Reminder: Upcoming Mason Jazz Concerts for fall 2019 include the Mason Jazz Vocal Night November 25, 8:00 (click here to order tickets).
OLLI is closed for Thanksgiving holiday November 23-December 1.
You should have received your OLLI Catalog. Priority registration for winter term is 9:00 December 2 through noon on December 10.
OLLI asks you to complete a survey to provide feedback after every fall and spring term. If you have not completed the fall survey, click here to get started.
OLLI’s holiday party is Wednesday, December 4, 11:30-2:30, at the Country Club of Fairfax. Register for Event 1107 by clicking this member portal link; fee is $38.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, December 6; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, December 3, at 6:00.
OLLI President Bill Taylor opened the November 15, 2019, Board of Directors meeting expressing gratitude for the OLLI staff and many members who volunteer their time for the benefit of all. He specifically drew attention to volunteering as a member of the Board of Directors. Under our Bylaws, the Board makes important decisions that affect OLLI’s policies and programs, its budgets, and its strategic vision for the future. In January the Nominating Committee will begin developing a slate of six to twelve candidates. Bill asked that members begin considering serving on the Board. He is confident that there are many members who possess the skills in communication and decision making that would enable them to make a positive contribution to the work of the Board.
Executive Director Jennifer Disano reported that total OLLI membership is 1,158 (annual 1,081 and introductory 77). She is waiting for Mason to provide a brief on the pending Tallwood Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliance assessment. Jennifer reviewed the procedures for OLLI staff to follow in the event of any incidents at OLLI campuses or satellite class sites.
Two resolutions were passed at the meeting.
Resolution 11519-01–Resolved: The Board approves guidelines for the development of the OLLI 2020 budget, including a membership fee increase of $15 from $435 to $450 in 2020. The fee increase will take effect with the 2020 winter-term registration.
Resolution 11519-03–Resolved: The OLLI Board expresses its thanks and appreciation to Don and Lisa Ferrett for their work and efforts on behalf of the members and organization.
Celebrate the Season with Amazing Grace and Delightful Goodies
By Michelle Blandburg, Chair, Development Committee
Please mark your calendar to join OLLI’s Development Committee at our annual bake sale on December 13 beginning at 11:00. Be uplifted by the movie Amazing Grace documenting Aretha Franklin’s youthful beginning as a gospel singer.
Aretha Franklin was universally acknowledged as the “Queen of Soul.” She received numerous honors throughout her long career including the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Ms. Franklin was also the first female performer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2019 she was awarded a posthumous special citation by the Pulitzer Prize jury for “Her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades.”
Amazing Grace shows another side of Aretha—a shy young woman in 1972 singing the pure gospel music she was born into and raised on. New Yorker Magazine called this documentary “A glory of musical cinema!”
Come share the spirit and purchase delicious homemade cookies, cakes, and other goodies. Proceeds from the bake sale will benefit the Friends of OLLI. You can register for this special #1214 in the fall or winter class catalog, or just show up. Click here to register and read more about Aretha Franklin. All are welcome!
The December meeting of the History Club will take place on Wednesday, December 4, at 10:00 in TA‑2 (Please note time and place). The speaker will be Steve Waldman, who will tell us about a little-known American heroine: Mary White Ovington. She was a pioneer in race relations in the early 1900’s, creator of a settlement house for blacks, a founding member of the NAACP, and a life-long fighter for the rights and privileges of people of color. Her little-known story is both important and unique in the history of civil rights. All OLLI members and their guests are invited to History Club meetings.
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
RUBBERBANDance Vic’s Mix
Fri, Nov 22, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins on Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Aquila Theatre: George Orwell's 1984
Sat, Nov 23, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins on Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Admission: $44, $37, $26.
Chanticleeer
Sat, Nov 30, 8:00
Concert Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins on Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Christmas
Sun, Dec 1, 1:00 and 4:00
Concert Hall
Join us 45 minutes before the performance for an interactive children's activity to help feed our own very hungry caterpillar in the Center for the Arts lobby.
Admission: $15 Adults; $10 children.
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Sat, Dec 7, 4:00
Concert Hall
From 3:15 - 3:45 hear a special performance by the Anointed Vessels of Unity featuring Mason students singing Gospel music.
Admission: $50, $43, $30.
Mason Student and Faculty Performances (see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)Studio Series: Twelfth Night
Thu, Nov 21 to Sat, Nov 23, 8:00
Sat, Nov 23 and Sun, Nov 24, 2:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace
Admission: $20 Adults; $10 seniors.Guitar Ensemble Concert
Sat, Nov 23, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Harp Masterclass
Sun, Nov 24, 2:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A323
Admission: Free.
Combined Flute Choir Concert
Sun, Nov 24, 7:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001
Admission: Free.
Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Mon, Nov 25, 8:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $12 Adults; $8 seniors.
Dance Innovations
Thu, Dec 5 – Sat Dec 7, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $15 Adults; $7 seniors.
Mason Opera: Offenbach's Mesdames de la Halle
Fri, Dec 6, 8:00
Sat, Dec 7, 2:00 and 8:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $15 Adults; $10 seniors.
Mason Symphony Holiday Concert
Sun, Dec 8, 7:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $20 Adults; $15 seniors.
Gallery Exhibit: Exploring Identity with Women Veterans
Continues to Dec 7
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00
Two hours before each performance.
Admission: Free.
Creative & Performing Arts Center: Langston Hughes' Black Nativity
Fri, Dec 6, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35, $30, $25.
Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Story Time
Sat, Dec 7, 3:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20 Adults; $16 seniors.
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas
Sun, Dec 8, 4:00
Merchant Hall
A pre-performance discussion begins in Merchant Hall one hour prior to the performance.
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
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 Nov 23
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
OLLI Closed for Thanksgiving break November 23-December 1
Mon Dec 2
9:30am
What’s in the Daily News–TA-1
Tue Dec 3
9:30am
Annex Art–Annex
Wed Dec 4
10:00am
10:00am
10:00am
10:30am
11:30am
Bridge Club–TA-3
Mah Jongg Club–Annex
History Club–TA-2
Tom Crooker Investment Forum–TA-1
Holiday Party–Country Club of Fairfax
Fri Dec 6
9:15am
9:30am
11:00am
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation Group–Annex
Homer, etc.–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.
