Below is a list of the courses, special events and ongoing Summer 2016 activities at all three locations (Fairfax, Reston and Loudoun). Unless otherwise noted, classes beginning with an F are held at Tallwood in Fairfax, an R at United Christian Parish in Reston, and an L at Mason's Loudoun County location in Sterling. To view non-course information in the catalog, click the following links for the Schedule of Classes (pdf) and Registration Form (pdf). If you plan to print the catalog rather than read it on your computer screen, you may prefer to print the Summer 2016 Catalog (pdf) in its normal two-column format. Class hours are 9:40–11:05, 11:50–1:15, and 2:15–3:40, unless otherwise noted.
100 Art and Music
F101 Max Liebermann, Modern Art, and Modern Germany
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, June 28
One session
Instructor: Marion Deshmukh
Max Liebermann (1847-1935) is considered Germany’s premier impressionist painter. He both observed and participated in key historic events from Imperial Germany’s founding in 1870-71 to the Nazi dictatorship. His artistic talent, his leadership of alternative artists’ associations, his presidency of the Prussian Academy of Art during the tumultuous 1920s, and his cosmopolitanism, liberalism, and Judaism all fostered strong support among his admirers and intense animosities among his opponents. This illustrated talk will describe his critical cultural importance for Germany for over seven decades and his continued importance to Germany today.
Marion Deshmukh, Robert T. Hawkes Professor of History, Emerita, taught German and European cultural history and German art history at George Mason University, including courses on 19th and 20th century Germany, 19th and 20th century German and Austrian art, the Third Reich and Holocaust, Metropolitan Europe, and Western Civilization. She served as chair of the history and art history department from 1984-1995 and 2006-2007.
F102 Oh! What a Lovely War: A Commemorative Showing
Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, June 23–July 7
Three sessions
Instructor: John Trevey
A showing, with commentary and discussion, of Richard Attenborough’s 1969 film based on Joan Littlewood’s 1963 London musical review of the causes and events of World War I. The film consists of authentic songs of the period, plus short sketches, slides, headlines, and news banners connecting brief dramatic scenes of the lives of both British soldiers in the trenches and their families back home. In a retrospective review of the film, the late Roger Ebert wrote, “It isn’t [a movie], but it is an elaborately staged tableau, a dazzling use of the camera to achieve essentially theatrical effects.” Moreover, the significant spoken words of major military figures, heads of state, and diplomats are historically accurate. Recommended text: Oh What a Lovely War (Student Editions), which includes plot synopsis, commentary, an introduction by Joan Littlewood, an afterword, notes, bibliography, and explanatory text. ISBN 978-0-413-77546-7.
John Trevey, an OLLI member, retired in 2014 after 22 years as a tax attorney. After receiving a BA in history, he was a teacher, Army officer (retired), health care manager, and accounting manager. He was a CPA, has a Master of Laws and Taxation degree, and continues his long-term interests in music and history.
R103 The Ongoing Pleasures of Music
Mondays, 11:50–1:15, June 13–June 20
Two sessions
Instructor: Gloria Sussman
This music listening course has continued to live up to its promising title. We explore with pleasure the many facets of classical music with the use of DVDs and YouTube. You may sample the wide variety of musical offerings from previous terms by searching for Gloria Sussman on YouTube.com.
Gloria Sussman has been teaching at OLLI since 2000 and continues to provide entertaining programs for OLLI at Reston.
R104 Seeing Like Your Camera Does
Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 14–July 19
Six sessions
Instructor: Stan Schretter
This is the first of three photography courses given during the summer and fall terms at Reston and Tallwood. This summer, in Part 1 (six sessions), we will cover basic to intermediate concepts of photography such as shutter speed, exposure, ISO, and composition. Each class will be split into two parts: a classroom lecture, and a hands-on segment exploring the day’s topic using your camera. (Note to students: Please bring your camera to class.) The last two sessions will tie the lessons together with a shooting session at Lake Anne and then learning how to self-critique your images. While Part 1 is useful for any type of camera from cell phone to digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR), knowing how to adjust the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO in your camera will be helpful for mastering all the concepts introduced in the class. Part 2 of this series (at Tallwood this fall) will be aimed at more advanced beginners.
Stan Schretter, an OLLI member, is an avid amateur photographer and has taught courses at OLLI for many years.
R105 The Making of Impressionism
Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, June 23–June 30
Two sessions
Instructor: Adrienne Wyman Kralick
The Impressionists are known for painting outdoors, in natural light, capturing fleeting effects of light for a fresh, seemingly effortless effect—with colors that sing, water that sparkles, and wind you can feel. But how did they do that? Claude Monet once said, “When you go out to paint, try to forget what objects you have before you, a tree, a house, a field or whatever... merely think here is a little square of blue, here an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow, and paint it just as it looks to you, the exact color and shape, until it gives your own naïve impression of the scene.” Today, we think of Impressionism as one of the most popular art movements in history, but that was not always the case. These young men and women entered the rigid 19th century Parisian art world as outliers. With bravery and tenacity, they were determined to make art in their own way and on their own terms, and the art world would never be the same. In this two-part lecture, artist and teacher Adrienne Kralick will give her unique behind-the-easel view of Impressionism, examining paintings from an artist’s perspective, reviewing how they were created, and considering what was going on in the world around them at the time.
As a working artist who has copied paintings in the museum at The Art Institute of Chicago, Adrienne Wyman Kralick gives museum tours and teaches painting, focusing on the techniques employed by different artists throughout history. She works at the Smithsonian and as a visiting instructor to other venues, even leading tours of France—painting in the path of the Impressionists from Paris to the beaches of Normandy. Learn more at www.AdrienneArtist.com.
L106 Why is Beethoven’s Third Symphony so Important?
Wednesday, 11:50–1:15, July 20
One session
Instructor: Jon Goldberg
This talk will discuss the historical background of the classical symphony, and show how Beethoven’s Third was not just a minor evolutionary advance, but such a giant step that it took other symphonists decades to move out from under Beethoven’s shadow.
Jon Goldberg holds a master’s in music from the Manhattan School of Music, teaches music theory at Northern Virginia Community College, and is founder and conductor of the Endymion Ensemble, an internationally recognized chamber orchestra that has performed at Carnegie Recital Hall and has several recordings. He conducted the world premiere of the orchestral version of “Night Journey,” written by William Schuman for Martha Graham, and recorded it for CRI records. He also arranged the chamber orchestra version of William Schuman’s “A Song of Orpheus,” for cello and orchestra, and conducted the world premiere of that work with the Endymion Ensemble.
L107 Celebrating Jerry Herman
Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, July 7–July 21
Three sessions
Instructor: Marianne Metz
Songwriter Jerry Herman has given us music and lyrics for Broadway blockbusters like Hello Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles, plus lesser-known gems. As Jerry Herman turns 85 this July, we celebrate by listening to several dozen of his best creations. Herman wrote many of his most memorable songs for female characters, and we’ll hear them performed by “Jerry’s Girls” including Angela Lansbury, Carol Channing, and Bernadette Peters. We won’t neglect the guys, either! In addition to hearing short audio and video selections, we’ll see both a full-length concert and a delightful documentary devoted to this gifted songwriter who has given us so much. These three tune-filled sessions are guaranteed to leave you humming!
“Your special fascination’ll
Prove to be inspirational;
We think you’re just sensational,
Jerry… Jerry… Jerry!”
Marianne Metz, co-chair of the Art/Music Program Planning Group, has previously presented classes on Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Alice Faye, Tom Lehrer, and classic American songwriters. She produces and hosts a weekly radio show called The Melody Lingers On.
200 Economics & Finance
F201 Too Big to Fail
Tuesday, 11:50–1:30, July 5
One session
Coordinator: Al Smuzynski
This acclaimed HBO movie, released in 2011, accurately depicts the 2008 financial crisis and the efforts by government leaders to respond. In the cast are William Hurt as Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Paul Giamatti as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. We will view the movie and then discuss the financial crisis and the effectiveness of the government’s response from our vantage point eight years later.
Al Smuzynskiis a retired bank regulator and an advocate of affordable housing. He currently serves on the boards of Virginia Community Capital and Community Capital Bank of Virginia.
F202 The Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 15–July 20
Six sessions
Fairfax Lord of Life
Moderator: Al Smuzynski
The Investment Forum, which meets weekly throughout the year, addresses investment topics of particular interest to retirees. A weekly agenda is distributed, and each session begins with open discussion of recent events in the economy and in financial markets, and their impact on investment decisions. Member presentations typically include topics such as recent market indicators, stocks, bonds, funds (mutual, exchange-traded, and closed-end), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), options, commodities, master limited partnerships, sectors, allocations, and investment strategies. We use analyses and data from the financial press.
See F201 for instructor information.
F203 The Political Economy of Japan since the 1850s
Thursday, 9:40–11:05, June 16
One session
Instructor: Yong J. Yoon
Japan is the only non-Western country that has succeeded in modernizing economically (free economy) and politically (liberal democracy). This transformation was in response to the challenges posed by the West involving innovations in commerce, politics, and social institutions. Japan in the Edo period (1600-1868) of the Tokugawa shogunate was a peaceful and orderly society, though somewhat backward. As the Western countries advanced to Japan in the 1850s, Japan had both fear and admiration of the West. In 1890, Japan became a constitutional monarchy and imitated Western imperialism, behaving like Jekyll and Hyde. But the end of the Pacific War in 1945 was a critical turning point. Many Japanese became reflective about their country, people, and history, and Kurosawa’s movie Rashomon captures the mood of the country well. Since then, Japan has experienced an impressive economic comeback.
Special request: In order to best appreciate this class, please watch Kurosawa’s movie Rashomon before attending class.
Yong J. Yoon has been teaching economics at Mason for the last 17 years. He is a senior research scholar at the Center for Study of Public Choice, and recently published a book, Individualism and Political Disorder (with James Buchanan). His current work includes applications of economic theory to the transformation of Japan since 1850.
F204 Fifty Must-Know Statistics about Long-Term Care, Plus a Little-Known Way to Pay for It
Thursday, 9:40–11:05, July 7
One session
Instructor: J. Michael May
Figuring out your financial plan for long-term care is like trying to keep your footing on a trampoline that someone else is jumping on. Try as you might, the ground keeps shifting beneath you. Ultimately, the decision about whether to purchase long-term care insurance, what kind, and how much, is highly personal. It is dependent on assets, desire to leave a bequest, health history, and the peace-of-mind derived from having this coverage. To help with your decision making, this class will provide statistics on long-term care: usage, costs, caregivers, insurance, and the role of government programs in paying for long-term care.
J. Michael May, a financial planner and frequent presenter at OLLI, has been helping seniors grow and protect their finances for over 30 years. After obtaining his BA degree in psychology from The George Washington University, he earned both the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA.
300 History & International Studies
F301 Charles V, Master of the 16th Century World
Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, June 14–July 5
Four sessions
Instructor: Elisabeth Wolpert
This class will cover the life, conquests, and struggles of the 30th Holy Roman Emperor. Charles V fought France, England, the Ottoman Empire, and even the Papal states on several occasions. Most of all, Charles V’s greatest adversary was Martin Luther, who brought frictions in the German states and indirectly caused the Emperor to resign.
Elisabeth Wolpert was born and educated in France.
Her doctoral thesis dealt with 16th century French literature. She enjoys being at OLLI, where she has taught several courses.
F302 Four Confederates You Might Not Know
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, June 14
One session
Instructor: Jim Crumley
Most Americans are familiar with the major figures of the Civil War. However, the war also produced hundreds, if not thousands, of interesting stories about fascinating people. In this presentation, we will look at four men who served the South’s cause: “The Mapmaker,” “The Gentle Tiger,” “The Most Daring of Men,” and “The Most Gallant.”
Jim Crumley has been an OLLI member for the past five years. After a career in the Air Force in various positions as a pilot, commander, and staff officer, he spent another 18 years as a senior executive with three different Fortune 500 companies. He has studied the American Civil War virtually all of his life.
F303 George Mason, Father of the Bill of Rights
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, June 21
One session
Instructor: Joan Lewis
Often called the forgotten founder, George Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776. He was the first to say “all men are created equal” and to codify principles that Americans hold dear today: freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the right to a speedy and fair trial, and that all power should come from the people. He also wrote the Virginia Constitution, the first in America, one that mandated separation of powers. Ms. Lewis fosters understanding of Mason as a loving family man, a Virginia planter, and a patriot. She highlights his home, Gunston Hall, a gem of Georgian style architecture. The mansion’s Palladian room with elaborate carving is noted as one of the 100 most beautiful rooms in colonial America. We will consider questions like these: How was Mason different from Washington and Madison? What do we know about Mason and slavery? What’s key about his work on the Fairfax Resolves, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, and his efforts at the Philadelphia constitutional convention? Why did he refuse to sign the Constitution? How did he influence the United States Bill of Rights?
Joan Lewis earned her master of arts in teaching from George Washington University. She retired after 25 years as a media specialist for Fairfax County Public Schools. She is co-author of George Mason, Father of the Bill of Rights, 1991. She has been a docent at Gunston Hall Plantation for nine years and is chair of its Senior Outreach Program.
F304 Iwo Jima: World War II to Today
Tuesday, 9:40–11:05, July 12
One session
Fairfax Lord of Life
Instructor: Shayne A. Jarosz
On February 19, 1945, the United States attacked a small Japanese Island held by 22,000 soldiers and naval personnel of the Japanese military. During this 36-day battle, the United States fully realized what it would take to win the war in the Pacific. This lecture will describe the pre-invasion activities, the battle, and the controversy over the iconic flag-raising photograph, and the continuing efforts today to keep the island open for all Americans.
Shayne A. Jarosz is the executive director of the Iwo Jima Association of America and director of education at Military Historical Tours. After serving in the Marine Corps, he graduated from George Mason University with a degree in history. Jarosz pursued his love of history through a more than 20-year career teaching history in Fairfax County Public Schools. He joined Military Historical Tours in 2005 and now heads up the educational tour program as well as having developed their new diving tour program. Jarosz has led tours throughout the Pacific including Guadalcanal, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.
F305 Japan: A Safe Haven for Thousands of Jews in World War II
Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, July 12–July 19
Two sessions
Instructor: Ben Gold
Shortly prior to and during World War II, tens of thousands of Jewish refugees were resettled in Japan. But wasn’t Japan an ally of Nazi Germany? Didn’t Hitler want the Japanese to round up their Jewish population? Why did the Japanese refuse? And why was Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who served as vice-consul for the Empire of Japan in Lithuania, officially recognized by Israel and given the honor of being named “Righteous among Nations”?
Ben Gold, an OLLI member, has a BA in political science from Stanford University and earned an MS in computer science as a naval officer. After retirement from the Navy, he worked in the computer industry and has served as a docent at the Supreme Court for the past 13 years.
F306 The Evolution of Modern Revolutionary Ideas
Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, June 15–July 6
Four sessions
Instructor: Jack Censer
Class limit: 45
Violent revolutions that promised positive change began in 17th-century England but really took off with the American and French experiences during the 18th century. Both causes and goals varied. This class mainly focuses on the latter, beginning with the ideology of democracy and personal freedom, and proceeding forward in time to examine nationalism, socialism, and communism, as well as the revolutionary concepts that have recently emerged in the Middle East. Although we’ll begin by scrutinizing England and its colonies, this class will also study revolutions in France, Italy, Russia, China, Vietnam, Cuba, and Iran. Students may find it useful to read along in Censer’s book Debating Modern Revolution: The Evolution of Revolutionary Ideas (ISBN: 978-1472589637) which parallels the course.
Professor emeritus Jack Censer earned his PhD at Johns Hopkins and spent over 40 years at George Mason University, where he also served as chair of the Department of History and Art History, and Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. After publishing many books and articles on the French Revolution, he has expanded his purview with his recent book.
F307 US-Russian Military Policy in the 21st Century
Thursday, 11:50–1:15, June 16
One session
Instructor: Steve Kime
This lecture will focus on the military doctrines of Russia and the United States. The topics addressed will be: Where have these two intercontinental nuclear military powers been, and where are they going? New realities are faced by both Russia and the US. The face of war is changing, and the calculations of risk and opportunity are in flux. The motivations and directions of military power in Russian foreign policy are becoming clearer. Realities of the 21st century are impinging on the US in ways that call for a new approach to military doctrine. An Officer’s Story, the recently published book written by the instructor that is the basis for this lecture, covers a wide swath of political and military thought. While this session will focus on Russian and American military power, a question and answer period will be open to all subjects in the book.
Steve Kime holds a PhD from Harvard. He served twice in Russia as US naval attaché; as professor, director of Russian studies and associate dean at the National War College; and as professor and a division director at the US Naval Academy. He was president of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges and a vice president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
F308 Park Rangers in Their Element
Thursdays, 2:15–3:40, June 16–June 23, July 14–July 21
Four sessions
Fairfax Lord of Life, June 16, June 23, July 21
Church of the Good Shepherd Sanctuary, July 14
Note dates and locations
Coordinators: Brad Berger, Emmett Fenlon
Join us as the National Park Service celebrates its Centennial in 2016! Over 400 units comprise the National Park Service, stretching from sea to shining sea. Many of the rangers who serve at the National Mall and Memorial Parks are veterans of other National Parks around the US. A broad range of talented personnel have sharpened their skills at far-flung spots in the Service which they now bring to our nation’s capital. The stories they share will be sure to enlighten and entertain as they recount ranger life and operations at our many natural wonders and historic landmarks.
National Park Service rangershave participated with OLLI in over 80 thematic courses, special events, and trips since 2001.
F309 A Park Ranger’s Experience: Glaciers
Thursday, 11:50–1:15, July 21
One session
Coordinators: Paul Ollig, Brad Berger, Emmett Fenlon
Glaciers are arguably one of the most enigmatic, and sometimes misunderstood, features of many of America’s most iconic national parks. Their presence, or even more their absence, shapes not only the landscape of parks like Glacier and Yosemite, but also the ways and reasons people visit and manage these places. Join us for an exploration of how glaciers have sculpted one park ranger’s career, from the fjords of Alaska to the granite cliffs of Yosemite, as he studied, explored, and learned how to talk about these awe-inspiring rivers of ice.
See F308 for instructor information.
R310 Miracle on the Vistula
Tuesday, 9:40–11:05, June 14
One session
Instructor: Ed Janusz
Imagine seeing a headline, not totally unlikely: “Russian Army Approaching Kiev—Ukrainian Government Flees to the West.” Then imagine, two months later, seeing another, totally improbable headline: “Russia Sues for Peace—Offers to Return Crimea and Expand Ukrainian Borders to the East.” The equivalent occurred in Poland during the 1919-20 Polish/Russian/Ukrainian/Lithuanian war, an event which the Poles refer to as the “Miracle on the Vistula.” This presentation will address this little-known war which contained the Communist revolution for at least two decades, but laid the groundwork for fascism in the 1930s and for the struggle for world supremacy known as the Cold War. That struggle continues today in the Ukraine. This is a stand-alone class, but will also serve as a makeup for the second session of last winter’s R305 “Battles in Eastern Europe That Framed Our Times.”
Ed Janusz retired after a career in the Army Corps of Engineers and the aerospace and computer services industries. He is a published author who spent his early years among Eastern Europeans and will attempt to present the events from their perspective.
R311 Intelligence in the Civil War, Part 2
Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, June 16–July 7
Four sessions
Instructor: Jim Anderson
Against the backdrop of the Civil War, we continue our examination of the efforts of the two warring governments to establish effective intelligence organizations. In Part 1, we discussed the use of tradecraft techniques, such as code-breaking, deception, and covert surveillance. We also saw how both sides experimented with technologies such as the reconnaissance balloons and the telegraph. In Part 2, we will examine the various means used to gather and exploit both tactical and strategic information to influence events on the battlefield and in Washington and Richmond. The emphasis will be on the key personalities and campaigns in the Eastern Theater during the first two years of the war, including Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. This lecture series focuses less on the battlefield and more on a battle of wits.
Jim Anderson spent 27 years with the CIA, which included six overseas tours in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Far East. He holds an MA in history from the University of Memphis. He has spoken frequently at OLLI on Civil War and Plains Indians topics. For the past 10 years, he has conducted corporate leadership training seminars featuring Civil War battlefields.
R312 Bougainville: The Forgotten World War II Campaign
Thursday, 11:50–1:15, June 16
One session
Instructor: Alan Rems
No matter what their level of knowledge about World War II in the Pacific, everyone who attends this class should learn much from this fascinating program about the largely forgotten Bougainville campaign. Through a presentation employing vivid, rarely-seen photographs from his book South Pacific Cauldron, Alan Rems brings alive this important campaign, including the highly controversial Australian phase. Among the dramatic events covered will be what Admiral “Bull” Halsey called his “most desperate emergency,” when a threatened attack on the Marine beachhead was thwarted by a perilous carrier raid hailed as “a second Pearl Harbor in reverse.” Other important events to be discussed include the suicide of a leading Marine general that was concealed through an audacious cover-up authorized by Halsey, and the program to employ African-American troops in combat that was terminated because of events on Bougainville.
Alan Rems, a retired CPA, has been the most prolific contributor to Naval History magazine since 2008, when his first writing attempt won the Author of the Year award from the US Naval Institute. Following his presentation, Rems will sign and offer copies of his authoritative yet highly readable narrative history, South Pacific Cauldron, available in both hardback and paperback form.
R313 Comparing Media Coverage of World War II and Vietnam
Thursday, 11:50–1:15, June 30
One session
Instructor: David Heymsfeld
In covering a war, the media faces responsibilities that may be in conflict. There is a responsibility to support our troops who are risking their lives, but there is also a responsibility to inform the public. If the war is not going well, strategies and leadership can be changed, and the public can decide whether to continue to support the human and financial costs of the war. This course will examine the differences in how these conflicting responsibilities were balanced in World War II and how they were handled in Vietnam. World War II was the “good war,” supported by a national consensus. Reporting on the war tended to be positive and avoided stories which would undermine morale in the field or on the home front. In Vietnam, the public was divided, and the press was more willing to provide negative reports, including reports that we were not “winning” and reports of atrocities. But, as the course will examine in detail, there were many exceptions to these general tendencies. There were negative reports in World War II, and in Vietnam reporting was generally sympathetic to the attitudes and professionalism of our troops in the field.
David Heymsfeld, an OLLI member, served on the professional staff of the House Transportation Committee for 35 years. He has long been interested in modern American history and is a volunteer guide for the Newseum.
L314 History My Family Lived
Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, June 14–July 5
Four sessions
Moderators: Ray Beery, Karen Carter, Mark Weinstein
OLLI members look back on the experiences of their lives and visualize many exciting times in the pageant of our country and of the world. We think, “I was there!” Indeed, each one of us was immersed in an event that is now in the pages of every history book. This course is where we share our stories. It follows our courses on “Remembering the 50s and 60s” and “Remembering My Hometown” that were recent favorites in Loudoun. Two class members will share each class period, with a 20- to 30-minute talk and plenty of time for discussion.
Moderators: Karen Carter from Missouri, Mark Weinstein from Boston, and Ray Beery from Kansas.
L316 American Participation in WWI
Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, June 15–July 20
Six sessions
Instructor: Keith Young
WWI was the first of the “world wars,” and after one hundred years, its history is still of great interest to us. This course will examine the war with special emphasis on American participation, and will highlight many new developments such as the tank, the machine gun, and the airplane, to name a few. Join us as we examine the significant impact of this conflict, the first of the modern “world wars.”
Keith Young is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and a retired Navy captain. His expertise and interest is military history, and he has been a lecturer, teacher, and speaker for many years.
L317 1979: A Pivotal Year and a Giant Step Towards the 21st Century
Thursday, 11:50–1:15, June 16
One session
Instructor: David Heymsfeld
1979 was a transformative year. The revolution in Iran and the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan were major events in the growth of Islamic political movements, which advocate that government and society be run by the laws of Islam. Islamism is now a major political force in the Muslim world. In China, free-market reforms by Deng Xiaoping began the transformation of China from an economic basket case to a world economic power. The politicization of Islam and the Chinese transformation which began in 1979 came as a great surprise. Before then, many believed that economies run by communist principles were gaining strength and that the influence of religion in politics was declining. But in 1979, free markets and religion returned with a vengeance.
See R313 for instructor information.
400 Literature, Theater, & Writing
F401 Six Great Classics from the AFI’s “100 Years... 100 Movies” List
Tuesdays, 11:30–1:30, June 14–July 19
Six sessions
Fairfax Lord of Life
Instructor: John Henkel
In 1998, the American Film Institute (AFI) published its first listing of the 100 greatest American films of all time. In 2007, the AFI released an updated list that dropped a few titles and added a few more. Called “100 Years... 100 Movies,” that list now serves as the definitive survey of the most beloved and respected films in the history of American cinema. In this class, we will view and discuss a half-dozen of these gems, which will cover a wide range of subjects. There will be:
- A wartime drama that contains six of the all-time greatest movie quotes
- A comedy that casts one of the great movie hunks as a nerdy paleontologist
- A groundbreaking animated film from Disney Studios
- A comedy about a comedian’s romantic woes that won four Oscars
- A happy-go-lucky musical that pairs America’s favorite fleet-footed couple, and
- A fictional biography of a real publishing magnate that is widely considered the greatest film ever made. (It’s #1 on the AFI list.)
John Henkel is a lifelong movie buff who has previously taught five film history classes at OLLI. He has a background in journalism and public relations.
F402 Poetry Workshop
Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 14–July 19
Six sessions
Moderators: Mike McNamara, Jan Bohall
Class limit: 18
This workshop allows both novice and experienced poets the opportunity to share their work and receive suggestions for improvement. Workshop members should bring an original poem in draft or revised form to each session. Two poems should be sent to the Tallwood office for duplication one week before the first class meeting, and a third poem brought to the first session. The moderators will email students after registration to let them know when and where to send their poems for the first class.
Mike McNamara, an OLLI member, has been published in several literary journals and magazines, and has received awards from the Poetry Society of Virginia.
F403 The Boys in the Boat
Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, July 12–July 19
Two sessions
Instructors: Mike McNamara, Barbara Nelson
In his award-winning book, Daniel James Brown chronicles the boys in the University of Washington’s 1936 eight-man shell and their quest for the national collegiate rowing championship and Olympic gold in Berlin. He tells the story of those boys—sons of loggers, farmers, and shipyard workers during the Depression—and one rower in particular, Joe Rantz, homeless and abandoned as a kid. In this story of survival, commitment, and ultimate victory, Brown shows his readers what is possible when everyone literally pulls together for the good of the boat. The book is based on interviews, the boys’ journals and diaries, photos, and extensive research. For those who love rowing, this book has generated an emotional response and an abundance of memories, but all readers will respect the grit and determination displayed by these young men. Please be prepared to discuss Part One and Part Two in the first class, and Part Three for the second.
Col. Mike McNamara, US Army (Ret.) has degrees in English from Rutgers University and the University of Kansas. He has taught at the college level in Europe, been an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College, and teaches regularly at OLLI. He rowed freshman and varsity eights at Rutgers, and attempted to make the Olympic trials in 1956 in a four-man boat.
Barbara Nelson, an OLLI member, taught for over 30 years at the secondary level, the last 20 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and she has taught a number of literature classes at OLLI. Barbara learned to row at age 53 and coached the freshman boys at TJ for eight years. She continues to row in a double.
F404 Barsetshire 5: Trollope’s Small House at Allington
Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 15–July 20
Six sessions
Instructor: Ellen Moody
Class limit: 25
We will read The Small House at Allington and Trollope’s short story, “The Parson's Daughter at Oxney Colne.” Rumor hath it (she isn’t always treacherous) this ripely mature, psychologically subtle novel is still cited when someone asks, “Which Trollope novel should I read first?” and it’s one that has never fallen out of print. The instructor encourages those who take this course to first watch the 1982 BBC mini-series, The Barchester Chronicles, and, if you can, the 2016 ITV mini-series, Doctor Thorne. Alas, Framley Parsonage (Chronicles of Barsetshire, Book 4) has not yet been filmed, but the novel is available in new Oxford edition.himself resisted including The Small House at Allington in the first publication of the entire Barsetshire series, and we will also discuss how it fits in Trollope’s oeuvre. His great short story about the parson’s daughter will enable us to see the book’s themes more clearly from a different setting. The usual Barsetshire semi-comic resolution in both is derailed entirely, as London’s conflicts between failure and the price of success rip apart the earlier pastoral world—for our uncomfortable contemporary consideration. We will have the delicately beautiful illustrations by John Everett Millais to consider, as well.
Ellen Moody holds a PhD in English from the Graduate Center, City University of New York, and has taught college literature classes for over 40 years. Her specialties include Trollope, Victorian literature, and film studies. Her book Trollope on the Net was chosen by the Trollope Society as its free book for the year 2000; she has since published five papers on Trollope, two of which are film adaptations of his novels.
F405 Inside the Actors Studio: Hollywood Icons
Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, June 16–July 21
Six sessions
Instructor: Michelle Blandburg
On the popular television series “Inside the Actors Studio,” host James Lipton interviewed Hollywood’s top actors, directors, musicians, and comedians. In this class, we will revisit some of the program’s best episodes, including legendary icons Al Pacino, Barbra Streisand, Clint Eastwood, Robert DeNiro, Paul Newman, and Robert Redford. Extras include introductions and previously unseen portions of the original interviews. Join us and enjoy these intelligent, thought-provoking interviews that delve into the artists’ lives, works, and creative processes.
Michelle Blandburg is an OLLI Board member, a movie lover, and an active member of the OLLI Players. She enjoys coordinating Readers Theater, performing in OLLI’s Murder Mysteries, and all things theatrical.
R406 Raising Demons: Children in Jane Austen’s Novels
Thursday, 9:40–11:05, June 30
One session
Instructor: Beth Lambert
The modern reader of Jane Austen may have trouble understanding her 18th century language, certain social practices of the time, or the apparently always formal relationship between the sexes. Yet there is one aspect of her novels that does not need to be explained and can simply be enjoyed: her portrayal of certain human situations that resonate through the centuries. In this category is her description of out-of-control, spoiled children. Through Austen’s artistry, we can see that “some things never change.” But, like all things Jane Austen, these scenes serve a purpose. Using examples from Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park, we will discuss the ways her naughty children reflect the behavior of the adults surrounding them. And let it be said, we will also enjoy her rendition of scenes we have all experienced.
Beth Lambert, an OLLI member, is a retired professor of English at Gettysburg College, where she taught courses on all aspects of 18th century England. At OLLI she teaches some of her favorite subjects (with Jane Austen’s novels ranking high among them), and she loves sharing them with OLLI members.
R407 eBooks and Mobile Devices
Thursday, 9:40–11:05, July 14
One session
Instructor: Mohammed Esslami
You have heard words like eBooks, eAudiobooks and iPads before, but what do they really mean? How can you access and use them? Is this just one more technology wave or are eBooks here to stay? In this course, you will learn about the Fairfax County Public Library system’s free collection of eBooks. The instructor will demonstrate where to access these books, as well as how to search, check out, and download an item. Placing holds on checked-out items and creating a wish list will also be discussed. This course will also include a hands-on demonstration of how to use an iPad and a Kindle. Basic device features will be presented, including how to transfer library eBooks to each device and have them with you wherever you go.
Mohammed Esslami is a graduate of the Catholic University of America’s School of Library and Information Sciences, where he earned his master’s degree. He is currently the branch manager at the George Mason Regional Library, a branch of the Fairfax County Public Library system. He teaches both library staff and the public about the eBooks collection.
R408 Dystopian Film Classics
Monday, 9:40–11:05, June 20
One session
Instructor: Patty Z Means
Class limit: 25
Celebrate sci-fi dystopian classics and their cultural resurgence today in films such as The Hunger Games. We’ll begin with the plot outline of H.G. Wells’ Time Machine and move forward into later film classics that show how American, British, and Australian directors have consistently imagined grim futures for the human race. While the presentation steps through about 40 years of dystopian film, themes, and texts by Orwell and Philip K. Dick, we’ll have time to ponder whether any of the predictions of Soylent Green, Logan's Run, Blade Runner, Fahrenheit 451, and Gattaca are coming to fruition.
Patty Z. Means is a film director and also an associate professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College, George Washington University, and the University of Maryland’s University College.
R409 Highlights of Indian Literature
Monday, 9:40–11:05, July 18
One session
Instructor: Patty Z. Means
Class limit: 25
Recent years have seen new titles of fiction and nonfiction emerging from the South Asian subcontinent of India and Pakistan. Besides the Nobel winners like Tagore, Naipal, and Rushdie, other Indian writers have emerged, heaped with praises from Western critics. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, Interpreter of Maladies by Jumpa Lahiri, and The Song of the Road by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay top the list. How are these authors delighting readers across continents? Join our geographic hop around the Indian subcontinent as we discover its inventive literary stars through lecture, media, and in-class discussion.
See R408 for instructor information.
R410 Literary Roundtable
Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 15–July 20
Reston’s Used Book Shop at Lake Anne
Six sessions
Moderators:Janice Dewire, Carol Henderson
Class limit: 21
This short-story discussion class will continue and complete the stories in The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction, 2nd edition, edited by Lex Williford and Michael Martone. It’s important that registrants obtain the revised and updated second edition published in 2007, available as a Touchstone Books paperback for $16.00 or less. The original 1999 edition (used by this class some years ago) has almost completely different contents. The 50 stories in the 2007 2nd edition were all published by American writers since 1970. Authors to be discussed this term include E. Annie Proulx, George Saunders, Amy Tan, and Steve Yarbrough.
Janice Dewire and Carol Henderson are enthusiastic Literary Roundtable participants and former OLLI Board members who took on the moderator role some years ago for this popular course, one of the longest running in Reston.
R411 Movie Potpourri
Thursdays, 1:45–3:45, June 16–July 7, July 21
Five sessions
Note dates and times
Instructor: Ben Gold
If you love movies and like to watch classics, domestic and foreign, be sure to sign up for this course, where each week we will view old or current films destined to be classics. The instructor will introduce the film and, depending on time constraints, lead a post-viewing discussion. Films are chosen based on their critical recognition and popularity. You’ll enjoy the best in a wide range of films from a variety of genres.
Ben Gold is a bona fide movie junkie. He spends much of his free time watching movies and doesn’t care if they are extremely old ones, the latest popular ones, or the best in foreign films. He’s renowned for his famous quote, “I never met a movie I didn’t like.”
R412 Immigrant and Minority Voices in American Literature
Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, July 7, July 21
Two sessions
Note dates
Instructor: Linda Blair
Class limit: 25
The retelling of similar experiences by divergent writers reiterates a fundamental fact about American literature in general: the expression of American cultural identity emerges from the process of becoming American by subsuming the immigrant self in terms of the cultural other. In Junot Díaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, the protagonist Oscar is not only a physical presence on each page but also an insightful, emotional figure who exemplifies concrete and abstract manifestations of the immigration experience. Within the text, Spanish interrupts English prose, history thrusts itself into Oscar’s narration and into the audience’s consciousness via lengthy footnotes, and the Dominican Republic remains steadfast as the overweening mother country of Oscar and his family. In two sessions we will discuss this exciting novel in terms of current acculturative experiences and compare and contrast inherent conflicts to those underscored in song lyrics from West Side Story.
Linda Blair, a retired Fairfax County high school English teacher, English department chair, and International Baccalaureate Diploma program coordinator, earned her doctorate in American literature at The George Washington University.
L413 Movies from Across the Pond
Wednesdays, 11:30–1:30, June 15–July 20
Six sessions
Note time
Instructor: Martha Powers
English movies seem to have attained a level of excellence few American movies can claim. These great films were produced in England, so we’ll use subtitles to be sure we catch every word. They’ll be shown in the following order:
- Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005): The true story of a woman who bought a theatre and presented all-nude reviews in wartime London. Stars Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, and Christopher Guest.
- Miss Potter (2006): Biography of children’s book author and illustrator Beatrix Potter and her struggle to find success and happiness. Stars Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, and Emily Watson.
- Wilde (2000): Biography of poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, focusing on his homosexuality and relationships. Stars Stephen Fry, Jude Law, and Vanessa Redgrave.
- Mrs. Brown (1997): After the death of her husband, Queen Victoria battles depression with help from her servant, John Brown, leading to a scandalous situation. Cast includes Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, and Geoffrey Palmer.
- The Lion in Winter (1968): In 1183, King Henry II and his queen pit their three sons against each other in the question of who will be the next king. Stars Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn, and Anthony Hopkins.
- Quartet (2012): At a home for retired musicians, plans for the annual concert are disrupted by the arrival of a new resident. Stars Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly, and Pauline Collins.
Martha Powers is an OLLI member who likes to laugh and share fun moments with other OLLI folks.
L414 Reading the Short Story
Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, June 16–July 7
Four sessions
Instructor: Richard Wilan
In this class we will be discussing short stories by Langston Hughes, Kate Chopin, William Faulkner, Joyce Carol Oates, and Ernest Hemingway. We will be exploring ways of reading stories and our differences in interpretation. No book needs to be bought, as we will read stories that are available online.
500 Languages
F501 Intermediate Spanish Conversation, Part 3
Mondays, 9:40–11:05, June 13–June 27, July 18
Four sessions
Note dates
Instructor: Pamela Garcia
This is Part 3 of an intermediate conversation course for people who can converse in Spanish about basic topics in the present tense and are ready to talk about past experiences. The focus of the class will be conversational in nature, with topics that describe people, pastimes, daily routines, health, music, visual arts, shopping, dining out, and travel. The primary purpose of this course is to foster the participants’ increased proficiency in conversational settings by reinforcing basic expressions and vocabulary. Anyone who has a basic grasp of vocabulary in the present tense is welcome. You do not need to have taken Part 1 or Part 2 to enroll in this course.
Pamela Garcia recently retired from teaching all levels of Spanish in Montgomery County Public Schools. She has a BA in Spanish and master’s degrees in bilingual multicultural education and supervision.
600 Religious Studies
F601 God’s Problem: Why Do We Suffer?
Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, June 14–June 28, July 12
Four sessions
Note dates
Fairfax Lord of Life
Instructor: Jack Dalby
Class limit: 20
Regarding the problem of evil, the 18th-century Scottish philosopher David Hume asked, “Is he [God] willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?” In this wide-ranging, four-session seminar, we will grapple with what historian Bart Ehrman calls God’s Problem: If God loves us, then why do we suffer? Topics for discussion include the nature of God and suffering as presented in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and God’s apocalyptic vanquishing of evil, the atoning death of Jesus, Augustine and the concept of original sin, free will, logical problems of evil, theodicy, and much more. The goal of this series is to foster a classroom environment where difficult questions can be asked and the answers debated with curiosity and respect. While not required, a familiarity with Bart Ehrman’s book, God’s Problem, would be beneficial.
Jack Dalby, president of White Oak Communications, is an OLLI member who has taught classes on the historical Jesus, St. Paul, and the first Christians. He holds a BS in communication arts from James Madison University and has taken graduate classes in history at Mason.
F602 What Would Jesus Tweet?
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, June 21
One session
Instructor: Stephen Ruth
A recent article in the MIT Technology Review was titled “How the Internet Is Taking Away America’s Religion.” There are many indications that technological advances are impacting religious practice in today’s era of Twitter, Facebook, cyber bullying, and mega-churches. According to polls, Americans are not nearly as religious as they once were and the question “Is America a Christian nation?” is often debated. Many politically powerful Christians reject Darwinism, believing in the literal interpretation of the creation cycle. What relationship is there between today’s Information and Communications Technology revolution and the practice of religion? This presentation will examine several issues, including biblical references to technology, the impact of social media and blogging on religious practice, the “digital divide” as a measure of social and religious divisions, the Internet as a factor in religious belief, and others.
Professor Stephen Ruth, a long-time OLLI presenter, taught an OLLI course called “Is America a Christian Nation?” and is currently teaching two technology courses in the graduate school of public policy at Mason. This OLLI course will reflect his background as an amateur Bible scholar as well as researcher in the effects of technology. He is the author of the book, One Year Trip Through the Bible: Daily Readings and Reflections: A Layman’s Fresh Perspective on The Complete Old and New Testaments.
F603 Why Judaism Does Not Accept Jesus: The Limits of the Judeo-Christian Tradition
Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, June 15–July 20
Six sessions
Fairfax Lord of Life
Instructor: Steven C. Goldman
Christians worship Jesus as the Messiah promised by the Hebrew Scriptures and as God manifested in the flesh. But no form of Judaism accepts Jesus as Messiah or even as a prophet. In this course, we will explore the principal reasons why all of the diverse manifestations of Judaism are united in the view that Jesus, as described in the New Testament, is not Messiah or prophet, and why the New Testament is not the logical completion or continuation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Although we often speak of a Judeo-Christian tradition in order to find common ground, this course explores the limits of that common ground.
Steven C. Goldman is the chair of OLLI’s Religious Studies Program Planning Group and has taught numerous courses on alternative understandings of Biblical doctrine.
F604 Catholic Social Thought in the Modern Era
Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 29–July 20
Four sessions
Instructor: Gregory Cleva
The beloved Brazilian archbishop, Dom Helder Camara, remarked once that “When I give food to the hungry they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor are hungry, they call me a communist.” It is an unfortunate fact that many Catholics, as well as members of other religions, are unaware of the rich tradition of social teachings and social justice in the Catholic faith. Moreover, the US Catholic Conference of Bishops noted that this lack of understanding weakens the Church’s capacity to be faithful to the demands of the Gospel. This four-session course deals with the social teachings of the Catholic Church in the modern era. The first and second classes will highlight the principal teachings themselves, as well as their historical and scriptural basis. The third and fourth classes will focus on recent emphases in these teachings, particularly the primacy Pope Francis affords to the “preferential option for the poor.” Please join us for this lively and informative discussion. Everyone is most welcome.
Gregory Cleva has a PhD in international politics from The Catholic University of America. He is a retired foreign affairs analyst with the Department of Defense.
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F605 Human and Divine Justice and Forgiveness
Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, June 16–July 21
Six sessions
Instructor: Steven C. Goldman
Class limit: 15
This seminar will explore the scope, meaning, and possible limits of forgiveness. Our principal text will be Simon Wiesenthal’s classic book The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness. Some of the issues for discussion include:
- How do we understand the relationship between justice and forgiveness?
- Do we have the moral authority to forgive or ask forgiveness for offenses committed against others?
- Are some offenses so egregious that they should not be forgiven under any conditions? If so, what are these offenses and how do they differ from those which can be forgiven?
- Does forgiveness include absolution from payment for offenses committed?
- What do the sacred texts of different religious traditions teach about God’s willingness to forgive, and what do they say about the obligations of humans to forgive or withhold forgiveness?
- Each session will begin with a 20-minute introduction by the instructor, followed by a discussion involving all of the participants.
See F603 for instructor information.
R606 The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965)
Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 14–July 5, July 19–July 26
Six sessions
Note dates
Instructor: Martin Walsh
On January 25, 1959, after only three months in office, 77-year-old Pope John XXIII shocked the world, announcing the creation of the Second Vatican Council, the first ecumenical council in almost one hundred years. With the definition of papal infallibility in 1870, there didn’t seem to be a need for a council, yet many agree that Vatican II ranks among the most important religious events in the 20th century. One has only to read its document, “The Church in the Modern World,” to realize how ambitious and visionary Pope John XXIII’s task was, for the Catholic Church had retreated into itself as a fortress in time in the late 19th century. The Council brought together between 2,000 and 2,500 bishops—plus thousands of observers, auditors, nuns, and laity—to four sessions at St. Peter’s Basilica, which were televised worldwide. Eleven documents would be issued by the Council, laying the foundation of the Church today, with reconciliation as a major theme. This course will explore major changes in the liturgy, the relationship of Catholics to their Jewish brothers and sisters (and other religions), and religious liberty. We will also examine where the Church is today and what lies ahead.
Martin Walsh, former Jesuit and retired nonprofit executive, will lead you on a challenging adventure and experience as we examine the Second Vatican Council and why it is so important today.
L607 A History of Bible Translations, or Which Bible is Which?
Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 22–July 13
Four sessions
Instructor: Gilah Goldsmith
The Bible has been translated into over 2,000 languages to date, but some Bibles have more books than others, and some have the books in different orders. Different Bibles also vary in their numbering of chapters and verses. How did we end up with so many variations? This course will explore the nature and evolution of Bible translations.
● June 22: The Hebrew Scriptures in Ancient Times
● June 29: The Greek Bible
● July 6: The Renaissance, the Reformation, and Translation
● July 13: Modern Translations
Gilah Goldsmith, a graduate of Harvard University and George Washington University Law School, is a retired government attorney who for 20 years has led the weekly Torah study group at Beth El Hebrew Congregation.
L608 Meet the Mormons
Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, June 16–July 21
Six sessions
Instructor: Douglas B. Turner
What is a Mormon? What do they believe? Where did they come from? In this course you will meet the Mormons and discover their origins and basic beliefs, and you will explore their sacred texts. We will trace the life and times of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the church, plus key moments in church history from the early 1800s to modern times. Lectures will also cover the Mormons’ beliefs about faith, baptism, death, heaven, resurrection, and eternal life. This course includes discussions about the four sacred texts of the Mormon faith: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price—known to Mormons as “the standard works.” In addition, we’ll examine the purpose and use of Mormon temples, and how they differ from Mormon chapels.
Douglas B. Turner is a bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, otherwise known as Mormons. He led the Herndon, VA, congregation of The Church for almost six years and has held other leadership positions in The Church both before and since. Doug holds an MS in positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and he is a corporate human resources executive, as well as a board member with Shelter House in Fairfax County.
650 Humanities and Social Sciences
F651 Mindfulness and Resilience
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, June 14
One session
Instructor: Mark Thurston
A growing body of scientific research shows that simple, daily mindfulness practices can build capacity for resilience—helping us deal with the stresses and the unpredictability of daily living. In this workshop, you will get a chance to assess your own resilience and learn methods to develop a mindfulness practice that will be meaningful and supportive for you. Although many approaches to mindfulness, meditation, and contemplative practice come from the great faith traditions of the world—both East and West—the approaches we will learn and practice in this workshop are secular. The focus is on building greater “cognitive fitness”—the capacity to focus attention, regulate emotions, solve problems, and experience peace of mind.
Mark Thurston, PhD is a psychologist and author, and director of educational programs at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. He teaches academic courses at Mason on topics such as “Consciousness, Meaning and Life-Purpose,” “Mindful Leadership,” and “Conflict Transformation from the Inside Out.”
F652 Trends in Global Violence: Good News, Bad News, or No News at All?
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, July 19
One session
Instructor: Daniel Rothbart
The world is increasingly dangerous, and we are teetering on the brink of a global catastrophe which will engulf us all in violence—or so one might reasonably believe. Recent media reports have brought world attention to a barrage of violent conflicts, which seem to occur with unprecedented frequency and ferocity. But if we step back from such reports and take a global perspective, a different picture emerges about the trends in violent conflicts. In this presentation we will review the recent findings about these trends as we focus on the causes, character, and consequences of protracted violent conflicts worldwide. We’ll also examine cases of conflict in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Daniel Rothbart is professor of conflict analysis and resolution at Mason’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. He specializes in identity-based conflicts, ethics and conflict, civilians in war, and the Darfur region of Sudan. His academic writings and publications are quite extensive, and he is currently exploring the intersection of power and moral emotions (shame, humiliation, dignity, pride) as a source of protracted conflicts, while seeking solutions for their possible resolution.
F653 Dinétah: Navajo Landscapes, Culture, and Language
Thursday, 11:50–1:15, July 14
One session
Instructor: Tammy Metz
Do you find the story of the World War II code talkers fascinating? Thinking of traveling to the southwest? Just curious about indigenous cultures? This course will offer an introduction to the fascinating world of the Navajo people (Diné). We will take a virtual field trip to the Navajo reservation to learn about Navajo traditions, taboos, clan system, and culture. Content will be presented through pictures, stories, personal anecdotes, maps, artifacts, and videos. Some basic terminology of the Navajo language (Diné Bizaad) will be introduced.
Northern VA native Tammy Metz is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Bryn Mawr College, and most recently the University of Arizona, where she earned a master’s in library and information science. She spent seven years living on the Navajo and Hopi reservations, and is currently a school librarian with Arlington Public Schools.
R654 Presidential Election Polls—2016
Monday, 9:40–11:05, June 13
One session
Instructor: Robert A. Hitlin
We are surrounded by polls in this presidential election year, but do we know how accurate they are? How can we know which are reliable? What are the problems that pollsters have in taking accurate surveys? How do the campaigns use the survey results?
Robert A. Hitlin has a PhD in political science from Vanderbilt University and was a professor of political science at Georgetown University and American University. As president of his own company, he has directed and conducted hundreds of research projects for organizations in private industry, national associations, and governments.
R655 Distance Learning: Pros and Cons
Monday, 11:50–1:15, June 27
One session
Instructor: Stephen Ruth
Today it’s possible for any person with an Internet connection to have free access to hundreds of thousands of lectures by the greatest thinkers in the world on all imaginable topics. And it’s equally easy to have the finest K-12 distance education (DE) tutorials available 24/7 through free online linkages. Sounds almost too good to be true? Maybe. Professor Stephen Ruth has been studying and practicing online education, particularly at the university level, for over a decade. His many grant-supported studies are aimed at learning whether the traditional face-to-face format can be partly replaced by technology. The results are “very complicated,” he says. This presentation will emphasize how to obtain the finest free materials from great universities and many other sources, but there will also be considerable discussion of what could be called the dark side of distance education. Can distance education replace face-to-face instruction? Is DE inherently elitist? Does distance education demand skills for which many students are not trained? Does distance education discriminate along economic, gender or ethnic lines? How good are distance education credits? Nearly one third of all college students and a large number of K-12 students are taking at least one DE course for credit so the subject is definitely significant.
Stephen Ruth, professor of public policy at George Mason University and director of the International Center for Applied Studies in Information Technology, has taught numerous OLLI classes on technology and its effects on the world. He currently teaches technology policy courses to graduate students at Mason using the distance learning format.
R656 Dinétah: Navajo Landscapes, Culture, and Language
Monday, 11:50–1:15, July 18
One session
Instructor: Tammy Metz
This is a repeat of F653.
R657 Federal Aid to Education
Thursday, 9:40–11:05, June 16
One session
Instructor: Glenn Kamber
Until the 1960s, federal funding of public education was quite limited. When it did occur, it was tied to specific purposes, such as extra money for science and math instruction after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957. All changed with the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, a key component of Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. This lecture traces the fundamental change in national educational policy wrought by passage of the ESEA and the continuing ripples of its enactment on contemporary political issues and conflicts. Particular focus will be on the largest part of the ESEA—the Title I program which funds schools with large concentrations of children from low-income families.
Glenn Kamber is an OLLI member and instructor. He has taught a number of courses at Reston over the past four years that focus on current events, as well as political and social issues that affect our lives. He is a retired senior executive from the US Department of Health and Human Services, where he managed policy and program development in the office of eight HHS secretaries.
R658 Iran and Iranian Peoples: Zoroastrianism
Saturday, 9:40–11:05, June 18
One session
Note date
Sheraton Reston Hotel
11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20191
Instructor: Sheda Vasseghi
According to University of London professor Mary Boyce, “Zoroastrianism is the oldest of the revealed credal religions, and it has probably had more influence on mankind, directly and indirectly, than any other single faith… some of its leading doctrines were adopted by Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as well as by a host of Gnostic faiths, while in the East it had some influence on the development of northern Buddhism… Zoroastrianism was already old when it first enters recorded history.” This course will cover the definition of Iran and Iranian peoples before focusing on ancient Iranian reformist Zarathushtra (Zoroaster), who is considered a pioneer in philosophy and the “father of cosmic dualism,” or the battle of good vs. evil.
Sheda Vasseghi is a doctoral candidate and historian specializing in Iran (Persia). She has an MBA and an MA in history. She teaches at Northern Virginia Community College and is a longtime columnist at WorldTribune.com and Freepressers.com. She is an active history blogger on her website www.evakdat.com.
L659 Understanding India
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, June 21
One session
Instructor: Vinod Jain
With over 1.27 billion people, India, the world’s largest democracy, is secular, multi-religious, multicultural, a nuclear power, and has a growing role in global business and world affairs. The social, cultural, political, and economic context of contemporary India has been evolving for over 5,000 years. This session will introduce participants to contemporary India, including up-to-date information on India, India-US relations, India-US business, and the identity and role of India's diaspora in the US.
Vinod Jain taught at US business schools for 20 years before retiring from the University of Maryland in June 2012. Since retirement, he has been a visiting professor in China, India, and Denmark. Early in his career, he worked for many years with multinational enterprises, including Macmillan Publishers, Molins, and Coca-Cola. He has a PhD in strategy and international business from the University of Maryland. He is a member of several scholarly and professional associations and serves on the Maryland/Washington DC District Export Council.
L660 TED Talk Discussion Group
Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 28–July 19
Four sessions
Instructor: Barbara Wilan
Class limit: 20
TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) is a recently established and growing collection of brief recorded talks on a wide range of topics. The speakers are leading figures chosen for their ability to express ideas clearly and succinctly. We will watch and discuss three or four related TED talks each week. The topics will be:
- June 28: Communication
- July 5: Relationships
- July 12: Computers and the Internet
- July 19: Medicine
Barbara Wilan retired as a full-time English teacher at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College and is currently an adjunct there. She has also taught at the University of Maryland and for the University of Maryland’s European Division.
L661 Trends in Global Violence: Good News, Bad News, or No News at All?
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, July 19
One session
Instructor: Daniel Rothbart
This is a videoconference of F652.
L662 International Washington
Wednesday, 11:50–1:15, June 15
One session
Instructor: Vinod Jain
Washington, DC, is a quintessentially international city, with multilateral institutions, embassies, corporations, bilateral chambers of commerce, universities, and think tanks addressing key international issues and policies that reverberate around the nation and the world. This session will focus on the roles of some of these institutions, and the impact they are having in connecting America to the world. It will also introduce the participants to some of the opportunities, often available free of cost, to learn about foreign affairs, national security, international economics, and trade issues in Washington.
See L659 for instructor information.
L663 Globalization: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Thursday, 11:50–1:15, June 23
One session
Instructor: Vinod Jain
Globalization is today’s big reality and a defining issue for the 21st century. It is driven by technology, communication, and transportation networks; the arrival of developing countries on the global stage; multinational enterprises from both developed and developing countries; the actions of governments and multilateral institutions; geopolitics; and much more. These factors have been influential for decades, but their impact today is much greater. There are many kinds of globalization—economic, political, social, and environmental—and many perspectives on globalization, from viewing it as the root of all evil, to seeing it as a solution to many problems the world is facing. This presentation will focus on economic globalization, its evolution through the ages, how it continues to impact us, and what we might expect in the future.
See L659 for instructor information.
L664 Politics and Power: Basic Concepts
Thursday, 11:50–1:15, June 30
One session
Instructor: Jeff Milstein
Just in time for an election year, this class offers an analytic review of the fundamental concepts of politics and power, and how they are exercised. Operational definitions and examples of these basic concepts will be examined from interpersonal to global levels of analysis.
OLLI member Jeff Milstein earned his PhD in political science at Stanford University, and taught on the faculties of Michigan State, Yale, and George Mason universities. He also served as a career civil servant in the federal government for more than 30 years in seven different departments and agencies.
L665 Misleading with Statistics
Thursday, July 14, 9:40–11:05
One session
Instructor: Michael Leavitt
When scientific studies are reported in the media, it is nearly impossible to evaluate whether the findings are justified. We believe the studies and news articles about them because we trust that the scientists and the reporters are correct—but is that a fair assumption? Scientists and reporters often make basic mistakes in interpreting their findings and stories. Correlations are often confused with causality, “statistical significance” is frequently misused, and the randomness needed to perform some experiments is entirely misunderstood. Mike Leavitt will identify key questions to ask when determining whether you should believe those findings.
Michael Leavitt received his PhD from Northwestern University in political science. After teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he came to Washington and worked as director of the computer center at the Brookings Institution, where he was able to help researchers find the most appropriate software and statistics for their economics research, as he also did at the Federal Judicial Center. He retired from the CIA as a senior scientist with primary responsibility for helping technical experts and analysts understand each other.
700 Current Events
R701 All the News That’s Fit to Print
Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, June 16–July 7, July 21
Five sessions
Note dates
Instructor: Glenn Kamber
We live in an age of abundant information from TV, radio, the Internet, magazines, bumper stickers, and newspapers. How should we filter these sources and evaluate information about world events, popular trends, and advances in science, business, sports, and entertainment? In this discussion group, we will look at some of the hot topics of the day. All viewpoints and opinions will be respected, appreciated, and welcomed. As Walter Cronkite once said, “In a democracy agreement is not required, but participation is.”
See R657 for instructor information.
<800 Science, Technology & Health
F801 Those Critters Around Us: Fairfax County Wildlife
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, June 28
One session
Coordinator: Fred Kaiser
Fairfax County is home to a surprisingly diverse range of wildlife species. In this informative session, a Fairfax County wildlife specialist will reveal how our local fauna have adapted to the changing development of this county. We’ll learn about the animals’ opportunistic knack for exploiting a variety of food sources, how they deal with humans, other strong competitors, and an array of disturbances.
Katherine Edwards is a Fairfax County wildlife management specialist who has more than 10 years of experience as a wildlife biologist. She is a certified wildlife biologist and received her master’s in wildlife science and her doctorate in forest resources from Mississippi State University.
F802 The Importance of Trees and Forests of Fairfax County
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, July 12
One session
Instructor: Joan Allen
Trees and forests provide significant social and environmental benefits to our community, and for over 30 years, Fairfax County has been raising awareness about their importance. In this class, a Fairfax County urban forester will discuss how Fairfax County is promoting compatibility between developed and natural communities through science, education, and partnerships. Topics will include vegetation mapping and surveys, development of ordinances and policies for tree preservation, and monitoring and suppression of insect and pest infestations like gypsy moths and fall cankerworms.
Joan Allen is an urban forester for the Fairfax County Urban Forest Management Division. She has worked for Fairfax County for nine years, having earned a BS in environmental forest biology from SUNY and a master’s of natural resources from Virginia Tech.
F803 “Honey, Turn Down the TV!”: A Consumer’s Holistic Guide to Living with Hearing Loss
Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 15–June 22
Two sessions
Instructor: Bonnie O’Leary
This consumer-oriented course provides a holistic approach to hearing loss and the communication challenges it presents. Hearing aids are only part of the solution, since hearing loss can be compounded by problems with the person speaking, the person listening, the environment, and the message. Any one of those components can make the communication outcome dismal. This course will cover the types and causes of hearing loss; the hearing evaluation; how to interpret an audiogram; the differences between an audiologist and a hearing instrument specialist; and the types, styles, and costs of hearing aids. Learn the advantages of assertiveness and effective communication strategies, and the challenges of lip-reading. This course also offers a demonstration of hearing assistive technology such as personal amplifiers, alerting devices, and TV listening systems.
Bonnie O’Leary, a late-deafened adult and certified hearing loss support specialist, is the outreach manager for the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons. For the past 15 years, Bonnie has provided programs for seniors, activities directors, and caregivers at retirement communities, senior centers, churches, libraries, and community centers.
F804 Principles of Information Science
Thursday, 9:40–11:05, June 23
One session
Instructor: Ravi Athale
We are supposed to be in the middle of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, otherwise known as the “Information Age.” Information technology has impacted every aspect of our lives in a profound manner, and every one of us uses information technology products extensively—yet most of us are not aware of basic tenets of information science and technology. This class provides a definition of information, and how it is represented, measured, coded, and exploited. We will track the events that launched the current information age and speculate about where it is headed.
Ravi Athale holds a PhD in electrical engineering from University of California, San Diego, and has taught high school to graduate school, research, and program management in photonics and imaging. He has worked in government, industrial, and academic institutions. In addition to publishing over 60 research papers, he has co-authored a textbook for high school engineering students, and is co-founder of a company that manufactures novelty products based on holograms. He is a recipient of Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.
R805 Navigating Your Ocean of Emotion: Feeling Better from the Inside Out
Mondays, 11:50–1:15, June 13–June 27
Three sessions
Instructor: Debra Dalby
Navigating Your Ocean of Emotion (NOE) is a wellness program that utilizes neurobiology, psychology, and mindfulness approaches to mood management. Many of us manage moods through some effort to control them, only to have these emotions return—sometimes with great intensity. The result is a sense of being out of control, feeling overwhelmed as if drowning in a sea of sensations. With a deeper understanding of our emotions, we can achieve a sense of resilience and empowerment that gives us confidence in our ability to manage our lives. NOE guides participants in:
(1) Exploring the “why” of emotions and how our bodies are the vehicles for expression of emotions;
(2) Understanding the brain science behind emotions; (3) Discovering how mindfulness helps to manage our emotions; (4) Learning useful skills to help ride the “wave” of emotion; and (5) Developing more compassion for yourself and others.
Debra Dalby, LCSW, RTY200 is a therapist in Leesburg, VA ,with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health. Her post-graduate studies include emotionally focused therapy and post-traumatic stress disorder training.
R806 United States Climate Policy under President Obama
Monday, 11:50–1:15, July 18
One session
Instructor: Robert Means
Political constraints make it impossible to enact new federal climate legislation. The course examines how the Obama administration has used the tools available to it under existing legislation, and the limitations and political vulnerabilities of this strategy.
Robert Means teaches courses in climate and energy policy at the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.
R807 Gentle Yoga
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00–12:00, June 7–June 30
Eight sessions
Note dates and time
Reston Community Center, Lake Anne
Instructor: RCC Staff
Class limit: 5
This traditional yoga class is designed for senior adults, and incorporates both stretching and strength postures while focusing on balance. Participants will enjoy increased strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and energy in a gently challenging way. This class incorporates standing poses as well as poses on the floor. Participants should be comfortable getting up and down from the floor. Please bring a blanket, pillow, or beach towel to class. A class fee of $40 is payable to OLLI at the time of registration, and registration for this class is on a first-come, first-served basis. (Refer to page 32 for “add to cart” instructions.) Those registering will also need to complete a Reston Community Center registration/waiver form and take it to class the first day. The form can be found at http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com/docs/default-source/forms/registationformfeb16.pdf?sfvrsn=0. Registration is not final until a completed RCC waiver is received.
R808 Gentle Yoga
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00–12:00, July 12–Aug. 18
Twelve sessions
Note dates and time
Reston Community Center, Lake Anne
Instructor: RCC Staff
Class limit: 5
This class is repeat of R807. A class fee of $60 is payable to OLLI at the time of registration, and registration for this class is on a first-come, first-served basis. (Refer to page 32 for “add to cart” instructions.)
R809 Detecting Soviet Submarines during the Cold War
Tuesday, 9:40–11:05, July 19
One session
Instructor: Michael Flicker
Because of the Soviet Union’s deployment of a world-class submarine fleet during the Cold War, the United States developed and deployed a worldwide acoustic submarine surveillance system to detect and track these submarines. This class will discuss the science and technology associated with this highly complex system. We will discuss the special character of sound propagation in the ocean, ocean noise, submarine noise, antennas, ocean cable systems, and signal processing.
OLLI member Michael Flicker holds a PhD in physics and has had a career with the US Navy in research and development, with 40 years’ experience in surveillance programs.
L810 Cybersecurity: Red Team, Blue Team
Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, June 21–July 5
Three sessions
Instructor: Tom Manteuffel
Anyone who spends time online these days—in other words, almost everyone—is familiar with hacking horror stories: major government agencies, retail networks, financial services, social networks. The number of victims is reaching truly staggering levels. But how exactly does one hack? And more importantly, is there any way to protect ourselves? Or at least to detect when one is being hacked? This course is the product of a career spent defending computer networks, including classified networks, from all levels of threats. While there is no guarantee it will prevent one from becoming a victim, we will at least identify some tools and techniques that can help.
Tom Manteuffel holds a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Chicago and studied graduate computer science at the University of North Carolina. He has spent his career in computer security at Booz Allen, IBM, and elsewhere. He holds several computer security certifications.
L811 Harnessing the Bay of Fundy's Tides
Tuesday, 9:40–11:05, July 12
One session
Instructor: Raoul Drapeau
This is a presentation about the many attempts to exploit the world’s highest tides for electrical power and the problems with doing so.
Raoul Drapeau graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a master's degree in electrical engineering, and most recently worked as principal and co-founder of several high-tech firms in the Washington, DC area.
L812 Exercise is Medicine, Food is Fuel
Tuesday, 11:50–1:15, July 12
One session
Instructor: Wendy Johnson
Explore the ways sound exercise and nutrition habits can support lifelong wellness. We will review current American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for safe and effective exercise and how exercise relates to disease prevention and weight management. Effective weight loss is not achieved by exercise alone. This course will also review current literature on nutrition guidelines for disease prevention and weight management. Topics also include review of current diet plans and books, tips for the grocery store, eating out and in social situations.
Wendy Johnson, MS, RD, has been working within the fitness industry and clinical health promotion since 1994 and is focused on educating others on sound fitness and nutrition for life-long health. She is a cardiac rehabilitation registered dietitian and an exercise physiologist with Inova Loudoun Hospital.
L813 California in Crisis
Tuesday, 9:40–11:05, July 19
One session
Instructor: Raoul Drapeau
California and much of the desert areas of the western US are in the middle of an unprecedented drought that is severely affecting the economy, agriculture, and lifestyle in that large area. We will discuss the history, future, and possible solutions to this crisis.
See L811 for instructor Information.
L814 Container Gardening
Wednesday, 9:40–11:05, June 15
One session
Instructor: Barbara Arnold
This Master Gardener lecture will tell you everything you need to know to plant beautiful, functional, and fun containers. Color schemes, temperature variations, and plant variations will be discussed. You will also learn the benefits of container gardening. What are the right types of containers, potting mix, and fertilizers to use? Which plants should be chosen, and which veggies and herbs are best for container gardening? Last, but not least, we will discuss how to care for your container gardens.
Barbara Arnold has studied horticulture and has volunteered as a master gardener for 17 years, after a career as a human relations executive. She leads a team that grows vegetable plants to sell at the Leesburg Flower and Garden Show in support of the Loudoun County Extension Master Gardeners Association, of which she is a past president. Barbara is also active in their speakers’ bureau and frequently lectures to the public on container gardening.
L815 Chemistry for Those Who Hate or Flunked Chemistry
Thursday, 11:50–1:15, June 23
One session
Instructor: Lorrin R. Garson
Chemistry dramatically impacts our daily lives but, for many, chemistry has a bad reputation. The fact is, chemistry and chemicals can be used for both good and evil. Where would we be today without fuels, drugs, paints, aluminum, or plastics? What does “contains no chemicals” on a cereal box mean? What’s the difference between vitamin C from an orange and vitamin C manufactured in a chemical plant? Which food contains a poison 1,000 to 10,000 times more toxic than cyanide? These and other mysteries will be addressed, with emphasis on why they matter. This course was previously presented at OLLI Tallwood on Feb 4, 2016.
OLLI member Lorrin R. Garson holds an MS and PhD in chemistry from the University of Maine. He retired from the American Chemical Society as chief research scientist in 2004.
900 Other Topics
F901 A Midsummer's Cheese Tasting
Tuesday, 2:15–4:00,28
One session
Fairfax Lord of Life
Instructors: Bob Coffin, Doris Bloch
Class limit: 40
“A cheese may disappoint. It may be dull, it may be naive, it may be oversophisticated. Yet it remains cheese, milk’s leap toward immortality.”(Clifton Fadiman, Any Number Can Play.) This will beupdated, upgraded relook at last summer’s Midsummer Cheeserie. Members will taste pairs of cheeses drawn from at least five categories, with perhaps a spare surprise or two tossed in for good measure. We will consider aged Cheddars; sharp, crumbly blues and crossover blue/Bries; nutty Italian hard cheeses (they’re not just for spaghetti); mellow and smoky Goudas; double- and triple-cream Bries; and maybe something a little extra. Each pairing will be accompanied and enhanced by accoutrements and a bite of bread. In addition to tasting the cheeses, you’ll learn a little about their provenance; what they complement; and some intriguing cooking ideas, such as Gorgonzola, walnuts and cream on pasta—Primo! or Velveeta Fudge—for real. You’ll also hear an odd (or not so odd) story or three. A class fee of $20 to be paid at the time of confirmation of registration will cover the cost of the food. Warning: eat only a light breakfast!
Bob Coffin, an OLLI member, is a retired US Army foreign area officer and Fairfax County high school teacher. For 10 years he taught a quick-and-easy cooking class for alternative high school students. Bob also ran fundraising auctions, donating seven-course dinners served in your home.
Doris Bloch is a food enthusiast and loves to introduce people to new tastes and unusual combinations. She was one of the founders of the OLLI Cooking Club.
R902 Trip Tales
Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, June 14–July 5
Four sessions
Coordinator: Stan Schretter
- June 14: Judy and Stan Schretter offer highlights of trips to Israel. Stan and Judy have traveled to Israel several times and will be returning again in July to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of a grandson.
- June 21: Lee Killen presents a photo safari in Tanzania, game drives in the Tarangira, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti National Parks, plus a visit to a local school and Maasai hamlet. Expect to see lots of lions, leopards, and cheetahs, and the great migration of wildebeests and zebras crossing the Mara River.
- June 28: Ben and Sheila Gold spent spring break in Cuba with George Mason University. This trip was taken shortly before Cuba became more open, and perhaps before the some of uniqueness of the Cuban culture changed due to the large influx of tourists.
- July 5: Jeff Rosendhal speaks about trip beginnings and endings. Possible topics include Bruges, Belgium; Amman and Petra, Jordan; Dublin, Ireland; Madeira, Portugal; and Lucerne, Switzerland.
950 Special Events
951 Constitution/Virginia Declaration of Rights Tour
Friday, 8:30–3:30, June 24
Bus trip
Coordinator: Jeneé Lindner
Event limit: 50
Supporters: Friends of the Historic Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia Historical Society—George Mason University 2016 No. VA Banner Lecture Series and the Friends of the Historic Fairfax Courthouse. We are pleased to announce an all-day bus tour of our own esteemed Fairfax County, VA. Highlights will include:
- Historic Fairfax Courthouse (c. 1800): Early court history to the Civil War.
- Fairfax County Historic Circuit Court Records: George and Martha Washington’s wills, Pohick Colonial Church pew, document signed by George Washington and George Mason, plus other court documents.
- Pohick Colonial Church (c. 1724): George Washington and George Mason worshiped here; historical discussion of American religious liberty.
- Gunston Hall: Home to George Mason, an 18th-century Georgian Mansion, plus VIP house and garden tour.
- Lunch and lecture: A variety of box lunches from Panera will be provided for you to choose from.
Speaker: Gunston Hall’s Executive Director Scott Stroh
Topic: George Mason, Constitution Rights Advocate—Fairfax Resolves (c. 1774),
240th anniversary of the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776), influence upon the US Declaration of Independence (1776),and Bill of Rights (1789
- Workhouse Arts Center (c. 1910): The prison that President Teddy Roosevelt had built as a work site, not an incarceration site; suffragists interned hereThe bus will leave promptly at 8:30 from Fair Oaks Mall parking lot 57, outside the circular road in front of ManTech Corp. Please be on the bus no later than 8:15. The fee of $50, payable to OLLI within one week of enrollment confirmation, includes admission, lunch, bus fare and driver gratuity.
(c. 1917) after picketing in front of President Wilson’s White House.
The bus will leave promptly at 8:30 from Fair Oaks Mall parking lot 57, outside the circular road in front of ManTech Corp. Please be on the bus no later than 8:15. The fee of $50, payable to OLLI within one week of enrollment confirmation, includes admission, lunch, bus fare and driver gratuity.
952 Tour of the Renwick Gallery with Lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill
Monday, 9:30–3:30, June 27
Bus trip
Coordinator: Ann Youngren
Event limit: 30
Do you want to visit the Renwick Gallery in Washington to see the results of its major renovation? Then join us for a docent-led tour of the museum. We’ll visit part of the opening exhibition, WONDER, the Grand Salon (containing a work by Janet Echelman), and the Octagon Room (containing the 3D-print of Hiram Power’s sculpture, Greek Slave and Dale Chihuly’s chandelier). We’ll stroll past the White House to Old Ebbitt Grill, where we will enjoy a private lunch in the Cabinet Room, with a choice of entrees (beverages included). The bus will pick us up at 2:30 to return to Fairfax. This tour involves lots of walking, and the Cabinet Room is not wheelchair accessible.
The bus will leave promptly at 9:30 from Fair Oaks Mall parking lot 57, outside the circular road in front of ManTech Corp. Please be on the bus no later than 9:15. The fee of $77 is payable to OLLI within one week of enrollment confirmation, and includes lunch, bus fare, and driver gratuity.
953 Trip to Glenstone Museum, in Potomac, MD
Friday, 9:00–3:30, July 8
Bus trip
Coordinator: Ann Youngren
Event limit: 30
Glenstone is a private museum founded in 2006 by Mitchell and Emily Rales, as an expression of their passion to integrate art, architecture, and landscape. At the heart of Glenstone is its preeminent collection of post-World War II and contemporary art. Rotating exhibitions are presented in a building designed by Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects. The current exhibition, Light, Space, Facts, features works by minimalist sculptor Fred Sandback (1943–2003), a breathtakingly beautiful expression of the relationship between art and architecture, using simple, store-bought yarn! The museum building is surrounded by outdoor sculptures in a landscape designed by PWP Landscape Architecture. The terrain is uneven and there is quite a bit of walking between sculptures, so you may choose to wait in the museum lobby. Next, the bus will take us to a lovely restaurant, Nantucket Reef, where we will enjoy a light meal with a chocolate ganache brownie and ice cream for dessert. Non-alcoholic beverages are included; wine or beer is a la carte. After lunch, the bus will return us to Fairfax. The bus will leave promptly at 9:00 from Fair Oaks Mall parking lot 57, outside the circular road in front of ManTech Corp. Please be on the bus no later than 8:45. The fee of $64, payable to OLLI within one week of enrollment confirmation, includes admission, lunch, bus fare, and driver gratuity.
954 The Supreme Court
Friday, 10:00–3:30, July 22
Bus trip
Coordinator: Ben Gold
Event limit: 50
Visit the Supreme Court, the most powerful and prestigious judicial institution in the world; attend a lecture in the courtroom; view an interesting short film of interviews with the current sitting justices; and tour areas of the building not seen by the general public. Lunch will be on your own in the Supreme Court cafeteria. The bus will leave promptly at 10:00 from Fair Oaks Mall parking lot 57, outside the circular road in front of ManTech Corp. Please be at the bus no later than 9:45. The fee of $21, payable to OLLI within one week of notification of acceptance, covers bus fare, and driver gratuity. There will be a three-block walk to the Court from the bus discharge point. Please do not sign up if you’ve already had the opportunity to attend in the past. Enroll for this event using the “Add to Cart” button. All who sign up will initially be placed on a waitlist so staff can manage enrollment, giving preference to those who have been waitlisted previously. You will be contacted after June 1st if you are eligible for the class, and you will be asked for payment at that time to complete enrollment.
955 An Overnight Visit to Staunton and the Blackfriars Playhouse (Double Occupancy)
Saturday–Sunday, July 23–July 24
Carpool
Coordinators: Barbara and Richard Lanterman
Staunton is home to the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse, a re-creation of Elizabethan London’s most famous theater. We’ll stay overnight at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center, in Staunton’s historic district, and within walking distance of interesting galleries, antique stores, artisan shops, and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum. The theater is adjacent to the hotel. Our package includes overnight accommodations, breakfast at the hotel’s 24 Market Room, overnight parking, and tickets to two performances at the Blackfriars Playhouse: Twelfth Night on Saturday night; and the rock opera, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, on Sunday afternoon. All other meals will be on your own. The double occupancy package includes accommodations and tickets for two. Only one roommate should register and pay for this event. You will be prompted to enter the name of your roommate when making the request online. If completing a paper form, please note the name of your roommate. The double occupancy package costs $312 for two, inclusive of tax and service fees, payable to OLLI within one week of notification of acceptance.
956 An Overnight Visit to Staunton and the Blackfriars Playhouse (Single Occupancy)
Saturday–Sunday, July 23–July 24
Carpool
Coordinators: Barbara and Richard Lanterman
The package for single occupancy offers the same features as 955. The single-occupancy package costs $234 for one person, inclusive of tax and service fees, payable to OLLI within one week of notification of acceptance.
1001BT Stormy Weather
Thursday, 10:00–12:00, June 2
One session
Loudoun
Instructor: Marianne Metz
This breakthrough 1943 movie is packed with musical performances, showcasing the talents of Bill Robinson, Fats Waller, Cab Calloway and his band, Katherine Dunham and her dance troupe, the Nicholas Brothers, and young Lena Horne (who sings the title song). Its musical numbers (15 of them!) are indeed extraordinary. As The New York Times reviewer wrote upon the film's initial release, “Stormy Weather is a spirited divertissement that will make you forget your own momentary weather troubles.” We can go out to lunch after the movie, if you like.
OLLI member Marianne Metz, presenter of this film screening, treasures the music and performers of the mid-20th century. In previous OLLI classes she has shared her enthusiasm for Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Alice Faye, and classic American songwriters.
1002BT Grab 'n' Gab Coffee Klatch
Friday, 9:30–10:45, June 3
Tallwood Social Annex
Coordinator: Martha Powers
Event limit: 30
After weeks without OLLI classes, it’s time to see your friends again. Grab a free cup o’ joe and a fistful of cookies in the Social Room, and join us in the Social Annex for casual conversation and camaraderie.
1003BT How to Succeed as a Liaison without Really Trying
Friday, 11:00–12:30, June 10
Tallwood
Coordinator: Jim Dunphy
Are you an OLLI member instructor or a curious OLLI member who might want to be a liaison? Then this session is for you! We’ll talk about aspects of liaising that are not so obvious, as well as ways to optimize the announcement reading, plus we’ll discuss unexpected situations. Liaisons help make our classes the best they can be, and they give our non-OLLI-member presenters a warm welcome and a helping hand. Please join us for a participative discussion about how to be a great liaison.
1101 Kids ‘n’ Critters: Invite Your Grandchildren to Visit OLLI
Monday, July 11, 1:00–3:00
Note time
Tallwood
Coordinator: Martha Powers
Event limit: 87
Bring your grandchildren to Tallwood for a fun, educational afternoon. We’ll have an informative presentation about guinea pigs by OLLI member and instructor Steve Goldman, who will introduce the class to his furry family members. A small collection of animals from the Fairfax County Animal Shelter will also be on hand, accompanied by a shelter spokesperson. We hope to have a service dog (such as a therapy dog) and a police dog demonstration. We’ll learn about Operation Happy Sock, and we’ll make Happy Sock catnip toys for homeless cats in our area. Light refreshments will be available. Due to limited seating, both OLLI members and their grandchildren must register for this event; however, a grandchild is not required for admission! You will be prompted to enter the names and ages of your grandchildren when making the request online. If completing a paper form, please indicate grandchildren’s names and ages. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
1102 Christmas in July Party and Bake Sale
Tallwood (TA-1 and Social Annex)
Friday, July 15, 1:00—3:00
Coordinator: Martha Powers
We can have an ice cream social in February, so why not Christmas in July? No matter how hot it is outside, we’re going to have a cool time with entertainment and lots of surprises. We’ll have a bake sale in the Annex at 1 PM—your chance to buy homemade goodies. (Proceeds will benefit OLLI’s 25th anniversary gift to the Mason Office of Military Services.) After noshing and socializing, we’ll enjoy a showcase of skits—all written by OLLI member playwrights and performed by members of the OLLI Players. And if you love to laugh, you’ll split your seams when we view Johnny Carson’s “Animal Hijinks,” a 25-minute video of clips from The Tonight Show. Our MC for this event is Saint Nick himself, so be good for goodness sake!
Space is limited so sign up now—this is a first-come, first-served event.
Ongoing Activites
Book Club
Second Mondays
June 13, July 11, 10:00–11:30
Second Wednesday, Sept. 14, 10:00–11:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Ceda McGrew 703-323-9671
Our selection for June 13 is I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. On July 11, we plan to read A House of My Own by Sandra Cisneros, and the selection for September 14 is Wild Ones by John Mooallem.
Bridge Club
Mondays
June 6–June 27, July 11–July 18, 10:00–12:00
Tallwood
July 25, Aug. 15–Aug. 29, 10:00–12:00
Fairfax Lord of Life
Sept.–May, Wednesdays
Coordinators: Susanne Zumbro 703-569-2750
Gordon Canyock 703-425-4607
Drop in and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of “party bridge.” Skill levels vary from advanced beginner to aspiring expert. Partnerships are rotated every four hands. The Bridge Club meets in the morning between terms and in the afternoon during the term. For details on the Club's rules and bidding system, see its web page on the OLLI website.
Cooking Club
Monthly dates to be determined
Tallwood
Coordinator: Ute Christoph-Hill utehill@cox.net
This is a club for OLLI members who enjoy preparing food and sharing hands-on, homemade dishes in a small-group setting. We meet during the day, sometimes in members’ homes and other times at Tallwood or alternative sites. We often have a theme for our meetings, but our format is flexible. We also participate in food-related events, such as ethnic cooking demonstrations and restaurant outings. If these activities appeal to you, please contact Ute for more information.
Cottage Art
Tuesdays
May 17–June 7, 9:30–12:00, Tallwood
Aug. 16–Sept. 13, Fairfax Lord of Life
Coordinator: Sue Goldstein ms.goldstein@verizon.net
All artists, whether you use pencil, ink, pastels, charcoal, or paint, are welcome to finish or to start pictures. The group consists of OLLI members at all skill levels. Join us!
Craft and Conversation Group
Fridays, May 20–July 22, 10:00–11:30
Tallwood
July 29, Aug. 19–Sept. 9, 10:00–11:30
Fairfax Lord of Life
Coordinators: Doris Bloch 703-591-3344
Pam Cooper-Smuzynski 703-455-2716
We meet weekly to work on our needlecraft projects and to share product sources, expertise, and inspiration. Our ongoing conversations encourage camaraderie and a group setting motivates us to progress with our current projects. Interested OLLI members are invited to join us to see what we are creating. For more information, contact Doris Bloch at dbloch50@hotmail.com or Pam Cooper-Smuzynski at pamcs2@verizon.net.
History Club
First Wednesdays
Tallwood
Coordinator: Beth Lambert 703-624-6356
This group doesn’t meet in the summer, so the next meeting will be October 5. We welcome OLLI members who are interested in discussing historical events or sharing reviews of articles, books, or other interesting historical topics. Our meetings feature speakers who present on historical topics ranging from the Silk Road through the present crises in the Middle East—and everything in between. The club maintains a list of books reviewed by members at www.olli.gmu.edu/historyclubbooklist.pdf. To receive emails about History Club meetings, contact Beth Lambert at elizabethlambert7@gmail.com
Homer, etc.
Fridays
May 20–July 22, 11:00–12:30
Tallwood
July 29, Aug. 19–Sept. 9, 11:00–12:30
Fairfax Lord of Life
Coordinator: Jan Bohall 703-273-1146
Join us to read aloud a traditional or contemporary classic. We are currently reading Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. An extra copy of the book is available. Drop in at the Tallwood Annex any Friday morning—new members are always welcome. For more information email Jan Bohall at jbohall@verizon.net.
Mah Jongg Club
First and Third Mondays June 1, June 15, July 6, July 20, Aug. 17, 10:00–12:00 (No meeting on Aug. 3)
Tallwood
Coordinator: Liz Bateman concordiaerb@verizon.net
We welcome all members who want to learn mah jongg or already know how to play. Stretch your mind and have fun with a game that is (maybe) easier than bridge, but definitely challenging! For more information, contact Liz or visit the Mah Jongg Club blog.
Memoir—and More—Writing Group
Weekly
Tallwood
Coordinator: Betty Smith
We meet each week, usually on Wednesday at or near Tallwood, except during the fall and spring terms when Dianne Hennesey King’s Memoir Writing class is in session. Our focus is memoir, but we also include fiction, poetry, and personal essay. Please contact Betty Smith for more information.
Personal Computer User Group
Generally third Saturdays
June 18, July 16, Sept. 17, 1:00, Tallwood
Aug. 20, 1:00, Fairfax County Government Center, Conference Center Room 2/3, 12000 Government Center. Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035
Coordinator:Mel Goldfarb mgoldfarb5@gmail.com
In partnership with the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society, the OLLI PC User Group focuses on Windows and Mac computers and software for enhancing our lives. Members and presenters also discuss smartphone and tablet apps across Android and iDevices, the Internet, digital photography, related technology, and open-source software. Our aim is to bring broad expertise about technology and topics of interest to attendees. PC clinics for members are offered twice yearly. Our target audience encompasses all computer users, from complete beginners, to intermediate amateurs, to experts. Our motto is “users helping users.” Club dues (currently $5 per year) are payable at the first meeting attended in each calendar year. Dues-paid members can view monthly sessions online via the Zoom cloud meeting service on a variety of devices from home or anywhere with an Internet connection. More details are available on the group's website, www.olligmu.org/~opcug.August 20 event information or to request special accommodations call Paul Howard, 703-860-9246. Please allow two working days in advance of the event to make the necessary arrangements.
Photography Club
Second Fridays
June 10, July 8, 9:30–11:30, Tallwood
Sept. 9, 9:30–11:30, Fairfax Lord of Life
Fourth Fridays
May 27, June 24, July 22, 12:00–2:00, Tallwood
Aug. 26, 12:00–2:00, Fairfax Lord of Life
Coordinators: Angie Talaber talaber@comcast.net
Dave Talaber talaber@comcast.net
Meet with experts and others interested in photography and develop skills by participating in monthly themed photo submissions. The Photography Club welcomes all members, whether they use a basic camera or specialized equipment, and whether they are novice or experienced photographers. We discuss technical aspects of photography, as well as the artistic aspects of visual design. Guest speakers present on the second Friday of each month, and on the fourth Friday workshops will cover specific topics in detail. We also regularly plan field trips in the local area. Contact Angie or Dave Talaber for further information.
Recorder Consort
Fridays June 5–June 26, July10–July 31, Aug. 21–Sept. 18, 9:00–11:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Helen Ackerman
If you have been part of the consort or have previously played the recorder and would like to expand your abilities, join us on Fridays. There will be some on- and off-campus performances and music may need to be purchased.
Religious Studies Club
Second and fourth Fridays
May 27, Jun. 10, June 24, July 8, July 22, 12:00–2:00 Tallwood
Aug. 26, Sept. 9, 12:00–2:00, Fairfax Lord of Life
Coordinator: Steven C. Goldman
This club is designed to provide a forum for ongoing discussions and explorations of a wide range of religious studies topics. All OLLI members with an interest are welcome, including those of any faith traditions as well as seekers, secular humanists, agnostics, and atheists. The participants will shape the club’s agenda, format, and focus. No topic is too controversial or off-limits for discussion. Some of the topics to be explored will include the following:
- What principles do religions hold in common and where are the differences?
- Are some actions inherently good or evil—or does it depend on the situation?
- How does one identify a “sacred text”?
Spanish Club
Second and fourth Wednesdays (in term)
Second and fourth Tuesdays (out of term)
May 24, 10:00–11:30
Tallwood
Coordinators: Dick Cheadle dbcheadle@verizon.net
Lois Lightfoot lelghtft@outlook.com
This is a relatively new club designed for those who are at the intermediate stage in understanding and speaking Spanish—further along than 1-2-3 and A-B-C, but not fluent. The club member leading a particular class will choose the subject and prepare the lesson for that class. Members will not have to participate beyond their comfort level. This club will not meet during the summer term.
Tai Chi Club
Saturdays
May 14–July 23, 10:30–11:30, Tallwood
Aug. 20–Sept. 10, 10:30–11:30, Fairfax Lord of Life
Coordinators: Russell Stone 703-323-4428
Susanne Zumbro 703-569-2750
The Tai Chi Club meets every Saturday, year ‘round. It is open to all OLLI members.
Theater Lovers' Group
Coordinators: Norma Reck, Nancy Scheeler
The Theater Lovers' Group (TLG)aims to provide OLLI members with opportunities to increase their understanding and knowledge of our local theater scene and the people who make it possible by:
(1) attending/discussing theater performances, (2) hosting pertinent theatrical persons to speak at our monthly meetings; and (3) pursuingas expressed by TLG members themselves. Be sure to sign up for TLG when registering for regular classes/special events, and use the Add to Cart feature. This will ensure you receive TLG emails regarding meeting dates and other TLG activities and events.
The Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Wednesdays
May 18–Jun. 15, 10:30–12:00, Tallwood
July 27, Aug. 17–Sept. 7, Fairfax Lord of Life
Moderator: Al Smuzynski
For activity description see course F202.
Travel Club
Fourth Fridays
June 24, 9:00; July 22, 9:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: vacant
This club welcomes any and all who are interested in domestic or international travel. OLLI members have a vast wealth of experience in both traveling and living in other parts of the United States and the world. Come share your experiences and learn from others. We try to identify common interests so that members can plan to travel together, and we occasionally organize local trips by carpool to sites within a driving distance of 60 to 90 minutes. These local trips typically include visits to historic homes and museums.
Walking Group
Weekly
Tallwood/Fairfax Swimming Pool Parking Lot
Coordinator: Ute Christoph-Hill
When OLLI is in session, the Walking Group meets one morning each week, generally an hour before the first morning class. We gather in the Fairfax pool parking lot next to Tallwood and walk for about 45 minutes, arriving back at Tallwood in time for the start of classes. All levels of walking ability and speed are accommodated, since our goal is camaraderie as well as exercise. The day of the week is determined by our schedules and the weather, so it may change from week to week. Between terms we continue to walk on a weekly basis, but for longer distances and at more varied locations. Contact Ute Christoph-Hill for more information.
What’s in the Daily News? Continued
Mondays
May 16–June 13, 10:00–11:30, Tallwood
Aug. 15–Sept. 12, 10:00–11:30, Fairfax Lord of Life
Facilitator: Don Allen 703-830-3060
This is the between-term continuation of the discussion group for news junkies who can't wait to express their opinions and discuss current events. It's a small group and the facilitator expects it to be self-moderating.