There is a meeting of the Board of Directors at 10:00 on Friday, June 7, in TA-1 at Tallwood. All OLLI members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
The Reston Program Planning Group will meet at 12:30 on Thursday, June 13, in Room 6 at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. All members welcome.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published June 14; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 11, at 6:00.
Board of Directors Election Winners By Evan Douple, Nominating Committee ChairCongratulations to the following members who were newly elected to the OLLI Board of Directors in the 2019 election:Jim Dunphy Fred Kaiser Rosemary Lubinski Marianne Metz Rita Way Carolyn Wyatt
Virginia Delegates Bulova and Collins Address Bipartisan
Perspectives During OLLI Visit By Paul Van Hemel, OLLI E-News Editor and WriterDuring a visit on May 21, 2019, to OLLI-Mason at Fairfax, Virginia delegates David Bulova (D, 37th) and Chris Collins (R, 29th) addressed bipartisan perspectives on issues before the Virginia Assembly. Both stressed the challenges presented by the necessity to deal with as many as 2,000 bills in the short space of time the assembly is in session each year. They noted that although the specific issue on an individual bill may be minor, it is essential to engage in careful dialog to work through the details necessary to resolve problems.Delegate Bulova enumerated several examples of areas demanding the attention of the assembly, such as energy policy as affected by climate change, electric vehicle infrastructure, the infrastructure for walkable communities, housing issues including the guidelines for homeowner and condominium associations, and the regulatory infrastructure for drones to ensure the balance between commercial interests and privacy concerns.Both delegates addressed the importance of public involvement in the legislative process. Both mentioned the challenges of workforce development, citing the critical role of education policies, including the necessity of ensuring that appropriate career models are available at key points in a student’s academic journey. As a result of recent legislation, middle school students will soon be required to take a course exploring career options. Delegate Collins stressed the need for high school students seeking career guidance to have an appropriate range of information about career choices and preparation, not just college-oriented materials.
Delegate Collins also described the impacts of tax code changes, especially as the timing affects those who must file returns.
The visit concluded with an informative session of responses from the delegates to questions from the audience. The discussion included topics as controversial as regulation of abortion, medical and recreational marijuana, and gun ownership. The delegates were in general agreement on most issues, and when their opinions differed, they offered reasons that were thoughtful and substantive.
OLLI Takes Shakespeare to Space! By Alex Bulova, Director of Antony and Cleopatra: In Space!Calling all thespians! This summer, OLLI will be presenting the regional premiere of Antony and Cleopatra: In Space!, and we want you to audition!Directed and adapted by Alex Bulova, Antony and Cleopatra: In Space! reimagines Shakespeare’s classic romantic tragedy as an intergalactic battle for the solar system, presented in the style of a 1930s radio play. This adaptation received its world premiere production at the College of William and Mary, where it was a box-office and critical success. Alex is now pleased to be bringing Antony and Cleopatra to OLLI for a summer production. He is looking for seven talented actors to play a wide variety of roles, as well as a pianist to provide music throughout the show.Alex Bulova is a Fairfax native and a recent graduate of the College of William and Mary. Over the past four years he has directed several hit musicals, including SuperNOVA, The Complete History of Fairfax: The Musical, and The Drowsy Chaperone.
Auditions will be held June 17 at 4210 Roberts Rd, Fairfax, VA, from 1:00 to 2:30. To sign up for auditions, click here. Shakespearean monologues will be provided for auditions. Walk-in auditions are accepted as well. Rehearsals will be held Mondays June 24-July 29 from 1:00 to 2:30. Performance date is tentatively scheduled for August 24. We hope to see you there!
Tallwood Book Club June Reminder By Ceda McGrew, Tallwood Book Club CoordinatorThe Tallwood Book Club will meet on Monday, June 10, at 10:00 at Tallwood. The book for discussion is The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, author of The Nightingale. It is the story of a young family in which the husband has served in Vietnam, is captured, and returns home a damaged man. When he inherits a property in Alaska, the family moves, hoping to make a fresh start, but he cannot shake his demons. Reviewers call it “a tale of a family in crisis and the ultimate test of survival.”All OLLI members are welcome.The title for Monday, July 8, is Where the Crawdad Sings by Delia Owens.
Loudoun Program Planning Meeting By Barbara Wilan, Loudoun Program Planning Group ChairPlease join us on Tuesday, June 11, from 10:00 to 12:00 at Signal Hill to plan the winter term for Loudoun. We look forward to seeing you and hearing your suggestions.If you can't make that meeting but might like to come to future meetings, email me at bwilan@nvcc.edu. Thanks!
Again
When it comes,
As it surely will,
Usually
Without much warning,
Like a well-planned
Night attack against an
Unguarded flank,
Surprising, and
Almost impossible to oppose.
Or often, as some
Coordinated pincers movement,
Or airborne envelopment,
So unexpected as to
Gain immediate ascendency,
Then difficult to contain, or counter by
Some successful counter-attack.
In any case,
Offense will often carry the day
Until blood, time and
Treasure, with
The King’s Last Word,
Are spent:
Phil True, a member from fall term 2004 through2009, died April 6, 2019. He also served as an OLLI instructor in many courses.
He earned degrees in history and geography from Western Michigan University and the University of Chicago. During his career at the Central Intelligence Agency, he was an analyst, manager, and instructor, receiving the Career Intelligence Medal upon retirement. His interests ranged widely in current events, history, gardening, and taking weather observations. He was known for being outgoing, enjoying humor, and encouraging education and vocational pursuits in young people.
There will be a memorial service and celebration of his life at 11:00 on June 8, 2019, at Duncan Memorial Methodist church in Ashland, Virginia. More information is available at this link.
Barry Bortnick
Barry Bortnick, a knowledgeable and respected lyricist and composer who taught well-received classes on American musical theater at OLLI-Mason and OLLIs at other universities, died May 25, 2019. Members remember him for being vibrant, sunny, funny, and charming and found themselves exhilarated by his classes.
His funeral service was Tuesday, May 28, in Clarksburg, MD. Further information is available at this link.
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.
At the Fairfax Campus Venues
National Community Band Festival
Sat, Jun 1, 2:00
deLaski A101, Black Box
Admission: $12 Adults; $8 seniors.
South Riding Dance: Carnival -19 Year Celebration
Fri, Jun 7, 7:00
Sat, Jun 8, 10:00 and 2:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $30 Adults; $25 seniors.
Gallery Exhibit: Jordann Wine
May 19 – July 9
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery.
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00.
Manassas Chorale: Silver Salute (to the Red White and Blue)
Fri, May 31, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20.
Virginia National Ballet: Spring Recital
Sat, Jun 1, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25.
Axial Dance: Elements
Sun, Jun 2, 3:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $10.
Boyle School of Irish Dance: Recital Sun, Jun 2, 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $12.
Showcase Dance Studio: Lights, Camera, Action
Sat, Jun 08, 1:00 and 6:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $22.
Powerworx Dance: Power Up and Dance
Sun, Jun 09, 6:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.
Dance Etcetera: 38th Annual Spring Concert
Sat, Jun 15, 7:00
Sun, Jun 16, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20.
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 Jun 1
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Mon Jun 3
10:00am
10:00am
Bridge Club–TA-3
Mah Jongg Club–TA-2
Fri Jun 7
9:15am
9:30am
10:00am
11:00am
12:30pm
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation–Annex Board of Directors Meeting–TA-1
Homer, etc.–Annex
Dr. Who Club–TA-3
Sat Jun 8
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Mon Jun 10
10:00am
10:00am
Bridge Club–TA-3
Mah Jongg Club–TA-2
Tue Jun 11
10:00am
Spanish Club–TA-2
Thu Jun 13
12:30pm
Reston Program Planning Mtg, Room 6, Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods
Fri Jun 14
9:15am
9:30am
9:30am
11:00am
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Photography Club–TA-1
Craft and Conversation–Annex
Homer, etc.–Annex
Sat Jun 15
10:30am
1:00pm
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Personal Computer User Group–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.
OLLI-Mason at Fairfax, Virginia delegates David Bulova (D, 37th) and Chris Collins (R, 29th) addressed bipartisan perspectives on issues before the Virginia Assembly. Both stressed the challenges presented by the necessity to deal with as many as 2,000 bills in the short space of time the assembly is in session each year. They noted that although the specific issue on an individual bill may be minor, it is essential to engage in careful dialog to work through the details necessary to resolve problems.Delegate Bulova enumerated several examples of areas demanding the attention of the assembly, such as energy policy as affected by climate change, electric vehicle infrastructure, the infrastructure for walkable communities, housing issues including the guidelines for homeowner and condominium associations, and the regulatory infrastructure for drones to ensure the balance between commercial interests and privacy concerns.Both delegates addressed the importance of public involvement in the legislative process. Both mentioned the challenges of workforce development, citing the critical role of education policies, including the necessity of ensuring that appropriate career models are available at key points in a student’s academic journey. As a result of recent legislation, middle school students will soon be required to take a course exploring career options. Delegate Collins stressed the need for high school students seeking career guidance to have an appropriate range of information about career choices and preparation, not just college-oriented materials.
Phil True, a member from fall term 2004 through2009, died April 6, 2019. He also served as an OLLI instructor in many courses.
Barry Bortnick, a knowledgeable and respected lyricist and composer who taught well-received classes on American musical theater at OLLI-Mason and OLLIs at other universities, died May 25, 2019. Members remember him for being vibrant, sunny, funny, and charming and found themselves exhilarated by his classes.