Reminder: The literature, theater, writing, and language (LLT) program planning group will meet on Tuesday, June 6, at 10:00 via Zoom. See article below for Zoom link. All members welcome.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 16; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 13, at 6:00.
Literature, Theater, and Writing/ Languages Program Planning Group to Meet June 6
By Patricia Bangs, LLT Program Planning Group Co‑Chair
What: LLT Program Planning Group meeting
Mark your calendars for our semi-annual all-campus program planning group meeting for OLLI's Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages (LLT) program on Tuesday, June 6 at 10:00 via Zoom.
We will be reviewing past terms and looking forward to planning for the 2024 winter term and beyond. All OLLI members can contribute to the excellent programming offered to our membership. Bring ideas for literature, theater, or writing/languages programs, as well as instructor resources.
Join Via Zoom: At this link, Meeting ID: 998 5301 2947
Congratulations, New Members of the Board of Directors
By Marilyn Harriman, OLLI Board 2023 Nominating Committee Chair
Congratulations to our five newly-elected Board of Directors Members: Peter Ansoff, Debbie Engleson, Bob Heyer, Harry Johnson, and Emily Roudebush (see photos at the top of this issue). Each serves a three-year term of office, which ends June 2026.
Two of the five, Peter Ansoff and Bob Heyer, begin their second elected three-year term today. With the selections, we say goodbye and a big Thank You to four outgoing Board members: Mel Russell, Gloria Loew, David Osterman, and Paul Howard. Each served as an officer during service on the Board.
This year’s election brought out the largest percentage of voters our OLLI office administrator can recall, with 43% of our members voting.
As I complete my responsibilities as Nominating Committee chair, I want to recognize the Nominating Committee members. They helped make this year’s election successful: Toni Acton, Steve Effros, Al Smuzynski, and Doris Weisman. Their efforts to revitalize candidate criteria and recruit stellar candidates for our post-pandemic world enhanced this year’s nominating process.
At today’s Board meeting, the new board of 15 will elect a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer for the 2023-2024 year. All OLLI members are invited and encouraged to attend Board meetings, either in person or on Zoom. Meetings are generally held on the third Friday of July, September, October, November, January, February, March, and April. A special Board meeting to elect officers is held on the first Friday in June.
Don’t miss out on enjoying the camaraderie of OLLI friends and the emerging signs of summer at Burke Lake Park June 9, 11:30 – 2:30. Bring your picnic basket lunch and share conversation with new and old acquaintances.
Lemonade and soft drinks will be provided. Afterward, we’ll play a friendly round of putt putt golf just steps from our picnic area. The $15 fee pays for the picnic shelter rental and your golf game (golf clubs and ball included in fee).
Reservations and payment in advance are required for this event. To join in the fun, register through our registrar at ollireg@gmu.edu or call 703-503-3384.
You can also always register online through the member portal: Event #1206. Reservations must be made by the end of the business day on Monday, June 5, and the $15 fee (credit card) is due at the time of registration.
Directions to the park, the picnic area parking, and putt putt golf course will be sent to all registrants prior to the event.
The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), and with Washington Apple Pi, on Saturday, June 17, in person and via Zoom. The Zoom session usually opens at 12:45.
Amateur Radio Ballooning – Presented by Martin Rothfield W6MRR Martin will discuss amateur radio High Altitude Balloons (HABs) and pico balloons. The two types are different in construction, flight characteristics, and duration. The HABs are made from latex and rise until bursting at very high altitude. After a HAB bursts, a parachute is used to safely recover the payload. Pico balloons are made of plastic and do not stretch. They float at a lower altitude for very long duration flights. Because HABs can carry significant weight and travel for a short time, they are typically battery powered. Because of weight constraints and long exposure to cold, pico balloons can't use batteries. Worldwide GPS position reporting is done with several standard amateur radio systems.
The National Weather Service (NWS) launches a large number of radiosondes balloons to collect weather data. Chasing after the radiosondes is a hobby as well. The NWS tracks our pico balloons to verify their predictions. Amateur radio ballooning is a great way to learn about the atmosphere and to experiment with new technologies. It is also a lot of fun!
Martin Rothfield W6MRR got his FCC amateur extra radio license in 2010 to participate in MakeMagazine's "Hackerspaces in Space" competition with HacDC (a hackerspace in DC). HacDC lost, but he continued launching countless high altitude and pico balloons with a number of organizations. Payloads have included many cameras, a crossband repeater, a Geiger counter, and devices for environmental and biological sampling. He got started in the industry designing chips for signal processors and has worked in design of satellites, meteor burst communications (MBC), avionics, and secure communications. W6MRR received Electrical Engineering (EE) degrees from the University of Maryland and Tufts.
What’s New with Tech? – Presented by Rob Pegoraro Rob will bring us up to date with the latest in the technology realm, from attending trade shows, exhibitions, equipment introductions and journalism assignments across the nation and around the world.
Rob Pegararo was the Washington Post’s Personal Tech columnist from 1999 to 2011, and now free-lances for a variety of publications, web sites, and other on-line media.
To attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45, please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 425219 (Note: enter passcode with NO spaces) or enter meeting ID 838 7155 8407 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode (preferred method) or dial in – 301-715-8592.
Wednesday Team Bloch Conversations – June 7 and June 14
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate Zoom discussions at 4:00 on June 7 (topic "Climate Change" and June 14 (topic “Airline Preferences").
June 7: Weather is short-term; climate is long-term. What do we know about climate change, both from our information sources and from our own local, personal observations? And how will it affect our futures and the futures of the next generation(s)? Can we as individuals do anything meaningful to make a difference?
June 14: Continuing with travel topics: Is having status with a particular airline (e.g., frequent flyer status) important to you? Do you choose based on a credit card membership program? Is the food better on one airline or the other? Do you consider alliances when booking flights (e.g., Star Alliance, Oneworld, SkyTeam)? Do you use sites like Kayak to search for the best options to your desired destination? What is your opinion on the Southwest boarding process? Are there specific airlines that you avoid? Or are you always content to let someone else make those decisions (a tour operator, your travel companions)? Everyone has different approaches, and it is interesting to learn about other techniques and preferences.
Check your daily schedule for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some social time with Team Bloch.
Mason Jazz Camp and Associated Free Concerts in June
By Darden Purcell, D.M.A., Mason Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice
Mason’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music is hosting the Mason Jazz Camp June 19–23. Part of this camp is offering concerts each afternoon in the Center for the Arts (CFA) at Mason; the time is 3:30‑4:30 June 19-22 and 2:00‑4:00 on June 23. The concerts are FREE and open to the public (no tickets or camp registration needed) with FREE Parking in Lot K. We hope you will join us for these outstanding events listed briefly below. Click here to read three pages with more detailed information on the Mason Jazz Camp 2023 artists.
Mon Jun 19, 3:30:The US Army Blues – The Army Blues is the premier jazz ensemble of the US Army. Tue Jun 20, 3:30: Mike Kamuf Little Big Band – This jazz ensemble brings together eight talented musicians from the Washington DC/Baltimore region performing original compositions and arrangements by Mike Kamuf, as well as jazz standards and selections from the Great American Songbook.
Wed Jun 21, 3:30:Warren Wolf – The Mason Jazz Camp presents our special guest artist, Mack Avenue recording artist, vibraphonist, drummer, and pianist, Warren Wolf! Thu Jun 22, 3:30:Faculty Showcase – The Mason Jazz Camp faculty perform a special showcase! Artists include performers on various instruments, as well as voice.
Fri Jun 23, 2:00 (note time):Student Showcase – Participants in the Mason Jazz camp perform a student showcase to conclude the week-long camp!
We met distributing food to immigrants. You, an immigrant
now a citizen, wanted to help. I invited you in, wanted you
to feel included, told you so numerous times.
You became too included. People sought your advice, asked you
to do things I used to do. We’d bantered, joked, and teased until
I took offense, thought you were disrespecting, being too familiar.
Used harsh tones responding to that tease. Spitting out words like a wood chopper pulverizing live branches into blurry strands
of miscommunication. I was shocked by my reaction.
A void appeared, like a floating red tide, now needing attention.
Girding myself, I apologized for my harsh words asking we no
longer tease. First, you were silent then said, “No problem.”
It will take time not to see you as a threat
but the outsider, now insider,
doing what we both want to do –
distribute food to immigrant families.
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 Center ticket purchase page.
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.
Creative and Performing Arts Center: FENCES
Fri, Jun 2, 7:00
Sat, Jun 3, 3:00 and 7:00
Sun, Jun 4, 3:00
Fri, Jun 9, 7:00
Sat, Jun 10, 3:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30 Adult, $17 senior.
Manassas Chorale: From Sea to Shining Sea
Fri, Jun 2, 7:30
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Admission: $25 Adult, $23 senior.
Showcase Dance Studio: Raise the Barre
Sun, Jun 11, 11:00 and 4:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.
Manassas Ballet Theatre: Coppéliaand MORE!
Thu, Jun 15, 7:30
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.
Virginia Dance Center: Dancing Upon a Dream
Sat, Jun 17 at 12:00 and 5:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Admission: $22.
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. 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 Jun 3
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Jun 5
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Bridge Club
Poetry Reading Club
Tue Jun 6
9:30 am
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jun 7
10:30 am
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Investment Forum
Spanish Club
Weekly Conversations: Doris and Brenda (Team Bloch)
Thu Jun 8
11:50 am
12:15 pm
4:30 pm
All the News
Excursions Committee Meeting
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jun 9
9:30 am
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Burke Lake Picnic and Mini-Golf
Cooking Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tallwood Book Club
Sat Jun 10
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Jun 12
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Bridge Club
Poetry Writing Club
Tue Jun 13
9:30 am
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jun 14
10:30 am
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Investment Forum
Memoire and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
Weekly Conversations: Doris and Brenda (Team Bloch)
Thu Jun 15
11:50 am
4:30 pm
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jun 16
9:30 am
11:00 am
1:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation
Homer, etc.
Stay Active and Independent for Life
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. 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.
Don’t miss out on enjoying the camaraderie of OLLI friends and the emerging signs of summer at Burke Lake Park June 9, 11:30 – 2:30. Bring your picnic basket lunch and share conversation with new and old acquaintances.
Martin will discuss amateur radio High Altitude Balloons (HABs) and pico balloons. The two types are different in construction, flight characteristics, and duration. The HABs are made from latex and rise until bursting at very high altitude. After a HAB bursts, a parachute is used to safely recover the payload. Pico balloons are made of plastic and do not stretch. They float at a lower altitude for very long duration flights. Because HABs can carry significant weight and travel for a short time, they are typically battery powered. Because of weight constraints and long exposure to cold, pico balloons can't use batteries. Worldwide GPS position reporting is done with several standard amateur radio systems.
Rob will bring us up to date with the latest in the technology realm, from attending trade shows, exhibitions, equipment introductions and journalism assignments across the nation and around the world.
tickets or camp registration needed) with FREE Parking in Lot K. 
from the Great American Songbook.
various instruments, as well as voice.