Meeting of the Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages Program Planning Group, Thursday, September 5, at 10:30, in TA‑1 (see Rala Stone article below).
Meeting of the Outreach Committee, Tuesday, September 10, at 10:00 in TA‑1; (see Rosemary Lubinski article below).
Meeting of the Special Events Program Planning Group, Thursday, September 12, 10:00 to 12:00 in the Annex at Tallwood.
Course F906 - Pittsburgh Renaissance is listed under Other Topics in the fall catalog. Class meets Thursdays at 11:50 at the Sherwood Community Center (see Camille Hodges article below).
Special Event 967 – Tour of World War II in Europe will be presented by Indiana author Kayleen Reusser at Tallwood on Friday, September 27 (see Carolyn Kramer article below).
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, September 13; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, September 10, at 6:00.
Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages Program Planning Group Meeting
By Rala Stone, Literature, Theater, and
Writing/Languages Co-chair
Note: This article appeared in the August 2 E-News; it is published here as a reminder.
To all our OLLI literature/theater/writing/languages enthusiasts: Please join us.
What for?
Literature, Theater, and Writing/Languages Program Planning Group meeting.
When?
Thursday, September 5, 10:30-12:00.
Where?
TA-1
Why?
We value your feedback and need your talents and input.
To ensure that our program continues to grow and improve we need your help. Come join us as we look back on the spring and summer classes, preview what's on deck for the fall, and most important, plan for the winter and spring terms. Part of the fun of belonging to a volunteer organization is getting involved with people with whom you share common interests and feeling pride in a program that you have helped to build. We are looking for ideas for new classes and/or any contacts that you may have who might be willing to teach a class. We encourage you to bring an OLLI friend who you know has an interest in these areas.
If you cannot be present at the meeting but have suggestions or new ideas, please contact any member of the committee. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Outreach Needs You By Rosemary Lubinski, Board Member and Outreach Committee ChairNote: This article appeared in the August 2 E-News; it is published here as a reminder.To maintain our vibrant and stimulating programming and audience, we need to attract more members to OLLI. One way to do this is through the Outreach Committee. If you have ideas of how to attract more members or want to participate in outreach programming activities, please join us for our first Outreach Committee meeting of the fall term on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at 10:00 in TA‑1. Continuing and new members are sincerely welcome.Remember that each time you tell a friend or acquaintance about OLLI, YOU are doing outreach. You are an OLLI ambassador. This summer tell a friend about OLLI’s eclectic, thought-provoking programs and the socialization opportunities they provide. Tell friends your story of what you do at OLLI and what it has meant to you. Your enthusiasm is the single best-selling point about OLLI. Help spread the news that OLLI is a treasure to our community. You may also earn an incentive for engaging new members this fall.If you have questions or suggestions or would like to join the committee, please contact Rosemary Lubinski at cdsrosie@buffalo.edu. Every ambassador is helpful, and every suggestion is welcome.
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences Program Planning Group Co-chair
(Note: This article appeared in the August 2 edition of E-News; it is repeated here in case you may not have seen it or noted the course in the "Other Topics" section of the fall 2019 catalog.)
You have no doubt heard of the Harlem Renaissance, but have you heard of the “Pittsburgh Renaissance”? Otherwise known as “The Other Great Black Renaissance,” this period in American history will be thoroughly covered in the fall OLLI course based on the book The Untold Story of Smoketown by Mark Whitaker. Mason professors will discuss the philosophies of W.E.B. DuBois and Alain Locke. Other presenters will share black cultural contributions in the fields of music, baseball, news media, and the arts including works of the playwright August Wilson.
This “not-to-be-missed” OLLI course (F906) will be held at the Stacy Sherwood Community Center located on Old Lee Highway in Fairfax. A full description is found in the Other Topics section of the fall 2019 catalog. The course is titled “The Pittsburgh Renaissance: An Interdisciplinary Approach” and will run Thursdays at 11:50 from September 26 through November 14.
Calling Veterans of World War II
-A Special Invitation
By Carolyn Kramer, Event Coordinator
Just a registration reminder! You will want to take a look in your fall catalog for Special Event 967 – Tour of World War II in Europe: Stories and Photos of Those Who Served, presented by Indiana author Kayleen Reusser at Tallwood on Friday, September 27.
In addition to speaking to groups about World War II topics, Kayleen has a passion for interviewing veterans! In fact, she has interviewed hundreds of vets whose stories have been published in four books. She is especially eager to interview veterans of World War II and would very much like to interview several veterans while she is in our area.
OLLI members who have family, friends, or acquaintances who would be willing to participate in an interview with Kayleen are encouraged to schedule an interview. The interviews will be held at the below-listed Fairfax Tallwood sites of OLLI Mason for the indicated dates and times.
Date
Time
Location
Thursday, September 26
1:30 and 3:00
Office of Jennifer Disano (TA‑2)
Friday, September 27
9:30
TA-2
If interested, or if you have questions, please contact OLLI member Carolyn Kramer at carolynkramer2@verizon.net. Interviewees are asked to bring World War II-era photographs, photo albums, and other memorabilia.
Program Planning groups are meeting soon to choose courses for upcoming terms. Here are some wonderful opportunities to learn about and participate in program planning. We invite all OLLI members to attend any (or all!) of these gatherings to learn about and take part in program planning. You’ll definitely enjoy the camaraderie and lively exchange of ideas, and you’ll have the chance to learn how your program is made. These program planning groups are meeting soon:
Literature, Theater, and Writing Languages
Thursday, September 5, 10:30, TA-1
Humanities and Social Sciences
Monday, September 9, 10:00, Tallwood
Annex
Special Events
Thursday, September 12, 10:00, Tallwood Annex
Art and Music
Monday, September 16, 1:00, Tallwood Annex
Loudoun Planning Group
Tuesday, September 17, 10:30, Mason-in-Loudoun Campus
Also, the second annual Teacher Event meeting will take place on Thursday, September 12, 12:00-1:30, at Tallwood, room TA‑1. Jim Dunphy is inviting OLLI teachers from all sites to come enjoy a pizza lunch, share ideas, and receive important information about teaching at OLLI, including important tips on copyright compliance from Mason special guest presenter Professor Joyce Johnston. Instructors, please contact Jim (dunphyjj@aol.com) if you’re planning to attend. He wants to have plenty of pizza to go around.
Mason-in-Loudoun Parking By Leigh Knox, Loudoun Site AssistantEveryone registered for a class or event at Loudoun will need a new FREE parking permit. The new parking permits will be valid for the entire academic year from September 1, 2019 – August 31, 2020. Permits will be available for pick up on September 16, between 10:00 and 4:00 at the Mason-in-Loudoun office, 21335 Signal Hill Plaza, Sterling, VA 20164, in Suite 130.You may also arrive early on your first day of class and pick it up then. Parking is NOT permitted in the spaces in front of the building, even with an OLLI permit; the only exception is for handicap spaces with the proper state‑issued handicap permit. You may park temporarily in the East Lot while obtaining your new parking permit. Please display the permit noticeably in your front windshield.Because George Mason shares the office building with other tenants, it is important that you park in the correct area. Please park in the East Lot (when facing the building, it is the lot on the left side of the building). If there are no spaces available (which is unlikely), you may park in the yellow-striped student parking spaces. A map of the parking lot is printed on the back of your permit. Please be aware that towing is enforced.If you have a Mason (G#) but need to have your photo taken for your Mason ID card, you may also get that done at the same location (21335 Signal Hill Plaza, Sterling, VA 20164 in Suite 130). Mason-in-Loudoun staff are not able to look up your G#; please have that ready when you arrive for your ID.
Tallwood Book Club Meeting By Ceda McGrew, Tallwood Book Club CoordinatorThe Tallwood Book Club will meet on Wednesday, September 11, at 10:00 at Tallwood. The book for discussion is Pachinko by Korean‑American author Min Jin Lee. A historical novel, it follows the life of a Korean family that emigrates to Japan in the early twentieth century until the late 1980s. All OLLI members are welcome.The reading selection for October 9 is An American Marriage by Tahari Jones.
By Nancy Scheeler and Luci Martel, Reston Book Club Coordinators
The Reston Book Club’s September meeting will be held on Thursday, September 26, at 2:15 at the United Christian Parish in Reston. The book selection is Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. This 1975 Booker Prize winner is set in post‑World War I India. It is the story of a beautiful, spoiled, bored English woman, who elopes with an Indian prince, outraging society in the tiny, suffocating town where her husband is a civil servant and of her granddaughter who, 50 years later, goes back to the heat and dust of the bazaars to solve the enigma of the scandal.
Just a tiny high-pitched squawk
like a police car clearing the way
disturbs my mental picture
of the medieval thatched roof town
from the cathedral catwalk.
I turn the page. As the villain
pursues the heroine the squawk
builds into a full-throated cry
wordlessly calling: Help me!
Help me! I’m awake! Wet!
I abandon my book, rush
to the crib, comfort screaming
squalling red-faced infant
rip Velcro, grab ankles
with one hand, shake out
diaper, slip under squirming baby,
powder bottom, affix tabs, soothe
snuffling charge: There, there.
Mama will be home soon.
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.
The Mason Players Originals!
Fri, Sep 13, 8:00
Sat, Sep 14, 2:00 and 8:00
TheaterSpace, deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105
Admission: Pay What You Can ($5 increments only).
School of Music Piano Departmental Recital
Mon, Sep 16, 12:30
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Gallery Exhibit: Lory Ivey Alexander
Sep 10–Oct 26
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00.
Admission: Free.
The 25th Annual Miss/Ms. India-DC Pageant
Sat, Sep 14, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25 in advance; $30 day of show.
Arts Alive!
Sun, Sep 15, 1:00
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Admission: Free; art and food available for purchase.
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 J
Sat Aug 31
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Mon Sep 2
OLLI Closed for Federal Holiday – Labor Day
Tue Sep 3
09:30am
Annex Art–Annex
Wed Sep 4
10:00am
10:00am
10:30am
Bridge Club–TA-3
Mah Jongg Club–TA-2
Investment Forum–TA-1
Thu Sep 5
10:30am
Literature, Theater, and Writing/
Languages Program Planning Group Meeting–TA-1
Fri Sep 6
9:15am
9:30am
11:00am
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation Group–Annex
Homer, etc.–Annex
Sat Sep 7
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Mon Sep 9
9:30am
10:00am
What’s in the Daily News?–TA-1 Humanities and Social Sciences Program Planning Group Meeting–Annex
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.
