F802 Psychology Potpourri. The February 6 (week 2) session of F802 Psychology Potpourri has been rescheduled for Friday, February 7, 11:50 (The classroom remains unchanged: TA-1 and TA-2).
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, February 7; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, February 4, at 6:00.
OLLI President's Message By Bill Taylor, PresidentHere’s the Second Week of Four Things YOU can do to increase OLLI membership in the 2020 Outreach Campaign, a program put together by the Outreach Committee and Rosemary Lubinski, Chair:Week 2 February 3: Bring a friend to class during the winter session and stop in for coffee and cookies. Please check with main office to be sure there is seating availability.
OLLI President Bill Taylor opened the meeting thanking the OLLI E-News staff for their assistance with publicizing the spring Outreach Committee’s campaign. He gave kudos for their wonderful service in getting news out to the membership. Elaine Leonard and the Hospitality Committee were thanked for their superb Holiday Party. Michelle Blandburg and the Development Committee were thanked for their work on behalf of Friends of OLLI.
Bill announced the appointment of Marianne Metz as Chair of the Nominating Committee. Please contact Marianne at themelodylingers@gmail.com should you be interested in being a candidate or wish to nominate someone.
Executive Director Jennifer Disano reported that total OLLI membership is 1,095 (annual 1,069 and introductory 26). Mason is continuing to evaluate Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) issues at Tallwood. When attending classes at the Reston United Christian Parish, please be patient during the midday release of preschool students.
Two resolutions were approved by the Board. Resolution 011720-01, Resolved: The Board approves OLLI 2020 Budget assuming a membership level of 1,075 and including a fee increase of $15 from $435 in 2019 to $450 in 2020.
Resolution 011720-02, Resolved: The Board approves the OLLI Audit of 2018 and 2017 financial statements conducted by the Government & Non-Profit Audit Group, PLC and the 2018 tax return audit.
In arguably one of the most anticipated performances of the Great Performances at Mason series, the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company returns to the Center for the Arts (CFA) for the world premiere of their latest project “What Problem?” The performance also culminates a dynamic week-long artistic residency–the second of the Center for the Arts’ inaugural cohort of Mason Artists-in-Residence–which features master classes, a public town hall, and daily rehearsals with nearly 30 Northern Virginia community members. The Artists-in-Residence program helps serve the mission of the CFA and the College of Visual and Performing Arts to make the arts an intrinsic part of the lives of every Mason student and Northern Virginia resident.
For the Mason premiere, nearly 30 community members–students and alumni, Mason affiliates, and Fairfax County residents–were chosen to participate, including participants from OLLI, the City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts, and other Northern Virginia and Mason groups from a variety of disciplines. In addition, the company is joined by the Mason University Singers performing original vocals created for this piece by composer Nick Hallett.
Bill T. Jones is one of the preeminent contemporary American dance artists. Many people know his work as the choreographer of Spring Awakening and Fela! The Musical. He also has been creating thought-provoking dance-theater work centered on timely social justice issues for decades, receiving many accolades, including a Kennedy Center Honors Award and a MacArthur Genius Award, among others.
The performance on Saturday, February 1, at 8:00 includes three sections: Jones in solo performance; Jones alongside members of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company; and, in conclusion, Jones and the company onstage with the local community members. For performance tickets or more information, click here.
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Theater Lovers' Group to Attend Musical Event and Hold February Meeting By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers' Group CoordinatorThis weekend, Mason's Musical Theater ambassadors will take us on an unforgettable musical journey that will span the 20th century's greatest musical hits, composed by such legendary icons as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen, and many more. Guaranteed to make you want to sing, dance, and smile.Celebrating the Great American Songbook! The Mason Cabaret in Concert will be performed in Mason's Harris Theatre, Fairfax Campus, on Friday, January 31 at 8:00; on Saturday, February 1 at 2:00, and again at 8:00. Senior tickets cost $15 and can be purchased online at cfa.gmu.edu or in person at the box office. Garage parking, just a few steps across from the theater, is available for an event fee. If you would like to meet up with members of the Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) who will attend the Saturday 2:00 matinee, please email Norma at njreck@cs.com.
On Wednesday, February 26 at 2:00 in TA‑1, Terri Ritchey, OLLI member and producer for Sister Act at Prince William Little Theater (PWLT), will address TLG members. The PWLT, founded in 1984, is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that currently performs at the Gregory Family Theatre in the Hylton Performance Arts Center at George Mason University campus in Manassas. Terri will speak about how the organization was founded, what it has done through the years, and what it takes to put on a show. We will also learn about the Sister Act, a feel‑good, musical comedy show based on the 1992 hit film. TLG members and guests will attend the March 15 matinee at 2:00. Senior tickets are $20. Stay tuned for more information.
The Tallwood Book Club will be discussing Sing, Unburied, Sing at its February 12 meeting at 1:30. This is the book originally scheduled for the January 8 meeting, which was canceled because of weather.
Fascism: A Warning, by Margaret Albright, will be discussed during the March meeting.
The February meeting of the History Club will be held on Wednesday, February 5, at 2:15 in TA‑1. Our speaker will be Patrick McGinty discussing “The United States’ Expedition to Korea in 1871.” Most of us probably think of this country’s entrance into Korean affairs as beginning in the middle of the twentieth century. Pat will show us otherwise: the 1871 military action in Korea by the United States was the largest and bloodiest use of military force overseas by the United States between the 1845 Mexican American War and the 1898 Spanish American War. As he usually does, Pat will give us interesting and new insights into the history we thought we knew so well.
All OLLI members are invited to History Club meetings; please come and bring a friend.
By Jim Wentworth, Club Coordinator, and Mary Kornreich, Speaker
The Loudoun Science and Technology Club is meeting (only once during winter term; don’t miss the fun!) February 4 from 2:15-3:40 to discuss “How We Became Human," presented by Mary Kornreich. After determining what we mean by “human,” we will consider how humans are similar to and different from other great apes. We will compare members of genus Homo, especially those archaic human species with whom we once co-existed. We can then discuss why Homo sapiens are the only human species surviving today. Come join us for a tantalizing discussion.
The meeting is open to all OLLI members. We hope you will join us!
Please Note--As a correction to the winter catalog, this will be the only club meeting during winter term. There will be no meeting on February 18. Questions? Contact club coordinator Jim Wentworth at jimwent@cs.com.
One of the first questions that each of us has to answer on the first day of his or her retirement is: “Great, I don’t have to get up and go to work. Now what am I going to do?” For me, part of the answer has been OLLI. Enjoying the opportunity to keep what Hercule Poirot calls the “little grey cells” working, learning new things, and meeting new people is a key part of my retirement.
For a while, I was content to be “just” a member. But as time went on, I realized that OLLI is (to borrow from Abraham Lincoln) “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” OLLI works because its members make it a success. If I wanted this wonderful organization to continue to provide the mix of courses, clubs, and events that I enjoy, then I needed to do my share. So, I volunteered as a liaison, offered to talk to pre-retirement courses, and when asked, ran for the Board.
Serving on the Board has been an interesting and rewarding experience. OLLI is fortunate to have an able and dedicated professional staff, an amazing group of volunteers who make all of the essential committees run, and remarkable members who volunteer to share their experiences and their interests with the rest of us by offering the hundreds of courses that are offered each year. The Board works with these groups to coordinate and support their efforts, look at overall operations, and try to set policies that will ensure that future retirees will find a strong, creative, and financially-sound organization to join. I hope that other OLLI members will consider running for the Board, for it is an interesting and rewarding chance to make a difference to our organization.
Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of articles by current Board members to give readers some insight into what is involved in serving on the Board.
The OLLI Walking Group, now in its 13th year, recently took a walk on the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) trail in Vienna. Here is a photo of the group next to the caboose, which was restored as part of the Vienna Centennial in 1990 (photo courtesy of Bob Heyer). You can tell that it was a cold January morning, but we were all bundled up in our winter costumes.
In the last six months or so, we have explored Occoquan Regional Park, Meadowlark Gardens, Eakin Park, Burke Lake Park, Lake Accotink, downtown Main Street Fairfax, the Confederate Cemetery in Fairfax City, Daniels Run Trail, and the campus of George Mason University. When OLLI is in session, we take walks in the neighborhoods and wooded trails near Tallwood before the first class of the morning.We are getting ready to take a short hiatus, but if you are interested in joining us one morning, please register through the OLLI member portal and look for our weekly emails.
For the winter term, we have a new photography exhibit in the Tallwood Annex. Those photos were taken by attendees in the fall 2019 Basic Digital Photography course. Photographers and their photo titles are listed below. Stop in and see how the photographers interpreted their titles.
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
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company: What Problem?
Sat, Feb 1, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins on Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Virginia Dance Coalition: DanceFest
Sun, Feb 2, 5:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $10.
TheatreWorksUSA: Rosie Revere, Engineer
Mon, Feb 3, 10:30 and 12:30
Concert Hall
Admission: Free.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: The Four Seasons
Sat, Feb 8, 8:00
Concert Hall
Hear the stories behind the music with music director Christopher Zimmerman and special guests before the concert at 7:00.
Admission: $25 - $65.
The Mason Cabaret: Celebrating the Great American Songbook!
Friday, Jan 31, 8:00
Saturday, Feb 1, 2:00 and 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $30 Adults; $15 seniors.
Kimberly Fisher Strings Master Class
Mon, Feb 3, 11:30am
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Faculty Artist Series
Fri, Feb 7, 7:00, Dr. Alvarez (soprano)
Sun, Feb 9, 3:00, The Gunston Ensemble (strings & piano)
Sun, Feb 9, 7:00, Prof. Wilkerson (bass-baritone)
Sat, Feb 15, 8:00, Ensemble de Camera of Washington (piano, violin, clarinet)
Sun, Feb 16, 7:00, The Artemis Trio (flute, horn, piano)
Fri, Feb 21, 8:00, Prof. Jewell (bassoon)
Sat, Feb 22, 8:00, Dr. Mirtcheva Blevins, Dr. Kim, and Dr. Yi (piano)
Sun, Feb 23, 3:00, Dr. Mulcahy (clarinet)
Sun, Feb 23, 7:00, Dr. Han (piano)
Sun, Mar 1, 3:00, Dr. Porter (tuba)
Sun, Mar 1, 7:00, Dr. Anna Balakerskaia and Friends (piano)
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Gallery Exhibition: 9th Annual Prince William County Public Schools Student Exhibition
Through Feb 29
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00.
Gallery Reception: Sun, Feb 9, 2:00
RSVP to smeyer3@gmu.edu.
Admission: Free.
The Siberian State Symphony Orchestra
Fri, Jan 31, 8:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins in Merchant Hall one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
The Mason Cabaret: Celebrating the Great American Songbook!
Fri, Feb 7, 8:00
Gregory Family Theatre
Admission: $30 Adults; $15 seniors.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra
Sat, Feb 8, 8:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins in Merchant Hall one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $46, $39, $28.
The Rainbow Fish
Sun, Feb 9, 1:00 and 4:00
Merchant Hall
Between performances, from 2:00 – 4:00, a free family open house in celebration of the new education and rehearsal wing. Enjoy interactive, family-friendly activities featuring community partners, fun giveaways, craft areas, snacks, and an opportunity to explore the new wing.
Admission: $15 Adults; $10 children.
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.
Sat Feb 1
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Wed Feb 5
1:30pm
1:45pm
2:15pm
Mah Jongg Club–Annex
Bridge Club–TA-3
History Club–TA-1
Fri Feb 7
9:15am
9:30am
11:00am
11:00am
12:30pm
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation Group–Annex
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex
Dr. Who Club–TA-3
Sat Feb 8
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Wed Feb 12
1:30pm
1:45pm
1:45pm
Tallwood Book Club–TA-1
Bridge Club–TA-3
Spanish Club–TA-2
Fri Feb 14
9:15am
9:30am
9:30am
11:00am
11:00am
1:00pm
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Photography Club–TA-1
Craft and Conversation Group–Annex
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex
Ice Cream Social–TA-1
Sat Feb 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.
