Actual Photos (Not Zoom Screens!) of Tallwood Flora
(Photos by Paul Van Hemel)
July 15, 2022
Editor of the Week: David Gundry
Table of Contents
Alerts & Notices
In accordance with a Mason July 7 Health and Safety notice, wearing masks when inside OLLI spaces is now optional (see this link).
Note: The Reston-Loudoun Program Planning Meeting scheduled originally scheduled for Tuesday, July 19, has been postponed (see article below).
The OLLI pizza party planned for later in July has been postponed. It will be re-scheduled for a later date to be announced (e.g., in an OLLI Mason Communicator).
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, July 22; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 19, at 6:00.
What are OLLI Program Planning Groups and What Do They Do?
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co‑chair
So happy you asked! OLLI program planning groups are OLLI member volunteers responsible for reviewing and selecting course proposals each quarter. There are ten program planning groups, each responsible for a specific topic. You will find them listed in the Table of Contents of each OLLI catalog. The members meet regularly to brainstorm ideas for course presentations, discuss possible presenters, create courses, and contact instructors for possible future classes. In addition, each program planning group reviews course proposals submitted independently by interested personswho desire to share their expertise. Courses are discussed and confirmed by program associates who keep track of classes and determine their scheduling.
Who can join a Program Planning Group? Anyone interested in supporting a particular course topic may join a program planning group. We rely on personal and professional contacts and on the ability to encourage peopleto present courses at OLLI. Program planning group members often work together to create, support, or present a class. Program planning groups are currently meeting via Zoom.
Keep in mind that no presenter receives monetary compensation for teaching at OLLI Mason. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each of our instructors.
For information regarding joining the Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group, contact: Camille Hodges mimihodges4@gmail.com or Peggy O’Brien mazob@live.com.
For other OLLI program planning group information contact staff program associates:smorrow4@gmu.edu or nklein4@gmu.edu. Thank you.
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in two prior issues of E-News at the request of the author; it is repeated here to encourage members to participate and experience the rewards of program planning for OLLI.
Reston-Loudoun Program Planning Group Meeting Postponed
By Barbara Wilan,Loudoun-Reston Program Planning Group Co-chair
The Reston-Loudoun Program Planning Group meeting originally planned for July 19 has been postponed. The new time and date is 10:00, Tuesday, September 13. The meeting is still planned to be located in Room 209 at Mason-in-Loudoun (21335 Signal Hill Plaza, Sterling, VA 20164, diagonally across Rte. 7 from the Potomac Run Shopping Center).
We welcome you to bring your programming ideas, as well as coffee or another drink to enjoy with doughnuts. However, the meeting is still planned to be hybrid so that those who cannot meet in person may view the meeting on Zoom.
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 10:00, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 010203 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 827 2377 4249 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode. You may instead dial in at 301-715-8592.
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co‑chair
Dr. Spencer Crew is looking for a few OLLI members to work with his “History of the Family” fall course. Those of us who experienced intergenerational dialogue with his students in previous years found it personally rewarding.
This collaboration would require at least two meetings with two students assigned to you by Dr. Crew. If you are interested in sharing your life stories with university students during the fall 2022 (September-December) term, please contact him at the following e-mail address: srcrew@gmu.edu. He will respond to you with details about the class.
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in two prior issues of E-News; it is repeated here to encourage members to enjoy participation in an activity that your fellow members found enjoyable in a prior term.
Smart Music for Older Adults: Research Volunteer Opportunity!
By Emily Ihara, PhD, Department of Social Work Chair at Mason
Are you interested in how personalized music creates physiological reactions?
George Mason University is looking for adults ages 60 and above to participate in a research study called “Smart Music for Older Adults” (IRB #1904914) to explore the usage of wearable sensors in interventions using music. The aim of the research is to test wearable technology for a personalized music intervention for older adults. Participants will volunteer for about 60 minutes at a location with convenient parking, where they will listen to music while wearing a smartwatch (provided). Participants will get to listen to their favorite songs and then be interviewed by a member of the research team. The device will collect physiological measures such as heart rate and skin conductance and the research team will observe and record a video of reactions. After completion of the session, participants will be invited to participate in a 60-minute focus group to discuss their thoughts about wearable sensors. The total time to participate in this study will be no longer than 2 hours and 30 minutes.
If you or someone you know would be interested in participating, please contact Dr. Emily Ihara, Professor in theDepartment of Social Work, atgerorsch@gmu.eduoreihara@gmu.edu(703-993-2023) with the subject line "Smart Music.”
Of Giant Pandas there are no maybes.
They must have Giant Panda babies.
Yet somewhere west of Peking
(Yes, I know, it's now Beijing)
Some other pandas make their homes,
But they're never sent as Sino Loans,
To places like our D.C. Zoo,
To pleasure folk like me and you!
So where are the Regular Baby Pandas
Of the very non-Giant Variety?
While not colossal extravaganzas
We bet they'd be Huge in D.C. society…
Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:
Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result for most events except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the webpage with event details.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website,Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.
ARTfactory and Pied Piper Theatre: Disney’s Moana JR
Fri, Jul 15, 7:00
Sat, Jul 16, 2:00 and 7:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $12.
Prince William Little Theater and Manassas Symphony Orchestra: The Sound of Music
Fri, Jul 15, 7:00
Sat, Jul 16, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adult, $25; senior and military, $20; under 12, $15.
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. 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 Jul 16
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Jul 18
10:00 am
10:00 am
Bridge Club
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Jul 19
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Thu Jul 21
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 22
9:15 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
Sat Jul 23
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Jul 25
10:00 am
10:00 am
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Mah Jongg Club
Tue Jul 26
11:50 am
4:30 pm
Loudoun Non-Fiction Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jul 27
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
6:00 pm
Memoir and More Writing Group
Theater Lovers’ Group
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Jul 28
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jul 29
9:15 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
Recorder Consort
Health Advisory Work Group
Craft and Conversation
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, Jane Hassell
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