Town Hall Morning Meeting November 1 Addressing Membership and Budget, Followed by Members Enjoying First Thanksgiving Potluck and Recommending That It Be Repeated.
OLLI is closed Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day national holiday.
Note: Upcoming Mason Jazz Concerts for fall 2019 include the Jazz Workshop Big Band concert November 13, 8:00 (click here for details), and the Jazz Combos/Latin American Ensemble November 18, 8:00 (click here for details).
The Next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, November 15; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 12, at 6:00.
Executive Director Jennifer Disano opened the meeting with a thank you to the Hospitality Committee for providing refreshments for attendees. She gave a broad overview of current membership; 1,158 full-term members and an unusually high number of 77 introductory members. OLLI can absorb 200 new members without impacting expenses. OLLI’s annual offering of 620 courses established a gold standard for programming. Thank you to the many volunteers who make this possible.
Vice President Paul Howard and Executive Director Jennifer Disano presented a discussion about the 2019 annual budget. Revenue for calendar year 2019 is projected to total $599,335, with revenue coming primarily from dues (80%) and from the George Mason University Foundation for the Benefit of OLLI (16%). Staff payroll and taxes (58%), general administrative expenses (14%), and facilities (12%) are the primary expense items. Expenses are equal to income.
Attending Board members answered a variety of member questions related to membership growth, Mason concerns regarding the project to construct a ramp between the lower and upper levels at Tallwood, and the need for a capital campaign for a new building to be considered by the strategic planning committee. The Chairs for three committees—Governance-Lillian Brooks, Outreach-Rosemary Lubinski, and Program-Kathryn Russell—asked for additional volunteers.
By Alice Slayton Clark, Communications and Program Associate
Calling all longstanding and new OLLI instructors! Please be aware that the deadline for course proposals for summer term 2020 is January 31. Summer term 2020 runs from June 22–July 31. 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 fall term 2020 is April 13, 2020. Fall term 2020 runs from September 21–November 13. We encourage all to send in offerings!
You can find the course proposal form at this link. 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!
Photo Club Members Take Military Family Portraits By John Nash, E-News Editor/writer
Military families, including our favorite service dog, Megatron, and several “walk-ins” from a week-end National Guard unit had professional-level portraits taken on Saturday, November 3, by members of the OLLI Photo Club. The annual event is sponsored by the United Services Organization (USO) Warrior-Family Center at Fort Belvoir. Photo Club members taking the portraits were Dave and Angie Talaber, and John Nash.
“This is really a special project for us,” said Ashy Palliparambil, USO senior manager for resiliency programs. After having their portraits taken, each family or individual received a flash drive with all of their pictures, as well as one printed portrait on professional photo paper donated by Red River paper Company of Dallas, Texas.
“We are so appreciative of the OLLI Photo Club members for making this a great holiday project again this year,” said Palliparambil. “The service members and their families are fortunate to benefit from the time and talents of such a dedicated group. I know that some of these portraits were the first family portrait ever. We look forward to offering this wonderful service again next year.”
Angie Talaber, photo club coordinator, summed up the mutual feeling of the club members by saying, “This was a wonderful way to interact with our military people. We all can learn and improve our skills as photographers while providing a very worthwhile service. This was definitely a ‘win-win’ situation.” (Pictured are left to right: Suzette and Rod Youngblood, Ashy Palliparambil, Dave and Angie Tabler, John Nash. Photo by John Nash)
The Tallwood Book Club will meet at 1:30 on Wednesday, November 13, in the Tallwood Annex. The book for discussion is Exit West by Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid. Named by the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 2017, it is the story of a young couple who meet as students in an unnamed city undergoing a civil war. As the violence escalates, they are forced to flee and thus begin lives as refugees and involuntary migrants.
All OLLI members are welcome.
The reading selection for December 11 is Evicted by Matthew Desmond.
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, November 16, at Tallwood. Join us at 12:30 for socializing with a members' lunch in the Annex. Leti Labell will be catering the day's luncheon, free to OPCUG and PATACS. Others may initiate membership in the groups at the meeting and participate in the luncheon feast. All are encouraged to generously feed the donation jar! Program activities begin at 1:45 in TA‑1.
The Murrow Boys – News Broadcasting During WWII Presented by Brian Belanger, National Capital Radio & TV Museum
News had not been featured prominently on the radio prior to WWII. Few newscasts were offered, and the ones heard tended to be leisurely commentary on current events rather than “hard” news. That changed dramatically during the War. CBS hired Edward R. Murrow to arrange broadcasts from Europe. He hired young journalists such as Eric Sevareid, Charles Collingwood, and Larry LeSueur. The CBS evening news roundup would take listeners via shortwave radio from city to city to hear the latest developments. Listening to Ed Murrow’s live report standing on the roof of a building in London as bombs are falling around him is difficult to forget, as is his description of accompanying a British Lancaster bomber on a night bombing run on Berlin. Murrow and three other journalists went with the planes that night and two of them did not return. This talk will describe Murrow and his colleagues and their reporting style, with audio clips.
Electrical Engineer Brian Belanger had a long career in government service. Since his retirement in 2000, Brian has been an active volunteer at the National Capital Radio & Television Museum. One of the museum’s founders, he served as its director for about a decade, and is currently the museum’s curator, a regular docent, and a co-editor of the Museum’s journal Dials and Channels.
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 1:30. 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).
At a bare minimum
I require delphinium
to fend off feeling glum.
For curing melancholia
and mild social phobia
I find it far superior
to tiresome trillium.
For treating disequilibrium
it really is super-premium
and keeps me from the sanatorium.
In a pinch I can make do
with a cheerful chrysanthemum or two,
but for those truly dismal days
nothing does the trick
quite as quick
as helium.
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
Taj Express
Sat, Nov 9, 8:00
Concert Hall A pre-performance discussion begins on Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Zurich Chamber Orchestra: The Four Seasons
Sun, Nov 10, 2:00
Concert Hall A pre-performance discussion begins on Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Nostalgic Nights
Sat, Nov 16, 8:00
Harris Theatre
A pre-performance discussion begins at 7:00.
Admission: $30, $45, $55.
Virginia Opera: Il Postino
Sat, Nov 16, 8:00
Sun, Nov 17, 2:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins on the Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Admission: $110, $70, $40.
Gallery Exhibit: Exploring Identity with Women Veterans
Oct 29 to Dec 7
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00.
Los Kjarkas
Fri, Nov 8, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $89, $79, $65, $55.
The U.S. Army Band Pershing's Own: We Honor Them All
Sat, Nov 9, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Free.
Matinee Idylls: Brass 5
Tue, Nov 12,
Luncheon, 12:30; Concert 1:30
Gregory Family Theater
Admission:
Lunch, concert, and dessert reception: $49;
Concert and dessert reception-only: $29.
Taj Express
Fri, Nov 15, 8:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins in Merchant Hall one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Youth Orchestras of Prince William: New Beginnings
Sat, Nov 16, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $10.
Circo Comedia
Sun, Nov 17, 1:00 and 4:00
Merchant Hall
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. (bolded below).
Sat Nov 9
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Wed Nov 13
1:30pm
1:45pm
1:45pm
Tallwood Book Club–Annex
Bridge Club–TA-3
Spanish Club–TA-2
Fri Nov 15
9:15am
9:30am
10:00am
11:00am
11:00am
12:30pm
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation Group–Annex Board of Directors Meeting–TA-1
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc.–Annex
Dr. Who Club–TA-3
Sat Nov 16
10:30am
1:45pm
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Personal Computer User Group–TA-1
Wed Nov 20
10:00am
10:00am
10:30am
1:00pm
Bridge Club–TA-3
Mah Jongg Club–Annex
Tom Crooker Investment Forum–TA-1
Audiovisual Committee Meeting–TA-1
Thu Nov 21
10:00am
Special Events Program Planning Group–Annex
Fri Nov 22
9:15am
9:30am
10:00am
11:00am
11:30am
12:00noon
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation Group–Annex
Theater Lovers’ Group–TA-1
Homer, etc.–Annex
Cooking Club–Home of Susan Towne
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.
l feeling of the club members by saying, “This was a wonderful way to interact with our military people. We all can learn and improve our skills as photographers while providing a very worthwhile service. This was definitely a ‘win-win’ situation.” (Pictured are left to right: Suzette and Rod Youngblood, Ashy Palliparambil, Dave and Angie Tabler, John Nash. Photo by John Nash)
