Enews26-20

September 25, 2020

• Alerts & Notices
• Board Meeting Highlights
• Tallwood Book Club
• Reston Book Club
• Photo of the Month
• Poet's Corner
• Arts & Music at George Mason
• Meetings & Clubs
• About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

• Reminder: Remember that your best viewing of E-News is obtained by viewing the email in your browser (link near top right of the screen). Also, you can magnify the image by zooming in; on a PC, use Ctrl-mouse scroll wheel to enlarge, and on a Mac, use Command-plus (+) to enlarge.
• Note: Each day, all current OLLI members receive a “Daily Schedule” email with a list of the Zoom links and passcodes for all of the classes offered that day (passcodes are now required; not to be shared with non-members).
• The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, October 2; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, September 29, at 6:00.

Back to Top of Page

President Paul Howard opened the meeting by recognizing the retirement of John West and Rod Zumbro and their service as assistant webmasters for OLLI’s web presence. He also gave continued kudos to the Outreach Committee who continually contact members about their experience with OLLI in hopes that we can do a better job for everyone. Many members miss the social aspect of OLLI, and he noted that we may need to form an ad hoc committee to work on this.

The Board approved the meeting agenda, the minutes of the July 2020 Board meeting, and the minutes of the Executive Committee meetings July-August 2020.

The president’s report noted the great line-up of classes and activities for the fall term. It also noted the success of our incentive membership promotion.

In new business, the Board resolved to approve $24,500 in scholarships/grants for 2020 from Friends of OLLI funds, including scholarships for Mason departments, a university library grant, a scholarship for a student transferring from Northern Virginia Community College to Mason, a scholarship to purchase books for the Mason maintenance staff, and support for the Fall for the Book festival. The approval was unanimous.

Jennifer Disano’s Executive Director’s report noted that total membership is 1,064, 1,041 full memberships and 23 trial memberships. OLLI may have more staff for fall, but payroll is still within the budget. She is awaiting guidance from the Mason provost office regarding Mason facilities. The OLLI 30th anniversary committee envisions celebrations all year in 2021. If you are interested in supporting that effort, please attend the meetings. Angie and Dave Talaber are co-chairs.

Treasurer David Osterman addressed anticipated changes to the 2020-2021 budget. A big change depends on whether we will be on campus for spring 2021. Right now, plans are to be on campus if possible, but a hybrid model would see a few classes on campus with most online. For budget purposes, the on-campus plan would be more expensive. Member enrollment drives the budget. We are projected to have a surplus in 2020 of $70,000 - $80,000 because when we are on campus, we typically spend $50,000 - $55,000 per month and now are spending $42,000 a month, a monthly savings of $8,000-$9,000. Those savings can cover any deficit in 2021.

Lillian Brooks, chair of the committee to review and update the OLLI Board Handbook, presented an interim report on the committee’s effort. The committee has reviewed the handbook and is revising and updating as needed. It is anticipated that the effort will result in a revised document titled OLLI Policies and Procedures Manual.

Back to Top of Page

October: Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead;
November: Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly.

These Zoom meetings of the club occur on the second Friday each month at 2:30. For direct links and passcodes, log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

For further information please contact Betty Ellerbee at ellerbetty1@gmail.com.

Back to Top of Page

By Nancy Scheeler and Luci Martel, Reston Book Club Coordinators

The Reston Book Club will meet on Thursday, October 8, at 4:00. via Zoom. For direct links and passcodes, log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.

The selection will be: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak, which was shortlisted for the 2019 Booker Prize. The book is about a woman who has been brutally assaulted and left for dead in a trash bin in Istanbul. The title comes from the notion that the human mind continues to operate for a few minutes after physical death and the author uses this to unspool the woman’s life story. Interspersed with these memories are brief vignettes dedicated to each of the woman’s five friends. Those planning to attend should make sure they are signed up for the Reston Book Club to ensure they receive the member sign-in and password to access.

Back to Top of Page

        -- By John Olsen and Edward Marion, Photography Club Coordinators

Back to Top of Page

Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason's guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised information.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office; for meeting data and direct web links, log in at the member portal and refer to the table of classes, events, and clubs. 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.

Back to Top of Page

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.

Back to Top of Page