The regular meeting of the Board of Directors was held virtually April 15.
OLLI President Paul Howard thanked the outgoing members of the Board along with the executive committee for their service and dedication to OLLI.
Executive Director Jennifer Disano reported that the spring term has been going well. Members have been able either to attend classes or take them by Zoom. She thanked Paul Howard, his technical team, and the staff for their long hours of hard work to make this possible. There were some in-person classes that had to be converted to virtual because the attendance levels were low. It will be important for the future to evaluate how members want to take classes—in person or on Zoom.
Currently the total membership is 1105 (Annual, Introductory, and Lifetime).
Three resolutions were approved by the Board:
Resolution 220415-01, Resolved, The OLLI Board of Directors approves the winter ’23 academic program for OLLI shall be held as a ‘Zoom–only’ term.
Resolution 220415-02, Resolved, The OLLI Board of Directors approves a special discount for George Mason University retirees. Retirees who have not previously had an OLLI membership would receive a onetime voucher of $150 toward the purchase of an annual membership. Past, present, and future retirees would be eligible for the voucher.
Resolution 220415-03, Resolved, The OLLI Board of Directors approves the Strategic Plan.
OLLI Board of Directors Election Voting Starts in Two Weeks
Bob Heyer, Board Member and Election Committee Chair
The Board of Directors election is coming! Voting starts May 6 in the election for five vacant positions on the OLLI Board for the next three years. Below are the candidates for the positions.
Go to the OLLI website at ollidev2.earthcare.com, then click on Board of Directors Candidates to read the bios of the candidates. On Friday, May 6, the candidates will be at the ZOOM OLLI annual membership meeting at 10:00. They will introduce themselves and take questions. The election will begin at noon on May 6.
If you need more information, please contact our OLLI Election Committee Chairman, Bob Heyer (rheyer@verizon.net) for details.
By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers’ Group Coordinator
Join Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) on Wednesday, April 27 for an insider's take on NextStop Theatre. According to NextStop Theatre's director of development Tomoko Azuma, "The finished product that the audience sees, in my opinion, is just the tip of the iceberg. All the creation that goes before the performance is what I find so interesting since, it's where the art gets created and shaped."
Azuma goes on to say, "It's the behind-the-scenes process that brings great theater to life. It's the many decisions and details that are discussed and worked out in rehearsals prior to the production that are fascinating."
NextStop Theatre, located at 269 Sunset Park Drive in Herndon, Virginia, was founded in 1988 as the Elden Street Players, an all-volunteer, 114 seat, black-box theater. It soon began playing to standing-room only audiences. On January 1, 2013, Evan Hoffman was named Producing Artistic Director. A talented visionary (and Herndon native), Hoffman has developed NextStop into one of the leading professional theater companies in our region, producing between six and eight shows a year.
On Wednesday, April 27, from 4:00 to 5:30, during our virtual TLG meeting, Azuma will give us an inside look at what it takes to produce shows, keep the footlights on, develop an audience, and much more. All OLLI members are invited to join TLG members to meet Azuma and learn about NextStop Theatre and what makes it a stellar representative in the local arts community.
From Friday, April 29, to Sunday, May 1, at 7:00, you can enjoy NextStop's special free event, Theater in the Park, when NextStop gives a free, open-air performance of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Reston Town Square Park. For more information, go to www.nextstoptheatre.org.
By Darden Purcell, D.M.A, Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice
The next week offers a feast of great Mason jazz concerts—see below. Mark your calendars!
MASON JAZZ VOCAL NIGHT
Monday, April 25, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Purchase Tickets: https://cfa.calendar.gmu.edu/mason-jazz-vocal-night-2022/.
Join Dr. Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio, and Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards and classic hits from the Great American Songbook! With special guests, Forest Park High School Platinum Vocal Jazz, directed by Lara Brittain.
LATIN AMERICAN ENSEMBLE LIVE at BLUES ALLEY (Two Shows)
Tuesday, April 26, 8:00 and 10:00
Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave, Washington DC 20007 https://www.bluesalley.com/
Tickets for 8:00 Show: 8:00 link
Tickets for 10:00 Show: 10:00 link
The Three-time Down Beat Award-winning Mason Latin American Ensemble, directed by Dr. Juan Megna will share the stage with the NOVA Big Band, directed by Mason alumnus Shannon Gunn at Washington DC's historic Jazz club, Blues Alley! (Photo by Joyce Boghosian)
THE JAZZ WORKSHOP
Wednesday, April 27, 8:00
De Laski Performing Arts Building, 3001
Free and open to the public.
Join the Mason Jazz Workshop, directed by John Kocur, in their spring concert! The Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in an atypical jazz ensemble, performing the music of Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane and more!
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY
Saturday, April 30, 8:00
Center for the Arts
Purchase Tickets: https://cfa.calendar.gmu.edu/international-jazz-day-concert/
Share the vibrancy and vitality of jazz music with Mason Jazz students and faculty on April 30! International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts on all continents to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future, and impact. Featured groups will be the Mason Jazz Ensemble, Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Latin American Ensemble, District PANTET and the Braddock Road Brass Band!
Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:
Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result will be needed through May 1. Beginning May 2, audience members will not be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result for most events except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the webpage with event details. Face coverings continue to be required at all events.
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.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra with Simone Dinnerstein
Sat, Apr 23, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $65, $55, $40.
Lila Downs
Sun, Apr 24, 7:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission: $60, $51, $36.
Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates; also, check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for event 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 23
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Apr 26
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Wed Apr 27
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Mah Jongg Club
Spanish Club
Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu Apr 28
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Apr 29
9:15 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Sat Apr 30
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue May 3
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Wed May 4
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
6:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Bridge Club
History Club
Ethnic Eats Club
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, Jane Hassell
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.
LATIN AMERICAN ENSEMBLE LIVE at BLUES ALLEY (Two Shows)
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