Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

ENews34-14

About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff

Chief Editor/Technical Editor: Irene Osterman
Associate Editor:
Weekly Editorial Team: Paul Van Hemel, Sheri Siesseger, Leslie Vandivere,
Proofreaders: John West, Gordon Canyock, Susan Van Hemel
Backup Chief Editor: Sheri Siesseger

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 – 6:00 pm Tuesday for that week's issue (6:00 pm Monday 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 E-News December 5, 2014
Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper.
OLLI Board of Directors Meeting, November 21, 2014 

December 5, 2014


Editor of the Week: Leslie Vandivere
Table of Contents

Alerts & Notices

The next E-News will be on December 19.

For those planning to attend next Tuesday's showing of Hansel and Gretel at 1:00, there will be coffee and homemade gingerbread cookies in TA-1 at 12:30.  

New special event: On Friday, February 6 from 1:00-2:30 there will be a lecture at Tallwood on the US Attorneys and the Department of Justice. See https://ollidev2.earthcare.com/winter-2015-catalog/#973 for details.

 

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Board Meeting Summary


By Irene Osterman, Board of Directors Secretary

At the Board of Directors meeting on Friday, November 21, the Board approved a preliminary budget for 2015. Lesley Bubenhofer, Development Committee chair, briefed the Board on FOLLI activities. The fall campaign has raised $12,345 through mid-November. Movie theaters and restaurants are being contacted to set up another Let’s Go to the Movies event. Several other fun events are under 
consideration. Mason’s engineering assessment of Tallwood found that it is safe for the near term (five years). Some significant improvements would be needed for longer term occupancy.

Don't Miss These Adventures!


By Maria Buczek, Loudoun Site Assistant

OLLI is bringing Trip Tales to Loudoun, scheduled for Wednesdays at 9:40. Three OLLI members will take you on a virtual trip across North America to Alberta, Canada; down memory lane to explore Myanmar; on a river cruise down the historic Danube River; and through ancient cities and Roman ruins from Carthage to the Sahara. Read these exciting descriptions and join us on these adventures this winter term!

January 21. Evan and Brenda Douple drove from Reston to Alaska and back. They will illustrate the highlights of their “Ultimate North American Road Trip,” which included the northern states of the lower 48; Glacier National Park; the Canadian National Parks of Waterton Lakes; Banff; Lake Louise; Jasper, the Alaska Highway; Denali National Park; Anchorage; the Alaska Marine Highway; and Lethbridge, Alberta.

January 28. Evan and Brenda Douple return to present highlights of their May, 2012, visit to Myanmar. Titled “Returning to Burma Routes and Roots,” their presentation will highlight their search for Evan’s house, school, and memorable landmarks when he lived with his family in Mandalay where his father was a Fulbright Professor in the mid-1950s. Explore a country where many things have not changed in 60 years.

February 4. Tunisia has not been on many tour company itineraries, but it is opening up. Join Tom and Marilyn Hady on a trip from Tunis and Carthage in the north to the Sahara in the south. This was the breadbasket of Rome, and it’s full of Roman ruins. You’ll see Berber cave dwellings (later used for Star Wars sets), camel rides in the desert, medinas and souks, the Grand Mosque of Kairouan, America’s only military cemetery in Africa, and the oldest synagogue in Africa.

February 11. Join Karen Jones and Michael Kastle as they take you on a river cruise on one of Europe's most important and historic waterways—the Danube. We will travel from Budapest to Nuremberg, visiting ancient castles, historic churches and monasteries, bustling market towns, and cruise past vineyards and lush landscapes. After our cruise, we'll take a side trip to Prague.

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Meet Your Congressman at OLLI!


By Martha Powers, OLLI Member & Liaison Committee Chair

Congressman Gerald E. Connolly of the 11th District of Virginia will be visiting Tallwood on Monday, December 15, from 12 noon–1 :00. Come and meet your congressman, who will give a brief talk about current issues and then will entertain your questions.

Please register online for this between-terms event via the special registration form on the OLLI website at https://ollidev2.earthcare.com/special-olli-events/  Space is limited!

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New Parking Permit Procedure at Loudoun


By Maria Buczek, Loudoun Site Assistant

The George Mason administration is simplifying the procedure for issuing parking permits for the Signal Hill Plaza. Going forward, you will need only to pick up your permit one time during a calendar year. The permits will be good from the beginning of the winter term, January 20, 2015, through the end of the fall term, November 13, 2015. The permits will also have a new look; instead of a regular sheet of paper, they will be printed on card stock and will easily fit in your glove compartment when not being displayed on your dashboard. 

To obtain a parking permit for the winter term, you must be registered for at least one class or event at Loudoun. You can begin picking up your permits on January 12 between the hours of 9:00 and 3:00 at the George Mason Loudoun office, 21335 Signal Hill Plaza, Sterling, VA 20164, in Suite 130 (please see the receptionist). Please note, the George Mason office is closed on Monday, January 19 in honor of Martin Luther King's Birthday. You can also arrive early on your first day of class and pick it up then.

Parking regulations have not changed. Please park in the east lot. If no spaces are available there, you may park in the student lot (please see map here: https://ollidev2.earthcare.com/maps-directions/#loudounparking). Always display your parking permit on your dashboard when at the Signal Hill Plaza.

Please contact Maria Buczek at mbuczek@gmu.edu if you have any questions or call the main OLLI office 703-503-3384.

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Bentley Forum


 

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Remember OLLI This Holiday Season

By Lesley Bubenhofer, Development Committee Chair

Include your friend OLLI on your gift list—your generosity will be appreciated! When you give a gift to OLLI, you are also giving a gift to yourself, to your OLLI colleagues, and to your community.

Thank you and happy holidays to you and your family!

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A member asked that we have a column of driving tips. We contacted Uncle Olli, who has taught the AARP driver safety course, and he agreed to do a biweekly column. If you have a question, please send it to olllienewseditor@gmail.com and put "Uncle Olli" in the subject line.

Ask Uncle Olli

By Uncle Olli, Driver Safety Consultant 

Uncle Olli has lived in Northern Virginia most of his lifetime, and has encountered every traffic problem. But sometimes the little problems seem so trivial you are embarrassed to admit them. Easy. Ask Uncle Olli. He is embarrassed by nothing!

My car has driving lights. Do I still need to turn on my headlights when it rains? 

By now, we are all familiar with the new rule that if your windshield wipers are on, your headlights need to be on. This increases visibility in rain or snow. And yes, you still need to turn on your headlights. The driving lights help in the front, but they do not light your taillights. You need to turn on your headlights to make sure your tail lights are on, too!

When stopped at a light, how close should I be to the car in front of me?

A good rule of thumb is that you should be far enough back that you can see the rear tires of the vehicle front of you. If it's a bus or RV with a large overhang, or a dirt bike with an exposed wheel, use your judgment. Remember, you are smarter than a machine; you can think and judge.

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Obituary

By Cecile Heatley

It is with great sadness that I must inform you that my husband, and your friend, George, died peacefully on November 17, his eighty-fourth birthday, while listening to classical music. His family was with him at the time of his passing. George spoke fondly of OLLI through the years; he loved to teach and he loved taking classes. I know he treasured the times he spent at OLLI.
 
At a future date, there will be a reception to celebrate his long and accomplished life. I will send an announcement through this newsletter.
 
In lieu of flowers, a small donation to Capital Caring, “in memory of George Heatley,” would be welcome. This is the hospice group with the wonderful nurses, thanks to whom George was able to stay home until the very end.

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OLLI Players Calendar

By Kathie West

While you are enjoying the OLLI Holiday Party on December 5, why not stop by the Olli Players table and buy a calendar for the new year? It is fifteen dollars, with a percentage going to OLLI. We are an adventurous group and have had fun putting this together for you. We will have some calendars on hand but will also take orders.

Here is a sample of the photos we have created. Show your children and grandchildren what fun it is to be at OLLI.










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Book Club


by Ceda McGrew, Book Club Coordinator

The OLLI Book Club will meet on Wednesday, December 10, at 10:00 at Tallwood. The book for discussion is Book by Book: Notes on Reading and Life by long-time Washington Post book editor and critic, Michael Dirda. In it he discusses the role of books in shaping and enriching human lives

All OLLI members are welcome.

The book for discussion in January is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

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Computer Club


by Paul Howard, Computer Club Coordinator

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, December 13, at Tallwood. Join us at 12:30 for soft drinks and socializing in the social room. Presentations will begin at 1:00.

Virtual Roots: A Case Study of Techniques for Finding and Using Online Sources, Program by Sharon MacInnes

Dr. MacInnes presents the use of technology from an entirely different viewpoint: a genealogist's perspective. Follow a real family as we uncover its roots through online sources—census records, downloadable books, maps, articles (Periodical Source Index), manuscripts, land records, photos, newspapers, and military sources. Learn a bit about Ancestry (you've seen the ads—are they accurate?) and what the Bureau of Land Management database can lead to. You may know your grandparents' names or even those of your great-grandparents. This lecture shows what fascinating details you might find as you flesh out your ancestors' stories with online resources and watch them come to life.

A dedicated genealogist since 1976, Sharon Cook MacInnes PhD is currently programs chair of Mount Vernon Genealogical Society and coordinator of the Fairfax Genealogical Society German Special Interest Group. She is the compiler and author of eight books documenting the earliest landowners of Pennsylvania counties. She specializes in Pennsylvania research, colonial ancestors, and land records.

PC Clinic

Get hands-on help with your computer problems from PATACS and OPCUG experts. Bring in your computer, and we'll help you lose the “blues”—system slowdowns, unwanted programs, viruses, and malware. We can help install new RAM, optical drives, hard disks, and software. Be sure to read the Clinic Rules at 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 2015 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, iOS, or Android: https://zoom.us/j/335840275.

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Photo of the Month
The November Photo of the Month theme was open (i.e., unspecified). We selected Jon Peterson's photo "Saturday Sports," which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's website.
 
-- By Dan Feighery, Photography Club Coordinator 

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Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop
Life Stories                                              
 
 
Keep them on shelves
 
or let them lie open
 
tossed
 
perhaps, too carelessly.
 
Does it matter?
 
The open book will
 
always have
 
illegible pages,
 
hard to decipher,
 
a code
 
that lasts
 
past its expiration date.
 
                        Claire Hasselbeck 
Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, next two weeks

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

For tickets for either CFA or Hylton, 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 page or the Hylton ticket purchase page.
At the Fairfax Campus Venues

Virginia Opera: H.M.S. Pinafore
Fri, Dec 5, 8:00
Sat, Dec 6, 2:00
Pre-Performance Discussion: Glenn Winters
Concert Hall
Admission: Fri, $86, $72, $44
                 Sat, $98, $80, $48.
 
Holiday Celebration with The 5 Browns
Fri, Dec 12, 8:00
Pre-Performance Discussion: Members of company
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
 
American Festival Pops Orchestra: Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season
Sat, Dec 13, 8:00
Pre-Performance Discussion: Bryan Kidd; AFPO Arranger
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
 
Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker
Wed, Dec 17–Thur, Dec 18, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $122 (VIP), $88, $68, $48, $28.
 
Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna
Sat, Dec 20, 8:00
Sun, Dec 21, 4:00
Pre-Performance Discussion: David Srebnik; Director - SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.

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Mason Student & Faculty Performances
(See music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals.)

Dance Winter '14 Show
Fri, Dec 5, and Sat, Dec 6, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Adults, $15; seniors, $10.
 
Mason Opera Scenes: Maestro Rossini at the Fledermaus Ball
Fri, Dec 5, and Sat, Dec 6, 8:00
Sat, Dec 6, 2:00
Gregory Theatre at Hylton Center
Admission: Adults, $20; seniors, $15.
 
Mason Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Concert
Sun, Dec 7, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adults, $10; seniors, $5
 
Ensemble da Camera Concert
Tue, Dec 9, 8:00
Prof. Anna Balakerskaia with Claire Eichhorn, clarinet; Ricardo Cyncynates, violin
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
At the Hylton Center

Altered Terrain Today
Rosemary Luckett, artist
Nov 16–Feb 1
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00–6:00, Thur., 10:00–8:00 and two hours before performances.
Gallery Reception: Thur, Nov 20 from 6:00–8:00. For more information about the current exhibit, visit HyltonCenter.org/gallery. For reception RSVP to Hylton@gmu.edu.
Admission: Free

 Angela Knight Ministries: Christmas in New York
Fri, Dec 5, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20, $15.
 
Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Circus! Circus!
Sat, Dec 6, 4:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adults, $20; seniors, $14.
 
Asaph Dance: Clara's Christmas
Sun, Dec 7, 3:30, and 7:30
Interpretation of the traditional Nutcracker set to the Messiah
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adults, $30; seniors, $20.
 
American Festival Pops Orchestra: Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season
Fir, Dec 12, 8:00
Pre-Performance Discussion: Bryan Kidd; AFPO Arranger
Concert Hall
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
 
Manassas Chorale: Joyful and Triumphant
Sat, Dec 13, 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20.
 
Clint Black: Clint Black Christmas
Sun, Dec 14, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
 
Manassas Ballet Theatre: Nutcracker
Fri, Dec 19, and Sat, Dec 20, 7:30
Sat, Dec 20, - Tues Dec 23, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55, $45, $35.

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For further details on any of the above events, please see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar

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Meetings & Clubs


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 to check anytime for the latest information, please view the latest forecast of upcoming 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, Kickoff Coffees, etc. (bolded below).
Sat Dec 6 10:30am Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Mon Dec 8 10:00am What’s in the Daily News, cont’d–TA-1
Tue Dec 9  9:30am
10:00am		 Cottage Art–Cottage
Knitting and Needlework Club–Panera, Herndon
Wed Dec 10 10:00am
10:00am
10:30am		 Bridge Club–TA-3
Book Club–TA-2
Tom Crooker Investment Forum–TA-1
Thu Dec 11 10:30am Loudoun Program Planning Meeting
Fri Dec 12  9:00am
 9:30am
10:00am
11:00am		 Recorder Consort–TA-3
Photography Club–TA-1
Craft and Conversation–Cottage
Homer, etc–Annex
Sat Dec 13 10:30am
 1:00pm		 Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Computer Club–TA-1
Mon Dec 15 10:00am What’s in the Daily News, cont’d–TA-1
Tue Dec 16  9:30am
10:00am		 Cottage Art–Cottage
Knitting and Needlework Club–Panera, Herndon
Wed Dec 17 10:00am
10:00am
10:30am		 Bridge Club–TA-3
Mah Jongg Club–TA-2
Tom Crooker Investment Forum–TA-1
Fri Dec 19  9:00am
10:00am
11:00am		 Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation–Cottage
Homer, etc–Annex

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OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

4210 Roberts Rd. Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone: (703) 503-3384
Email: olli@gmu.edu

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