You should receive your catalog for fall term (September 23 – November 15) in early August. Registration period is 9:00 August 20 through noon on August 29.
Free OLLI Players performances of Alex Bulova’s Antony and Cleopatra: In Space! at Harris Theatre, August 3 and 4 at 3:30 each day. See special invitation article below.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, August 2; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, July 30, at 6:00.
By now each OLLI member should have received my letter introducing a new member recruitment initiative for the fall term. OLLI will award a $50 voucher to any current OLLI member who recruits a new annual or introductory member for the fall term. Although we use many other media to get the word out about our excellent programs, we have found that the most effective messenger is YOU. I hope that many of you will take advantage of this extra incentive to bring a friend into our OLLI family. If you have any questions about the program, please contact the OLLI registrar at ollireg@gmu.edu. As always, thank you for your support.
By Rita Way, (substituting for Secretary Marguerite Johnson)
The Board of Directors met Friday, July 19, 2019, at Tallwood in Fairfax (photo by Paul Van Hemel). President Bill Taylor announced the appointment of two new committee chairs:
Rosemary Lubinski has agreed to chair the Outreach Committee and will play a key role in our effort to attract new members. Rosemary is replacing Camille Hodges, who is stepping down.
Rita Way will chair the new ad hoc committee to plan the celebration of OLLI’s 30th anniversary in 2021.
Executive Director Jennifer Disano reported that as of July 8, 2019, OLLI total membership is 1,109 (annual membership 1,095 and term membership is 14). Jennifer encourages all members to be ambassadors for OLLI. Members should note that during the last two weeks of summer term, OLLI is having “open house.” Members are encouraged to bring a friend to a class, if it is not full (check with the office), so they can get a taste of our programs.
TA-1 classroom at Tallwood had to be closed for several weeks because it flooded, following a heavy rainstorm that resulted in flooding of that classroom. Mason maintenance crews took the appropriate measures to dry out the flood. Classes were relocated and none was missed as a result of the emergency. Susan Todenhoft was commended for her quick response in finding available space on incredibly short notice to accommodate the program, uninterrupted. Jennifer thanked Mason, especially the paint-services crews that worked so hard in nearly 100-degree weather.
The Board approved two resolutions, (1) to authorize expenditure for construction of a ramp for accessibility from the upper to lower classrooms at Tallwood; payment will come from a combination of operational and donated funds. Expenditure will be limited to $50,000 without further action by the Board; and (2) to implement, for fall 2019 term only, a $50.00 voucher incentive (not cash) for current OLLI members* to recruit new** OLLI Members.
*Board of Directors members will be ineligible to receive this incentive.
**never having been OLLI members.
The walking group (photo by Doris Bloch) continues to walk weekly and plans to continue through the summer term. Each week brings a different set of walkers and a different route. While classes are in session, we trace our routes near Tallwood. Once OLLI’s summer term is over, we will be exploring other locations, such as local parks and trails. It is a fun way to meet members and get some exercise as well. To receive emails regarding our walking dates/times/locations, please sign up through the OLLI Member portal or for more information, contact Doris Bloch at dbloch50@hotmail.com.
On a July 19 behind-the-scenes tour at Nationals Park, 25 OLLI members got to see parts of the ballpark not usually available to the public and were treated to insider information from Nationals staff. The tour started high above the stadium in the press box with an excellent view of the field. It was interesting to see netting being installed to prevent traumatic injuries from foul balls. We then went to the Gold Glove Suite on the suite level and saw how people can attend games in a luxurious style.
Descending from there to the lower levels of the field, we were able to tour the visiting clubhouse, and from there go through the tunnel to the visitors’ dugout with its unique view of the field. Passing where military members stand for the in-game salute, we then toured the premium Delta seats and the Delta Sky Club, with seats just feet away from the batter's box.
The final stop of the tour was in the Nationals bullpen, where members were able to toe the rubber as if warming up for a Nats game. After the tour, we went to one of the club-level conference rooms, for excellent presentations by Vice President of Ballpark Operations Jonathan Stahl (pictured at left) on running a ballpark and by Jared Blue of the Nationals ticket office on deals for the rest of the season.
Of course, this tour would not have been possible without the assistance of OLLI member Sharyn Stahl, who doubles as Jonathan’s mom! We hope that we will be able to repeat this tour next year. OLLI is also planning a tour to Camden Yards and the nearby Babe Ruth birthplace and museum. Stay tuned! (photos courtesy of Jim Dunphy)
Blast off into the cosmos with the OLLI Players' interstellar production of Antony and Cleopatra: In Space! Set as a 1930s radio play, the show mixes interplanetary power struggles with backstage antics, making for an unforgettable Shakespeare adaptation. Performances will be on August 3 and 4 at 3:30 in the Harris Theatre at George Mason. All are invited and tickets are FREE!
Adapted and directed by Alex Bulova, the show stars OLLI members Joan Garner, Harriet Kaplan, Manuel Pablo, Marianne Metz, Michelle Blandburg, Paulette Lichtman-Panzer, and Peter Markey. Come share the fun!
For more information, the Facebook event for the show is up. If you are on the website, please invite your friends to the show using this link.
We sit in the kitchen, waiting to wake up,
I across from her, knowing not to talk.
I sip my coffee, she her tea.
This is pre-breakfast, pre-water-walking.
We are waiting for our bodies to say, “Proceed.”
I look at her; she looks at me.
Suddenly, we’re chuckling, laughing, guffawing,
The thaw reaches places it hasn’t reached in years.
When people speak of “well-being,”
when they use words like “therapy” and “serendipity,”
this must be what they mean.
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 pageor the Hylton Centerticket purchase page.
At the Fairfax Campus Venues
The Singing Sergeants
Fri, Aug 2, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free.
OLLI Players: Anthony and Cleopatra in Space!
Sat, Aug 3 and Sun, Aug 4, 3:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Festival de Niños 2019
Sun, Aug 4, 4:30
Concert Hall
Admission: $20 Adults; $10 children under 12.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office, with direct web links added when available. 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.
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, Leslie Vandivere,
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. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:ollidev2.earthcare.com/" without the quotes.
The walking group (photo by Doris Bloch) continues to walk weekly and plans to continue through the summer term. Each week brings a different set of walkers and a different route. While classes are in session, we trace our routes near Tallwood. Once OLLI’s summer term is over, we will be exploring other locations, such as local parks and trails. It is a fun way to meet members and get some exercise as well. To receive emails regarding our walking dates/times/locations, please sign up through the OLLI Member portal or for more information, contact Doris Bloch at 
On a July 19 behind-the-scenes tour at Nationals Park, 25 OLLI members got to see parts of the ballpark not usually available to the public and were treated to insider information from Nationals staff. The tour started high above the stadium in the press box with an excellent view of the field. It was interesting to see netting being installed to prevent traumatic injuries from foul balls. We then went to the Gold Glove Suite on the suite level and saw how people can attend games in a luxurious style.
the field. Passing where military members stand for the in-game salute, we then toured the premium Delta seats and the Delta Sky Club, with seats just feet away from the batter's box.
Blast off into the cosmos with the OLLI Players' interstellar production of Antony and Cleopatra: In Space! Set as a 1930s radio play, the show mixes interplanetary power struggles with backstage antics, making for an unforgettable Shakespeare adaptation. Performances will be on August 3 and 4 at 3:30 in the Harris Theatre at George Mason. All are invited and tickets are FREE!