Winter 2014 Catalog

  Winter 2014 Catalog   (January 20 - February 14)

Below is a list of the courses, special events and ongoing Winter 2014 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 Winter 2014 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.

100Art and Music F101 Visual thinking F102 Understanding Opera, Part 2 F103 The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Cults in Rome F104 Bedside Singing F105 Watercolor Painting R106 The Ongoing Pleasure of Music L107 Drawing 200 Economics & Finance F201 Tax Preparation Simplified F202 The Tom Crooker Investment Forum F203 Retired with Questions L204 Aging on Your Own Terms 300 History & International Studies F301 How a Few Overlooked Technologies Changed History F302 Civil War Potpourri: Part II F303 Russia Study Group F304 National Park Ranger Potpourri VI F305 W.W. II: German Battleships and Birth of the Atomic Age F306 On the Road to Wounded Knee F307 A Clash of Empires: Europe and the New World R308 The Battle of Britain L309 Engineers of Victory in World War II, Part 2 L310 Civil War Naval Actions and the Rules of War 400 Literature, Theater & Writing F401 Readers' Theater F402 Poetry Workshop F403 Chinua Achebe's African Trilogy F404 Four by Four F405 Let's Read: Louise Erdrich F406 Haiku for Fun F407 From Page to Stage R408 Telescoping Time R409 Milton's Paradise Lost R410 Four by Four R411 Literary Roundtable R412 The Story of Gilgamesh L413 Books! Books! Books! L414 Memoir Writing L415 Discovering India Through Its Emerging Novelists L416 Writers’ Workshop: Writing the Mind Alive L417 Readers’ Theater in Loudoun L418 Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra L419 Masters of Science Fiction: the Golden Age L420 Vanity Fair 500 Languages F501 Basic Spoken Spanish F502 Spanish Conversational Forum F503 Basic Latin I (continued) R504 Basic Beginning Spanish 600 Religious Studies F601 The Jesus of History F602 Jewish and Christian Religious Philosophers F603 The Evolution of the Haggadah and the Passover Seder F604 Topics in Religion R605 Basics of Islam L606 Jewish and Christian Religious Philosphers

650 Humanities and Social Sciences F651 Tribal Cultures of Afghanistan and Central Asia F652 OLLIgopoly: Trivia for Fun R653 Genealogy: 1850-1920 R654 The CIA and the 1954 Guatemalan Coup R655 OLLIgopoly: Trivia for Fun R656 Is America a Christian Nation? R657 A Century of Genocide 700 Current Events F701 What’s in the Daily News? F702 Why Congress Isn't Working F703 Politics in the 2014 Midterm Elections R704 All the News That's Fit to Print R705 Challenges in Journalism Today 800 Science, Technology & Health F801 Corona, Gambit and Hexagon F802 Sustainable Living F803 iPad for Beginners F804 Beginner Chen-Style Tai Chi R805 History of Life on Earth, Part II R806 IPad: Part 3 R807 How to Look and Feel Younger L808 iPad Basics and Beyond L809 Climate Change L810 Our Industrialized Food Products 900 Other Topics F901 Comfort Foods III Special Events 951 Astronomy and the Social Concept of Time 952 Final Chapter? The Future of the Book 953 Circle of Treason 954 What Makes Classical Music Funny? 955 Genuin or Counterfeit? Become an Educated Consumer 956 Once Upon a Time: With a Twist! 957 The Role of Physical Therapy in Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis 958 Field Trip to Observatory Park Cancelled -959 The Sinai Peninsula 960 Yoga for Boomers and Beyond 961 What Makes Us Laugh, and Why? 962 Muffin Mania 963 A Violin Recital 964 Dancing in the Street: The Politics of Motown Music 965 Poems That Tickle Your Fancy (or Whatever) 966 Bus Trip to Las Vegas and Southwestern Utah Parks Ongoing Activities Book Club Bridge Club Classic Fiction Book Club Cooking Club Craft and Conversation Group German Club History Club Homer, etc. iPad Users Group Knitting and Needlework Club Mah Jongg Club Memoir Writing Group Personal Computer User Group Photography Club Recorder Consort Tai Chi Club The Tom Crooker Investment Forum Travel Club Ulysses Book Club Walking Group What’s in the Daily News? Continued

100 Art and Music

F101 Visual Thinking

Mondays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Dan Feighery
Class limit: 20
At each session attendees will consider what an assigned word brings to mind and try to convey that thought in a photograph. For example, for the word “blue” we might think of happiness under a brightly colored sky, or feeling sad. “Silver” may bring to mind the light of a silvery moon or flatware. Attendees should try to interpret their thoughts or feelings about the assigned word in photographs that they will bring to class (on a thumb drive) to share and discuss. (Note: This course will not address how to use your camera.)
Dan Feighery is a retired Air Force officer who has attended photography courses at Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason. He founded the OLLI Photography Club and has taught OLLI photography classes.

F102  Understanding Opera, Part 2

Mondays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Glenn Winters
This course, recommended for beginners and aficionados alike, concludes the survey of Virginia Opera’s main stage productions for the 2013-2014 season at George Mason. Operas to be discussed include Richard Strauss’s whimsical comedy Ariadne auf Naxos and George Bizet’s classic tragedy Carmen. Students will receive comprehensive musical and dramatic analyses of each work, accompanied by audio and video excerpts.
Glenn Winters has been Virginia Opera’s community outreach musical director since 2004 and addresses thousands of Virginians each year for the adult education program Operation Opera. He is the author of The Opera Zoo: Singers, Composers and Other Primates andhas composed two operas commissioned by Virginia Opera. Winters holds a DM degree from Northwestern University.

F103 The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Cults in Rome

Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Instructor: Stephanie Grimes
Ancient Rome is often perceived as the quintessential ancestor of Western society. Its history spans centuries of expansion and the conquering and cultivation of foreign lands. An aspect often overlooked in Rome’s history is how its society adapted to foreign cultures and concepts, specifically religion. This course will examine religious cults, both foreign and native to the Romans, and how Roman society incorporated other religions and practices into its established belief system through art, burial practices and literature. Each class will focus on a specific religious cult, its origin, beliefs and practices. The class will be presented with a number of archaeological and art examples to illustrate how Rome accepted, and at times reinterpreted, the cult’s beliefs. The overarching question throughout the course will be: What aspects of a religious cult were adopted throughout the Roman Empire and into modern Western society?
Stephanie Grimes recently received her MA in art history at George Mason. She specializes in classical art and archaeology with an emphasis on Roman expansion into Hellenized eastern territories. Stephanie has participated in numerous archaeological digs and site visits across the Mediterranean in Macedonia, Greece, Italy and Spain.

F104  Bedside Singing

Thursdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Messiah United Methodist Church, 6215 Rolling Road, Springfield, Room 203
Coordinator: Maury Crallé                       571-216-2900
This class is intended to develop a style of quiet, a cappella group singing that could be used to bring comfort at the bedside of an ill person. The class will meet each week but will not perform outside the classroom during this term. Participants should have previously sung in a group. Sheet music will be provided from two different songbooks, Angels Hovering Around and Canaanland Classics, which will be used to develop an initial common repertoire. In this way, whoever might be available on the day of an actual performance will know the songs and can fit into an ad hoc bedside group. We will practice with Dr. Robert Rudolph, a trained musical director. This course is not for beginners.
Maury Crallé, a former hospice volunteer, has sung in barbershop groups and church choirs for several years.

F105  Watercolor Painting

Thursdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Leonard Justinian
Class Limit: 15
This class will provide an opportunity for watercolor painters at all levels to develop fresh skills while learning new watercolor techniques. Materials required include: #1, #6 and/or #8 round watercolor brushes; a paint palette for mixing colors; watercolor paper, 140 lb. cold press (Arches is best but you can use less expensive paper); a kneaded eraser; a Staedtler white plastic eraser; tubes of watercolor paint in white, charcoal black, cadmium yellow (medium), cadmium red (medium) and ultramarine blue, or a starter set of watercolors.
Leonard Justinian has been painting for more than 60 years. Among other honors, he has received the coveted Grumbacher Award. He teaches watercolor painting in his Fairfax City studio and is also seen on Fairfax Public Access Cable TV, Cox Cable Channel 10 and Verizon FiOS Channel 10.

R106  The Ongoing Pleasures of Music

Mondays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
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 help of DVDs and YouTube. You may sample the wide variety of last term’s musical offerings by searching for Gloria Sussman on YouTube.
Gloria Sussman has been teaching at OLLI since 2000 and continues to provide entertaining programs for OLLI at Reston.

L107  Drawing

Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Sigrid Blalock
This class will include basic techniques: gesture, contour and drawings to show weight and volume. Subjects will include figures in motion, still-life objects, portraits and landscapes. Materials needed: drawing pencils #2H, 2B, HB; drawing pens with permanent black ink; 3-4 fine-line markers in red, green, blue and black; one pad white drawing paper 9”x 12”; one pad white Bristol board, 9”x 12”; kneaded rubber and white plastic erasers and a plastic sheet to cover work space.
Sigrid Blalock, an instructor of drawing and painting, has degrees from Syracuse University and American University. Her teaching experience includes several years with OLLI and the Smithsonian Associates.

200 Economics & Finance

F201  Tax Preparation Simplified

Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Coordinator: Leo Brennan
This series of lectures is intended to ease the preparation of your income tax returns.
● Jan. 21: A Review of Federal Tax Laws with an Emphasis on Senior-related Issues. Thomas Loftus is the tax training specialist for AARP Tax-Aide, Virginia. He will focus on the preparation of federal income tax returns.
● Jan. 28: A Review of Virginia Tax Laws for Senior Consideration. Thomas Loftus will build on the previous lecture, describing the requirements of Virginia tax laws in preparing federal and state tax returns, and using the content and organization of your “shoebox” to help prepare your returns.
● Feb. 4: A Chat with a Tax Preparer. John Woods, Derek Cundill and Barry DeMaio, experienced tax preparers, will lead a panel discussion on issues, experiences and expenses involved in using tax preparation services. This discussion will include planning suggestions for working with a tax preparer and the code of ethics required of preparers when assisting customers.
● Feb. 11: What You Always Wanted to Know about Your Taxes but Were Afraid to Ask. Linda de Marlor, who teaches tax law to real estate and educational institutions, will give a short presentation on issues that affect most seniors and then open the session to questions on real estate, legal and financial issues. Linda, who has appeared on hundreds of TV and radio shows, is returning to OLLI for her eighth season.

F202  The Tom Crooker Investment Forum

Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
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 an open discussion of recent events in the economy and financial markets and their impact on investment decisions. Member presentations typically include such topics as recent market indicators, stocks, bonds, funds (mutual, exchange-traded and closed-end), REITS, options, commodities, master limited partnerships, sectors, allocations and investment strategies. We use analyses and data from the financial press. The forum website http://www.olligmu.org/~finforum/ includes agendas and articles of interest submitted by members.
Al Smuzynski, a retired bank regulator and an advocate of affordable housing, currently serves on the boards of Virginia Community Capital and Community Capital Bank of Virginia.

F203  Retired with Questions

Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Coordinator: Leo Brennan
As seniors look through the kaleidoscope of life, we find our world constantly changing. That said, we hunger to know what others are doing in similar situations. This open forum, an outgrowth of Investment Forum and other OLLI classes, is designed to address the concerns of seniors regarding a wide range of retirement issues. We will assemble a panel of experienced investors, including: Al Smuzynski, Investment Forum moderator; Lou Coglianese, Investment Forum member; Mike May, seniors’ financial planner and Helen Flynn, seniors’ real estate expert, to provide answers to member questions through friendly discussions. Topics to be discussed may include: making your money last, annuities, fixed income, asset allocations, management of IRAs, staying in your home, downsizing and moving to a new location.
● Jan. 23: Class members will identify their areas of concern.
● Jan. 30–Feb. 13: Panel members will address member concerns.

 

L204  Aging on Your Own Terms

Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Moderator: Megan Descutner
The playbook for aging on your own terms provides valuable information and resources for seniors about health, legal and money matters and living options that can help you make decisions that will affect the rest of your life. Megan Descutner, a geriatric care manager for Golden Pond ElderCare Strategies, will moderate a panel of experts that includes: Steve Simmons, MD of DocTalkers; Valerie Geiger of The Geiger Firm; Susan Ballenger, director of marketing and admissions for Spring Arbor of Leesburg; Anne Blackstone, a physical therapist and coordinator of the Inova Loudoun Hospital Outpatient Clinic and Kate DeWitt, professional daily money manager for Mom Personal Money Matters. The presenters will use case studies based on actual situations and questions will be welcomed. The fourth session, to be presented by Dr. Simmons, will focus on the health conditions that most often contribute to the need for assistance and services, including what you need to know about dealing with dementia.

300 History & International Studies

F301  How a Few Overlooked Technologies Changed History

Mondays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: William Reader
This course will deliver a brief historical overview of a few generally overlooked or taken-for-granted technologies, such as eyeglasses, clocks, typewriters, air conditioning and contraceptive pills, and show how they changed history. There will also be a surprise technology or two.
William Reader has a PhD in American social history from the University of Massachusetts. He retired in February 2008 after 37 years with the federal government and has since taught a number of history-based OLLI courses.

F302  Civil War Potpourri: Part II

Mondays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Patrick McGinty
This class will focus on irregular warfare and terrorism before and during the Civil War. We will begin by examining prewar events in “Bleeding Kansas,” followed by John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry. Our wartime discussion will center on William Quantrill, “Bloody Bill” Anderson and the massacres at Fort Pillow and Sand Creek. We will pause briefly to ask the question: What were the rules of warfare at this time? (The answer may surprise you.) We then switch our focus to political assassinations (both successful and unsuccessful), chemical and biological warfare, arson and sabotage. This course differs significantly from the Civil War Potpourri course offered during the fall 2012 term; therefore, attendance at the previous course is not required for this one.
Patrick McGinty, an OLLI member, is a retired naval officer with an MA and PhD from Georgetown University. He taught history courses for University of Maryland University College from 1989 to 2007, where his primary areas of concentration were the histories of terrorism, violence and substance abuse in America.

F303  Russia Study Group

Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Moderator: Gordon Canyock
Class limit: 30
Russia continues to play a major role in international affairs, often as a thorn in the side of its neighbors and the U.S. This enigmatic nation wields considerable economic power in Europe and Central Asia and retains a huge nuclear arsenal. This seminar will examine various aspects of contemporary Russia, including the rise of a disaffected urban middle class, Putin’s appeals to traditional Russian nationalism, its foreign policy goals and the prospects for the modernization and reform of both its economy and its military. Each week short articles or website references will be emailed to the class in order to prepare for discussions that will follow brief lectures.
Gordon Canyock is a long-time OLLI member with an MA in Soviet Area Studies from the University of Kansas. He served as the commandant of the U.S. Army Russian Institute and as military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. He later worked in Russia for the State Department as a special assistant for humanitarian aid.

F304  National Park Ranger Potpourri VI

Tuesdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Jewish Community Center
Coordinators: Michael T. Kelly, Emmett Fenlon
It’s back for Round 6! Due to the level of interest raised by the “potpourri” concept during the 2009-2013 winter terms, the National Park Service proudly offers four new “mystery” topics. We hope to explore fascinating stories and personalities that most people rarely, if ever, associate with either Washington, D.C. or the repertoire of National Mall park rangers. If you desire to learn more about obscure local connections to our national heritage, then join us for a fascinating journey of discovery.
National Park Service rangers have participated with OLLI in over 75 thematic courses, special events and trips since 2001.

F305  W.W. II: German Battleships and Birth of the Atomic Age

Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 22–Feb. 5
Three sessions
Instructor: Alan McKie
● Jan. 22: The Graf Spee. One of Hitler’s secret weapons, prowling the South Atlantic at the outbreak of World War II, this technically advanced “pocket battleship” wreaked havoc with ships supplying Great Britain with much-needed food from South America. It took eight British battle groups, including three battleships, two battle cruisers and four aircraft carriers—plus a large measure of intrigue—to put her out of action. Recently uncovered evidence tells us why her captain chose not to fight his way out of Montevideo harbor.
● Jan. 29: The Bismarck and Tirpitz. Unable to challenge Great Britain’s navy with a high-seas fleet, Germany built several battleships to ravage British merchant shipping in the North Atlantic. The Bismarck was sunk on its first foray but its sister ship, the Tirpitz, tied up large numbers of British warships desperately needed elsewhere. The many attempts to sink the Tirpitz in the fjords of Norway are a story of determination and frustration lasting more than three years.
● Feb. 5: The Birth of the Atomic Age. The conquest of Tinian Island by Allied Forces in W.W. II led to the construction of the largest airfield in the world to serve as a base for B-29s to bomb Japan into submission. The fateful flight of the Enola Gay from Tinian in August 1945 to drop the first of the only two atomic bombs used in wartime has produced a continuing controversy surrounding the public display of this particular aircraft. It has also provided new insights into the debate regarding the morality of using atomic weapons.
Alan McKie retired from federal service as a senior executive in 1994. Since then he has served as a volunteer research and tour docent at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, located at the Washington Navy Yard.

F306  On the Road to Wounded Knee

Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Ephriam D. Dickson III
During the 19th century, American expansion westward collided with the Lakota (or Sioux) nation, the most powerful society on the northern Great Plains. Discover how events, from Lewis and Clark to the Bozeman Trail War, and from the Little Bighorn to the Wounded Knee Massacre, have shaped Lakota society today.
Ephriam D. Dickson III taught OLLI classes at the University of Utah for five years. He recently moved to Northern Virginia to join the project team for the new National Museum of the U.S. Army to be located at Fort Belvoir.

F307  A Clash of Empires: Europe and the New World

Thursdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: John C. Carter
The discovery and settlement of Virginia and the New World by Europeans was nothing less than an invasion of a land occupied by existing native empires. England, France and Spain justified their conquest of the “barbaric” Indian peoples based on their claim that they sought to bring them to civility and Christianity. It was more than a clash of cultures, however. It was war, based on European economic and political goals in which the indigenous people were viewed as merely obstacles, like the mountains and the forests that needed to be overcome. The Indians, however, fought back against the invaders while skillfully maneuvering themselves into alliances with European powers in an effort to preserve their own empires. We will follow the progress of Indian-European relations up to 1850.
John C. Carter graduated from Ferrum College and the University of Tennessee and earned master’s degrees at George Mason in history and psychology. He worked for over 35 years in university administration, retiring recently from Christopher Newport University.

R308  The Battle of Britain

Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, Feb. 6–Feb. 13
Two sessions
Instructor: Douglas Hottel
Most scholars, armchair historians and the general public have agreed that the outcome of the 1940 Anglo-German air war over England, France and the English Channel prevented a German invasion and occupation of Britain. But facts have merged with legend to blur the reality of the struggle for air supremacy. This two-session program will include a review of the larger strategic context, air combat tactics, emerging technologies and key decisions that determined the outcome in Britain’s favor. To present a 1940 perspective of the desperate struggle the presentation will include film, graphic displays, extracts from interviews of surviving air crews on both sides and the experiences of ordinary British citizens.
Douglas Hottel, an OLLI member since 2010, is a retired naval intelligence officer and Department of Defense analyst and operations manager. He has a BA in history and political science from Bethany College, an MA in international studies from the Catholic University of America and an MA in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

L309  Engineers of Victory in World War II, Part 2

Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Instructor: Mark Weinstein
This is Part 2 of an earlier course. Part 1 covered the management and technology efforts that began in 1940 and made the U.S. the Arsenal of Democracy. Part 1 concluded with the development and organization of a new field, operational research, which provided the new weapons and technologies that would counter the early success of Germany’s U-boats. Part 2 picks up with the January 1943 Casablanca Conference, where Churchill and Roosevelt proclaimed the grand design for the invasion of Europe and the eventual campaign against Japan. What followed for the next year and a half were the most massive planning and supply operations in history as the U.S. sought to overcome the formidable and technologically advanced defenses of Germany and Japan.
● Jan. 22: Winning Command of the Air. The Battle of Britain, the bombing of the German heartland and the development of the long-range escort fighter.
● Jan. 29: Stopping a Blitzkrieg. The use of armor and special weapons.
● Feb. 5: Seizing an Enemy-held Shore. The planning, special crafts, artificial harbors, ingenious fuel pipelines and technologically supported deception.
● Feb. 12: Defeating the Tyranny of Distance in the Pacific. U.S. Naval command and control, amphibious landing craft, the B-29 and the story of the Seabees.
Mark Weinstein, a six-year OLLI member, is a retired electrical engineer and a docent at both Smithsonian Air and Space Museums.

L310  Civil War Naval Actions and the Rules of War

Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Keith Young
During the Civil War there were several significant joint operations by the Union army and navy, two on the Gulf Coast and one on the Atlantic seaboard. These successful operations demonstrated a need for improving this type of warfare while showing its potential. The Civil War also laid the foundation for the first comprehensive codification of the laws of war. Dr. Francis Lieber, working with a board of four Union generals, brought order to the largely unwritten set of rules for warfare that had evolved over several centuries of political usage and custom. The following topics will be covered:
● Jan. 23: The Fall of New Orleans. The early surrender of the South’s largest and wealthiest city in 1862.
● Jan. 30: The Battle of Mobile Bay. A Union victory sealing the major port of Mobile in 1864.
● Feb. 6: Fort Fisher and Wilmington. The last major stronghold of the Confederacy to fall, 1864-1865.
● Feb. 13: General Order No. 100. Dr. Francis Lieber and the codification of the rules of war.
Keith Young, a retired naval officer with an interest in military history, lectures on many Civil War and World War II topics.

400 Literature, Theater, & Writing

F401  Readers’ Theater

Mondays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Coordinator: Russell Stone
Class limit: 28
OLLI’s unique brand of Readers’ Theater is great fun for the hams among us! If the idea of acting appeals to you, come and give it a try. Scripts are usually short skits, acts or scenes from longer plays. Parts are handed out each week for the following week. Occasionally a longer script needs a designated director. We do not memorize parts; instead we rehearse them before class with our fellow actors. Rehearsals often take place between OLLI classes, but also can be done by phone if there are just two characters. Props or costumes are not required, but the actors often dress for the part in some way––perhaps with a hat or scarf. Time between skits allows for kudos, comments and suggestions from the audience.

F402  Poetry Workshop

Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Moderators: Mike McNamara, Jan Bohall
Class Limit: 18
This workshop allows both novice and experienced poets the opportunity to share their work with others and to 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 office for duplication one week before the first workshop and a third poem brought to the first session.
Mike McNamara, an OLLI member, has been published in several literary journals and magazines and has been a recipient of awards in the Poetry Society of Virginia’s annual competitions.
Jan Bohall, also an OLLI member, has had poems published in various periodicals and has won awards in the 2012 and 2013 Poetry Society of Virginia contests.

F403  Chinua Achebe’s African Trilogy

Tuesdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: Barbara Nelson
Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, the father of African literature in English, died in 2013. We will carefully examine three of his seminal works, known collectively as “The African Trilogy,” which show Nigerian society caught between tribal tradition and the demands of a rapidly changing society. Things Fall Apart (1958) is the story of the Igbo leader Okonkwo, who struggles to adjust to the changes caused by British colonization and Christianity in the 1890s. In No Longer at Ease (1960), Obi Okonkwo, Okonkwo’s grandson who has been educated in England, returns to Lagos only to clash with the ruling elite, to which he believes he now belongs. Arrow of God (1964) is set in the 1920s and focuses on the conflict of chief priest Ezuelu with the British, eager to get on with their role as civilizers and missionaries after World War I. The first class will present Chinua Achebe as a writer, poet, professor and critic. The three short novels then will be read for class discussion in their order of publication. These novels are available individually or in a single volume. The instructor will use the Everyman Library compilation (ISBN 978-0-307-59270-5).
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. She has taught a number of classes at OLLI, including The Iliad, The Aeneid, Sophocles’ plays, Dante’s Inferno and dystopian literature.

F404  Four by Four

Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 22–Feb. 12

Instructor: Kay Menchel
This class will take a look at four short stories by four different authors. We will discuss how each author approaches the short story format, what makes a short story successful and whether the style of the short story differs from the author’s longer works. Selections will be posted on DocStore before the registration period.
Kay Menchel, who grew up in Yorkshire, England, is a lawyer who also has an MA in English literature from George Mason. She looks forward to sharing her passion for English literature with OLLI members.

F405  Let’s Read:  Louise Erdrich

Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Instructor: Carolyn Sanders
Poet, short-story writer and prolific novelist all describe Louise Erdrich. American Indians are featured in many of her books, including the two we will read: The Round House and The Painted Drum, both of which are available from Fairfax County libraries, bookstores and online.
Carolyn Sanders is an OLLI member who can’t do a lick of work if there’s an unread book in the house.

F406  Haiku for Fun

Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Mike McNamara
The familiar 5-7-5 syllable verse form known as haiku has enjoyed a profound effect on Western poetry and philosophy. In Japan and elsewhere it has attracted many anxious to explore its short, direct expression and apparent ease of preparation. But there is a vast depth beneath the tip of this Oriental iceberg that we will explore with examples from Basho through Jack Kerouac to the present day. We will also visit haiku’s usually raucous sister, senryu, that laughs at the ironies of the human comedy. We will conclude with an opportunity to compose in both verse forms. This class is a reprise of one first taught in February 2009 at OLLI (but far better).
Mike McNamara is a retired U.S. Army colonel with degrees in English literature from Rutgers University and the University of Kansas. He is co-moderator of the OLLI Poetry Workshop, and is a published and award-winning poet. He has taught several courses in Shakespearian drama, International poetry, light verse and military affairs.

F407  From Page to Stage

Thursdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Coordinators: Ken Elston, Doris Bloch
Join faculty members from George Mason’s School of Theater as they explore part of the Mason Player’s Season of Discovery, which will transport audiences to some of the great landmarks of the theater. Aphra Behn’s 1677 play The Rover will be the subject of discussions regarding directing, design, stage combat and style. The Rover runs from March 27 to April 6 in Mason’s TheaterSpace.

R408  Telescoping Time

Mondays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Jane Catron
This class is being offered in response to students’ requests that the Telescoping Time class of winter 2013 be continued. Again, the poems we study will revolve around the subject of time and we will not include any previous poems. Class members are encouraged to participate—class discussions were a major factor in making the previous course so lively and stimulating. You do not have to have attended the earlier class to join this one. Copies of the poems will be given out in class.
Jane Catron is a retired English teacher who taught for 26 years at McLean High School. For the last 10 years she has offered many classes at OLLI on poetry and novels.

R409  Milton’s Paradise Lost

Mondays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Chad Loewen-Schmidt
We will read and discuss John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. We will also touch on some of the ongoing debates in Milton scholarship, his place in political and literary history and the history of art depicting characters and scenes from his most famous poem.
Chad Loewen-Schmidt, an assistant professor at Shepherd University, was inspired to become a scholar of literature in part because of his passion for Milton.

R410  Four by Four

Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: Kay Menchel
This is a repeat of F404.
See F404 for instructor information.

 

R411  Literary Roundtable

Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Reston’s Used Book Shop at Lake Anne
Moderators: Janice Dewire, Carol Henderson
Class limit: 23
This short-story discussion class will conclude the anthology One World: A Global Anthology of Short Stories, assembled by a collective called the One World group of authors, most still living and writing. Published in 2009 by New Internationalist Publications, they range across continents, countries, cultures and landscapes. The authors this term come from India, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Australia and the U.S. Registrants must provide their own copies of the book, available for $13 to $17 from bookshops and online vendors.
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.

R412  The Story of Gilgamesh

Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 23–Jan. 30
Two sessions
Instructor: Diane Thompson
During the first session we will watch the 30-minute Gilgamesh segment of “Invitation to Literature,” a wonderful video series prepared by the Annenberg Corporation and WGBH Boston. Then we will discuss this ancient epic that tells of heroes and dramatic fights against monsters, a great flood and a journey to the underworld. In the second session we will look at some interesting parallels between parts of the story of Gilgamesh and parts of Genesis. We will compare the way the harlot transforms Enkidu from half-animal and half-human to entirely human through her sexuality and the way Adam and Eve are transformed into fully human beings by eating the apple. Then we will look at the flood story in Gilgamesh and note its remarkable similarities to the flood story in Genesis. Conclusions may be drawn and are always welcome.
Diane Thompson received her PhD in Comparative Literature at the City University of New York in 1981 and has been teaching English and world literature at Northern Virginia Community College ever since.

L413  Books! Books! Books!

Mondays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 27–Feb. 3
Two sessions
Coordinators: Sigrid Blalock, Kathleen McNamara
Class limit: 15
Attention: avid readers. What are you reading? Participants should be prepared to give a brief synopsis of the books they are reading, including title, author, date of publication and critique of content. Join this new discussion group to share your current reading choices and learn what’s new in fiction and nonfiction.

L414  Memoir Writing

Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: Kathie West
Come and re-live some of your memories as we go down the memoir highway. We will focus on the idea of memoir and present some writing techniques and templates for you to use as you start writing your memoirs. Bring your ideas, thoughts and pencils as we begin this journey.
Kathie West, an OLLI member, is a former high school theater teacher at Robert E. Lee High School and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

L415  Discovering India Through Its Emerging Novelists

Tuesdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: Patty Z. Means
The past few decades have seen many new titles of fiction and nonfiction emerging from the South Asian subcontinent of India and Pakistan. Besides Nobel winners like Tagore, Naipal and Rushdie, many other works have been honored with high international praise: The God of Small Things, The Interpreter of Maladies and The Song of the Road top the list. Translated for English readers, these stories are set in the exotic worlds of Bengal, Kerala, Punjab and Mumbai. This course asks why these new, imaginative works are capturing Western readers and how these writers brought enlightening motifs and themes to the Western psyche. Join this geographic hopscotch around the Indian subcontinent as we discover its inventive new literary stars through lecture, media and class discussion. A list of suggested readings can be found on the OLLI DocStore.
Patty Z. Means teaches in the language and literature divisions of both Northern Virginia Community College and the University of Maryland University College.

L416  Writers’ Workshop: Writing the Mind Alive

Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Facilitator: Ed Sadtler
Class Limit: 10
This class uses a roundtable format that fosters an environment for writers of all levels to give and receive encouragement, feedback and constructive criticism. All genres of writing are welcome, including poetry, fiction, memoirs and historical pieces. All of these categories share the same underlying commitment: to write a compelling work that fully conveys the author’s intentions.
Ed Sadtler, an OLLI member, has been writing and occasionally publishing poetry for many years.

L417  Readers’ Theater in Loudoun

Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Coordinators: Kathie West, Charles Duggan, Lynn Gramzow
Class Limit: 24
If you love the theater and are intrigued by the idea of trying to step into someone else’s shoes, join our group. Develop your reading and acting skills, learn more about plays and play-reading and enjoy interacting with other “hams.” Each week members of the class either perform as characters in a play or are part of the audience. Participants should plan to set aside time to rehearse with other performers before presenting to the class.

L418  Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra

Wednesdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Instructor: Richard Wilan
We will explore, through lecture and discussion, the struggle of the two lovers to transcend their own limitations as they are caught between the political power of Rome and the seduction of Egypt. Students should have access to any edition of the text.
Richard Wilan received a BA from Amherst College, an MAT from Harvard University and a PhD from the University of Maryland, where his dissertation was on Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida. He recently retired from Northern Virginia Community College, where he taught writing and Shakespearean literature for many years.

L419  Masters of Science Fiction: the Golden Age

Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Agatha Taormina
Science fiction’s Golden Age dates from the late 1930s, when John W. Campbell assumed the editorship of Astounding. He and the authors he discovered and mentored shaped the stories and themes of modern science fiction. In this course we will first examine Campbell’s impact on the genre and also some key stories published in the 1930s and 1940s. Subsequent sessions will each focus on the works and influence of the Big Three science fiction authors who dominated the mid-century: Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke.
Agatha Taormina, an OLLI member, received a doctor of arts degree from Carnegie-Mellon University, where her dissertation discussed the function of archetypes in science fiction. She taught English for many years at the Loudoun Campus of Northern Virginia Community College and currently teaches online for the college’s Extended Learning Institute.

L420  Vanity Fair

Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Kay Menchel
William Makepeace Thackeray described his most famous novel as one that has “a great quantity of eating and drinking, smoking, cheating, fighting, dancing and fiddling: there are bullies pushing about, bucks ogling the women, knaves picking pockets, policemen on the look-out, quacks bawling in front of their booths, and yokels looking up at the tinseled dancers and poor old rouged tumblers.” In addition to all of this we also meet one of literature’s most delightful characters: Becky Sharp.
See F404 for instructor information.

 

500 Languages

F501  Basic Spoken Spanish

Mondays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Ligia Glass
This class is for students with no previous knowledge of Spanish (or who do not remember a lot). It will develop basic conversational skills and present everyday situations that students may encounter when traveling or living in Spanish-speaking countries, or when dealing with Spanish-speaking people in the United States. It will provide students with essential vocabulary that they can use in a variety of practical contexts. No text is required.
Ligia Glass, a native of Panama, has master’s degrees from the University of Kansas and George Mason. She has 15 years of teaching experience at Northern Virginia Community College.

F502  Spanish Conversational Forum

Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Instructor: Bernardo Vargas
Limit: 16
This ongoing conversational forum meets regularly during the year. The objectives are to practice the Spanish language and learn about Spanish/Latino culture through articles, photographs, videos and speakers. Classes are conducted entirely in Spanish. English will be used only occasionally to explain grammar and idiomatic expressions. A prerequisite for this class is an ability to converse at the high intermediate to advanced level. Students are encouraged to make presentations in Spanish on timely topics of their choosing. Come join us and improve your Spanish while learning and having fun!
Bernardo Vargas, a graduate of the Pontificia Catholic University Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, is an editor of an online Spanish newspaper.

F503  Basic Latin I (continued)

Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Alana Lukes
This continuing basic course is for anyone who always wanted to learn Latin but never did, as well as those who recall little of previous Latin studies beyond amo, amas, amat. We take a modern, non-traditional sight, sound and Internet approach to this ancient language as we explore the Latin grammar, vocabulary and restored pronunciation of the 1st century CE. Class meetings employ a media version of the North American Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 1, 4th edition text. Purchase of the text for home study is optional. A fee of $5 for students not previously enrolled in the fall class will be due after confirmation of enrollment.
Alana Lukes, an OLLI member, has taught Latin for over 25 years at the middle school, high school and college levels. She has published articles and given presentations both locally and nationally on her Latin classroom teaching techniques.

R504  Basic Beginning Spanish

Mondays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Joanne Becker
This class will introduce you to basic Spanish expressions and vocabulary to help you cope in various situations. Some fundamental phrases will be taught to help you with greetings, introductions, asking for directions and making purchases in a store or market. You will learn how to recognize words that are similar in Spanish and English and learn some tricks to help you decipher words and understand what they mean. All instruction will be conducted according to the needs and pace of the students.
Joanne Becker, an OLLI member, taught in the Fairfax County school system for 22 years, the last 10 years at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. She has studied and traveled in several Spanish-speaking countries, including home-stay study programs in Mexico and Spain.

600 Religious Studies

F601  The Jesus of History

Mondays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Jack Dalby
New Testament scholar John Dominic Crossan once said, “It is impossible to avoid the suspicion that historical Jesus research is a very safe place to do theology and call it history, to do autobiography and call it biography.” So just who was the Jesus of history? Was he a Cynic philosopher, Marxist, revolutionary zealot, protofeminist, prophet, son of God, magician or God? Over the past 2,000 years, all these titles, and many more, have been applied to the carpenter’s son from Nazareth. In this fast-paced, academically-based course, we will attempt to reveal the authentic Jesus of history by examining what modern historians have to say about this enigmatic 1st century Palestinian Jew. Topics for discussion will include sources for the historical Jesus and the critical methods historians use to evaluate these sources. We will also examine what historians have written about the major chapters in the life of Jesus. Ample time will be available before, during and after class for in-depth questions. Owning a copy of the New Testament is useful, but not mandatory.
Jack Dalby, president of White Oak Communications, is an OLLI member who has taught classes on the historical Jesus, St. Paul and early Christianity. He holds a BS in communication arts from James Madison University and has taken graduate classes with the George Mason History Department.

F602  Jewish and Christian Religious Philosophers

Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: John Rybicki
This is a videoconference transmission of course L606.

 

F603  The Evolution of the Haggadah and the Passover Seder

Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 21–Jan. 28
Two sessions
Instructor: Gilah Goldsmith
● Jan. 21: The History of the Passover Haggadah. The haggadah, the manual for conducting the annual Passover ritual known as the seder, has existed in one written form or another since the middle of the 9th century CE. Over 5,000 editions have been published. It is a peculiar collection of prayers, songs, tall tales, Biblical quotations and rabbinic speculation designed to enable each participant to experience the Exodus from Egypt. We will explore what the many iterations of the haggadah can tell us about the social, intellectual and religious life of the Jewish people across history and cultures.
● Jan. 28: The Evolution of the Passover Seder. In any given year, more American Jews participate in a Passover seder than engage in any other Jewish ritual or observance. Over more than 2,000 years, the ritual meal has evolved from an animal sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem to a communal meal. While retaining its ancient structure, the seder has been repeatedly adapted to reflect the concerns of Jewish people and communities. We will examine how the seder has evolved with emphasis on the historical context of that evolution, including the religious, political and social concerns that continue to motivate it.
Gilah Goldsmith, a graduate of Harvard University and George Washington University Law School, is a retired government attorney who has led the weekly Torah study group at Beth El Hebrew Congregation for the past 20 years. She has a collection of approximately 300 haggadahs, ranging from a facsimile of a medieval manuscript to modern pamphlets.

F604  Topics in Religion

Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Steven C. Goldman
● The Theology of Les Miserables. Sacrifice, forgiveness, the refusal of forgiveness, repentance, redemption, law, justice, grace, mercy, pride, greed, humility, perfected love. These are some of the grand themes of the human condition that are explored in Victor Hugo’s classic 19th century novel Les Miserables. In two sessions we will examine how Les Miserables presents a romantic, sublime theology that challenges us to introspection regarding our own ethical standards and interpersonal relationships.
● Slavery, the Bible and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. In his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln highlighted the irony that both North and South used the same Bible to declare their cause to be just. Who had the better case based on Biblical texts? How did Abraham Lincoln read the Bible and how did it influence his understanding of slavery and the Civil War? In this session, we will explore the answers to these questions and see how Lincoln crafted an elegant argument regarding the hand of God in human history.
● Does the New Testament Teach that God Is a Trinity? Almost all Christian denominations believe that God is a Trinity composed of three co-equal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Is it possible to be a Christian without believing that God is a Trinity, or is this a fundamental article of faith? In this session we will explore what the New Testament says about this doctrine.
Steven C. Goldman is a member of OLLI’s Board of Directors and also serves as chair of OLLI’s Religious Studies Program Planning Group. He has taught numerous courses on alternative understandings of Biblical doctrines.

R605  Basics of Islam

Mondays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Farhanahz Ellis
Islam is a faith we hear about on an almost daily basis, but what do we really know about it?
● What are the basics of Islam and what do they have in common with other faiths?
● What is the shared origin of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, with other holy books?
● Who are the Sunnis, who are the Shias and what are the differences between them?
● What is the reality behind Islam’s treatment of women, and why are there so many misconceptions?
Farhanahz Ellis is the interfaith and outreach director for the All Dulles Area Muslims Society and serves as a Muslim chaplain at George Mason.

L606  Jewish and Christian Religious Philosophers

Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: John Rybicki
This class will focus on an investigation of key philosophers and philosophies in developmental Judaism and Christianity, with an emphasis on methodologies, similarities and divergent views. We will pair Jewish and Christian philosophers: Philo of Alexandria and John the Evangelist (both 1st century), and Maimonides (12th century) and Thomas Aquinas (13th century). Topics will include the nature and attributes of God and how He is made known, creation, scripture, wisdom and the purpose and inherent capabilities of humankind. These religious thinkers have had a profound effect on the development of specific traditions that exist to this day.
John Rybicki, OLLI’s longtime instructor in religious studies, presents lively, informative lectures that encourage participation.

 

650 Humanities and Social Sciences

F651  Tribal Cultures of Afghanistan and Central Asia

Mondays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Johnnie Hicks
Class Limit: 30
Tribal cultures are the world’s oldest form of society, yet the least understood in the modern world. There are large tribal groups who still practice their cultures and traditions throughout the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and other places around the world. This class will focus on the tribal cultures of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the five other “stans” of Central Asia. Class topics include:
● Understanding the Nature of Tribal Cultures.
● The “Stans” of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
● Tribal Groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
● The Pashtun (Afghan) Tribes and Political Implications for the Region.
Johnnie Hicks has traveled to several regions of the world, including Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where she encountered many different tribal groups. She is a frequent presenter on world cultures and religions and has taught these topics as an adjunct instructor at George Mason since 1990.

F652  OLLIgopoly: Trivia For Fun

Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: Bruce Mercer
First there was pub trivia in England, and then there were trivia nights in the States. Now it’s OLLI’s turn. Join fellow trivia lovers for fun and games as we form teams of two to six players to compete in answering questions that will challenge your brain cells. For example, which plains state claims to be the birthplace of Cliff Notes and the Reuben sandwich? All you have to bring to class is a good attitude, a willingness to have fun and a pencil with a good eraser! All levels of knowledge are welcome.
Bruce Mercer, an OLLI member, enjoys learning new things, especially those obscure tidbits that spark a quest for new knowledge. He has used some of these nuggets to create trivia questions that are sure to please and stump you.

R653  Genealogy: 1850–1920

Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: Ken Maniha
This course will concentrate on researching ancestors who migrated to America between 1850 and 1920, including Germans, Poles, Irish, Italians, East Europeans and Russians. The sessions will focus on specific genealogical problems in researching ancestors from this group. We will discuss the use of passenger manifests, census enumerations, naturalization records, military records and other ways to trace immigrants back to their origins.
Ken Maniha has a PhD in sociology from the University of Michigan, has credentials as a professional genealogist and belongs to the Association of Professional Genealogists. He has been working in genealogy for 30 years, first as a hobby and now as a full-time professional.

R654  The CIA and the 1954 Guatemalan Coup

Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: Richard Melanson
Class Limit: 35
This discussion class will examine the CIA’s role in the overthrow of Jacobo Arbenz, the democratically elected president of Guatemala, in 1954. After briefly reviewing the record of U.S. foreign policy in Central America since the construction of the Panama Canal, we will assess the role of the United Fruit Company in this regime change and the legacy of the 1953 Iranian coup in persuading the Eisenhower administration to oust Arbenz. We will use as the required text Bitter Fruit: The Story of the American Coup in Guatemala (revised and expanded edition, 2005) by Stephen Schlesinger and Stephen Kinzer (ISBN 0-674-01930-X). For the first class students should read chapters 1-4.
Richard Melanson is an OLLI member who has taught international relations and American foreign policy at UCLA, Kenyon College, Brown University and the National War College during a 38-year academic career. He holds a PhD in international relations from The Johns Hopkins University.

R655  OLLIgopoly: Trivia for Fun

Wednesdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Rose Gallery at Reston Community Center, Lake Anne
Instructor: Bruce Mercer
This is a reprise of F652 at Tallwood with different questions, different teams and different winners.
See F652 for instructor information.

 

R656  Is America a Christian Nation?

Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Stephen Ruth
An article by George Mason’s Robinson Professor Hugh Heclo posed this question and presented many approaches to answering it. This course reviews the Heclo perspective and also examines the history of the United States in the context of our Christian roots. There are 2,500 different Christian denominations represented in America. We will discuss U.S. Christianity from the perspectives of preachers from William Bradford and Jonathan Edwards to Billy Graham; and presidents, from George Washington to Barack Obama. If time permits, we will also take a brief look at public policy issues like religious freedom, slavery, civil rights, the concept of a “just war,” the role of women, obligations to the poor, church-state relationships, homosexuality, abortion, taxation, voting rights and scripture-based legislation. Both Old and New Testaments will be emphasized and attendees from any belief system are welcome.
Stephen Ruth is a professor of public policy at George Mason, specializing in technology issues associated with globalization, and is director of the International Center for Applied Studies in Information Technology, a grant-supported research center. His new book, One Year Trip through the Bible: A Layman’s Fresh View of the Complete Old and New Testaments, examines 73 books of the Hebrew Tanakh and the New Testament.

R657  A Century of Genocide

Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Paul Murad
Genocide has no morality, memory, conscience or culture; it exercises hatred against a minority. Genocide killed Armenians. Ukrainians died under Stalin. The Holocaust killed Jews, Poles and gypsies. The killing fields of Indochina are filled with slaughtered Cambodians. The Rwandan genocide killed 125,000 people in a single weekend. Serbs massacred Bosnians and the Sudanese butchered Africans in Darfur. Clearly genocide does not discriminate based upon religion; it swallowed whole Christian Armenians, European Jews, Cambodian Buddhists and Bosnian Moslems. Genocide knows no color; it devours whites, yellows or blacks. Genocide is mindless; it devours the educated and uneducated. It thrives on ignorance and, if it is not recognized for what it really is, it will continue to propagate. Who will be the next victims? Will they be the Turkish and Iraqi Kurds who want their own nation, or is Africa ready to shed more blood and tears?
Paul Murad is a scientist, engineer and former paratrooper who later worked for the Department of Defense. He is especially aware of the importance of stopping needless conflicts that often trigger genocides. Both he and presenter George Pick have studied the causes and results of genocides.

700 Current Events

 F701  What’s in the Daily News?

Mondays, 9:30–11:00, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Note time
Moderators: Peter Van Ryzin, Dorsey Chescavage
Class Limit: 36
Do you have an opinion on what’s happening in the world today? Would you like to express and share your views with others? If so, join other news junkies each week to discuss, debate and, yes, sometimes disagree as to the significance and meaning of events both great and small. All views are welcomed in a spirit of give-and-take.
Peter Van Ryzin, an addicted news junky and OLLI member, was a career Marine who served two combat tours in Vietnam before retiring as a colonel in 1990.
Dorsey Chescavage, an OLLI member, retired from the Jefferson Consulting Group, where she was a registered lobbyist specializing in military and veterans’ health care.

F702  Why Congress Isn’t Working

Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 22–Jan. 29
Two sessions
Instructor: David Heymsfeld
Since 2008, the United States Congress has been torn by partisan strife, leaving it gridlocked and rarely able to pass legislation on important issues. A mock headline in The Onion says it all: “Congress Fiercely Divided Over Completely Blank Bill That Says and Does Nothing” (July 25, 2013). It wasn’t always this way. The Congresses of the 1960s through 1980s passed major legislation, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and landmark laws on the environment, education and civil rights. In this course we will focus on the causes of the gridlock that began to develop in the 1990s. We will also look at what roles different groups, such as the media, lobbyists, congressional staff and the president, play in the legislative process. As a long-term congressional staffer, the instructor was a firsthand witness to the decline of congressional effectiveness. The course will include examples and observations based on his personal experience.
David Heymsfeld, an OLLI member, served on the professional staff of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for 35 years, including 14 years as director of the Democratic professional staff.

F703  Politics in the 2014 Midterm Elections

Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Helen Desfosses
While the president does not run in midterm elections, all 435 members of the House of Representatives do, as well as dozens of senators. This course will investigate what history tells us should happen in 2014 (the party out of power should get stronger), as well as what is likely to happen. (Yes, the instructor will stick her neck out and make some predictions.) The course will assess influential issues and the political forces that will play a significant role, including the Tea Party, discontented progressives, new money and social media. We will also examine what the 2014 elections will mean for President Obama’s agenda and for the prospects of his would-be successors. Finally, we will explore whether our country’s unending partisan warfare and resulting policy paralysis will be relieved or exacerbated by the 2014 midterm election results.
Helen Desfosses’ fascination with politics has been shaped by many years as a professor of public policy, serving as an elected official and working as an international consultant on legislative development and public engagement. She has a BA from Mount Holyoke College, an MA from Harvard University and a PhD from Boston University.

R704  All the News That’s Fit to Print

Thursdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Moderator: Dick Kennedy
This is a chance to discuss news and current events with other seniors who are trying to understand our changing world. More than ever we need to question information that comes to us from TV, radio, the Internet, magazines, bumper stickers and newspapers. How should we filter these sources? We will examine and discuss some of the hot topics of the day in world and national news, science, business, sports and entertainment. All viewpoints and opinions are respected, needed and welcomed. As Walter Cronkite once said, “In a democracy agreement is not required, but participation is.”
Dick Kennedy is an OLLI member and a retiree from the Senior Executive Service at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He enjoys analyzing the news from multiple sources and engaging in good discussions with colleagues.

R705  Challenges in Journalism Today

Thursdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Rose Gallery at Reston Community Center, Lake Anne
Coordinator: Jennifer Disano
Journalism is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media.” In today’s fast-paced, information-hungry world there are many different types of media used to share news, including broadcast and cable television, radio, print, social networks and Internet blogs. This course will be a series of lectures with speakers representing various media addressing the challenges of journalism in the Washington D.C. area.

 

800 Science, Technology & Health

F801  CORONA, GAMBIT and HEXAGON

Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, Feb. 4–Feb. 11
Two sessions
Instructor: Garrett Cochran
The 1960s and 1970s witnessed the development of a remarkable trio of photographic satellites that played a critical role in keeping the Cold War cold. These systems and the technologies for exploiting their outputs represent the combined efforts of more than 20 U.S. corporations and a dozen government organizations. Details of one system were made public in 1995. In late 2012, the intelligence community declassified information on the other two. So now the story can be told.
Garrett Cochran, a longtime OLLI member, spent most of his professional career at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he was deeply involved in the activities he will be discussing.

F802  Sustainable Living

Tuesdays, 2:15–3:40, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Coordinator: Jennifer Disano
● Jan. 21: Solar and Super-Insulated Homes. Rich and Marian Taschler, whose home has twice been included on the Department of Energy’s Solar Home Tours, are celebrating 30 years of “pocket change” utility bills. They are self-taught do-it-yourselfers who will present their success story, with the primary focus on installing super insulation that cost them only $300. They also designed and installed their own solar hot water system.
● Jan. 28: Permaculture. Danielle Wyman from the Mason Sustainability Institute will discuss the benefits of practicing permaculture (or permanent/perennial agriculture) in Northern Virginia. Permaculture principles include such areas as edible forest gardening, biodiversity, food production, earth works, natural building and many more. Join Danielle as she covers the basics of permaculture and takes you on a virtual tour of several student-led permaculture gardens on the Mason campus. You will also receive a sneak preview of material that will be covered in the 2014 Permaculture Design Certification course at Mason.
● Feb. 4: Electric Cars: Past, Present and Future. Jeffrey Jacobs, Dennis Dineen and Bruce Lawton from the Electric Vehicle Association of D.C. will discuss the pros and cons of electric vehicles. Most people aren’t aware that electric cars were more common than petroleum-based models 100 years ago. A lot has changed since then, from the EV1 to the Tesla Roadster, Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt. Electric cars are here to stay, helping the environment, ensuring national security and saving drivers lots of cash.
● Feb. 11: Biofuels. Jill Hamilton, president and founder of Sustainable Energy Strategies, Inc., will provide an overview of ethanol and biodiesel fuels. The discussion will include their current use in our fuel supply, their benefits and common misconceptions about them.

F803  iPad for Beginners

Thursdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Instructor: Stan Schretter
So you just got an iPad or think you want to get one. Join Stan for an introduction to the iPad and how it can affect your life. No experience or even an iPad is necessary, but if you have one please bring it to the class.
Stan Schretter, an OLLI member, is an avid amateur photographer and has taught courses at OLLI for many years.

 

F804  Beginner Chen-Style Tai Chi

Thursdays, 2:15–3:05, Jan. 23–Feb. 13
Note time
Instructor: Jerry Cheng
Class Limit: 20
Tai chi, a form of martial arts that has been practiced for centuries, is meditation in motion that emphasizes balance, posture and concentration. This beginning class will focus on chen-style tai chi, which promotes health and fitness, strengthens the immune system, can relieve neck and back pain, corrects digestive problems, aids emotional and psychological well-being, relieves stress and builds character. Please wear loose clothing and plan to work in stocking feet or soft, flexible shoes.
Jerry Cheng was born in China and started his martial arts training when he was six. He studied under several famous Chinese martial arts masters, including grandmaster Sha GuoZheng, and won four gold medals at the 1997 Atlanta International Martial Arts Championship. He taught tai chi at the University of Georgia for six years and the University of Texas for three years.

R805  History of Life on Earth, Part II

Mondays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 20–Feb. 10
Instructor: Steve Greenhouse
This course is a follow-on to Part I, which concluded with the end of the Cretaceous Period 65 million years ago. It saw the mass extinction of dinosaurs (except birds) but opened a niche in which mammals could thrive. Small arboreal creatures evolved into primates, then hominids and finally Homo, the genus of which we (Homo sapiens) are the only living species. We will trace these evolutionary transitions and discuss the characteristics and migrations of early humans, who became tool makers and hunter-gatherers and learned to talk and think. Course materials include PowerPoint slides supplemented (time permitting) by the Great Courses DVDs, “Major Transitions in Evolution.” A guest lecturer, Dr. Briana Pobiner from the Museum of Natural History’s Human Origins Program, will present one of the four sessions.
Steve Greenhouse is a retired electrical engineer who worked in the space communications field for 35 years. He has long been fascinated by paleontology and especially paleoanthropology–the evolution of humans.

R806  iPad: Part 3 Tuesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 21–Feb. 11

Instructor: Stan Schretter
This is the third of an ongoing series of short iPad classes in Reston. So far we have explored an overview of iPad apps and how the iPad can be used to support photography and photographers. This class will look at how the iPad can become your file cabinet of information. We will explore using iPad apps to find the information you want, as well as transferring material that you have on your PC or laptop. To demonstrate how this works in terms of a practical problem, we will focus on how the iPad can help plan and guide your travels. Possibly on your next trip you will just pack your iPad, passport and maybe some extra clothes.
See F803 for instructor information.

 

R807 How to Look and Feel Younger

Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Rose Gallery at Reston Community Center, Lake Anne
Coordinator: Mary Kornreich
● Jan. 22: The Science of Looking and Feeling Younger. Scientific studies indicate that simple, gradual changes in lifestyle can produce big dividends in our vitality, mental acuity and health over our lifetimes. Margaret Webb Pressler, award-winning consumer and health sciences reporter for The Washington Post for nearly 20 years, is author of Cheat the Clock.
● Jan. 29: Technology, Our Ally. Technological resources provide greater security, communication and optimal wellness at all stages of life. Examples include: robots, security systems, personal communications systems, NASA-researched infrared energy saunas and other devices. Priscilla Chism develops successful community health projects in her Health Solutions consulting practice.
● Feb. 5: Exercise and Simple Strength Training Can Help. Skip Habblitz, a 72-year-old certified fitness instructor at Ferraiolo Fitness, is a national speaker whose own life shows how being socially active and simple weight training can overcome grief. Denise Lankes, a certified fitness instructor, describes how fitness training has added zest to her life. Jane Nash, Leisure World’s fitness director, is certified as a personal trainer and as a health fitness specialist.
● Feb. 12: Mind and Body Wellness. Emerging scientific research is providing new memory training techniques, methods to enhance brain fitness and ways to promote healthy aging through dance and movement. Diane Lasichak, a credentialed geriatric care manager, helps clients optimize their health, improve their mental acuity and infuse joy in their days through movement.

L808  iPad Basics and Beyond

Mondays, 9:40-11:05, Feb. 10–Feb. 17
Two sessions
Instructor: Charlie Pryor
This two-day course will build on our summer 2013 session, iPad Basics. We will go into more depth for specific applications such as mail, iCloud, photos and apps in which you are personally interested. Make sure that your iPad is charged and that you have updated to the latest version of the operating system (iOS). Additionally, you should know your Apple ID and password. Bring pen and paper for taking notes. You must have a George Mason ID number and an active George Mason email address before taking this class. They can be requested at any OLLI office and take approximately two weeks to obtain.
Charlie Pryor retired from the U.S. Army in 1988 and from his second career as a civil engineer in 2005. He has taught at the university level, at military engineer schools and continuing education courses. He has also taught numerous classes on computing at OLLI.

L809  Climate Change

Tuesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 21–Feb. 11
Instructor: Robert Means
This course primarily addresses two questions. First, what determines the Earth’s temperature? Astronomers are searching for planets located within the habitable zone around other stars, where the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold for life (as we know it). Why does the Earth itself fall within that zone? Second, why do most climate scientists believe that human activity is making the Earth warmer? There are two approaches to answering this question. One is to examine how humans are changing factors that determine the Earth’s temperature. The second is to measure actual changes in that temperature. The test of our understanding of Earth’s climate is the link between these approaches. Do the factors that we believe determine the Earth’s temperature explain why it is warmer now than it was 200 years ago and cooler than it was 50 million years ago? Time permitting, we will also look at potential responses to global warming.
Robert Means teaches courses in climate and energy policy at The Johns Hopkins University and the University of   Maryland.

L810  Our Industrialized Food Products

Wednesdays, 9:40–11:05, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Instructor: Erica Laufer
Are we eating Frankenfood? Why are pesticides, antibiotics and chemicals in our food? Are they dangerous? The Food and Drug Administration says our food is safe, but it may be catering to a few corporations that own virtually all the products on our grocery shelves. Did a good idea—lots of cheap food for the world’s exploding population—go astray? Immense farms, owned by large corporations and supported by federal subsidies, may sacrifice quality for quantity to obtain more shareholder profit. Is our changed food causing epidemics of obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease? What is being done and could be done to improve the situation?
Erica Laufer, an attorney and OLLI member, retired from both government and private law practice. In Ocean City, Maryland, where she ran several businesses, she was too busy to cook and ate only fast food and drank diet sodas. She developed insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension and osteoarthritis—all allegedly caused by her diet. This led her to research what is in our food, how is it made and by whom, and to share what she has learned.

900 Other Topics

F901  - Cancelled - Comfort Foods III

Wednesdays, 11:50–1:15, Jan. 22–Feb. 12
Instructor: Debbie Halverson
Class Limit: 12
Participants in last winter’s Comfort Foods class agreed that the hug of good food is always welcome on a cold winter’s day. So we start where we left off last year with a new menu of comfort foods. All hands are put to good use and somehow that makes the food more enjoyable. A fee of $20, payable to OLLI at the time of registration, covers the cost of the food.
Debbie Halverson has been conducting OLLI cooking classes for several years. Unlike most of those classes, intended to improve cooking skills and learn new techniques, this one is not an academic venture but more comparable to a sauna experience or a warm coat.

950 Special Events

951  Astronomy and the Social Concept of Time

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2:15–3:40
Reston
Instructor: Jeffrey L. Kretsch
Today we routinely look at our watch or a calendar to determine time and plan our activities. This course covers how time was once determined by the sun, moon and stars. Originally time was a very local thing determined by the positioning of the sun, and every town and city had its own time. With the rise of fast communication through telegraph and telephone, and fast travel by train, the issue arose as to whose time to use. Time became more central to our lives with the rise of the industrial revolution and the need to determine how long employees worked and were paid. The need for train schedules led to the implementation of standard time zones. We will discuss the early measurements of time based on the apparent motion of the sun over the year, the seasons, lunar and planetary cycles and the position of the stars. An optional night field observing session will also be included.
Jeffrey L. Kretsch, a retired federal employee, has a PhD from Purdue University and MS and BA degrees in astronomy and physics.

952  Final Chapter? The Future of the Book

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2:15–3:40
Tallwood
Coordinator: Dr. Barry Berkey
In the beginning there was the word. Then the words were collected in a neat device known as the book. Now the word and books are transitioning into what? That’s the question Sam Clay will explore as he examines the book as a physical object and predicts its future development as a digital object. The talk will focus on the events that led to the creation of the book in its present form and argue that the definition of “book” is going through a radical change. Underlying this change is the assumption that words in a book have to be confined to a surface. As this is no longer the case, given ebook development, what does this change portend for the book?
Sam Clay has been director of the Fairfax County Public Library since 1982. For more than three decades, he has managed all aspects of this 23-branch system, which has a budget of over $24 million, over 400 employees and more than two million books and materials.

 

953  Circle of Treason

Friday, Jan. 24, 1:00–2:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Kathleen Price
In a brutally frank account of CIA traitor Aldrich Ames’s career, Sandy Grimes pulls back the curtain on the hunt for an American who spent years working for the KGB without being discovered. The author’s focus is on the CIA’s crucial Soviet and East European (SE) Division, where efforts to recruit officials snagged the United States’ highest-ranking Soviet spy, General Dmitriy Polyakov, who spent nearly two decades undetected. Ames’s treason did particular damage to the SE Division, leading to Polyakov’s execution and to the exposure of several other key U.S. agents. Espionage buffs will love the details taken from previously classified CIA files, as well as a penetrating view of Ames as an “all-American boy” and spy. Well-researched and written in a clear, no-frills style, the book presents a fascinating Cold War saga that will allow any American without a security clearance to better understand how Aldrich Ames could have become one of the most damaging moles in U.S. intelligence history. Lincoln Square Productions, a division of ABC News, is producing a limited series based on Circle of Treason.
Sandy Grimes retired after a long career as a CIA counterintelligence officer.

954  What Makes Classical Music Funny?

Saturday, Jan. 25, 10:00–12:30
Tallwood
Instructor: Dan Sherman
There are many types of music that can put a smile on our face. As part of this course, we will listen to both orchestral and operatic music from the great composers (Haydn, Beethoven, Rossini, Wagner and Verdi) and discuss some of the methods by which composers add humor to music. The instructor will offer many examples of humor from the classical repertoire, including some little-known but very clever parodies.
Dan Sherman has previously taught OLLI courses on Wagner, Verdi and a number of theatrical composers, including Cole Porter.

955  Genuine or Counterfeit? Become an Educated Consumer

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2:15–3:40
Reston
Instructor: David Safran
Have you ever wondered how you could tell if a product is genuine or counterfeit? In this course you will learn what constitutes a trademark and the consequences of buying counterfeit products. You will be given an opportunity to distinguish counterfeit products from the real thing and will learn of the efforts being made to combat counterfeiting.
David Safran is a partner in a local intellectual property law firm with over three decades of experience dealing with trademarks. He has assisted clients in fighting counterfeiting of their products.

956  Once Upon a Time: With a Twist!

Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2:15–3:40
Tallwood
Coordinator: Florence Adler
Gary Lloyd is a 15-year award-winning storyteller, two-term president of the Virginia Storytelling Association and recipient of the National Storytelling Network’s ORACLE award for the Mid-Atlantic states. He has told stories to over 880,000 listeners in hundreds of schools, libraries and festivals. For this session he will present his unique program of Amazing Escapes—six stories of survival events where you vote at the end of each as to whether it really happened or not! Lloyd will then take questions and offer tips on the storytelling process.

957  The Role of Physical Therapy in Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis

Friday, Jan. 31, 1:00–2:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Dr. Barry Berkey
Statistics show that approximately nine million Americans have osteoporosis and an estimated 48 million have low bone density. Studies also suggest that one in two women and one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis. This informative presentation by Charles Ottavio will teach you basic information about preventing and treating osteoporosis. Through a multi-step approach you will learn what you can do to minimize the effects of this debilitating disease.
Charles S. Ottavio earned his BS in physical therapy in 1981. He has specialized in orthopedics for the past 30 years and has practiced in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes and home health. He is currently the practice manager at Orthopedic Physical Therapy of Northern Virginia.

 

958  Field Trip to Observatory Park

Friday, Jan. 31, 7:30–10:00 pm
Carpool to 925 Springvale Road, Great Falls, VA
Coordinator: Mary Kornreich
Analemma Society, in conjunction with Northern Virginia Astronomy Club volunteers, conducts Friday night observing sessions from 7:30 to 10:00. Our group will join others to enjoy the session, starting with an introduction to the night sky, pointing out major constellations, the planets and deep sky objects. Included are a description of the daily motions of the celestial sphere and the changes of the seasons. When the moon is visible, a close look at its geological surface features is provided. A wide range of deep sky objects, including galaxies, nebula and star clusters, can be seen in telescopes set up on the site. The passage of earth-orbiting satellites is observed as the opportunity arises. Programs that include a description of the night’s viewing will be available. This is an outdoor event, so please dress appropriately. If this session is cancelled due to inclement weather, we will try again on February 21.

 

959  The Sinai Peninsula

Monday, Feb. 3, 11:50–1:15
Loudoun
Instructor: Mark Sweberg
When anyone mentions the Middle East people think of Israel, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia or any number of other countries. The Sinai Peninsula rarely comes to mind. Yet for centuries the Sinai was the footbridge between Africa and both Europe and Asia. In this course we will talk about the role the Sinai has played through history and its more recent role separating Israel and Egypt. We will discuss the Sinai as a battlefield and as a place of biblical destiny. The instructor will share his personal experiences in the Sinai in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and will describe how its environment has changed.
Mark Sweberg is a retired U.S. Army officer and Middle East Foreign Area specialist. He has served as a military peacekeeper and chief operations officer of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Sinai, and as a civilian peacekeeper and chief of protocol in the Multinational Force and Observers peacekeeping mission, also in the Sinai. He has a BS in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, an MA in international relations from the University of Southern California and an MBA in international business from the University of Puget Sound.

 

960  Yoga for Boomers and Beyond

Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2:15–3:40
Reston
Instructor: Bonnie Elliot
“If you can breathe, you can do yoga,” Krishnamacharya used to say. Yoga has been around for thousands of years and its benefits, such as decreased stress, improved sleep and enhanced well-being, have been increasingly proven through evidence-based research. In this presentation, we will discuss how yoga can help seniors gain vitality and a greater sense of peace and purpose. The instructor will guide you through the experience of breathing and movement that are designed for everybody, especially those with chronic health challenges such as high blood pressure, bone and joint conditions, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and autoimmune or movement disorders. Wear comfortable clothing for gentle movement that can be done seated or standing.
Bonnie Elliott is a registered yoga teacher with extensive training in therapeutic yoga that meets the unique needs of the aging body and mind.She has practiced yoga for more than 10 years and taught for over three years.

 

961  What Makes Us Laugh, and Why?

Friday, Feb. 7, 1:00–2:30
Tallwood
Instructor: Mike McNamara
Hearing a funny story, a joke, seeing something odd or just plain silly usually results in laughter. Why? What is it that makes us laugh, a function apparently limited to our species (with the possible exception of hyenas and politicians)? Why do TV networks employ “canned laughter”? What’s the anatomy of jokes or humorous stories, and why do people tell them? Why can’t the average person remember a screamingly funny joke or punch line? Laughter is unarguably good for us, mentally and physically, and in this lecture we will present some guaranteed, mostly wholesome examples that will make you laugh. Or else.
Mike McNamara, a retired U.S. Army infantry colonel, holds an MA in English literature and an equivalent degree from the Royal College of Defense Studies in London. He is a co-moderator of the Poetry Workshop at Tallwood and also tells reasonably good stories and bad jokes.

 

962  Muffin Mania

Friday, Feb. 7, 10:00
Loudoun
Coordinator: Mary Coyne
Mimi’s Cafe will furnish six different varieties of muffins, along with coffee. We may decide to vote on our favorite! Bring your appetite and good conversation to socialize with your OLLI friends on a cold winter day. We will cancel if the Loudoun schools cancel classes. A fee of $6, payable to OLLI at the time of registration, will cover the food for this event.

963  A Violin Recital

Monday, Feb. 10, 11:50–1:15
Loudoun
Coordinator: Rosemary McDonald
Julia Meeker, a talented, classically trained 14-year-old violinist, will perform a recital of baroque to contemporary music, including the first movement of Violin Concerto in A Major by Mozart and the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” arranged by David Zabriskie.
Julia Meeker began studying the violin at the age of five. She performs in many venues in the D.C. metropolitan area.
Karen Stamm, accompanist, is minister of music at All Angels Anglican Catholic Church in Springfield.

964  Dancing in the Street: The Politics of Motown Music

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2:15–3:40
Tallwood
Coordinator: Florence Adler
Professor Suzanne Smith of the George Mason Department of History and Art History will discuss the relationship between Motown music and the modern civil rights movement. Specifically, she will explore how the Motown Records Company navigated its relationship to the fight for racial equality through its music and through its connection to Detroit’s black community. She will discuss the tensions that emerged between Berry Gordy’s desire to produce hit records and the call of many black activists that Motown become more engaged in political issues.
Suzanne Smith completed her PhD in American studies from Yale University in 1996. Her first book, Dancing in the Street: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit, (January, 2000) finished third in the 11th annual Gleason Music Book Awards. She previously discussed her book To Service the Living: Funeral Directors and the African American Way of Life at OLLI.

965  Poems That Tickle Your Fancy (or Whatever)

Monday, Feb. 17, 11:50–1:15
Loudoun
Instructor: Conrad Geller
This presentation is intended as punishment and corrective for those who dislike poetry. It’s a survey of light and nonsensical verse from Alexander Pope to Calvin Trillin, including poems by Ogden Nash, Dorothy Parker and Lewis Carroll. There will, of course, be limericks and maybe a clerihew or two. The instructor may even immodestly read some of his own work.
Conrad Geller, an OLLI member, is the regional vice president of the Poetry Society of Virginia. More than 100 of his poems have appeared in print and electronic media. His awards include the Bibliophilos Prize and the Charles E. Tuttle Prize.

966  Bus Trip to Las Vegas and Southwestern Utah Parks

Sunday–Friday, June 1–6, 2014
Four-Day Bus Trip: Las Vegas and Southwestern Utah
Coordinators: Jim Anderson, Dick Cheadle, Emmett Fenlon, Michael Kelly
This bus trip will be preceded by an optional three-session course in the spring term, Historical Studies: Las Vegas and Southwestern Utah, presented by National Park Service Ranger Michael Kelly, Jim Anderson and Dick Cheadle.
The itinerary:
● Sunday, June 1: Optional travel date. Attendees will travel on their own to Las Vegas. Lodging will be at The Treasure Island Resort and Casino. They can then enjoy continuous nightly Cirque de Soleil shows at any of six different hotels.
● Monday, June 2: Mandatory travel date for those who don’t travel on June 1.
● Tuesday, June 3: Travel by bus from Las Vegas to Zion National Park (one-hour time change) and spend the rest of the day there. Lodging will be in Springdale, just outside of Zion Park.
● Wednesday, June 4: Travel by bus to Bryce Canyon National Park and spend most of the day there. After leaving the park we will stop at Mossy Cave on Route 12, then head back west to our lodging in Cedar City, Utah.
● Thursday, June 5: Travel by bus to Cedar Breaks National Monument, then to the town of Parowan for lunch. After lunch we will continue to the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs and will then return to our lodging in Cedar City.
● Friday, June 6: Travel by bus south to Kolob Canyons Wilderness. From there we will drive south to St. George for a late lunch. We will then continue on to Las Vegas (one-hour time change), arriving in mid-to-late afternoon.
● Saturday, June 7: Travel home or continue on vacation.
A fee of $98 per person, payable to OLLI at the time of registration, includes bus fare (four days) and driver gratuity. Your Golden Age Passport will provide access to the National Parks. All meals are on your own except breakfast, which is included in Cedar City the mornings of June 5 and 6. The lodging in Las Vegas at Treasure Island is $77 single or double Sunday to Thursday (including tax) plus $10 per night extra to guarantee two beds. The rate is $133.48 Friday and Saturday. The lodging in Springdale is $122.95 single or double and the cost in Cedar City is $90.45 single or double, including breakfast. Hotel reservations will be handled directly by the participants and additional information on hotel contacts will be made available upon completion of the registration process. Weather in this area will be predictably hot in Las Vegas (over 100 degrees), quite warm in Zion, cooler in Bryce Canyon and possibly chilly in Cedar Breaks, so pack accordingly.

 

Ongoing Activites

Book Club

Wednesdays, Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Mar. 12, 10:00–11:30
Feb. 12, 1:30–3:00
Tallwood
Coordinator: Ceda McGrew                           703-323-9671
On December 11 we plan to discuss The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. The January 8 selection will be Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, followed on February 12 by Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende. On March 12 we will discuss Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. All OLLI members are welcome.

Bridge Club

Wednesdays
Nov. 13–Nov. 20, Dec. 4–Dec. 18, Jan. 8–Jan. 15, Feb. 19–Mar. 19, 10:00–12:00
Jan. 22–Feb. 12, 1:45–3:45
Tallwood
Coordinators: Susanne Zumbro               703-569-2750
                             Gordon Canyock                 703-425-4607
Drop in and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of “party bridge.” Bridge Club meets on Wednesdays in the afternoons when classes are in session and in the mornings when classes are not in session. Skill levels vary from advanced beginner to aspiring expert. Partnerships are rotated every four hands.

Classic Fiction Book Club

Fourth Fridays
Jan. 24, Feb. 28, Mar. 28, 10:00–11:30
Loudoun, Room 205
Coordinator: Sigrid Blalock                        703-723-6825
The book selection for January 24 is Daniel Deronda by George Eliot and the selection for February 28 is The Confidence Man by Herman Melville. On March 28 the group will discuss All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West.

Cooking Club

Monthly dates to be determined
Tallwood
Coordinator: Debbie Halverson
This is a club for OLLI members who enjoy preparing food and sharing hands-on, homemade dishes in a small-group setting 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 other food-related events, such as ethnic cooking demonstrations, restaurant outings and grocery store presentations. If these activities appeal to you, please contact Debbie at debbyhalv@aol.com for more information. All OLLI members are welcome.

Craft and Conversation Group

Weekly
Dates and times to be determined
Tallwood
Coordinators: Doris Bloch                                            703-591-3344
                             Pam Cooper-Smuzynski                     703-455-2716

The meeting schedule is flexible, but we plan to meet weekly to work on our craft projects and to share product sources, expertise and inspiration. The date, time and place of our meetings can be found in the OLLI Ongoing Events calendar for the week. We cordially invite any interested OLLI members to drop in and join us, or just see what we are creating. For further information, contact Doris Bloch at dbloch50@hotmail.com or Pam Cooper-Smuzynski at pamcs2@verizon.net.

German Club

Wednesdays
Jan. 22–Feb. 12, 2:15–3:40
Loudoun
Coordinator: Vera Wentworth                       verawent@cs.com
This is a new club for OLLI members who are interested in Germany and all things German. We will practice conversational phrases used in everyday life and travel. We also will discuss current events, culture and sports based on articles in English taken from German websites and occasionally watch German TV shows and movies.

History Club

First Wednesdays
Dec. 4, Mar. 5, 10:00–11:30
Feb. 5, 2:15–3:40
Tallwood
Coordinator: Beth Lambert               703-624-6356
The club welcomes OLLI members who are interested in discussing historical events and sharing reviews of articles, books or interesting topics. The club maintains a list of books that members have found worthwhile, which can be viewed at www.olli.gmu.edu/historyclubbooklist.pdf. If you would like to receive email notification of upcoming History Club meetings, contact elizabethlambert7@gmail.com.

Homer, etc.

Fridays
Nov. 8–Nov. 22, Dec. 6–Dec. 13, Jan. 3–Mar. 21, 11:00–12:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Jan Bohall                             703-273-1146
We get together to read aloud and talk about traditional and contemporary classics. We’ve recently read the first and second volumes of Sigrid Undset’s trilogy, Kristin Lavransdatter and are now reading The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. We will start George Eliot’s Middlemarch in December. Drop in at the Tallwood Annex any Friday morning—new members are always welcome. For more information email the coordinator at jbohall@verizon.net.

iPad Users Group

First Fridays
Dec. 6, Feb. 7, Mar. 7, 10:00–12:00
Reston
Coordinator: Stan Schretter           stanschretter@gmail.com
We welcome all members interested in using the iPad, from beginners to seasoned users. Each meeting will address both technical and how-to topics of interest to our members. Time will be allocated at each meeting to address questions on any iPad-related topic. More details are available on the club section of the OLLI website. Contact Stan Schretter for further information.

Knitting and Needlework Club

Tuesdays
Nov. 12–Dec. 17, Jan. 7–Mar. 18, 10:00
Reston
Coordinator: Sheila Gold                        703-860-8798
Do you love to knit, crochet or needlepoint? Do you want to learn? We welcome both beginners and more advanced needleworkers. There is always someone who is happy to teach the new student. Come and join us on Tuesday mornings at the Panera in Herndon. For more information please contact Sheila at sheila.gold@verizon.net.

Mah Jongg Club

First and Third Wednesdays
Nov. 20, Dec. 4, Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Feb. 19, Mar. 5, Mar. 19, 10:00
Nov. 6, Feb. 5, 1:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Liz Bateman
We welcome all members who want to learn the game of 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 at concordiaeb@verizon.net.

Memoir Writing Group

Weekly
Tallwood
Coordinator: Betty Smith
We usually meet on Wednesdays, except during the fall and spring terms when the Memoir Writing class is in session. We bring copies of our writing and gently discuss each other’s work. Our main purpose is memoir but we also include fiction, poetry and personal essay. We’re a small group, mostly students from Dianne Hennessy King’s Memoir Writing class. If you’re interested, please contact Betty for information.

Personal Computer User Group

Third Saturdays
Nov. 16, Dec. 14, Jan. 18, Feb. 15, Mar. 15, 1:00–3:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Paul Howard                                             phoward@gmu.edu
In partnership with PATACS (Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society), we focus on Windows computers and software, smart phones and tablet apps, digital photography, related technology, Android and Linux operating systems and Open Source software. Our aim is to bring broad subject-matter expertise to both groups. Our target audience encompasses beginners to intermediate amateurs and our methodology is “users helping users.” Club dues of $5 are payable at the first meeting attended in each calendar year. More details are available on the group’s website, www.olligmu.org/~opcug.

 

Photography Club

Second Fridays
Dec. 13, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, Mar. 14, 9:30–11:30
Fourth Fridays
Nov. 22, Jan. 24, Feb. 28, 12:00–2:00
Tallwood
Coordinator: Dan Feighery
Meet with others interested in photography and develop skills by participating in the monthly theme photo submissions. Be informed, and perhaps inspired, by expert speakers. The Photography Club welcomes all members, whether they use a basic camera or specialized equipment, and whether they are new to photography or have had years of experience. We discuss technical aspects of photography as well as the artistic aspects of visual design. On the fourth Friday of the month, workshops will cover specific topics in more detail. Contact Dan Feighery at Dandj_ffx_va@cox.net for further information.

Recorder Consort

Fridays
Nov. 15–22, Dec. 6–13, Jan. 3–Mar. 21, 9:00–11:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Helen Ackerman                               helenackerman@hotmail.com
If you have been a 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.

Tai Chi Club

Saturdays
Nov. 9–Dec. 14, Jan. 4–Mar. 22, 10:30–11:30
Tallwood
Coordinators: Manny Pablo                                                     703-232-9491
Susanne Zumbro                                             703-569-2750
The Tai Chi Club meets every Saturday in TA-3. It is intended as a continuation for Dr. Cheng’s Tai Chi students (F804), but is open to all OLLI members on a first come-first served basis.

The Tom Crooker Investment Forum

Wednesdays
Nov. 13– 20, Dec. 4–18, Jan. 8–15, Feb. 19–Mar. 19, 10:30–12:00
Tallwood
Moderator: Al Smuzynski
See course F202 for activity description.

 

Travel Club

Fourth Fridays
Jan. 24, 9:00
Tallwood
Coordinator: Shelly Gersten                                703-385-2638
The 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 also try to identify common interests so that members can plan to travel together. In addition, we organize trips where we carpool to sites within a drive of 60 to 90 minutes, including historic homes and museums.

Ulysses Book Club

Fridays
Jan. 24–Feb. 14, 11:00–12:30
Tallwood
Coordinators: Bob Zener, Barbara Nelson
This club is being formed to begin a close reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses, which presents a modern reinterpretation of Homer’s Odyssey, centering on a day in early 20th-century Dublin. This club is intended to be an extension for readers of Homer’s Odyssey, but all OLLI members are welcome. The Teaching Company’s 24-lecture course on Ulysses, including at least one lecture for each of the novel’s 18 chapters, will be used to provide direction for our study. During winter term, we will meet weekly and our goal is to cover the novel’s first three chapters in the term’s four sessions. We recommend that members read the first chapter before our first meeting. We have no particular preference among available editions. However, members may want to look at the text of the novel available on the Internet at joyceproject.com, which has several annotations explaining difficulties in following the text. You may also want to consult a widely-used “pony”: The New Bloomsday Book: A Guide Through Ulysses, by Harry Blamire.

Walking Group

Weekly
Tallwood/Fairfax Swimming Pool Parking Lot
Coordinators: Doris Bloch                                                                  703-591-3344
                             Sherry Hart                                                                  703-978-0848
When OLLI is in session, the Walking Group meets one morning a week, generally an hour before the first morning class. We gather in the 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—our goal is camaraderie as well as exercise. We set the day of the week for our walks during the first week of the term, based on which day is most convenient for the majority of participants. Between terms we continue to walk on a weekly basis, but for longer distances and at more varied locations. Contact Sherry Hart at harts66@hotmail.com or Doris Bloch at dbloch50@hotmail.com for more information.

What’s in the Daily News? Continued

Mondays
Nov. 11–18, Dec. 2–16, Jan. 6–13, Feb. 24–Mar. 17, 10:00–11:30
Tallwood
Facilitator: Don Allen                             703-830-3060
This is an out-of-term continuation of What’s in the Daily News? for news junkies who can’t wait for the next term to express their opinions and discuss current events. It’s a small group and the facilitator expects it to be self-moderating.