiple cancellations due to the winter weather, so the administrative staff decided to close the campus for the two-month period and only offer Zoom classes for the winter session. We will evaluate whether we should continue that practice as we make plans for winter 2024. Also, don’t forget that most classes are recorded, and you can access past classes by using the code found on the OLLI Mason daily schedule.

When the spring classes begin, it is my sincere hope that members will return to class in person even though many classes will still be in hybrid format. You have heard me say that one of OLLI’s greatest assets is the ability to socialize and meet new friends. This is why I press for members who can do so to enjoy our wonderful classes with friends instead of their computer.

I stopped making resolutions many years ago because I found that I never follow them. However, I do like to think back over the year and pick three positive and three negative events that I believe had the greatest impact on our country. For the negative, I picked: (1) the war in in Ukraine, (2) the Dobbs decision, and (3) the attempted insurrection/coup at the US Capitol. For the positive events, I picked: (1) the January 6th Commission, (2) COVID vaccines and Paxlovid prevent most COVID deaths, and (3) finally, publication of Trump’s tax returns tells us more about the IRS than Trump. What are your threes? I challenge members to send your threes to ollienewseditor@gmail.com so we can publish what you select.

Again, Happy New Year!

Washington, DC: The Nation's Theater Capital?

By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers' Group Coordinator

"While the Kennedy Center and Ford's Theatre are known to many, look a little deeper at DC's theater community and you will find an abundance of creativity. Are you a fan of commedia dell'arte? DC has a theater for that. Nerd culture? DC's got that, too. Whatever gets your creative juices flowing, chances are there are artists in the region exploring it through theater," according to Nicole Hertvik, editor and publisher of DC Theater Arts. This publication is the region's most comprehensive source of local theater news, which covers the Delaware/Maryland/Virginia area, Baltimore, and New York City.

Nicole goes on to say, “Washington, D.C. is known as the nation's political capital, but fewer people are aware that it is also a theater capital. With over 70 professional theaters and dozens of community theaters, a robust economy, and residents who support the arts, the DC region is one of the nation's most vibrant theater communities.”

All OLLI members are invited to join Nicole on Friday, January 27, 2023, from 1:00 to 2:30, when she speaks with OLLI's Theater Lovers' Group via Zoom. You will find the link for the Theater Lovers' Group listed in OLLI's daily schedule email. Join fellow theater lovers from the comfort of your home to learn more about the local theater scene, what DC theaters do right, and why the region should be considered a national theater arts model. You will also learn more about DC Theater Arts online newsletter and can ask Nicole about what's new on Broadway, too.

Nicole is a contributing writer to DC Theater Arts, DCist, District Fray Magazine, American Theatre Magazine, and more. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Cincinnati, and a master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. Nicole studied journalism at Georgetown University, was a 2019 Fellow in the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's National Critics Institute, and a 2022 Fellow in the CUNY Newmark Journalism School's Entrepreneurial Journalism program. Prior to her work at DC Theater Arts, she had a career in international education. She lives in Maryland with her three daughters, two bunnies, and one very patient husband.

OLLI Walk & Talk Club Report

OLLI Walk & Talk at Burke Lake Park

By Bob Heyer, OLLI Walk & Talk Co-Chair

The OLLI Walk & Talk Club ventured out to Burke Lake Park on January 3 for our first walk of the new year. It was a lovely winter day, with sun peeks and a high temperature that hit 70 in the afternoon. The lake was down two feet in water level, so repairs and improvements to the park could be made over the winter months. We saw lake bottom silt in many areas around the land edges. And yet a week earlier, just after Christmas, people were ice skating on the lake in some areas.

We walked some new paths along the water’s edge, which members who have lived in Fairfax County for 40 years had never walked before. We also covered many picnic areas, volleyball, and disc golf areas, and the Burke village with the mini-golf course, ice cream parlor, merry-go-round, pavilions, and railroad station. We couldn’t resist taking time out to climb one of the kids’ jungle gyms for pictures and ride the slide down! And later at the railroad station was another picture opportunity before walking back through the Burke Lake disc golf course to the cars.

Next was to visit the Burke Center Chesapeake Bagel Bakery for munchies, coffee, and continued conversations. We had a successful day and welcomed a new club walker to the group.

Upcoming OLLI Walk & Talk Outings

By Marilyn Harriman, OLLI Walk & Talk Co-Chair

Weather permitting, the OLLI Walk & Talk Club will meet two more times this month: Wednesday, January 18, at 2:00 (please note afternoon time) at King Arthur Road in Annandale and Monday, January 24, at 9:00 at Fred Crabtree Park Trail in Herndon.

On Wednesday, January 18, Debby Mossburg will guide club members in exploring 60 minutes more of the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail. We will meet on King Arthur Road, at 2:00. The easiest way to reach King Arthur Road is from the Little River Turnpike.

On Little River Turnpike, there is a stoplight at Duncan Drive. Make an immediate left after turning north, follow the service road one block, and make a right onto King Arthur. Parking is available on both sides of the street. A visual map of where to park will be sent to those who sign up for this walk.

Afterward, those who would like a hot beverage and continued conversation will meet at Breeze Bakery Café, 4125 Hummer Road, Annandale.

On Monday, January 23, leader Carol Esteki will show us the 2.4 miles of the Fred Crabtree Park Trail in Herndon. Those who sign up will start at 9:00. Parking is available at the site: 2801 Fox Mill Road, Herndon. Afterward, those who would like a hot beverage and continued conversation will meet at Le (Vingt Trois) 23 Cafe, 311 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon.

Walkers are asked to sign up for each walk with one of the club co-chairs, Marilyn or Bob. New walkers are always welcome and must register first with the club through the OLLI member portal.

ALL walkers are asked to bring their cell phones with them on the outings and let the co-chairs know if they are running late or have a change in plans while on the trail.

Computer Club

3rd Saturday, January 21 Via Zoom
Electric Vehicles: Concepts and Comparisons
Learn in 30: Bluetooth and Pairing

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, January 21, via Zoom. Program activities begin at 1:00; the Zoom session usually opens at 12:45.

Electric Vehicles: Concepts and Comparisons – Presented by Geof Goodrum

Major automakers are playing catch-up with Tesla Inc. in the manufacture and marketing of electric vehicles (EVs). This presentation will review basic EV concepts and terminology, some differences between Tesla and non-Tesla EVs, near and long-term EV considerations, and a demonstration of useful mobile apps for EV drivers. There will also be an opportunity for open discussion and questions.

Geof Goodrum is a retired physical earth scientist, technology enthusiast and early adopter. Geof’s vehicle history includes a 2002 Honda Insight (1st Generation Gas-Electric Hybrid) and a 2019 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). He recently completed road trips in his 2022 Kia EV6 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, and cross-country trips.

Learn in 30: Bluetooth and Pairing – Presented by John Krout

This presentation provides you with the fundamental knowledge to use your smart phone or tablet together with Bluetooth devices. You will find answers to questions such as these: Why is Bluetooth useful? What does pairing accomplish? Step-by-step examples of pairing using both an Android phone and an iPhone are included. If Bluetooth is a mystery to you, you will be enlightened by this presentation.

John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology, and photography topics, and author of many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.

See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 for 2023—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 this link to join the meeting and use passcode 085407 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 860 4783 3447 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial in – 301-715-8592.

Reston Book Club

By Karen Schneider and Joann Sokol,
Reston Book Club Coordinators

The Reston Book Club will meet via Zoom 2:15-3:40 on Thursday, January 26. The winter 2023 book choice is Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner, the 1984 Booker Prize winner.

In this novel, which not only won Brookner the Booker Prize but established her international reputation, she tells the story of Edith Hope, who writes romance novels under a pseudonym. After jilting someone at the altar in London, she goes on a sabbatical to a Swiss hotel to take stock of her life and do some writing. Instead, she ends up absorbed in the lives of her fellow guests and attracts an unwanted suitor. The choice before Edith is either safety or passion; and it is unclear which path she will chose until the very end. The discussion will be led by Luci Martel.

Tallwood Book Club

By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator

The Tallwood Book Club meets on the second Friday of every month (e.g., today) at 2:30. For winter term, the meetings are via Zoom; the Zoom link appears in the daily schedule email. The January book to be discussed is The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante.

Our February selection is The Children Act by Ian McEwan.

**WANTED: Poetry and Prose for OLLI Ink 2023**

By Caroline McNeil, OLLI Ink Editor

OLLI writers—beginners and experienced—take note: OLLI Ink is now accepting submissions, including poems, fiction, personal essays, and memoirs, for its 2023 edition.

Now moving into its 13th year, OLLI Ink is a well-established publication whose contributors come from a wide spectrum of OLLI members, including, but not limited to, those enrolled in writing workshops.

How to Submit: Please send your entries and/or any questions to Caroline McNeil at caromcneil@gmail.com.

Guidelines:

Poems – limit number of lines to 30
Prose – limit number of words to 2,500, single-spaced.

Contributions are welcome starting now through the end of February.

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Goodbye Aragorn

A six-month-old gray tiger-stripe
named Rascal. Adopted, but returned.
We vowed to never send you back.

Daddy chauffeured you home.
You chewed through your cardboard carrier,
played jungle gym in a moving car.

We gave you a name better suited to
your adventurous spirit, as you
discovered the touch on-touch off lamp
on the dresser at 3 a.m.
Always seeking the highest spot,
hiding in silk plants atop kitchen cabinets.

When your precious Daddy-pal passed on,
you assumed his male role to comfort me.
Snuggled your palm-sized head
In my hair to warm your cold wet nose,
bathed my ears with sandpaper tongue.

My best buddy, my loyal listener,
a watcher of squirrels, conqueror of dust balls,
slayer of insects, inspector of closed doors,
master of 8 p.m. bedtimes, daylight or standard.
Strict boss of house staff, grading my duty list –
litter scooped, meals served, water refreshed,
allotted number of night and morning treats.

And now you too are gone.

I miss your cuddles, your multi-syllabic meows.
With any noise I rush to see what you’re into.
Your forlorn look when I leave for a while,
your metronomic purring in my ear at my return.

I miss stroking your neck, scratching your ears,
brushing your fur, your many contorted
sleep positions, your soft, cream-colored belly,
our affectionate head-butts
at the top of the stairs.

Most of all
I miss being yours.
Margie Wildblood

Obituary: Judith H. Baxter

Judy Baxter, OLLI member since 2007, passed away on December 31, 2022. A memorial service will be held January 13 at 1:00, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, located at 2709 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton.

The service will also be live-streamed on the church’s webpage: https://uucf.org.

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, January 13 through January 31

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, 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 Center ticket purchase page.

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result for most events, except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative COVID19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the web page with event details.

Specific requirements are detailed and any future policy changes may be found here: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy.

Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of 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. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

US Navy Concert Band
Fri, Jan 13, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets required.

US Navy Concert Band Commodores Jazz Ensemble
Sat, Jan 14, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets required.

Shen Yun
Sat, Jan 21, 2:00 and 7:30
Sun, Jan 22, 2:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $200, $175, $140, $115, $100, $90.

Melina's Dance Company: Time Warp Winter Showcase
Thu, Jan 26, 6:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $15.

The Acting Company: The Three Musketeers
Sat, Jan 28, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

Silkroad Ensemble: Uplifted Voices
Sun, Jan 29, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain. The artists will participate in a post-performance discussion from the stage.
Admission: $55, $47, $33.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

No performances scheduled

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

11th Annual Prince William County Public Schools Student Exhibition
Through Feb 18
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

ARTFactory’s Pied Piper Theatre: Big Fish
Sat, Jan 28, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jan 29, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20 Adult, $16 senior.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: For winter term 2023, OLLI clubs and scheduled activities are meeting online. Accordingly, the course or event numbers for such events and activities (except clubs) meeting only online show the identification "Z" (for Zoom). You may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Jan 14	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Jan 16	9:30 am 11:00 am	What’s in the Daily News? Poetry Reading Club
Tue Jan 17	9:30 am 1:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Annex Art Zoom Information Session for members Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Jan 18	10:00 am 10:30 am	Mah Jongg Club Investment Forum
Thu Jan 19	11:50 am 4:30 pm	All the News Tai Chi Club
Fri Jan 20	9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am 1:00 pm	Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting Homer, etc. Program Planning Groups
Sat Jan 21	10:30 am 1:00 pm	Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jan 23	9:30 am	What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Jan 24	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Wed Jan 25	1:45 pm 2:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm	Spanish Club Memoir and More Writing Group Mah Jongg Club Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu Jan 26	4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Reston Book Club Tai Chi Club
Fri Jan 27	9:30 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 12:00 noon	Craft and Conversation Classic Literature Club Homer, etc. Photography Club
Sat Jan 28	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

About OLLI E-News

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ENews December 30, 2022

OLLI E-News December 30, 2022 Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us

Mark Rozell, Dean of Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government, Visited OLLI on September 30 to Address Virginia Politics, the Youngkin Administration, and the New South

December 30, 2022

Editor of the Week: Sheri Siesseger

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
Lifetime OLLI Membership for Fairfax City Mayor
Teach at OLLI Mason Summer 2023
A County Program to Combat Social Isolation Among Older and Disabled Adults, and a Volunteer Opportunity
Poet's Corner
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

The Tallwood offices are currently closed and will reopen Monday, January 2.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, January 13; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, January 10, at 6:00.

Lifetime OLLI Membership for Fairfax City Mayor
From the Desk of the Executive Director

By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director

On December 13, it was my

pleasure to award lifetime OLLI membership to David L. Meyer, mayor of Fairfax, for his steadfast support of OLLI and its collaboration with the city of Fairfax.

Teach at OLLI Mason Summer 2023

By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Chair

As you relax during this holiday season why not consider teaching at OLLI during the upcoming summer 2023 session? If you have been thinking of sharing your expertise, you can start by teaching a single-session course during the summer and then progress to a multi-session course if you wish. Those who have presented classes at OLLI have commented on the value of the experience and the thoughtful questions of OLLI members. Our in-person, hybrid, and virtual-only classes will all be in effect in the spring 2023 session. The Humanities and Social Sciences cover a range of topics including psychology, philosophy, literature, culture, political science, geography, and law. Current events are always popular topics as well.

We would love to hear from you. To obtain a course proposal form, click on this link. Submissions to the OLLI Program Associates are due:

January 17 for the summer 2023 session
April 10 for the fall 2023 session.

For a multi-session class, submit your proposal to Shannon Morrow at smorrow4@gmu.edu. For a single-session class, submit your proposal to Nancy Klein at nklein4@gmu.edu.

We are looking forward to seeing your name in the OLLI catalog as a presenter!

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the December 9 issue of OLLI E-News. It is repeated here at the author’s request to encourage member participation in OLLI program development.

A County Program to Combat Social Isolation Among Older and Disabled Adults, and a Volunteer Opportunity

By Yashoda Premysler, CARE Mobile Program Manager

On August 1, 2022, ServiceSource launched CARE (Community Access to Resources and Engagement) Mobile, a program to reduce social isolation among older adults and adults with disabilities and to improve community and social connections. ServiceSource is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to facilitate services, resources, and partnerships to support older adults and adults with disabilities, families, their caregivers, and community members, to build more inclusive communities.

CARE Mobile is a 100% mobile program based on a public-private partnership model which provides free, roving, on-site, outdoor health and wellness programming; engaging community activities; and entertainment for older adults (age 50+) and adults with disabilities. Local community resources and consultation are also available to connect individuals to organizations for support. This program helps eliminate transportation and technological barriers by going directly to neighborhoods identified by Fairfax County’s One Fairfax initiative. Areas include Mount Vernon, Springfield, Bailey’s Crossroads, Annandale, Falls Church, Herndon, and Chantilly. Events are held outside when the weather permits.

Services include wellness checks such as:

screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, vision and hearing;
vaccine clinics such as flu and COVID boosters;
activities such as expressive music, dance, Tai-chi, yoga, creative arts, and crafts; and
entertainment, such as bingo, movies, games, and karaoke.

Other services, activities, entertainment, and educational programming are available upon request. Click here to see our website for additional information and to request CARE Mobile in your neighborhood!

We also welcome volunteers to provide or assist with any of the activities above or to contribute additional ideas. Thank you.

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Gorgeous

On a breezy October morning
I tramp through familiar woods
entranced by hundreds of brilliantly colored leaves
sailing, drifting, and spinning through the freshly washed sky,
before sifting softly to the ground.

I hike the trail around the pond;
the surrounding area is so blanketed with leaves,
I can't tell where land ends and water begins.
I spot an unusual leaf, so perfectly shaped
and intensely yellow that I want to touch it,
but it's several feet away from the path.

Time was when I would wander without hesitation,
through uncharted territory covered thickly with leaves
that hide dangers like roots, rocks, or tangled branches,
dangers that could send me flying.

I'm a risk manager now.
I tell myself that one gorgeous leaf
isn't worth a trip to the emergency room.

I feel a drop; it's starting to rain.
I turn my face to the sky and stick my tongue out,
then pop open my bright yellow umbrella and give it a twirl,
just like the ingenue in an old movie.

I head home stepping carefully along the wet trail
singing out loud. I remember the words.

Sandy Myles

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, December 30 through January 16

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

U.S. Navy Concert Band
Fri, Jan 13, 8:00
Center for the Arts Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets required.

U.S. Navy Band Commodores with special guest Melissa Aldana
Sat, Jan 14, 8:00
Center for the Arts Concert Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public, no tickets required.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

No performances scheduled.

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Elizabeth Hall: Viriditas
Through Jan 8
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

11th Annual Prince William County Public Schools Student Exhibition
Jan 10 – Feb 18
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: For winter term 2023, OLLI clubs and scheduled activities are meeting online. Accordingly, the course or event numbers for such events and activities (except clubs) meeting only online show the identification "Z" (for Zoom). You may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Dec 31	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Jan 2	9:30 am 11:00 am	What’s in the Daily News? Poetry Reading Club
Tue Jan 3	9:00 am 9:30 am 4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Walk & Talk Annex Art Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Jan 4	10:00 am 10:30 am	Mah Jongg Club Investment Forum
Thu Jan 5	11:50 am 4:30 pm	All the News Tai Chi Club
Fri Jan 6	9:30 am 11:00 am	Craft and Conversation Homer, etc.
Sat Jan 7	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Jan 9	9:30 am 11:00 am	What’s in the Daily News? Poetry Writing Club
Tue Jan 10	9:30 am 4:30 pm	Annex Art Tai Chi Club
Wed Jan 11	10:00 am 10:30 am 2:00 pm 6:00 pm	Mah Jongg Club Investment Forum Memoir and More Writing Group Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Jan 12	10:00 am 11:50 am 4:30 pm	Walk & Talk All the News Tai Chi Club
Fri Jan 13	9:30 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am 2:30 pm	Photography Club Craft and Conversation Homer, etc. Cooking Club Tallwood Book Club
Sat Jan 14	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

About OLLI E-News

An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase.

ENews December 09, 2022

OLLI E-News December 9, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us

OLLI Holiday Party – a Social Occasion, December 1, Country Club of Fairfax

December 9, 2022

Editor of the Week: David Gundry

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
OLLI Walk & Talk at Lake Mercer
Teach at OLLI Mason Summer 2023
Winter Is Coming
OLLI Weekly Conversations Continue - December 14
Tallwood Book Club
Poet's Corner
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

There will be a meeting of the OLLI Personal Computer User Group (OPCUG) on Saturday, December 10 (tomorrow), at 1:00 via Zoom and in person in TA-1 at Tallwood; more information at this link.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, December 30 (skipping two weeks); the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, December 27, at 6:00.

OLLI Walk & Talk at Lake Mercer

By Marilyn Harriman and Bob Heyer, OLLI Walk & Talk
Co-Chairs

On Tuesday, November 22, the OLLI Walk & Talk Club met at South Run Park and walked the trail around Lake Mercer. The path on the south side hilly trail was covered with fallen leaves as it led through a long passage of beautiful tall trees and some undergrowth for small critters and birds in the forest. Approaching the lake, we looked down and saw three deer in the shallow end of the lake. There were also half a dozen mallard ducks on the lake.

Lake Mercer was created by cutting many trees down and building a 30-foot-high dam as the creek was flowing to the Occoquan River. As we walked down to a lower level, we found cranes, a pair of eagles, and other water birds perched on stumps in the water. Walking a bit further, we saw more than a dozen seagulls resting on the lake. Climbing back upward to the dam height, we found a beautiful grass runoff plain. The dam is about a quarter mile long and led to the other side trail which is actually in Springfield, with the riverbank on one side and the back of townhomes on the other side. At the beginning of the lake is a low area where lots of croaking frogs rest during the summertime

We arrived back at the cars in South Run Park after trekking 4.2 miles. We then headed out to the Chesapeake Bagel Factory in Burke Center for conversations and great bagel nourishments. Consensus was that this was one of the best and most rewarding Fairfax County Park walks.

The club’s final walk for 2022 will be Monday, December 12, in Vienna at 9:00. Walkers will meet at the Vienna Community Center Parking lot, 120 Cherry Street SE. Afterward, we’ll have an optional meet-up at Caffe Amouri (parking lot behind cafe), 107 Church Street NE, Vienna. If you’d like to walk December 12 and haven't signed up for the club, please register. In addition, please contact one of the cochairs (mlwharriman74@gmail.com; rheyerw64@gmail.com), so we’ll know to look for you on Monday.

Walks will resume in January. Schedules and locations will be sent out through the OLLI Walk & Talk Club member portal.

Are you interested in getting fresh air, conversation, and exercise this winter? If yes, sign up through the registration portal: type in OLLI Walk Talk Club to register. We’d love to have you join us.

Teach at OLLI Mason Summer 2023

By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Chair

As you relax during the upcoming holiday season why not consider teaching at OLLI during the upcoming summer 2023 session? If you have been thinking of sharing your area(s) of expertise, you can start by teaching a single class during the summer and then progressing to a multi-class course if you so desire. Those who have presented classes at OLLI have commented on the value of the experience and the thoughtful questions of OLLI members. Our in-person, “hybrid,” and virtual-only classes will all be in effect in the spring 2023 session. The Humanities and Social Sciences cover a range of topics including psychology, philosophy, literature, culture, political science, geography, and law. Current Events is always a popular topic as well.

We would love to hear from you. To obtain a course proposal form, click on this link.

Submissions to the OLLI Program Associates are due:

January 17 for the summer 2023 session
April 10 for the fall 2023 session.

For a multi-session class, submit your proposal to Shannon Morrow at smorrow4@gmu.edu. For a single-session class, submit your proposal to Nancy Klein at nklein4@gmu.edu.

Looking forward to seeing your name in the OLLI catalog as a presenter!

Winter Is Coming

By Michele Romano, Health Advisory Work Group Chair

December has arrived with all those nasty winter viruses: flu, RSV (primarily in children), colds, and, of course, more COVID19 Omicron variants. This happens every year.

So far, the variants are following a typical pattern: more contagious but less severe illness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines severe COVID illness as hospitalization or death. So far, the vast majority of people are just getting symptoms of the common cold. As is common with infectious diseases, the people that die are the most vulnerable: the very young and the elderly who already have underlying conditions that weaken the immune system.

The CDC predicts that the flu season may be worse this year—we haven’t really had a flu season in over two years. Therefore, our immunity to the flu is lower because it has not been challenged.

So, what should you do? Live your lives, but be smart about it. The CDC is placing the emphasis on personal responsibility. Wash your hands…a lot. Carry hand sanitizer and a good mask (N95 or KN95) with you. Wear a mask if you feel more comfortable or are in a high-risk environment (e.g., public transportation). Stay home if you don’t feel well, test, and check with your provider. Get your ‘CoFlu’ (COVID bivalent booster and high dose flu) vaccines. You can get them both at the same time. Do. It. Now. It takes two weeks to build up immunity. It’s not too late. The flu season usually lasts from December until early March.

Keep in mind that COVID boosters do not prevent COVID19. They are meant to prevent you from getting seriously ill or dying. You don’t want to be sick and have to isolate over the holidays because you didn’t take a few simple steps.

But there is good news. Hospitalizations and deaths linked to COVID19 in Fairfax County are still very low because we take care of ourselves and others. Give your friends and family the greatest gift of all this season – the gift of health. Happy Holidays. We’ll see you in person in the spring.

OLLI Weekly Conversations Continue -
December 14

By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch,
Co-Moderators

Continuing our Wednesday Conversations Series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on December 14 at 4:00. Our chosen topic this week is Elon Musk.

December 14: What do you think of Musk? Genius? Villain? Everyone seems to have an opinion. Will he be successful sorting out Twitter? Join us and share your thoughts.

The Weekly Conversation Series will take a break between December 15 – mid‑January. See you in January.

Check your Daily Schedule for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some social time with Team Bloch.

Tallwood Book Club

By Betty Ellerbee, Tallwood Book Club Coordinator

The Tallwood Book Club will meet on Friday, December 9, at 2:30, via Zoom. The club will discuss My Antonia by Willa Cather. The Zoom link will appear in the emailed OLLI Daily Schedule.

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Miracle Tree

There were other miracles in the yard
But none so self-confident as
the gnarled old crabapple tree in spring

Canopied with pink-tinged white blossoms
Gradually growing into small sour ill-shaped apples
Peeled, quartered, cooked in a summer-hot kitchen
to become delicious jelly for winter toast.

Who then wouldn’t believe fairies lived among the blossoms?

Betty Smith

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, December 9 through January 12

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, 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 Center ticket purchase page.

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:
Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID19 test result for most events, except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative COVID19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the web page with event details.
Specific requirements are detailed and any future policy changes may be found here: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy.

Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of 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. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Vienna Boys Choir
Fri, Dec 9, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $55, $47, $33.

American Festival Pops Orchestra
Sat, Dec 10, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $60, $51, $36.

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker
Sat, Dec 17 at 4:00
Sun, Dec 18 at 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $89, $69, $49.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

No performances scheduled

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Elizabeth Hall: Viriditas
Through Jan 8
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

American Festival Pops Orchestra
Fri, Dec 9, 8:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $60, $51, $36.

Prince William Little Theatre: The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge
Fri, Dec 9, 8:00
Sat, Dec 10, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Dec 11, 2:00
Fri, Dec 16, 8:00
Sat, Dec 17, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Dec 18, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Adult $20, senior $17.

Manassas Symphony Orchestra Family Concert: Explorations
Sat, Dec 10, 3:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.

A Celtic Christmas with Seán Heely
Sun, Dec 11, 4:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $46, $39, $28.

Manassas Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker
Fri, Dec 16 at 7:30
Sat, Dec 17 at 3:00 and 7:30
Sun – Fri, Dec 18 – 23 at 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $75, $65, $55, $45, $35.

Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra: Messiah Sing-A-Long
Sat, Dec 17 at 8:00
Sold Out

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Dec 10	10:30 am 1:00 pm	Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group
Mon Dec 12	9:00 am 9:30 am 11:00 am	Walk and Talk What’s in the Daily News Poetry Writing Club
Tue Dec 13	9:30 am 4:30 pm	Annex Art Tai Chi Club
Wed Dec 14	10:00 am 10:30 am 2:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 6:00 pm	Bridge Club Investment Forum Memoir and More Writing Group Mah Jongg Club Conversations with Brenda and Doris Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Dec 15	10:00 am 11:50 am 4:30 pm	P5 Program Committee Meeting All the News Tai Chi Club
Fri Dec 16	9:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Homer, etc.
Sat Dec 17	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Dec 19	9:30 am 11:00 am	What’s in the Daily News? Poetry Reading Club
Tue Dec 20	9:30 am 4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Annex Art Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Dec 21	4:00 pm	Conversations with Brenda and Doris
Thu Dec 22	11:50 am 4:30 pm	All the News Tai Chi Club
Fri Dec 23	9:15 am 11:00 am	Recorder Consort Homer, etc.
Sat Dec 24	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

About OLLI E-News

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E-News-November-25-2022

OLLI E-News November 25, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us

Paul Howard Hosts Joint Meeting of OLLI Personal Computer User Group and Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society, Tallwood, November 19

November 25, 2022

Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
Board of Directors Meeting Summary
Reminder: Literature, Language, and Theater (LLT) Program Planning Group to Meet December 6
Weekly Conversations Continue – November 30
OLLI Panel Discussion with Mason Archivist
Mason Korea: No Limits Fall 2022
Mason Research Opportunity for OLLI: StrongerMemory Program
Final Fall Mason Jazz Concerts November 29-30
Computer Club
History Club
OLLI Walk & Talk Club Explores Wolftrap Trail
Photo of the Month
Poet's Corner
Obituary: Robert E. Brown
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

OLLI Holiday Party, Thursday, December 1, 11:30-2:30, at Country Club of Fairfax, 5110 Ox Rd, Fairfax, VA.
Literature, Language, and Theater (LLT) Program Planning Group meeting, Tuesday, December 6, 10:30 (Zoom); see reminder article below.
Special Events Program Planning Group meeting, Thursday, December 8, 12:15
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, December 9; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, December 6, at 6:00.

Board of Directors Meeting Summary

By Gloria Loew, Secretary

The OLLI Board met at Tallwood on November 18. OLLI President Lillian Brooks noted that the Board had a retreat on November 12 to develop a strategy for implementing our five‑year Strategic Plan. With the ideas we generated there and suggestions that came from our recent Town Hall meeting, we will be busy working to create a better OLLI experience for us all.

Our Health Advisory Work Group tells us that COVID numbers in Fairfax County are good so far. Weekly case and hospitalization numbers are down. We have a great vaccination rate in the County, especially among the older population. As the variants increase, COVID is more contagious but less lethal; people who contract it are experiencing symptoms of the common cold. The group will have a full report for us on OLLI health and safety protocols in January.

We continue to have discussions with Continuing Care Retirement Communities to explore opportunities of mutual benefit.

Our last official in‑person event for 2022 will be our Holiday Party on December 1. Since winter term is entirely online, it won’t be until spring term that we officially get together again. Clubs can organize off‑campus events, so some of us might enjoy get‑togethers before then.

Wishing everyone a terrific holiday season!

Reminder: Literature, Language, and Theater (LLT) Program Planning Group to Meet December 6

By Patricia Bangs, LLT Program Planning Group Co-chair

Whether you enjoy the classics or spy novels, sci-fi, memoir, poetry, want to learn a language, or explore playwrights and the world of theater, we need your thoughts and ideas. Please join us for our semi-annual all-campus program planning group meeting for literature, theater, writing, and language program planning on Tuesday, December 6, 10:30-noon, via Zoom.

We will be reviewing past terms and looking forward to planning Summer 2023 and beyond. All OLLI members can contribute to the excellent programming offered to our membership. The meeting Zoom link is below. If you also would like to be added to our LLT mailing list for a reminder, please email me at: pbangs68@gmail.com.

Many thanks.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 10:30, please click this Zoom link to join the meeting and use passcode 385003 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 968 1639 9431 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial in by your location:
    +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
    +1 267 831 0333 US (Philadelphia).
    To find your local number, click here.
    To join by Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), click this link.

Weekly Conversations Continue – November 30

By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch,
Co‑Moderators

Continuing Wednesday Conversations, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on November 30 at 4:00; every OLLI member is most welcome.

November 30: Our chosen topic: Downsizing and "De-Acquiring" (timely and appropriate for discussion!). A member suggested this, and we thank them for the idea. The topic can be summed up in the title of an article Brenda found, “Help – I Have Way Too Many Baskets.”

I (Doris) once met a woman who said her mother was such a non-consumer that her kitchen cupboard held only two plates, two knives, two forks, two spoons, and two glasses. She owned three white blouses and no other tops—the thought of which completely blows my mind! I am the reverse—not quite a certifiable hoarder but on the verge. On the other hand (school of silver linings), I was well-equipped for the pandemic, where no one dared to go buy anything for several years.

How do YOU deal with the deluge of 50+ years of “stuff?” Share with us your thoughts, your strategies, your downsizing experiences. We can all learn from each other!

Heads up for the following week’s Conversation, December 7: Pet Peeves.

Each week we advertise our pre-selected topic in the OLLI E‑News, OLLI E‑Blast, and the OLLI daily schedule. If you have a suggestion for a topic that will be of interest to members, please do send it to one of us (Bblochyoung@gmail.com or dbloch50@hotmail.com).

Check your daily schedule for the Zoom link each Wednesday and plan on some social time with Team Bloch.

OLLI Panel Discussion with Mason Archivist

By Doris Bloch, Program Committee Co-Chair

On November 10, OLLI participated in an oral-history panel discussion co‑sponsored by the George Mason University Research Center Special Collections in honor of the 50th anniversary of Mason transitioning to an independent university. Pre‑1972, Mason was a branch of the University of Virginia, but it was destined to become the largest academic institution in the Commonwealth as of 2022.

Robert Vay, the archivist of the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), has spearheaded an effort to find and record that early history of the university. One notable effort is an exhibit, currently displayed at the Fenwick Library on the Fairfax campus, with artifacts showing how the university developed from a two‑year community college, headquartered at Bailey’s Crossroads in a former public-school building, to where and what it is today.

OLLI’s role in the commemoration of the 50‑year milestone was for members to contribute recollections and reminiscences about Mason around the time of the split from the University of Virginia. Three OLLI members were able to share their memories: one former student and graduate student; one faculty member emerita; and a faculty spouse. Dr. Janice Winters, Dr. Jayne Hart, and Doris Bloch were the panel discussants. Each of us had a unique perspective on the school, its development both academically and in its diversity, and also the huge changes in its campus layout and buildings.

Topics discussed were:

How you came to become a member of the Mason community
What was campus like at that time (e.g., physical campus, student body, faculty)
Most significant changes in the university
Diversity at the university.

Following the panel discussion, there was a tour of the Special Collections exhibit.
The event was recorded on Zoom and will be available on the recording roster as 991/991Z.

Mason Korea: No Limits Fall 2022

By Robert Matz, Mason Korea Campus Dean

Some of you may have joined the OLLI summer 2022 program “Live from Korea” class, taught by faculty from Mason’s campus in Songdo, Korea. Mason Korea is in the midst of its fall fundraising scholarship campaign for students with financial need. Scholarships support students attending Mason Korea as well as students from Mason in the US who travel to Mason Korea to study there for a semester or year.

The many Korean students who study at Mason Korea and their families earn Korean won but pay tuition in dollars. With the won at a ten-year low against the dollar, Mason Korea’s tuition has effectively become much more expensive. For Mason Korea students planning their required year of study at Mason Fairfax, the weakness of the won against the dollar can be even more devastating. Many must take leaves of absence because they can no longer afford studying in the US as required. Study abroad at Mason Korea for Mason US students is surprisingly affordable, but for students who have lived at home or must give up jobs in the US to travel to Korea, study at Mason Korea can remain too expensive.

The students who attend Mason Korea, many multilingual and multicultural, experience and study the global perspectives required for the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century. They are a remarkable group. In the tradition of Mason’s “access to excellence,” Mason Korea wants all its students to have this kind of transformative international experience, without limits.

To learn more or to donate, please go to the Mason Korea: No Limits Fall 2022 Fundraiser page. Thank you.

Mason Research Opportunity for OLLI: StrongerMemory Program

By Hyun Kang, Ph.D., Mason Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Social Work

Mason's gerontology team in the Department of Social Work is recruiting individuals aged 60 and over who have cognitive or memory concerns. We would like to introduce the StrongerMemory program developed by Goodwin Living (website link: StrongerMemory - Goodwin Living) and find individuals who are interested in participating. In this program, participants will be encouraged to read aloud, write, and solve simple math problems for 20 to 30 minutes every day (for 12 weeks).

We encourage OLLI members to participate, which will involve completing questionnaires before and after the 12-week StrongerMemory program and completing weekly check-in sheets. The interviews can occur in-person, on Zoom, or by phone. If you would like to participate in this study, you will be required to complete an online screening survey. It is a very brief survey designed to assess your recent experience with cognitive decline. If you are selected, a notification will be sent via email to confirm your participation. Upon completion of the post-interview, you will receive a $75 gift card as compensation for your time and effort.

For more information about the study, click here. To take the screening survey, click this link.

Thank you.

Final Fall Mason Jazz Concerts November 29-30

By Darden Purcell, D.M.A, Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice

Mason Jazz concerts this November have featured lots of variety, as noted in recent issues of E‑News. The following announcements are for two post-Thanksgiving concerts coming up on November 29 and November 30.

Steel Pan Ensemble | Braddock Road Brass Band
Tuesday, November 29, 8:00, at the Center for the Arts. The concert is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

The Mason Steel Pan Ensemble (directed by Victor Provost) and Braddock Road Brass Band (directed by Graham Breedlove) team up on November 29, 8:00, for a concert in the Center for the Arts! Showcasing music of the Caribbean and beyond, as well as traditional New Orleans jazz and modern compositions, this concert is certain to entertain everyone!

Mason Jazz Combos
Wednesday, November 30, 8:00, in De Laski 3001. The concert is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

The Mason Jazz Combos, directed by Wade Beach, perform their fall concert! Our exploratory groups, the Jazz combos are open to all university students, regardless of major. These ensembles provide students with opportunities in improvisation, composition, and arranging, as well as small‑group performing experience.

Computer Club

2nd Saturday, December 10 In Person and Via Zoom
Realtime Backups of Live Video
Learn in 30: MiFi Devices

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, December 10, in person and via Zoom. You must observe OLLI/GMU Health protocols (see this link). Program activities begin at 1:00; the Zoom session usually opens at 12:45. Coffee, soda, and individual snack packages will be available.

Realtime Backups of Live Video – Presented by John Krout
You have a camcorder and a laptop. Combined with an inexpensive HDMI-to-USB adapter, your camcorder can be a webcam, but far more versatile, with auto-focus and face-finding to keep your subject in focus, with zoom lens enabling your live audience to see distant action (e.g., a soccer game or graduation), and with Zoom, YouTube, Twitch, or even the free VLC app to transmit that video. While recording on the camcorder, you can also record the same video on the laptop, a real-time backup. This presentation will show you how to accomplish all of that and will include a demo.

John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology and photography topics, and author of many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.

Learn in 30: MiFi Devices – Presented by Mike Pafford
This ‘Learn in 30’ has Mike Pafford back again, to give us a ‘homework’ style rundown on MiFi (Mobile Wireless Fidelity) Devices. Mike will use the tried and true, Who, What, Where, When, and How (including How Much) briefing format. Anyone who’s been looking for a way to ensure personal (and sharable) Internet access while on the go, will want to hear Mike’s talk, and ask any questions, as he’s on his 4th or 5th generation MiFi Device.

Mike Pafford is a retired Navy Cryptologic Officer, a retired systems engineer from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, and a retired JHU software systems engineering Instructor. Previously he’s given us talks about ‘Stick Computers,’ ‘DJ Using Spotify,’ and ‘Driving with My Wife from VA to CA and Back in her Tesla.’

See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 for 2022—see http://olligmu.org/opcug/comm.html for details on making payment.

Session includes: Computer & Tech Support – for PC clinic information and guidelines, click this link.

To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 085407 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 885 2504 2358 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial in – 301-715-8592.

History Club

By Elizabeth Lambert, History Club Coordinator

The last meeting of the History Club for 2022 will be held on Wednesday, December 7 at 10:00 (PLEASE NOTE TIME).

Our presenter will be Kayleen Reusser, author of Battle of the Bulge. Kayleen has written nine books on WWII based on interviews with hundreds of veterans. This book brings the Battle of the Bulge to a personal level by recording the memories of men and women whose backgrounds could not have prepared them for the places and events they experienced in one of the most significant battles of World War II.

Kayleen is the wife and mother of Air Force airmen; her presentation promises to be a memorable one. All OLLI members are invited to History Club meetings. Remember, since OLLI is officially out of session, the meeting will be at 10:00.

OLLI Walk & Talk Club Explores Wolftrap Trail

By Bob Heyer and Marilyn Harriman, OLLI Walk & Talk Club Co-Chairs

OLLI’s November 15 Walk & Talk was led by OLLI Trail Master Dick Crawford through the Wolftrap National Park trails. The Wolftrap light Blue and Orange trails are rustic paths with fallen leaves, tree roots, and rocks. The trail's natural beauty is the creek alongside many large weathered, rounded river stones and boulders. A lovely pond is hidden amongst the trees and rolling hills, shown behind our team picture. Climbing hillsides gave us a vantage point to view the meandering stream. Then we were down alongside, crossing over small watershed streams. Wolftrap has a large amphitheater and a smaller venue in the back with a beautiful open grass meadow for kids and others to play.

After an hour in the woods, our group headed for coffee, tea, and munchies at Tyson’s Bagel Market for relaxing friendship outside the classroom! We may have to rename ourselves the Walk, Talk, & Coffee Club!

UPCOMING Walks:
November 30: Start at 9:00 at Eleanor C Lawrence Park on Walney Road in Chantilly, at the parking lot by the pond (GPS coordinates 38.853790, -77.430190. Walk is about 2.5 miles, with some varied terrain. Optional after-outing coffee, tea, and cocoa at Chateau de Chantilly, 139745 Metrotech Drive, Chantilly.

December 8: Meet at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna at 10:00. A coffee, tea, and cocoa get-together will be held at Caboose Brewery and Coffee House, 520 Mill Street, Vienna, afterward.

December 12: To explore more of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail in Vienna, meet at the trail at 9:00; led by Phyllis Krochmal. More details will follow through the Walk & Talk Club member portal.

No club walks are scheduled December 19‑30.

If you’re not yet a Walk & Talk Club member but would like to join us, please get in touch with one of the co-chairs (Marilyn: mlharriman74@gmail.com; Bob: rheyer64@gmail.com) with your information, including your cell phone number. Please register with the club in the OLLI registration portal (winter term registration begins November 29).

Photo of the Month

The November 2022 Photo of the Month theme was architectural photography. We selected John Olsen's photo "East Wing of the National Gallery of Art" which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.
-- By John Olsen and Edward Marion, Photography Club Coordinators

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Love between Mothers and Daughters

Gravity is a powerful and unknown force
gluing galaxies together in a swirling
magic circle of stars.

Love is also a powerful force
operating across national borders
races, and social classes.

It lasts during sickness and sadness
and even outlasts death,
extending beyond the grave.

Particularly strong is
the love between mothers and daughters.
It does not diminish with distance and time.

Our daughter wrote to her mother
         “You are so special to me
         and your joy also
         makes me happy.
         I hope you have golden moments
         this week when you
         think of how much you are loved.”

Parenthood may the toughest job in the world
requiring decades of service and caring
But there are some benefits
for those who are sustained by love.

Jack Underhill

Obituary: Robert E. Brown

Robert E. Brown, OLLI member from 2011-2020, died July 13, 2022. He was a 1966 graduate of the University of Washington with a double major in history and the Chinese language. Robert had a 32-year career with the CIA, where he was a member of the Senior Intelligence Service and received several intelligence awards.

As an Army veteran, he was interred at Arlington National Cemetery in September 2022. Further information is available at this link.

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, November 25 through December 12

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test result for most events, except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the webpage with event details.

Specific requirements are detailed and any future policy changes may be found here: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy.

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

The 5 Browns
Sat, Nov 26, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $50, $43, $30

The Queen’s Cartoonists
Sun, Nov. 27, 3:00
Concert Hall
Before the performance there will be family-friendly craft activities in the lobby.
Admission: $15.

CANCELED: Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet
Tue, Dec 6, 7:30
Concert Hall
Admission: $130, $90, $70, $30.

Vienna Boys Choir
Fri, Dec 9, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $55, $47, $33.

American Festival Pops Orchestra
Sat, Dec 10, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $60, $51, $36.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

Steel Pan Ensemble and Braddock Road Brass Band Concert
Tue, Nov 29, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free.

Jazz Combos Concert
Wed, Nov 30, 8:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001
Admission: Free.

Wind Symphony Concert
Thu, Dec 1, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adult $12, senior $8.

Fall: Dance Innovations
Fri, Dec 2, 8:00
Sat, Dec 3, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Adult $15, senior $10.

Mason Symphony and Choirs Holiday Concert
Sun, Dec 4, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adult $20, senior $15.

December Studio Series
Tue, Dec 6, 6:00 and 8:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A301
Admission: $10.

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Elizabeth Hall: Viriditas
Through Jan 8
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

Virginia National Ballet: The Nutcracker
Fri, Nov 25, 2:00 and 6:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adult $45, $40, $35; child $30, $25, $20.

Northern Virginia Ballet: The Nutcracker
Sat, Nov 26, 2:00 and 6:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adult $35, senior, youth and military $25.

Chanticleer
Sun, Nov 27, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.

Soweto Gospel Choir
Fri, Dec 2, 8:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

Mason Opera: Amahl and the Night Visitors
Fri, Dec 2, 3:00 and 8:00
Sat, Dec 3, 3:00 and 8:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Adult $20, senior $15.

Manassas Chorale: Everywhere, Christmas Tonight
Sat, Dec 3, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25, $23.

Creative and Performing Arts Center: Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity
Sun, Dec 4, 3:00 and 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30, $25.

American Festival Pops Orchestra
Fri, Dec 9, 8:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $60, $51, $36.

Prince William Little Theatre: The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge
Fri, Dec 9, 8:00
Sat, Dec 10, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Dec 11, 2:00
Fri, Dec 16, 8:00
Sat, Dec 17, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Dec 18, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Adult $20, senior $17.

Manassas Symphony Orchestra Family Concert: Explorations
Sat, Dec 10, 3:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.

A Celtic Christmas with Seán Heely
Sun, Dec 11, 4:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $46, $39, $28.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Nov 26	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Nov 28	9:30 am 11:00 am	What’s in the Daily News? Poetry Reading Club
Tue Nov 29	9:30 am 4:30 pm	Annex Art Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 30	10:00 am 2:00 pm 4:00 pm	Bridge Club Memoir and More Writing Group Conversations with Brenda and Doris
Thu Dec 1	11:30 am 11:50 am 4:30 pm	OLLI Holiday Party All the News Tai Chi Club
Fri Dec 2	9:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Homer, etc.
Sat Dec 3	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club
Mon Dec 5	9:30 am 11:00 am	What’s in the Daily News? Poetry Reading Club
Tue Dec 6	9:30 am 10:30 am 4:00 pm 4:30 pm	Annex Art Literature, Language, and Theater Program Planning Group Meeting Spanish Club Tai Chi Club
Wed Dec 7	10:00 am 10:00 am 10:00 am 10:30 am 4:00 pm	Bridge Club Mah Jongg Club History Club Investment Forum Conversations with Brenda and Doris
Thu Dec 8	11:50 am 12:15 pm 4:30 pm	All the News Special Events Program Planning Group Meeting Tai Chi Club
Fri Dec 9	9:15 am 9:30 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am 2:30 pm	Recorder Consort Photography Club Craft and Conversation Homer, etc. Cooking Club Tallwood Book Club
Sat Dec 10	10:30 am 1:00 pm	Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group

About OLLI E-News

An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase.

E-News-November-11-2022

OLLI E-News November 11, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

Website Quick Links Catalog DocStore Facebook Officials Member Portal Contact Us

OLLI Town Hall Meeting, November 4

November 11, 2022

Editor of the Week: John Nash

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

Reminder: OLLI Annual Veterans Day celebration is November 11 (today!) at 1:00 on Zoom. More information is available in last week’s E-News issue at this link.
Reminder: Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group meeting, Thursday, November 17, 10:00 (Zoom).
Board of Directors meeting, Friday, November 18, 10:00; Tallwood TA‑1 and Zoom. All members welcome.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 25; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 22, at 6:00.

From the Desk of the Executive Director

By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director

OLLI members please note the opportunity for a great upcoming event below!

Mason Provost and Center for Humanities Research Co-sponsored Symposium: Thinking Through American Polarization on Friday, November 18, 1:00-5:00, EST.

The symposium will be a hybrid event. The in-person portion will be in Mason’s Merton Hall, Room 1201, or you may join virtually on Zoom. Registration is required for both.

The symposium, addressing the histories, causes, and mechanisms of polarization, will combine a panel of external presentations, each about 15-20 minutes, and a conversation with a second panel led by Mason faculty. Panel One will be chaired by Alison Landsberg, professor of history and art history and cultural studies, and director of the Center for Humanities Research at Mason. Panel Two will be chaired by Peter Stearns, professor of history and art history and provost emeritus at Mason.

For more information, including the schedule, speakers, and a registration link, click here.

Start the Holiday Season with the OLLI Holiday Party

By Elaine Leonard, Hospitality Committee Chair

After the pandemic interruption, a highly-anticipated OLLI tradition lives again! Come and enjoy OLLI’s biggest in-person social event of the season;
The OLLI Annual Holiday Party will be on Thursday, December 1 from 11:30 to 2:30 at the Country Club of Fairfax, located at 5110 Ox Road in Fairfax. The event will begin at 11:30 as you gather over drinks (cash bar) and check in at the registration table.

Seeing our OLLI friends is not the only good thing. There will be an outstanding menu available. Entrées include pasta primavera, chicken piccata, and spinach salad with grilled chicken. The chicken and pasta entrées include rolls and salad; all meals include beverage and dessert. You can indicate your choice of entrée and pay the $50 when you register on the OLLI member portal. After lunch you will be entertained with a performance by the Tallwood Trio. A drawing for door prizes will follow. OLLI members are welcome to bring a guest; a $50 charge per person applies.

Registration will end on Monday, November 14. To register for the party, click here.

Editor’s note: This announcement appeared in the last couple of issues of E-News. It is repeated here encourage participation.

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OLLI Veterans Day Program...Is Today!

By John Nash, E-News editor

Don't forget that today, November 11, at 1:00, OLLI will present its annual Veterans Day program. This year's featured speaker will be the commander of the 3^rd US Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard.

You will learn more about the responsibilities of this military unit and the stringent requirements for those selected to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

Check the daily listing for the Zoom codes and spend a little time to honor the service of our OLLI military members and all veterans.

Save the Date: December 6 for the Literature, Language, and Theater (LLT) Program Planning Group Meeting

By Patricia Bangs, LLT Program Planning Group Co-chair

Date: Tuesday, December 6
Time: 10:30-noon
What: LLT Program Planning Committee Meeting
Via Zoom: See link below

Whether you enjoy the classics or spy novels, sci-fi, memoir, poetry, want to learn a language, or want to explore playwrights and the world of theater, we need your thoughts and ideas.

Please join us for our semi-annual all campus program planning group meeting for literature, theater, writing, and language program planning on Tuesday, December 6 at 10:30, via Zoom.

We will be reviewing past terms and looking forward to planning summer 2023 and beyond. All OLLI members can contribute to the excellent programming offered to our membership. Bring ideas for literature, theater, poetry, writing, or language programs, and possible resources, such as individuals you may know who might want to teach, or any other thoughts on this popular OLLI program area. And, of course, if you or anyone you know would like to join our planning group, here is your opportunity to see the process in action. Spread the word. See you on December 6.

The meeting Zoom link from Shannon Morrow, our staff program associate, is below. We will resend again closer to the meeting. If you would like to be added to our LLT mailing list for a reminder, please email me at: pbangs68@gmail.com.

Please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 385003 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 968 1639 9431 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode. You may also dial in at +1 301 715 8592 or join by Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) by clicking here.

More Upcoming Mason Jazz Concerts

By Darden Purcell, D.M.A, Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice

Mason Jazz concerts this November offer lots of variety. Two concerts were addressed in the last issue of E-News. The following announcements are for two concerts coming up on November 16 and November 18.

The Jazz Workshop - Wednesday, November 16, 8:00, at the Center for the Arts. The concert is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

Directed by John Kocur, the Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in an atypical jazz ensemble. This performance will feature some rare gems and jazz classics by Oliver Nelson, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus, Mary Lou Williams, and Cannonball Adderley.

Jazz4Justice™ – Jazz & Blues In America - Monday, November 18, 8:00, at the Center for the Arts. Tickets: $20 Adults, $15 Seniors and Students (click here).

Join Mason Jazz and Friends as we explore the roots and development of America's greatest contribution to the Arts—Jazz.

Established in 2001 by Fairfax attorney Edward L. Weiner, Esq. and Jim Carroll, founder of Mason Jazz Studies, Jazz4Justice™ is an award-winning annual concert presented by Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) and Mason Jazz Studies. Proceeds from the evening benefit LSNV to continue its mission of service to the Northern Virginia community as well as providing financial support for the Mason Jazz Studies department for scholarships, trips, and recordings. Jam session immediately following the concert, so bring your instrument (or voice) and sit in!

Weekly Conversations Continue – November 16 HOLIDAY PLANS

By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch,
Co-Moderators

Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, we (Team Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on November 16 at 4:00, where every OLLI member is most welcome to join us to talk about our chosen topic for the week: Share Your Holiday Plans. We encourage an informal interactive exchange. No sign-ups needed; participation is totally ad hoc. Check the Daily Schedule or just use the OLLI Chat Line meeting ID.

Holiday season is coming up fast: Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas, New Year's. Some of us have plans for celebrating; others will be happy to ignore the whole season. Where do you stand? Looking forward to family get-together(s)? Traveling? Preparing and eating traditional foods? Decorating? Staying away from crowds and super-spreader events another year? And – most important – what's your favorite flavor of pie? Share your thoughts with us for a jolly session or perhaps a serious one of reflection.

Heads up for the next Conversation: note that we will skip November 23. On November 30, our topic probably will be Downsizing and "DeAcquiring"—suggested by an OLLI member.

Each week, we pre-select a topic and advertise it in the OLLI E-News, the OLLI E-Blast, and the OLLI Daily Schedule email (so it will be “in your face” and hard to miss.) If you have a suggestion for a topic that will be of interest, please send it to one of us: (Bblochyoung@gmail.com or dbloch50@hotmail.com).

Computer Club

3rd Saturday, November 19 In-Person and Zoom
Backups
Learn in 30: Downloading Videos from the Web

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, November 19, in person and via Zoom. You must observe OLLI/GMU Health protocols (see this link). Program activities begin at 1:00; the Zoom session usually opens at 12:45. Coffee, soda, and individual snack packages will be available.

Backups – Presented by Uwe Dotzauer

Every day, we hear about data breaches, ransomware attacks, and catastrophic destruction of business and homes. But untold is the loss of information like digital documents, pictures, and information. In today's world where we live in digital times, who has all their "e-data" property in a safe place?

In his presentation, “The Computer Backup, your lifeline in case of digital emergency,” Mr. Dotzauer will explain the different technologies, media, and methods that you need to succeed! He will talk about several key factors that are important for a worry-free, data-retaining world!

Uwe Dotzauer is a network engineer and computer consultant with more than 20 years of experience. He has specialized in Apple Macintosh technology since 1998 and enjoys educating users about the daily challenges in the "IT World" around us. He graduated from George Mason University with a masters degree in telecommunication and network forensics.

Learn in 30: Downloading Videos from the Web – Presented by John Krout

This Learn in 30 presentation will introduce a free computer application that, given a web page address (URL) for a video, will download a video to local storage on your computer, such as a hard drive, flash drive, or solid-state drive (SSD). It works for both YouTube videos and the educational videos on the PATACS Recent Meetings page. The application is available for Windows, Macintosh, and Ubuntu Linux. After downloading a video, you can copy it to other computers and smartphones and tablets.

John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology and photography topics, and author of many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.

See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG Website. OPCUG dues are $5 for 2022—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 this link to join the meeting and use passcode 085407 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 885 2504 2358 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial in – 301-715-8592.

Looking for OLLI Survey Participants!

By Charlotte Joannidis, Mason Environmental Science and Policy Department Master’s Student

As a master’s student in the Environmental Science and Policy Department at Mason, I would like to invite OLLI members to participate in a survey about sustainable packaging. The goal of the survey is to understand how consumers view ten key sustainable packaging concepts used within the personal care product/cosmetics industry and to determine which concepts consumers prefer. This survey is for research purposes only.

If you would like to participate in the survey to be used for research, please click the link below. If you choose to participate you will be asked about your general personal care product/cosmetics use, your willingness to buy packages based on specific features, how you rank the ten packaging concepts against each other, and demographic questions. This survey should take under 15 minutes to complete. The survey will be open for responses until Friday, December 16.

You must be 18 years or older in order to participate.

To take the survey, please click this link. Thank you.

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

November Perspectives

Giving up their gold,
trees float it down in streams
piling up blessings
below, where the old house
dreams a dream of new shingles
coated in gold leaf,
and the patient ground,
taking on its cloth of gold,
pities the bare trees.
              Caroline McNeil

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, November 11 through November 28

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result for most events except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the webpage with event details.

Specific requirements are detailed and any future policy changes may be found here: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy.

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Virginia Opera: The Pirates of Penzance
Sat, Nov 12, 8:00
Sun, Nov 13, 2:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $110, $70, $40.

Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Immortal Impromptus
Sun, Nov 20, 7:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance “Young Artist Musicale,” featuring piano students of Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association members, will take place from 6:00-6:30 lobby.
An interactive question and answer session will conclude this program.
Admission: $50, $43, $29.

The 5 Browns
Sat, Nov 26, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

The Queen’s Cartoonists
Sun, Nov. 27, 3:00
Concert Hall
Before the performance there will be family-friendly craft activities in the lobby.
Admission: $15.

Mason Student and Faculty Performances

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

New Sound Collective: Fall Reflections
Fri, Nov 11, 8:00
deLaski 3001
Admission: Free.

Mason School of Dance: New Dances
Fri, Nov 11, 8:00
Sat, Nov 12, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Adult $15, senior $10.

Brass Day
Sat, Nov 12, 8:00 to 6:00
DeLaski
Admission: Free, but register at https://music.gmu.edu/visit-us/brass-day/.

Double Reed Day
Sun, Nov 13, 1:00 to 5:00
deLaski
Admission: Free, but register at https://music.gmu.edu/double-reed-day/.

Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Mon, Nov 14, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adult $12, senior $8.

Percussion Ensemble Concert
Tue, Nov 15, 7:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.

Jazz Workshop Concert
Wed, Nov 16, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free.

Jazz4Justice™
Fri, Nov 18, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adult $20, senior $15.

Mason School of Theater: Sutta
Fri, Nov 18, 8:00
Sat, Nov 19, 8:00
Sun, Nov 20, 2:00
TheaterSpace
Admission: Adult $20, senior $10.

Symphonic Band Concert
Mon, Nov 21, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adult $12, senior $8.

At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus)

Gallery Exhibit: Elizabeth Hall: Viriditas
Nov 8 – Jan 8
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra: Salute to the Military
Sat, Nov 12, 8:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $48, $41, $28.

Hylton Family Series: SUGAR SKULL! A Día de los Muertos Musical Adventure
Sun, Nov 13, 1:00 and 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.

Company 360 Dance Theatre: AWAY
Sat, Nov 19, 2:00 and 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adult $35, senior $25, student and military (active and retired) $20, child
$15.

The Seldom Scene
Sat, Nov 19, 5:30 and 8:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30.

Virginia National Ballet: The Nutcracker
Fri, Nov 25, 2:00 and 6:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adult $45, $40, $35; child $30, $25, $20.

Northern Virginia Ballet: The Nutcracker
Sat, Nov 26, 2:00 and 6:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adult $35, senior, youth, and military $25.

Chanticleer
Sun, Nov 27, 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.

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

Meetings & Clubs

Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

Sat Nov 12	12:00 noon 10:30 am	Board of Directors Retreat Tai Chi Club
Mon Nov 14	9:30 am 11:00 am	What’s in the Daily News? Poetry Reading Club
Tue Nov 15	9:30 am 4:30 pm	Annex Art Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 16	10:00 am 10:00 am 10:30 am 2:00 pm 6:00 pm	Bridge Club Mah Jongg Club Investment Forum Memoir and More Writing Group Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Nov 17	10:00 am 11:50 am 4:30 pm	Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) Program Planning Group Meeting (Zoom) All the News Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 18	9:15 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 11:00 am	Recorder Consort Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting Homer, etc.
Sat Nov 19	10:30 am 1:00 pm	Tai Chi Club Personal Computer User Group
Mon Nov 21	9:30 am 11:00 am	What’s in the Daily News? Poetry Writing Club
Tue Nov 22	9:30 am 4:30 pm	Annex Art Tai Chi Club
Thu Nov 24	4:30 pm	Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 25	9:15 am 11:00 am 12:00 noon	Recorder Consort Homer, etc. Photography Club
Sat Nov 26	10:30 am	Tai Chi Club

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E-News-November-04-2022

OLLI E-News November 4, 2022

Print a condensed pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.

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Doug Stowell, National OLLI Instructor, Presented “Future Perfect” on October 19, Examining Ten of the Many Possible Topics on the Future Between Now and 2030

November 4, 2022

Editor of the Week: Sheri Siesseger

Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices
OLLI Celebrates the Service of Member Veterans
Walk and Talk News
OLLI Holiday Party
Upcoming Mason Jazz Concerts
Smart Music for Older Adults: Research Volunteer Opportunity!
Poet's Corner
Arts & Music at George Mason
Meetings & Clubs
About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

OLLI Veterans Day celebration will be at Tallwood Friday, November 11, at 1:00 in TA‑1. (See article below.)
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 11; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 8, at 6:00.

OLLI Celebrates the Service of Member Veterans

By John Nash, Veteran and E-News Editorial Team Member

OLLI is fortunate to have many members who have retired from or served in the various military branches. On Friday, November 11, OLLI will hold its annual Veterans Day program to honor the service of our veterans.

The OLLI Veterans Day program was begun several years ago by then OLLI member and Board representative, Martha Powers, to recognize the military service of so many OLLI members. After Martha’s good work, Jim Dunphy took over as coordinator until his death, continuing the outstanding programs of service recognition. For many years, two OLLI members from WWII—Chester Myslicki and Adrian Pelzner—were always saluted for their service. Chester passed away at the age of 100 shortly after being recognized and honored at the 2020 event.

This year’s program will include the traditional National Anthem and the rousing service songs. The featured guests will be representatives of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, often known as The Old Guard. Last year The Old Guard celebrated its 150th anniversary with many events and activities, culminating in a three-day event where the public was allowed access to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to pay personal respects. It was quite a moving event for those of us who attended.

If you haven’t signed up for this year’s program, there’s still time. Just contact the OLLI registrar. The program begins at 1:00 on Friday, November 11. It’s on Zoom, of course, for this year. Meeting codes will be provided in the emailed OLLI Daily Schedule notification.

Come join us in saluting our OLLI veterans, and all veterans, for their service to our country!

Walk and Talk News

By Marilyn Harriman and Bob Heyer, OLLI Walk & Talk Co-Chairs

Thirteen Walk & Talk Club members experienced the joy of exploring part of the Gerry Connolly Cross Country Trail on October 31. In addition to spotting a heron, walkers watched two horses grazing in their pasture and squirrels scampering for nuts among the fall leaves. Debby Mossburg led the group on a well-paved and maintained Fairfax County path from Prosperity Avenue up to King Arthur Road and then back again. Afterward, members met at the Cozy District Cafe for coffee, tea, cocoa, and lively conversation.

Future walks between fall and winter terms include an excursion at Wolf Trap Park in mid-November and a holiday walk at Meadowlark Gardens in December.

No walks are scheduled for November 7-11 and November 21-25.

The next outing, set for November 15 at 9:00, will be led by Bob Heyer. He’ll lead walkers on Wolf Trap Trail. The loop trail is 2.5 miles long and is considered an easy route, partly along a river and mainly through a forest. Participants will meet and park at 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Those interested in meeting for coffee or tea afterward will convene at Tyson’s Bagel Market, 8137 Leesburg Pike, Tyson’s Corner.

Those who plan to walk need to RSVP to one of the club co-chairs: Marilyn Harriman (mlwharriman74@gmail.com) or Bob Heyer (rheyerw64@gmail.com).

OLLI Holiday Party

By Elaine Leonard, Hospitality Committee Chair

After the pandemic interruption, a highly-anticipated OLLI tradition lives again! Come and enjoy OLLI’s biggest in-person social event of the season; it offers a chance to dress up (a little) and socialize in person. The OLLI Annual Holiday Party will be on Thursday, December 1 from 11:30 to 2:30 at the Country Club of

Fairfax, located at 5110 Ox Road in Fairfax. The event will begin at 11:30 as you gather over drinks (cash bar) and check‑in at the registration table. Entrées include pasta primavera, chicken piccata, and spinach salad with grilled chicken. The chicken and pasta entrées include rolls and salad; all meals include beverage and dessert. You can indicate your choice of entrée and pay the $50 when you register on the OLLI member portal. After lunch you will be entertained with a performance by the Tallwood Trio. A drawing for door prizes will follow. OLLI members are welcome to bring a guest; a $50 charge per person applies. Registration will end on Monday, November 14. To register for the party, click here.

Editor’s note: This announcement appeared in the last issue of E-News. It is repeated here to encourage participation.

Upcoming Mason Jazz Concerts

By Darden Purcell, D.M.A, Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice

Mason Jazz concerts coming soon offer lots of variety. The month kicks off with two concerts in the first half of November:

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra (MJO) – Salute to the Military
Saturday, November 12, 8:00, at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $48, $41, $28, half price for youth through Grade 12 (click this link).

Join Jim Carroll, MJO's artistic director and virtuoso saxophonist, and vocalist Darden Purcell, Mason Director of Jazz Studies and Jazz Voice, for an unforgettable evening celebrating our military’s veterans, service members, and their families. Standards from the Jazz Age and eras of World Wars I and II will be featured. The event includes performances by vocalists Lisanne Lyons and Sara Jones.

This event is FREE for veterans and service members with ID. Up to two tickets each can be claimed in-person at the Hylton Center ticket office. George Mason University’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative proudly sponsor this performance.

Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Monday, November 14, 8:00, at the Center for the Arts. Tickets: $12 general public, $8 seniors, $5 students (click here).

Join Dr. Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice studio, and Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards, Brazilian repertoire, and classic hits from the Great American Songbook! Special guests are Falls Church High School Jazzguars, directed by Mason alumnus, Dr. C.J. Redden‑Liotta!

Smart Music for Older Adults: Research Volunteer Opportunity!

By Emily Ihara, PhD, Chair, Mason Department of Social Work

Are you interested in how personalized music creates physiological reactions?

George Mason University is looking for adults ages 60+ to participate in a research study called “Smart Music for Older Adults” (IRB #1904914) to explore the usage of wearable sensors in interventions using music. The aim of the research is to test wearable technology for a personalized music intervention for older adults. Participants will volunteer for about 60 minutes at a location with convenient parking, where they will listen to music while wearing a smartwatch (provided). Participants will get to listen to their favorite songs and then be interviewed by a member of the research team. The device will collect physiological measures such as heart rate and skin conductance and the research team will observe and video record reactions. After completion of the session, participants will be invited to participate in a 60-minute focus group to discuss their thoughts about wearable sensors. The total time to participate in this study will be no longer than 2 hours 30 minutes.

If you or someone you know would be interested in participating, please contact Dr. Emily Ihara, professor in the Department of Social Work, at gerorsch@gmu.edu or eihara@gmu.edu (703-993-2023) with the subject line "Smart Music.”

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the E-News July 15. It is repeated here to complete recruitment of participants by Thanksgiving; only a few more people are needed. Your help is encouraged. Thank you.

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

September Views

In her island studio, the artist rearranges paintings
moving a large seascape aside to hang a work
that looks out a window to the seaside landscape

She explains to me that with the coming of fall
she feels the need for this different perspective

****

The view beyond the bleached shells on my sill
hydrangeas faded into watery burgundy
marsh grasses brushed with feathers of rusty browns
goldenrods layered thick with bright yellow
turtles ink black against charcoal rocks

In the distance
the ocean absorbs the sky
into a deeper shade of blue
than yesterday

For the first time in months
I close my window against the chill

—Jacqueline Davey

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, November 4 through November 14

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:

At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Nrityagram Dance Ensemble
Sat, Nov 5, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Sun, Nov 6, 7:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $55, $47, $33.

Virginia Opera: The Pirates of Penzance
Sat, Nov 12, 8:00
Sun, Nov 13, 2:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $110, $70, $40.