From the Desk of the Executive Director OLLI Mason Applies for Grant
By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director
With help from Grants contractor Judy Pirozzi, OLLI’s grants/fundraising committee is submitting a $12,000 request for AARP’s Community Challenge grant. The national grants competition is part of their Livable Communities program. The grant is open to projects which demonstrate that community members are meeting the challenge to make their cities, towns, and communities more livable—with a focus on adults ages 50+. We chose this AARP grant category for OLLI’s pilot project: “Making the community more inclusive and meeting the needs of diverse older adults and residents (with a focus on people aged 50 and older).”
OLLI’s request is to underwrite a pilot program at a residential community for low- and moderate-income adults, for the purpose of reducing disparities in access to learning opportunities for older adults in Fairfax County/NoVA. The committee plans to seek other complementary funding and program partners to expand OLLI’s diversity and inclusion efforts, with this pilot program being one aspect addressing economic disparities.
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors was held virtually March 18, 2022. OLLI President Paul Howard opened the meeting by announcing that the Osher Foundation institutes will have their annual national meeting April 25–27, 2022. Zach Teich will attend and represent OLLI Mason.
Bob Heyer, Nominating Committee chair, reported on the progress of his committee. Names and biographical summaries of the candidates will be announced shortly. (Ed. Note: see following article.)
Al Smuzinski, chair of the Ad Hoc Grant Committee, introduced guest speaker Judy Pirozzi, who gave a presentation outlining the process for acquisition of grants.
Executive Director Jennifer Disano reported construction of the ramp at Tallwood is nearly complete. Clean-up of the entire campus is in process. Classrooms include signage to reinforce health and safety protocols. She will have a walk-through with the Mason contractor to make sure all is ready for first day of classes. She reported that currently the total membership is 995 (Annual, Introductory, and Lifetime).
Three resolutions were approved by the Board: Resolution 220318-01: Resolved, that the Board approve official signers (Board officers and executive director) to establish a Nonprofit Business Credit Card through the George Mason University Foundation for use by the executive director and staff. Resolution 220318-02: Resolved, that the OLLI Board adopt procedures for nominating officers to be incorporated in the Policy and Procedures Manual. Resolution 220318-03: Resolved, that the OLLI Board approve application for an AARP grant.
By Bob Heyer, Board Member and Election Committee Chair
As announced by the OLLI Board of Directors, we have nine members who are running to fill the five vacant positions on the OLLI Board for the next three years.
They are:
Lillian Brooks
Marilyn Harriman
Doug Snoeyenbos
Dick Crawford
Bonnie Nelson
Ray Willson
Jim Dann
Michele Romano
Carolyn Wyatt
Go to the OLLI website at ollidev2.earthcare.com, then click on Board of Directors Candidates to read the bios of the candidates and see their photos. All the candidates are accomplished and experienced and looking forward to helping us meet the many challenges we will face in the next few years. Some of the issues the Board will be addressing include our transition to ZOOM hybrid and in-person classes, financial planning and support, and increasing our membership. These candidates are eager to provide their thoughts, energy, and innovative ideas to help guide us in maintaining our George Mason OLLI as one of the best OLLIs in the country!
Register for the ZOOM OLLI annual membership meeting at 10:00 on Friday, May 6. Immediately following the meeting, we will transition into “Meet the Candidates,” who will tell you about themselves and then answer questions from the audience. The election will begin at noon on May 6.
If you are interested in becoming a candidate and being part of the OLLI future, please contact our OLLI Election Committee Chairman, Bob Heyer (rheyer@verizon.net) for details.
Topics and Speakers for Medical Updates Course, Spring
By Catherine Weir, STEM Program Liaison
The spring catalog did not list the topics and speakers for the course F804Z Medical Updates from the Health Professionals at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital because our hospital contact has only recently announced the list. Below is a list and schedule for the spring term. The course is to be presented on the last three Thursdays in the term, so there is still time to register.
Thursday May 5, 11:50 to 1:15 Motion Capture: Revolutionary Technology for Injury Prevention Dr. Robert M. Dombrowski. Orthopedic Surgeon, Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics
Thursday May 12, 11:50 to 1:15 Preventive Exercises and Ergonomics for Lumbar Sciatica Dr. Faisal A. Siddiqui. Orthopedic Surgeon, The Spine Care Center
Thursday May 19, 11:50 to 1:15 Cataracts and Glaucoma 101: The Basics Dr. Shakeel R. Shareef. Ophthalmologist, Reston
The next virtual meeting of the History Club will take place on Wednesday, April 6 at 4:00. Our speaker will be Pat McGinty, who will tell us why Thomas Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, holds a unique position in American history. Pat will describe Wilson’s work in foreign policy, both his successes and his failure in trying to convince the American people to join the League of Nations. At the same time, Wilson was popular with the masses here and abroad. Here is a man of apparent opposites; how can we come to terms with this fact?
Pat has an MA and PhD in history from Georgetown University. In addition to the many and varied courses he teaches for our OLLI, he has taught at the University of Maryland University College. Pat’s presentations are always information-filled, so be sure to put the April 6 meeting on your calendar and, if we have learned anything in these two years, it is that Zoom can reach far and wide. So, invite as many guests as you wish.
The Tallwood Book Club will hold its monthly Zoom meeting on Friday, April 8 at 2:30 to discuss Diane Johnson's Lorna Mott Comes Home. The Zoom link and other information will be available in the OLLI daily schedule email on April 8.
The book selection for the May meeting will be made at this meeting.
By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers’ Group Coordinator
A perennial favorite, Mason's musical ambassadors, The Mason Cabaret, will perform In a Sentimental Mood: The Music of Duke Ellington live at deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace, on the Fairfax campus this April. Conceived and directed by Erin and James Gardiner with music direction by Joe Walsh, In a Sentimental Mood showcases the brilliant work of DC's own, the legendary Duke Ellington. This year, the Cabaret will also feature Mason dancers in addition to the stellar voices of The Mason Cabaret. You will find yourself wanting to dance in the aisles and sing familiar songs all the way home. Performances are Friday, April 15, at 8:00, and Saturday, April 16, at 2:00 and 8:00. Senior tickets are $10. As this is a “fun-raiser,” tickets support Mason's musical theater program. To purchase tickets online, go to theater.gmu.edu or cfa.gmu.edu/.
On Monday, April 18, from noon to 1:15, be sure to join Mason's Director of the School of Theater, Djola Branner, for a conversation with Luis Alfaro. Alfaro is a poet, performance artist, playwright, theater director, and social activist. His plays and fiction are set in Los Angeles Chicano barrios, including the Pico Union district where he grew up. Central to his work are the ways in which cultural and social practices shape personal and group identities. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including MacArthur "Genius" Foundation Fellowship, National Hispanic Playwriting Competition Prize, and appointment as a Playwright in Residence at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. To sign up for this free, virtual, open-to-all event, email nhorner@gmu.edu and tell him you want to attend the event.
On Wednesday, April 27 from 4:00 to 5:15, Tokomo Azuma, director of development for NextStop Theatre in Herndon, will speak with the Theater Lovers' Group via Zoom. All OLLI members are welcome to join us when she takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour of what it takes to produce a play. According to Azuma, "The finished product that the audience sees is just the tip of the iceberg. All the creation that happens before the performance is what I find interesting since that is where the art gets created and shaped. It's the process that brings great theater to life." Save the date and check OLLI's Daily Schedule email for the link to the program on April 27.
Previously announced vaccination, testing, and masking policies for audience members remain in effect for both the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for all in-person audience members. The venues are committed to staying current with evolving public health recommendations regarding safety and comfort and following industry best practices, in accordance with guidance from George Mason University. If these policies change, they will be updated on the Center’s webpage: https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/vaccination-policy.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just send an email to Brianna Schoen atbschoen@gmu.edu. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website,Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.
Gallery Exhibit: Jenny Wu
Through Sun, Apr 3
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free. Gallery Exhibit by Jayne Matricardi: Motherscape
April 5 – May 22
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.
Mason Tuba Euphonium Ensemble Concert
Sat, Apr 2, 2:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall
Admission: Free.
Ordway Conservatory Youth Ballet: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Sat, Apr 2, 6:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25 Adults; $20 children.
Hylton Family Series: Paddington Gets in a Jam
Sun, Apr 3, 1:00 and 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15 Adults; $10 children.
Virginia Opera: A Taste of Opera
Tue, Apr 5, 1:30
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $29 (concert only).
Please note: Physical meetings for many clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines; if your club is meeting in person, you should receive notice from the coordinator. OLLI is conducting most classes and activities online; exceptions are noted in the catalog. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised information.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Apr 2
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Apr 5
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Ethnic Eats
Wed Apr 6
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Bridge Club
History Club
Thu Apr 7
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Apr 8
9:15 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
2:00 pm
2:30 pm
Recorder Consort
Photography Club
Craft and Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Cooking Club
Tallwood Book Club
Sat Apr 9
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Apr 12
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Wed Apr 13
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Mah Jongg Club
Spanish Club
Thu Apr 14
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Apr 15
9:15 am
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, Roz Stark,
Jane Hassell
Backup Chief Editor: Alice Slayton Clark
Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: ollienewseditor@gmail.com. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Search E-News: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News at ENews Archives. To search the content within issues, use Search or enter your search term(s) in Google followed by “site:ollidev2.earthcare.com/” without the quotes. An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase.
