By Marilyn Harriman and Bob Heyer, Board Members and Walk & Talk Club Coordinators
Reminder! Next Monday, September 19, we meet at 8:00 and will walk trails around OLLI Tallwood for 45 minutes. Meet at the picnic tables in the breezeway adjacent to the restroom building.
If you plan to attend, please email Marilyn (mlwharriman74@gmail.com) or Bob (rheyer@verizon.net) with your “yes” so we’ll know to wait for you. If you are running late, please call one of us on our cell phones: Marilyn at 703-725-0965; Bob at 571-214-8597.
In case of rain, we will text you and reschedule the walk for Tuesday, September 20, at the same time and meeting place.
On Monday, September 12, 13 walkers had the opportunity to see Mason District Park, a beautiful park that we never realized had so many paths and facilities.
THANK YOU to Michael Nephew as a wonderful guide. Without him, we would still be lost in the woods! We walked up and down dirt paths across quaint bridges, gravel paths along the meandering stream, and then a few paved tracks across the steel bridge, enjoying the beauty of walking among many large, tall trees, fall leaves, and newly planted and protected trees!
We are so lucky to have Fairfax County keep up these parks. Along the path, we found a wonderful concrete pavilion with many in-ground benches for free concerts during the summer, six tennis courts, and a jungle-gym play area.
There is also a doggie park. At one point, at the top of a hill in the attached picture (Tony Harriman took the picture), Michael stopped to tell us where five different paths went among trees all around; someone said, “Ah, Seven Corners in the woods!”
We also noted areas were missing low growth due to deer in the area, and a few orange signs indicating hunting deer this fall. We had a great time in a beautiful forest, interrupted only by conversations among our 14 walkers.
Thanks to Michael Nephew's guidance, we did wonderfully well, enjoying a great Fairfax County park. We will do this again in Mason District Park and cover different trails.
By Michele Romano, Health Advisory Committee Chair
The news is good. COVID-19 is on the decline in Fairfax County. Cases per 100,000 have dropped from 262 on July 16 to 116.8 as of September 12. The infectivity rate (R0) has been < 1.0 since August 11, indicating that the disease is on the decline. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) places us in the low-risk category (Green). However, we know this could change as we get closer to the winter respiratory season; fingers crossed.
Here is what OLLI is doing to help decrease the risk:
A link is posted on the Daily Schedule with our health and safety protocols.
OLLI requires that all members and staff coming to campus be fully vaccinated.
OLLI continues to urge everyone who is at higher risk, has concerns, or feels uncomfortable, to wear a mask. Check out Chris Narbut’s mask review in the E-News (September 2) as well as the CDC website for further guidance.
Masks continue to be mandated on all OLLI and Mason group transportation.
We have excellent air filters and hand sanitizers everywhere.
The 2023 winter term (when the risk of respiratory infections is highest) will be via Zoom only.
The Health Advisory Workgroup will continue to monitor CDC, Fairfax County, and Virginia Department of Health tracking websites. If things start to change, we will notify the Board and OLLI members via email, E-News, or E-Blast asap.
Look for a variety of health-related topics and updates (both good and bad) in the E-News.
What can OLLI members do:
Stay up to date on all vaccines and boosters.
Stay current on risk, spread, and guidelines via COVID websites (see above).
If you choose to wear a mask, be sure it’s a good one.
Stay home and test if you are sick.
Stay up to date on CDC, Mason, and OLLI health and safety protocols.
We are at higher risk because of our age and the vulnerabilities that go with it (e.g., heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, weakened immune system). But we take those vulnerabilities with us wherever we go (e.g., concerts, weddings, funerals, church, air travel, graduations, babysitting, dining out). OLLI is probably one of the safest gathering venues because:
Our age group takes our health seriously.
We are all vaxxed and most are boosted.
We are conscientious and responsible; we won’t knowingly put other members at risk.
We are intelligent and capable of making the best choices for ourselves and our families.
I doubt you will find this level of precaution anywhere else. You are probably better off on an OLLI campus than anywhere else you go. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you can email me at tufax2@gmail.com.
What are OLLI Program Planning Groups and What Do They Do?
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Cochair
So happy you asked! OLLI program planning groups are OLLI member volunteers responsible for reviewing and selecting course proposals each quarter. There are thirteen 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 persons who 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 the ability to encourage people to present courses at OLLI. Program planning group members often work together to create, support, or present a class; many groups now meet via Zoom.
Keep in mind that no presenter receives monetary compensation for teaching at OLLI/GMU. 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 at mimihodges4@gmail.com or Peggy O’Brien at 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 the preceding issue of OLLI E-News. It is repeated here at the author’s request to encourage member participation.
“That class on Synergies between Climate Change, Human Rights, and Race was great!”
“I loved the instructor who taught Black Flags and Red Lines...”
“Your friend’s class on Defeating Isis was so informative.”
“That instructor sure knows a lot about gender issues!”
“I just registered for 981Z!”
What do all these classes have in common? Well, they were taught by instructors recruited by someone at OLLI who knows them personally.
Have you loved certain OLLI classes? Are there particular kinds of classes you like or would like to see more of? Have you wondered how OLLI gets its rich assortment of diverse offerings? OLLI’s program planning groups do a fabulous job recruiting instructors and you may join any of these groups. But you don’t have to be a program planner to influence what courses get on the schedule.
Many of the instructors and topics come to OLLI because members like you ask people they know to teach at OLLI. Do you go to a vet, the doctor, church, or have friends who teach or who are in the military or government? Do you have friends or family members with special expertise, skills, hobbies, or talents? Any member may reach out to people they know or someone they meet and ask them to teach at OLLI. Potential instructors don’t have to have a teaching background or experience in lecturing. If you know someone you think would make a wonderful contribution to our program, have him or her complete the course proposal form: https://ollidev2.earthcare.com/olli-course-proposal-form/ or emailsmorrow4@gmu.eduor nklein4@gmu.edufor more information. If you want to join a program planning group, you will be welcomed, but even if you just want to start small, you too can participate in OLLI programming!
The September 2022 Photo of the Month theme was night photography. We selected Lynne Cline's photo "Artemis-1 on the Launch Pad" which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.
-- By John Olsen and Ed Marion, Photography Club Coordinators
By Dr. Linda Apple Monson, Director, Mason School of Music
Mason Musical Season
The fall Mason musical season opens with a celebration performance by faculty and students led by Dr. Linda Apple Monson on Sunday, September 18 at 3:00 in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.
Arts by George
Arts by George!has raised more than $2 million since it began in 2006. This annual benefit event supports student scholarships at George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. The evening begins on September 24 by showcasing the remarkable talents of Mason students amid an array of spectacular food and beverages, and culminates with a performance at 8:30 by Kristin Chenoweth. Admission: $350.
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 CFAticket pageor the Hylton Centerticket 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 web page 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 atthis link to stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a websiteMason 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 theHylton ticket purchase page.
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 Sep 17
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Sep 19
9:30 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Sep 20
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Sep 21
1:45 pm
1:45 pm
2:00 pm
Bridge Club
Mah Jongg Club
Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Sep 22
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri Sep 23
9:15 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
Sat Sep 24
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Sep 26
9:30 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Sep 27
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Wed Sep 28
1:45 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Mah Jongg Club
Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu Sep 29
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Sep 30
9:15 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
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, 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.
Park, a beautiful park that we never realized had so many paths and facilities.
found a wonderful concrete pavilion with many in-ground benches for free concerts during the summer, six tennis courts, and a jungle-gym play area. 
Arts by George! 
Academy
