Reminder: Fourth annual OLLI Veterans Day celebration, today (!), November 9, 1:00 to 3:00, at Tallwood. Click here to register for Event F1001.
Meeting of the Board of Directors, Tallwood, Friday, November 16, at 10:00. All members welcome.
Annual holiday party, Tuesday, December 4, 11:30 to 2:30 at the Country Club of Fairfax. Fee $38 per person; lunch choice chicken, pasta, or soup and salad. Registration deadline is Monday, November 26; click here to register for special event 1107.
Development Committee members are selling raffle tickets for the annual OLLI registration fee raffle between now and December 4; watch for them at classes and events.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published November 16; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, November 13, at 6:00.
Course Proposals for Summer Term 2019 By Alice Slayton Clark, Communications and Programming AssociateCalling all longstanding and new OLLI instructors! Please be aware that the deadline for course proposals for summer term 2019 is February 8. Summer term 2019 runs from June 24 to August 2. 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 provide you with your preferred dates for the class.If you need more time, the deadline for course proposals for fall term is April 12, 2019. Fall term 2019 runs from September 23 to November 15. We encourage all to send in offerings!You can find the course proposal form at: https://ollidev2.earthcare.com/olli-course-proposal-form/. 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!
OLLI had an opportunity to don green and gold at a Mason Faculty Club presentation on Monday, October 29. Presenting the Mason story were Assistant Athletic Director for External Affairs Zach Bolno (and his wingman, The Patriot).
Zach covered his long career in sports, from Florida through the Wizards, the Redskins, and University of Maryland, before coming to Mason in the summer of 2018 – an opportunity he credits his dog, as he met Mason Athletic Director Brad Edwards while walking the dog.
Zach also discussed current Mason athletics, noting that besides great seasons by the men’s and women’s basketball teams, Mason was highly successful in other sports – particularly track and field. Mason takes pride in the success of its scholar athletes; he noted that the grade point average for the 500 student athletes is 3.2, higher than the average of all Mason students.
He indicated that part of his job was spreading the word about Mason athletics, and he reported on some initiatives he was taking with the students. But he also invited all OLLI members to come out to Mason events. As you may have noted in the October 28 Communicator, there is a method for OLLI members to receive a G number and ID card from Mason. With this ID card, OLLI members are eligible for a 50% discount on all Mason weekday basketball-game tickets – just show your Mason ID at the box office!
Spending the morning with Zach and The Patriot was a great way to start the day, and hopefully, OLLI members will soon be cheering on Mason teams – after all, the Eagle Bank Arena on Mason is only a mile and a quarter from Tallwood!
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 17 at Tallwood. Join us at 12:30 for socializing in the Annex. Program activities begin at 1:00 in TA 1.
The Role of Technology in Understanding Perspectives on Aging and Health
Presented by Dr. Amanda Lazar
Dr. Lazar describes how technology can help us understand and challenge stereotypes about aging and cognitive impairment. Based on her work, she examines the design of new technologies to enrich the experience of growing older.
Amanda Lazar is an Assistant Professor in the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research is in the areas of Human-Computer Interaction and Health Informatics. She designs and studies technologies that support quality of life and social connectedness for older adults and people with dementia. She is particularly interested in how technology contributes to or reduces marginalization of these populations.
Learn in 30: What Channel is That On? Presented by Paul Howard
What channel do you watch for your favorite TV shows? Chances are, it isn't what you think, and there's a very good chance it's moving. Learn about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Spectrum Auction, and its impact on your local TV stations.
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 12:45. 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/2080042114 (Meeting ID: 208 004 2114).
By Paul Howard, Audiovisual Support Committee Chair
OLLI’s Audiovisual Support Committee (a.k.a. The Tom Swift Squad) seeks additional volunteers to help ensure the smooth employment of OLLI's audiovisual resources. Our primary mission is to help instructors, liaisons and staff with any audiovisual issues that might arise during the classes we attend.
We'll be meeting at 1:00 on Wednesday, November 14 at Tallwood in TA 3. We'll be conducting a trial of a new computer system for classroom use, and working with classroom equipment for those who wish to learn about the use of this gear.
Please let me know if you're planning to attend or would like to become a "Swiftie," even if you can't join us for this meeting. Contact me by email (preferred) or phone (703-860-9246).
For more information on the Audiovisual Support Committee, see its web page.
Photo Club Members Take Military Family Portraits By John Nash, E-News Editor and Staff WriterTwenty military families with a total of 58 people…and one service dog…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, Dan Feighery, and John Nash.After having their portraits taken, each family or individual received a flash drive with all their pictures as well as one printed portrait on professional photo paper donated by Red River paper Company. “This is really a special project,” said Ashy Palliparambil, USO Senior Manager for Resiliency Programs. “Many of the families had one member who had been injured or wounded in combat and had not had a family portrait in many years, if ever. We all are so appreciative of the Photo Club’s members for their time and professional experience in making this a great holiday project.”Angie Talaber, Photo Club coordinator, summed up the mutual feeling of the club members who participated by saying, “While this was a wonderful way to support our military people, at the end of the day, we all had learned and improved our skills as photographers. This was definitely a ‘win-win’ situation.” (Photos by John Nash)
Latin American Literature Halloween Party By Ligia Glass, Latin American Literature Instructor The Latin American Literature class celebrated Halloween and the end of the book, The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende, with a delicious luncheon, and a discussion of the book and film. Several members dressed in “white” to pay homage to “Clara,” the main character in the novel. Férula, another character, was also represented all in black to give the party a “living” feel of the book. The class ended with the spirit of Isabel Allende very present in the room.
Tallwood Book Club By Ceda McGrew, Tallwood Book Club CoordinatorThe Tallwood Book Club will meet at 10:00 on Wednesday, November 14, in TA2. The book for discussion is Beartown by bestselling Swedish author/journalist Fredrik Backman (A Man Called Ove). Beartown is the engrossing story of a youth hockey team from a small, forested, working class Swedish town that is preparing to compete in the national semifinals. All OLLI members are welcome.The book selection for December 12 is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
Position Opening for E-News Technical Editor By Paul Van Hemel, OLLI E-News Chief EditorOLLIE-News has an opening for a technical editor beginning in December 2018. The position requires (weekly when OLLI is in session and bi-weekly between terms):
reviewing a draft issue of the E-News to verify that the embedded URL links work properly;
sending an email notification to the OLLI website chair to put the E-News on the website;
scheduling the E-News issue for distribution;
creating the courtesy copy of the issue and scheduling it for delivery; and
replicating a master draft of E-News to set up the next issue.
It also requires monthly updating two URL links to Arts and Music event calendars.
We will provide instruction on how these efforts are done. Although it is not an absolute requirement, it will be helpful and considered a plus if you have some familiarity with MailChimp, the software that we use for generating and distributing the E-News.
The position of technical editor offers a volunteer opportunity to contribute with minimal time and effort (may be only 1 to 2 hours per week) to the effective operation of one of OLLI’s key tools for communicating with its members. If you are interested in joining the E-News team, contact me at pevanh@gmail.com. Thanks!
The Greeks in the classical world
After the Persian Wars said, “Enough,
Surely that’s an end to such terrible conflicts.”
Later the Romans, after losing legions in
The Teutorburg Forest and then in Parthia,
Said,” Ah, no more wars. “Later, they said it again and again,
After the sack of Rome by the Visigoths,
Then the Vandals, then the Ostrogoths and the Huns.
Later still when the Mongols
Invaded half the world, conquering most of Asia,
The Balkans, Russia, parts of Poland and Hungary
And were poised to assault Vienna,
They halted the most successful invasion in history to
Return to their homeland and elect a new Great Khan,
Then most of those newly conquered lands thanked their
Several gods for deliverance and the absence of hostilities.
Later still after the 100 Years War, the 30 Years War and
The catastrophes of the Napoleonic upheavals,
Those Europeans that survived, were sure that such bloodletting was at an end.
Still, when a World War arrived that cost between 8-9 million combatants killed
With some 12-13 million civilians,
President Wilson was pleased to declare it as, “The War to End All Wars”
An event whose closing we commemorate today.
But George Santayana, philosopher. and historian,
Corrected the president with a quote from Plato,
Who wrote. “Only the dead have seen the last of war.”
And that is why our service men and women, to this day
Can pray for peace but must always, always be prepared for war. M.J. Mc Namara, Col. USA (Ret)
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
Virginia Opera: Don Giovanni
Sat, Nov 10, 8:00
Sun, Nov 11, 2:00
Pre-performance discussion featuring "Dr. Opera," Glenn Winters.
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $90, $54.
Spectrum Dance Theater: A Rap On Race Fri, Nov 16, 8:00
6:30 Spoken Word presented by The Mason Black Student Alliance and Student Involvement in the Center for the Arts Lobby
7:15 Pre-performance discussion by Wendi Manuel-Scott, presenting "Bodies in Protest", in which she explores the many ways black bodies (and bodies of color) resist racial oppression.
Concert Hall
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
Aquila Theatre: Frankenstein
Sun, Nov 18, 7:00
Pre-performance discussion with Kristin Samuelian, Department of English.
Concert Hall
Admission: $44, $37, $26.
Gallery Exhibit: Hidden Narratives
Oct 30 - Dec 15
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00, and two hours before each performance.
William Michael Morgan
Sat, Nov 10, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20.
Mutts Gone Nuts
Sun, Nov 11, 1:00 and 4:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adults, $15; children, $10.
Matinee Idylls: Virginia Opera’s A Taste of Opera
Tue, Nov 13, 12:30 lunch; 1:30 Concert
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: Lunch/Concert/Dessert Reception Package: $47,
Concert/Dessert Reception Package: $27.
Jazz 4 Justice
Fri, Nov 16, 8:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: Adults, $20; seniors, $15.
Aquila Theatre: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Sat, Nov 17, 8:00
Pre-performance discussion with a member of the company.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $44, $37, $26.
Northern Virginia Ballet: Nutcracker Tea with Clara
Sun, Nov 18, 1:00 and 3:30
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Lovey Hammel Lounge
Admission: $50.
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).
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Technical Editor: Irene Osterman
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Leslie Vandivere,
Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Shirley Springfloat, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, Roz Stark
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.
OLLI had an opportunity to don green and gold at a Mason Faculty Club presentation on Monday, October 29. Presenting the Mason story were Assistant Athletic Director for External Affairs Zach Bolno (and his wingman, The Patriot).
weekday basketball-game tickets – just show your Mason ID at the box office!
Twenty military families with a total of 58 people…and one service dog…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, Dan Feighery, and John Nash.
