Reminder: OLLI Annual Veterans Day celebration is November 11 (today!) at 1:00 on Zoom. More information is available in last week’s E-News issue at this link.
Reminder: Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group meeting, Thursday, November 17, 10:00 (Zoom).
Board of Directors meeting, Friday, November 18, 10:00; Tallwood TA‑1 and Zoom. All members welcome.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 25; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 22, at 6:00.
OLLI members please note the opportunity for a great upcoming event below!
Mason Provost and Center for Humanities Research Co-sponsored Symposium: Thinking Through American Polarization on Friday, November 18, 1:00-5:00, EST.
The symposium will be a hybrid event. The in-person portion will be in Mason’s Merton Hall, Room 1201, or you may join virtually on Zoom. Registration is required for both.
The symposium, addressing the histories, causes, and mechanisms of polarization, will combine a panel of external presentations, each about 15-20 minutes, and a conversation with a second panel led by Mason faculty. Panel One will be chaired by Alison Landsberg, professor of history and art history and cultural studies, and director of the Center for Humanities Research at Mason.Panel Two will be chaired by Peter Stearns, professor of history and art history and provost emeritus at Mason.
For more information, including the schedule, speakers, and a registration link, click here.
Start the Holiday Season with the OLLI Holiday Party
By Elaine Leonard, Hospitality Committee Chair
After the pandemic interruption, a highly-anticipated OLLI tradition lives again! Come and enjoy OLLI’s biggest in-person social event of the season;
The OLLI Annual Holiday Party will be on Thursday, December 1 from 11:30 to 2:30 at the Country Club of Fairfax, located at 5110 Ox Road in Fairfax. The event will begin at 11:30 as you gather over drinks (cash bar) and check in at the registration table.
Seeing our OLLI friends is not the only good thing. There will be an outstanding menu available. Entrées include pasta primavera, chicken piccata, and spinach salad with grilled chicken. The chicken and pasta entrées include rolls and salad; all meals include beverage and dessert. You can indicate your choice of entrée and pay the $50 when you register on the OLLI member portal. After lunch you will be entertained with a performance by the Tallwood Trio. A drawing for door prizes will follow. OLLI members are welcome to bring a guest; a $50 charge per person applies.
Registration will end on Monday, November 14. To register for the party, click here.
Editor’s note: This announcement appeared in the last couple of issues of E-News. It is repeated here encourage participation.
Don't forget that today, November 11, at 1:00, OLLI will present its annual Veterans Day program. This year's featured speaker will be the commander of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard. You will learn more about the responsibilities of this military unit and the stringent requirements for those selected to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
Check the daily listing for the Zoom codes and spend a little time to honor the service of our OLLI military members and all veterans.
Save the Date: December 6 for the Literature, Language, and Theater (LLT) Program Planning Group Meeting
By Patricia Bangs, LLT Program Planning Group Co-chair
Date: Tuesday, December 6 Time: 10:30-noon What: LLT Program Planning Committee Meeting Via Zoom: See link below
Whether you enjoy the classics or spy novels, sci-fi, memoir, poetry, want to learn a language, or want to explore playwrights and the world of theater, we need your thoughts and ideas.
Please join us for our semi-annual all campus program planning group meeting for literature, theater, writing, and language program planning on Tuesday, December 6 at 10:30, via Zoom.
We will be reviewing past terms and looking forward to planning summer 2023 and beyond. All OLLI members can contribute to the excellent programming offered to our membership. Bring ideas for literature, theater, poetry, writing, or language programs, and possible resources, such as individuals you may know who might want to teach, or any other thoughts on this popular OLLI program area. And, of course, if you or anyone you know would like to join our planning group, here is your opportunity to see the process in action. Spread the word. See you on December 6.
The meeting Zoom link from Shannon Morrow, our staff program associate, is below. We will resend again closer to the meeting. If you would like to be added to our LLT mailing list for a reminder, please email me at: pbangs68@gmail.com.
Please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 385003 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 968 1639 9431 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode. You may also dial in at +1 301 715 8592 or join by Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) by clicking here.
By Darden Purcell, D.M.A, Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice
Mason Jazz concerts this November offer lots of variety. Two concerts were addressed in the last issue of E-News. The following announcements are for two concerts coming up on November 16 and November 18.
The Jazz Workshop - Wednesday, November 16, 8:00, at the Center for the Arts. The concert is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.
Directed by John Kocur, the Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in an atypical jazz ensemble. This performance will feature some rare gems and jazz classics by Oliver Nelson, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus, Mary Lou Williams, and Cannonball Adderley.
Jazz4Justice™– Jazz & Blues InAmerica -Monday, November 18, 8:00, at the Center for the Arts. Tickets: $20 Adults, $15 Seniors and Students (click here).
Join Mason Jazz and Friends as we explore the roots and development of America's greatest contribution to the Arts—Jazz.
Established in 2001 by Fairfax attorney Edward L. Weiner, Esq. and Jim Carroll, founder of Mason Jazz Studies, Jazz4Justice™ is an award-winning annual concert presented by Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) and Mason Jazz Studies. Proceeds from the evening benefit LSNV to continue its mission of service to the Northern Virginia community as well as providing financial support for the Mason Jazz Studies department for scholarships, trips, and recordings. Jam session immediately following the concert, so bring your instrument (or voice) and sit in!
Weekly Conversations Continue – November 16 HOLIDAY PLANS
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch,
Co-Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, we (Team Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on November 16 at 4:00, where every OLLI member is most welcome to join us to talk about our chosen topic for the week: Share Your Holiday Plans. We encourage an informal interactive exchange. No sign-ups needed; participation is totally ad hoc. Check the Daily Schedule or just use the OLLI Chat Line meeting ID.
Holiday season is coming up fast: Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas, New Year's. Some of us have plans for celebrating; others will be happy to ignore the whole season. Where do you stand? Looking forward to family get-together(s)? Traveling? Preparing and eating traditional foods? Decorating? Staying away from crowds and super-spreader events another year? And – most important – what's your favorite flavor of pie? Share your thoughts with us for a jolly session or perhaps a serious one of reflection.
Heads up for the next Conversation: note that we will skip November 23. On November 30, our topic probably will be Downsizing and "DeAcquiring"—suggested by an OLLI member.
Each week, we pre-select a topic and advertise it in the OLLI E-News, the OLLI E-Blast, and the OLLI Daily Schedule email (so it will be “in your face” and hard to miss.) If you have a suggestion for a topic that will be of interest, please send it to one of us: (Bblochyoung@gmail.com or dbloch50@hotmail.com).
The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, November 19, in person and via Zoom. You must observe OLLI/GMU Health protocols (see this link). Program activities begin at 1:00; the Zoom session usually opens at 12:45. Coffee, soda, and individual snack packages will be available.
Backups– Presented by Uwe Dotzauer
Every day, we hear about data breaches, ransomware attacks, and catastrophic destruction of business and homes. But untold is the loss of information like digital documents, pictures, and information. In today's world where we live in digital times, who has all their "e-data" property in a safe place?
In his presentation, “The Computer Backup, your lifeline in case of digital emergency,” Mr. Dotzauer will explain the different technologies, media, and methods that you need to succeed! He will talk about several key factors that are important for a worry-free, data-retaining world!
Uwe Dotzauer is a network engineer and computer consultant with more than 20 years of experience. He has specialized in Apple Macintosh technology since 1998 and enjoys educating users about the daily challenges in the "IT World" around us. He graduated from George Mason University with a masters degree in telecommunication and network forensics.
Learn in 30:Downloading Videos from the Web – Presented by John Krout
This Learn in 30 presentation will introduce a free computer application that, given a web page address (URL) for a video, will download a video to local storage on your computer, such as a hard drive, flash drive, or solid-state drive (SSD). It works for both YouTube videos and the educational videos on the PATACS Recent Meetings page. The application is available for Windows, Macintosh, and Ubuntu Linux. After downloading a video, you can copy it to other computers and smartphones and tablets.
John Krout is a frequent presenter at our meetings on a wide range of computer, technology and photography topics, and author of many articles for the PATACS Posts newsletter.
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 085407 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 885 2504 2358 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial in – 301-715-8592.
By Charlotte Joannidis, Mason Environmental Science and Policy Department Master’s Student
As a master’s student in the Environmental Science and Policy Department at Mason, I would like to invite OLLI members to participate in a survey about sustainable packaging. The goal of the survey is to understand how consumers view ten key sustainable packaging concepts used within the personal care product/cosmetics industry and to determine which concepts consumers prefer. This survey is for research purposes only.
If you would like to participate in the survey to be used for research, please click the link below. If you choose to participate you will be asked about your general personal care product/cosmetics use, your willingness to buy packages based on specific features, how you rank the ten packaging concepts against each other, and demographic questions. This survey should take under 15 minutes to complete. The survey will be open for responses until Friday, December 16.
You must be 18 years or older in order to participate.
To take the survey, please click this link. Thank you.
Giving up their gold,
trees float it down in streams
piling up blessings
below, where the old house
dreams a dream of new shingles
coated in gold leaf,
and the patient ground,
taking on its cloth of gold,
pities the bare trees. Caroline McNeil
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket page or the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
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.
Virginia Opera: The Pirates of Penzance Sat, Nov 12, 8:00 Sun, Nov 13, 2:00 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: $110, $70, $40.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Immortal Impromptus Sun, Nov 20, 7:00 Concert Hall A pre-performance “Young Artist Musicale,” featuring piano students of Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association members, will take place from 6:00-6:30 lobby. An interactive question and answer session will conclude this program. Admission: $50, $43, $29.
The 5 Browns Sat, Nov 26, 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: $50, $43, $30.
The Queen’s Cartoonists Sun, Nov. 27, 3:00 Concert Hall Before the performance there will be family-friendly craft activities in the lobby. Admission:$15.
Gallery Exhibit: Elizabeth Hall: Viriditas Nov 8 – Jan 8 Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery Admission: Free.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra: Salute to the Military Sat, Nov 12, 8:00 Merchant Hall A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance. Admission: $48, $41, $28.
Hylton Family Series: SUGAR SKULL! A Día de los Muertos Musical Adventure Sun, Nov 13, 1:00 and 4:00 Merchant Hall Admission: $15.
Company 360 Dance Theatre: AWAY Sat, Nov 19, 2:00 and 7:00 Merchant Hall Admission: Adult $35, senior $25, student and military (active and retired) $20, child
$15.
The Seldom Scene Sat, Nov 19, 5:30 and 8:00 Gregory Family Theater Admission: $30.
Virginia National Ballet: The Nutcracker Fri, Nov 25, 2:00 and 6:30 Merchant Hall Admission: Adult $45, $40, $35; child $30, $25, $20.
Northern Virginia Ballet: The Nutcracker Sat, Nov 26, 2:00 and 6:00 Merchant Hall Admission: Adult $35, senior, youth, and military $25.
Chanticleer Sun, Nov 27, 4:00 Merchant Hall Admission: $55, $47, $33.
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 (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.
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 Nov 12
12:00 noon
10:30 am
Board of Directors Retreat
Tai Chi Club
Mon Nov 14
9:30 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Reading Club
Tue Nov 15
9:30 am
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 16
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
2:00 pm
6:00 pm
Bridge Club
Mah Jongg Club
Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Nov 17
10:00 am
11:50 am
4:30 pm
Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events (HSS/CE) Program Planning Group Meeting (Zoom)
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 18
9:15 am
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
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
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.
tradition lives again! Come and enjoy OLLI’s biggest in-person social event of the season;
You will learn more about the responsibilities of this military unit and the stringent requirements for those selected to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
$20 Adults, $15 Seniors and Students (
