The third-Saturday meeting of the OLLI Personal Computer User Group (OPCUG) is June 15 (tomorrow!) at 1:00 in TA‑1; social activities in the Annex begin at 12:30. (See article below.)
New and continuing members are welcome to attend the Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee on Thursday, June 20, at 9:30 in the Tallwood Annex.
Meeting of the Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group on Thursday, June 20, at 10:00 in TA‑1. All OLLI members are welcome.
Summer term begins Monday, June 24.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 28; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, June 25, at 6:00.
Board Meeting Highlights By Marguerite Johnson, SecretaryThe Board of Directors met Friday, June 7 at Tallwood in Fairfax. Nominating Committee Chairman Evan Douple conducted the election of Board officers. New officers are President: Bill Taylor, Vice President: Paul Howard, Treasurer: David Osterman, and Secretary: Marguerite Johnson.President Bill Taylor reported that volunteers are needed to work on the Strategic Planning Committee. Bill reported that two special fundraising events were held in May. Each ticket sold for the Victorian afternoon tea at Blenheim House included a $50 donation to Friends of OLLI while each ticket sold for the OLLI Players and Tallwood Trio with Nancy Riley presentation of “Sherlock Bones and the Unfortunate Demise of Elvis” served as a $25 donation to the Office of Military Services at Mason.
Executive Director Jennifer Disano reported that, as of May 31, OLLI total membership is 1,103 (annual membership 1,091 and term membership 12). She encourages members to act as ambassadors for OLLI because one of the best recruitment tools is personal contact. OLLI business cards and car magnets may be picked up in the OLLI office. Jennifer is still pursuing outreach contacts. She is available to speak at retirement seminars suggested by the membership. She will be out of the office from June 15-22.
Mason facilities completed trimming the trees and all other maintenance at Tallwood. The air conditioning unit that serves the office and TA-1 has been replaced by Mason at no cost to OLLI. Mike Emery has begun working as Tallwood site assistant.
The Board approved two resolutions: (1) identifying those Board officers with authority to sign checks, and (2) the establishment of an ad hoc committee to support OLLI’s 30th anniversary in 2021.
Winter Term 2020 Course Proposals Due July 29 By Alice Slayton Clark, Communications and Program AssociateCalling all longstanding and new OLLI instructors! Please be aware that the deadline for course proposals for winter term 2020 is July 29. Winter term 2020 runs from January 27 – February 21. If you haven’t submitted your proposal yet, please do so soon to ensure we will have space for your offering. Your description does not need to be catalog-ready for you to submit, but your submission allows us to save you a spot on the calendar. The earlier you submit, the more likely we can fit your offering into the term and provide you with your preferred dates for the class. Spaces fill up quickly, so act soon!
If you need more time, the deadline for course proposals for spring term 2020 is October 11, 2019. Spring term 2020 runs from March 30-May 22. We encourage all to send in offerings!
You can find the course proposal form at: https://ollidev2.earthcare.com/olli-course-proposal-form/. Please fill it out in its entirety, click “submit,” and the OLLI program planners will be in touch with you soon thereafter about your offering. Thanks for your support for OLLI programming!
Want to See More Science, Technology, and Health Courses at OLLI? By John Acton, Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Co-ChairThen please come join us at the next meeting of the Science, Technology, and Health (ST&H) Program Planning Committee on Thursday, June 20, from 10:00 to 12:00, in TA-1 at the Tallwood campus.Please come share your thoughts on the evolving lineup of ST&H courses planned for the coming terms and your ideas on how we can do more to bring the OLLI community the best in ST&H-related topics in the future.
Dr. Spencer Crew, Mason Instructor, Honored by NMAAHC By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences Program Planning Group Co-ChairIf you have had the honor of working with Dr. Spencer Crew or witnessing his presentations, consider yourself fortunate. Dr. Crew was recently appointed as the interim director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). This follows the appointment of Dr. Lonnie Bunch III, former director of the NMAAHC, to the position of secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and education complex. Dr. Crew worked with the National Museum of American History in 1981 and has served as a guest curator for the NMAAHC.As a distinguished Robinson Professor of American, African American, and public history at Mason, Dr. Crew has participated in teaching OLLI-related courses including “The History of Fairfax County’s African American Communities” during the Fairfax 275th Anniversary series. At that event he spoke at the Harris Theatre under the heading “Underground Railroad Scholar Talks Slavery in America.” Over the past two years, several OLLI members have worked with students in Dr. Crew’s Mason Honors course “History of the Family.” I was fortunate to have been among the first group of OLLI members to participate in this class. Due to his new interim Smithsonian appointment, Dr. Crew will be on a leave of absence for the fall 2019 semester at Mason.
We at OLLI-Mason are honored to have worked with Dr. Crew and wish him continued success in his newest role—sustaining the success of the NMAAHC.
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, June 15, at Tallwood. Join us at 12:30 for socializing in the Annex. Program activities begin at 1:00 in TA-1.
Google: MUCH More Than Search, presentation by Andy Livingston (Starts at 1:20) – In this highly interactive class, learn and do better all things that are Google, such as Gmail; search tips; organize photos w/Google photos; create Google Docs; create a personalized/shared calendar; make free phone calls w/Google Voice; learn about Google Docs; download books, apps, music, and more from the Google Play store; use Google Keep to take notes; Google Translate for over 50 languages; and much more. (Bring your laptop – and a knee desk to support it – grin!!)
Andy Livingston has over 25 years of sales, business development, marketing, and technical experience in commercial, government, and a variety of vertical markets. His company, LAD Communications and Technology, offers classes and services for folks seeking to learn and use personal computer and related technology, including cable TV alternatives, in their homes and offices (Website).
PC Clinic in the Annex (Club Membership and Registration Required):
Get hands-on help with your computer problems from OPCUG and PATACS experts. Bring in your computer, and we’ll help you lose the ‘blues’ - system slowdowns, unwanted programs, virus, and malware. Be sure to read the Clinic Rules – click this link: http://patacs.org/clinicpat.html.
See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG website. OPCUG dues of $5 for 2019 will be collected at this meeting.
Can’t make the meeting in person? Dues-paid club members may attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45. Send a message to webinarhosts@patacs.org if you plan to attend in this way. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android: https://zoom.us/j/519103813 (Meeting ID: 519 103 813).
Bridge Players Invited By Russell Stone, Bridge Club Co-ChairOLLI Bridge Club seeks new and returning bridge players. All levels of skill from beginners up are welcome to join our friendly and supportive “party bridge” games once a week throughout the year. We currently meet Mondays in TA-3. Gathering begins at 9:30 and three rounds start at 10:00. After each round (4 hands) partners switch around. We keep tabs of individual scores and the top three make the “honor roll” on the Bridge Club blog.While we don’t offer formal instruction (unless we can find someone willing to teach a Beginning Bridge course), it’s a friendly game with plenty of advice and support. So, if you have ever played bridge before, whatever the level, or if you are willing to learn by playing (perhaps with a good bridge book – we have suggestions) please come and join in. Trial visits always welcome.
I sat outside in a garden chair,
The lilacs were blooming, they perfumed the air.
The bluebird house was replete with worms that were
Freeze dried and fragrant awaiting their turn
To fill the beaks of the parent birds
To feed their nestlings, their cries were heard.
I sat outside in a garden chair,
The sun was shining,
Spring was finally here.
Jerry Remson, a member since fall term 2001, died Sunday, June 2, 2019. Jerry taught classes and served for many years as coordinator for the OLLI Bridge Club and the Walking Group. He had retired from a government career as general counsel with the Federal Communications Commission.
His funeral was Wednesday, June 5 at King David Memorial Gardens, 7482 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22042. Further information is available at this link.
Alice Mae Nerenstone
Alice Nerenstone, a recent OLLI member, died on Saturday, June 1, 2019. Her funeral service was Tuesday, June 11 at Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Road, in Triangle, VA. For more information, click this link.
By Dr. Darden Purcell, Mason Director of Jazz Studies
The National Jazz Workshop (NJW) at Mason is pleased to present concerts free and open to the public in the Center for the Arts!
Sunday, June 23, 7:00: United States Navy Commodores
Monday, June 24, 3:30: Jazz History with Jim Carroll
Monday, June 24, 7:00: Jose Andre Montano and Friends
Tuesday, June 25, 3:30: NJW Collegiate Quintet
Tuesday, June 25, 7:00: NJW Alumni Band with Faculty
Wednesday, June 26, 3:30: Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes
Thursday, June 27, 3:30: NJW Faculty Tribute to Ella
Friday, June 28, 11:00: Dixie Power Trio
Friday, June 28, 2:00: NJW Student Showcase
The NJW is our summer camp and we are proud to offer FREE concerts every day. Some days, there are two concerts.
For more details regarding the NJW camp and weekly concerts, contact Darden Purcell at dpurcel2@gmu.edu.
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. (Note: Although not listed separately in the categories that follow, there are several free concerts offered at the Center for the Arts in conjunction with the National Jazz Workshop at Mason June 23-28; see immediately preceding article.)
At the Fairfax Campus Venues
National Jazz Workshop 2019
Sun, Jun 23 – Fri, Jun 28, 9:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building
Admission: Free.
Navy Band Commodores
Sun, Jun 23, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free.
Jose Andre Montano and Friends
Mon, Jun 24, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Free.
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.
Dance Etcetera: 38th Annual Spring Concert
Sat, Jun 15, 7:00
Sun, Jun 16, 2:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20.
Virginia Dance Center: Dancing Under the Sea
Sat, Jun 22, 12:00 and 5:00
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 15
10:30am
1:00pm
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Personal Computer User Group–TA-1
Mon Jun 17
9:30am
10:00am
10:00am
12:30pm
What’s in the Daily News?–TA-1
Bridge Club–TA-3
Mah Jongg Club–TA-2
Catalog Meeting–TA-2
Tue Jun 18
9:30am
Annex Art–Annex
Thu Jun 20
9:30am
10:00am
Fairfax Coffee Klatsch–Annex Science, Technology and Health Program Planning Group Meeting–TA-1
Fri Jun 21
9:15am
9:30am
11:00am
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation–Annex
Homer, etc.–Annex
Sat Jun 22
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Mon Jun 24
9:30am
10:00am
11:00am
What’s in the Daily News?–TA-1
Bridge Club–TA-3
Spanish Club–TA-2
Wed Jun 26
1:45pm
Spanish Club–TA-2
Fri Jun 28
9:15am
9:30am
10:00am
11:00am
11:00am
12:00noon
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation–Annex
Theater Lovers’ Group–TA-1
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex
Photography Club–TA-3
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 Bridge Club seeks new and returning bridge players. All levels of skill from beginners up are welcome to join our friendly and supportive “party bridge” games once a week throughout the year. We currently meet Mondays in TA-3. Gathering begins at 9:30 and three rounds start at 10:00. After each round (4 hands) partners switch around. We keep tabs of individual scores and the top three make the “honor roll” on the Bridge Club blog.
