- Reminder: The OLLI Thanksgiving Potluck will be held Friday, November 1 at 1:00 at Fairfax Lord of Life Church. Come celebrate our volunteers. See additional information and register for event 1106 at the member portal.
- A preview of winter term courses, including some tasty brunch treats, will take place at United Christian Parish in the coffee room Thursday, November 7 at 11:05. No registration required.
- The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 1; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, October 29, at 6:00.
Board of Directors Meeting Highlights By Marguerite Johnson, SecretaryOLLI President Bill Taylor opened the October 18 Board of Directors meeting thanking committee chairs for their very detailed and informative reports, noting especially the Member Services, Audiovisual Support, and Program Committee reports. Bill commended Rosemary Lubinski, chair of the Outreach Committee, for organizing a full schedule of outreach events for the fall term. These included OLLI presentations at the Burke Farmers Market, the AARP Boomer Academy, the Ashby Ponds retirement community, the Venture Into Volunteering fair at the Dulles Expo Center, the Fairfax Fall Festival, and two sessions for near-term retirees at the US Government Schultz Training Center. Rosemary welcomes volunteers and suggestions from OLLI members.Executive Director Jennifer Disano reported that OLLI total membership is 1,151 (annual 1,080 and introductory 71). She met with the George Mason head engineer and design staff to discuss the ramp project at Tallwood. Mason will be conducting a feasibility review before plans can go forward.The Finance Committee presented a budget proposal for 2020 that includes a $15 increase in dues. The Board will consider a formal resolution at the November 15 Board meeting.
Watercolor Painting Instructor Needed By Linda Gersten, OLLI Member and PainterFor more than 15 years, OLLI has offered a drawing class and a watercolor painting class at the Tallwood campus. In the last few years, we (former students of those classes) have created more courses: a beginning class in sketching and watercolor painting, an advanced drawing class, a class to continue practicing either skill, and an art club. Our advanced watercolor painting class has lost its instructor due to health issues. Some of us are covering this term’s course but are unable to teach the course in future semesters.This watercolor class was one of the first classes I signed up for when I joined OLLI 12 years ago. I am amazed and pleased with all I have been able to learn and have found many kindred souls within our art classes. I feel very strongly that it would be a shame to lose this class and weaken a program that we have worked so hard to grow. I would like to appeal to all fellow OLLI members. If you or someone you know has a background in watercolor painting or art and would like to volunteer the time to teach this class, we would be extremely grateful. Please send me your or their contact information and I will pass it on to the proper party. My e-mail address is lindatgersten@gmail.com.
Let’s Give Our Regards to Dan Sherman By Marianne Metz, Board MemberSomething’s Coming, Something Good: The Theater Music of Leonard Bernstein More I Cannot Wish You: The Songs of Frank Loesser
Putting the Rainbow into The Wizard of Oz: The Lyrics of Yip Harburg
On the Street Where He Lived: The Musicals of Alan Jay Lerner Hamilton: The Man and the MusicalThese are the titles of just five of the nearly 30 classes taught by Dan Sherman at OLLI. As suggested by these titles, he started his years with OLLI Mason specializing in classes about classic songwriters. Eventually he branched out into Frank Lloyd Wright, the Rockefellers, recreational mathematics, the Galapagos Islands, and other areas of interest to his wide-ranging intellect. No matter what the subject, Dan’s presentations were always enlightening and enjoyable – and among the best at OLLI – winning him devoted fans.Now that Dan is moving away from the area, we want to let him know how much we appreciate his wonderful classes at OLLI over the years. Ginge Sivigny is spearheading a campaign to create a scrapbook for Dan. The scrapbook will sit in the Social Room at Tallwood, just waiting for you to fill its pages with your notes and recollections. Insert a note or card, or write a message directly on one of the pages. After a couple of weeks, the bulging book will be forwarded to Dan. If you cannot get to Tallwood, please send your message to Ginge at sivigny@verizon.net, and she will transfer it to the scrapbook.
I’ve never flown First Class, nor spent the night sleeping in trees
While camping in the jungle on a deluxe African tour.
I’ve never sipped martinis, stirred, in Monaco’s casino,
Nor strutted down the beach at St. Tropez sipping Campari.
I’ve never hopped my private jet for lunch at Tour d’Argent
Then dined in London prior to a Knighting by the Queen;
I’ve never hosted Galas for celebrity awards,
The best I’ve done is half-price pizza after Nats have won.
Am I a failure? That depends. What do you call a Win?
I call a smile from a friend you’ve lent a helping hand
More gratifying than a black tie skewered jumbo shrimp affair
Or the accolades of blank applause for this year’s empty prize.
A treasured life experience, like nacre ‘round a pearl
Transforms a little irritant into a gem of joy.
The pleasures we should seek are not what paparazzi value
True value radiates like lanterns in the dark.
If you absorb more than emit, you’ve earned fifteen-minute Fame;
A life of serving others is more worthy of acclaim.
When I am gone, my fervent hope is that it will be plain
I lived my life in hope I’d leave this world with a net gain.
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.
Mason Student and Faculty Performances (see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)Percussion Ensemble Concert
Sun, Oct 27, 4:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.Mason School of Theater: Rags
Thu, Oct 31 through Sat, Nov 2, 8:00
Sat, Nov 2, 2:00
Sun, Nov 3, 4:00
Admission: $30 Adults; $15 seniors.New Sound Collective Concert
Sat, Nov 2, 6:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001
Admission: Free.Jazz Combos/Steel Pan Ensemble Concert
Mon, Nov 4, 8:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001
Admission: Free.
Gallery Exhibit: Lory Ivey Alexander
Sep 10-Oct 26
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00.
Admission: Free.
Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Innovative Brilliance
Saturday, Oct 26, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20 Adults; $16 seniors.
RESCHEDULED: Bumper Jacksons
This performance date has been moved from October 26, 2019, to May 15, 2020.
Gallery Exhibit: Exploring Identity with Women Veterans
Oct 29-Dec 7
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00.
Gallery Reception: Nov 7 from 6:00–8:00.
Gallery receptions are free and open to the public. Please RSVP to smeyer3@gmu.edu.
Admission: Free.
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. (bolded below).
Sat Oct 26
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3CANCELED
Wed Oct 30
1:45pm
Bridge Club–TA-3
Fri Nov 1
10:00am
1:00pm
Annual Town Hall Meeting–TA-1
Thanksgiving Potluck–Fairfax Lord of Life
Sat Nov 2
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Mon Nov 4
10:00am
10:00am
Reston Program Planning Group Meeting–UCP Room 117
Hospitality Committee Meeting–Annex
Wed Nov 6
1:30pm
1:45pm
2:15pm
Mah Jongg Club–Annex
Bridge Club–TA-3
History Club–TA-1
Thu Nov 7
2:15pm
Reston Book Club–UCP Room 117
Fri Nov 8
9:15am
9:30am
9:30am
11:00am
11:00am
1:00pm
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Photography Club–TA-1
Crafts and Conversation Group–Annex
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex OLLI Veterans Day Celebration–TA-1
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.
