Volunteer Opportunity: Proofreader(s) Needed for OLLI E-News
By Sheri Siesseger, E-News Weekly Editor
We are seeking one or two members to volunteer to proofread E-News. A proofreader’s job is to review all articles for spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, consistency, and clarity. We have, and will provide, guidelines that cover some issues that are specific to E-News.
During OLLI terms we publish weekly starting one week before classes begin, with occasional issues during the between-term periods. The proofreading commitment is typically a period of less than one hour per week. Editors send a draft version to the proofers no later than 6:00 on Wednesday evening (often earlier), and comments must be returned to the editor by 10:00 Thursday morning. Previous experience with proofreading or editing is useful but not required.
A bonus to proofreading E-News is that you will know what is happening at OLLI Mason several days before most other members! If you can help, please contact me via the OLLI E-News mailbox: ollienewseditor@gmail.com.
By Michael Mason, Family History/Genealogy Club Coordinator
Have you always wanted to know more about your family’s past but don’t have a clue about how to get started? Do you enjoy researching your family’s ancestors and discovering new facts about where they came from and what their lives were like? Do you have a fascinating story from your family’s history that you would like to share with others? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please attend the OLLI Family History/Genealogy Club virtual interest meeting on Monday, October 23, from 1:15-2:15. The Zoom link will be in your daily schedule email.
The plan for this new club is to meet every two weeks to discuss methods and techniques for researching family history and share stories about the rediscovered lives of ancestors. If you are interested in joining the club but cannot attend the interest meeting, please send an email to mcmason5@verizon.net to let me know of your interest. I hope to see or hear from you!
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate a Zoom discussion on October 25 on the topic: Let’s Talk about the Baseball Playoffs!
Here we are at the end of October and about to enter into the World Series of 2023. Three of the teams with the best records in the regular season are out—Atlanta Braves, LA Dodgers, and the Orioles! How could this happen? Do you buy the argument that major league baseball expanded the playoffs in 2012 to increase revenue and this is the result? Do the Astros have an edge with their prior playoff experience? Or do the Phillies have the momentum this year? Do you plan to watch the World Series?
Check your daily schedule for the Zoom link on Wednesdays and plan on some baseball discussion with Team Bloch on October 25.
On Friday, November 17, explore your creativity in a relaxed, non-threatening environment at Muse Paint Bar in Fairfax’s Mosaic District. We’ll meet from 2:30-5:00 to enjoy each other’s company, eat some tasty snacks, learn brushstroke tips from a professional artist, and create our own individual works of art.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or haven’t handled a brush since high school, you’ll enjoy painting an original landscape that you’ll take home at the end of the workshop. And who knows? You may want to add it to your holiday décor or use it as a gift.
The $50 fee includes instruction from a professional artist, your paint station, all supplies and smock usage, brownie snack treats and lemonade, and your finished canvas.
After the paint workshop, interested participants will gather at True Food Kitchen across the street for a 5:00 dinner. We’ll share our finished creations over our entrees. The cost of dinner is on your own.
Register by November 12 in the member portal: Party With Paint! Event 1204 (fall). This is a drive-on-your-own event. Free parking is available across the street in a parking garage. If you have questions, contact Marilyn Harriman at mlwharriman74@gmail.com.
sitting quiet
in the painted green rocker
on the screened-in porch,
from the trees comes
a woodpecker’s tapping,
while closer the shallow creek dribbles
where, as children we caught
minnows and crawdads,
only to dump the bucket
prisoners back into their shallow home
when Mama called us to lunch.
the gentle breeze lifts oak and maple leaves
in soft murmurs, matching the rise and fall
of the rocker as my head sinks against the chair
like the whisper of a falling parachute,
its back and forth like a metronome,
lulls me to dreamy slumbers
of times long ago.
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.
Malpaso Dance Company Fri, Oct 20, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, 45 minutes prior to curtain. Concert Hall Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Christian McBride
Sat, Oct 28, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, in the Center for the Arts, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Power and Passion of Beethoven
Sun, Oct 29, 7:00
A pre-performance “Young Artists Musicale,” featuring piano students of Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association members, will take place from 6:00 to 6:30 in the main lobby.
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $29.
David Amoroso: Belleza Brutal
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Through Nov 4
Admission: Free.
ARTFactory’s Rooftop Productions: Kinky Boots
Fri, Oct 20, 7:30
Sat, Oct 21, 7:30
Sun, Oct 22, 2:00
Fri, Oct 27, 7:30
Sat, Oct 28, 7:30
Sun, Oct 29, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30 Adult, $25 senior.
Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Folk Echoes
Sat, Oct 21, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30.
Art of Life Charities: "Lifting Others Up" Gala
Sat, Oct 28, 6:00
Guests will be treated to a performance by American Idol finalist Aaron Kelly. Dinner, art auction, and more during an amazing evening that helps the community.
Tickets artoflifecharities.org/.
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., bolded below. 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 Oct 21
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Tue Oct 24
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 25
11:00 am
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Spanish Club
Bridge Club
Theater Lovers’ Group
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Oct 26
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Ethnic Eats Club
Fri Oct 27
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
1:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Crafts and Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Sat Oct 28
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Oct 31
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tai Chi Club
Wed Nov 1
1:45 pm
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Memoir and More Writing Group
Mah Jongg Club
History Club
Spanish Club
Conversations with Doris & Brenda
Thu Nov 2
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Nov 3
10:00 am
1:00 pm
Annual Town Hall Meeting
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, Tom Appich
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.
