BeverlyCosham,Cabaret Singer and Actress,September 30 in Performance Live and Streamed on the Reston Community Center Facebook Page, with Accompanist Howard Breitbart
From the Desk of the Executive Director Getting the Most Out of Your OLLI Membership
By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director
At the 2018 National Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Annual Conference in North Carolina, National Resource Center (NRC) Director Steve Thaxton remarked, “If you’ve been to one OLLI, you’ve been to one OLLI.” This adorable quip rings true! Of the 125 OLLIs across the country, each is unique—offering homegrown amazing courses, fun social events, and its unique fee structure. Most OLLIs are formally a part of a university and fall under the purview of an academic department or continuing education. Of the 125 OLLIs, OLLI Mason is one of only five 501(c)(3) non-profit affiliates, which are self-governing. The Osher National Resource Center graphic below (Editor's Note: You can zoom in and out on a close-up view by rotating your mouse scroll wheel while holding down the Ctrl key[or Cmd + and CMD - on a Mac]) illustrates how varied OLLIs are across the network.*
Many OLLIs charge a nominal membership fee with added per‑class fees, which quickly increase overall out-of-pocket expense to their members. At OLLI Mason, you enjoy a smorgasbord of courses with no added fees and an archive of recorded classes, plus many university privileges such as College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) performance discounts, library access, and a special low‑cost annual parking pass. OLLI Mason boasts a robust staff and an unprecedented number of volunteers involved with everything from Board service to member services, teaching, and program building. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to OLLI Mason. Your membership and volunteer efforts keep OLLI Mason a standout Institute across the national scene.
*124 OLLIs at the time of the printing of this graphic. Now there are 125 OLLIs.
The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, October 16 via Zoom. Program activities begin at 1:00.
Computers to the Moon – Presented by Mark Schulman. How did the United States manage to land on the moon in the 1960s at a time when PCs didn't exist, and computers were the size of a warehouse? This session examines the history of computers aboard early US spacecraft, leading to the monumental effort to create a computer capable of landing a spacecraft on the moon. While it's easy to believe today that computers back then were primitive playthings, it turns out that ingenious, driven engineers and software developers, even half a century ago, could accomplish amazing things. In this session, you'll learn what they created and how it worked.
Mark Schulman spent his career as an instructor and software designer. He has taught a wide range of programming courses for major corporations and worked on large software development projects. He currently manages the information technology department for a small company that does clinical drug trials, as well as the computers for a small medical practice. His major "geek" interest these days is the computer technology that made the moon landings possible in the 1960s. He lives near Orlando, Florida.
Learn in 30: Life Expectancy of Mac Computers – Presented by Lorrin Garson. Knowing how long to keep a computer and when to replace it invariably comes to “it depends.” So, on what does it depend? There are many factors—e.g., (a) age of the computer, (b) the manufacturer’s warranty and willingness to repair, (c) security issues, (d) a need for more computing power, (e) compatibility of essential applications with the operating system, (f) budget. Also discussed will be the life expectancy of hard disk drives and solid-state drives, which are components likely to fail first. Although the presentation is focused on Apple computers, many of the factors apply to PC/Windows computers as well.
Lorrin is a regular speaker at OPCUG/PATACS sessions on a wide variety of computer and scientific topics.
Attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 1:00. Please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 458615 or enter meeting ID 846 0789 9770 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode.
Someone has been sleeping
in my newly mulched bed
though I don’t know who;
the smooth, packed down indentation
provided no clues.
Shallow holes and scrabbles
in the mulch suggested that the visitor
was looking for breakfast.
Whoever it was vacated the place
before I got out of bed;
Who could the Fresh Air BnB
snoozer-by-night be?
Although I’m not adverse
to providing hospitality,
I must keep in mind
the perils of curiosity.
In the woods
quite near to me.
Humans have reported
seeing foxes, raccoons, a feral cat
and, Heavens to Murgatroyd,
a skunk family.
If any of these creatures
is actually boarding with me,
it’s about time I started
charging a fee. Sandy Myles
Mason’s campuses are in the process of reopening. Limited programs at both Fairfax and Manassas campuses, along with virtual performances, are available for us to access and enjoy. 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 send an email to Brianna Schoen atbschoen@gmu.edu. 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. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.
Gallery Exhibition: Changing Landscapes: The Digital Age, Encroachment, and Eventual Outcomes
Through Sun, Oct 10
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.
Gallery Exhibition: Carroll Sockwell - Grey
Tue, Oct 12 through Sun, Nov 14
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.
Prince William Little Theatre: Dial "M" for Murder
Fri, Oct 8 and 15, 8:00
Sat, Oct 9 and 16, 8:00
Sun, Oct 10 and 17, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater Admission: $20 Adults; $17 seniors.
Manassas Chorale: The Roaring Twenties – Then and Now
Sat, Oct 9, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $23, $25.
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Classics Declassified
Sun, Oct 10, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Manassas Ballet Theatre: Dracula
Fri, Oct 15, 7:30
Sat, Oct 16, 7:30
Sun, Oct 17, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $65, $55, $45, $35, $25.
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. 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 9
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Oct 12
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 13
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
Memoir and More Writing Group
Spanish Club
Thu Oct 14
1:15 pm
4:30 pm
Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Meeting
Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 15
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
2:00 pm
Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Chatroom: A Dozen Big Ideas
OLLI Players: The Haunted Carousel
Sat Oct 16
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group Meeting
Tue Oct 19
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Program Planning Group Meeting
Tai Chi Club
Wed Oct 20
4:00 pm
6:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Oct 21
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri Oct 22
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Craft and Conversation
Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee Klatch
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
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, Roz Stark, 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. Search E-News: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News at ENews Archives. To search the content within issues, use Search or enter your search term(s) in Google followed by “site:ollidev2.earthcare.com/” without the quotes.
