Fall-term registration continues on a space-available basis. Fall term begins September 20.
Reminder: Mason’s Robinson Professor Dr. Spencer Crew is looking for 10 OLLI members to participate in his fall course “History of the Family,” sharing your family history. Click here and go to page 4 for more information.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, September 24; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, September 21, at 6:00.
Mason Mask Mandate: In a September 1 email, Mason President Gregory Washington announced that, as COVID-19 infections increase in the region, especially the prevalence of the Delta variant, effective immediately Mason again willrequire all individuals on our campus to wear masks indoors, including classrooms and laboratories, regardless of vaccination status (see this link). The university will not require masks to be worn by those who are vaccinated in outdoor settings at this time; however, unvaccinated individuals are required to continue to wear masks outdoors when physical distancing cannot be maintained or at a university event. To learn about mask policy exceptions,click here.
The university will continue to assess its policy regarding the wearing of masks in the context of federal, state, and local guidelines and the advice of the medical and public health communities. This renewed masking requirement is based on the recommendation of the Northern Virginia Health Directors, and in response to our adjacent jurisdictions that are experiencing elevated levels of COVID-19 and the Delta variant. For more information, visit theSafe Return to Campus page.
Humanities, Social Sciences, and Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
By Camille Hodges, Humanities/Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co-chair
Here’s hoping that everything is going well for all of you. Kids are back in school, and soon OLLI will be back as well. The summer saw lots of activity, including Tallwood work on the installation of the ramp to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Courses were also proposed for spring; the deadline for spring 2022 courses is October 8, 2021.
The tentative date for the Humanities/Social Science/Current Events (H/SS/CE) Program Planning Group meeting is Thursday, September 23, in the afternoon (exact time to be announced). Please add this date to your calendar.
By Kosmo Tatalias, Art and Music Program Planning Group Co‑chair
Please bring your ideas about classes to a friendly Zoom meeting of fellow OLLI enthusiasts about creating and appreciating art works, music, dance, photography, and film. If art and music are among your passions but you do not have any specific suggestions at this time, you might enjoy seeing and communicating with fellow OLLI classmates with whom we have been unable to meet in person for such a long time!
Mark your calendar for a meeting of the Art and Music Program Planning Group!
Time: September 13, 2021, 10:00 Eastern Time (US and Canada). To join the Zoom meeting, click here and use passcode 753191, or enter meeting ID 846 6571 1250 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode; you may also dial in at 301-715-8592.
If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to suggest course topics or instructors, please send your ideas to Chris Narbut, nickelpickel.chris@cox.net.
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, September 18, via Zoom. Program activities begin at 1:00.
Panoramic Images and Focus Stacking – Presented by John Krout. First, this presentation will show you how to photograph that magic moment, meaning the fleeting appearance of a toddler's first steps, or when a graduate is handed a diploma, or when the bride and groom step out of the church. A widespread complaint about digital cameras is shutter lag, a delay between your tap on the shutter button and the actual capture of a photo. You will learn a very simple way to eliminate shutter lag.
Second, this presentation will show you two ways in which computers have made photography of difficult subjects much easier. The two specific types of subjects are close-ups of small items and super-wide images of very wide or tall subjects, bigger than even a wide-angle lens can depict.
In both cases, the computer can produce a much more pleasing image if you take multiple photos and then combine the photos using computer software. You will see examples and learn how to do both types of computer-based composition image prep.
PATACS member John Krout is a regular author of newsletter articles and frequent presenter at our meetings. He's won many awards for his photography.
Attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 1:00. Please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 794756, or enter meeting ID 948 9296 8399 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode
No Performances until September (but note ticket sales below)
By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer
Virtual Performances
Although Mason’s Fairfax campus is shut down, online entertainment and events at the Hylton Center continue for us to access and enjoy(https://hylton.calendar.gmu.edu/). Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just send an email to Brianna Schoen atbschoen@gmu.edu. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website,Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances.
All Mason Arts & Music events are postponed until the end of this month. But note that tickets for fall 2021 performances are now on sale for both the Mason Center for the Arts and the Hylton Center at: https://cfa.gmu.edu and https://hyltoncenter.org.
By Linda Harber, Mason Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (Retired)
Grab your mask and come on over to the George Mason University Center for the Arts this month for the beginning of wonderful live music. We have enjoyed the many excellent virtual performances and programs last year—it kept us peaceful during the Zoom era. But this year will be very exciting!
Opening the live season is the Grand Piano Celebration with the incredible Dr. Linda Apple Monson and her talented faculty and students. It will be held on Sunday, September 19, at 3:00, in the Mason Center for the Arts Concert Hall. There will be classical music and an exciting Gershwin feature.
So please plan to join us—just $15 for senior tickets. Contact music.gmu.edu or call 703-993-2787.
Please let me (lharber@gmu.edu) know if you want to be on the mailing list or to be involved with Friends of Music at Mason (FOMM) this year. All donations go to music student scholarships, and you can even donate in memory or in honor of someone special! The beautiful cards acknowledging the donations were made by OLLI’s own Michelle Blandburg, who is also a FOMM board member and our Artist in Residence.
All of our OLLI friends are invited to the opening of live music at Mason. There will be a whole semester of great music at Mason. I am looking forward to seeing you there!
Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised information.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. 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). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Sep 11
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Sep 13
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Art & Music Program Planning Group Meeting
Poetry Club
Tue Sep 14
9:30 am
11:00 am
1:30 pm
4:00 pm
Annex Art
Spanish Club
How to Attend and Enjoy OLLI Classes
Tai Chi Club
Wed Sep 15
10:00 am
10:30 am
2:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Sep 16
11:50 am
4:30 pm
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Sep 17
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Homer, etc.
Sat Sep 18
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Tue Sep 21
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Wed Sep 22
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
6:00 pm
Memoir and More Writing Group
Spanish Club
Theater Lovers’ Group
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Sep 23
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri Sep 24
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Craft and Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Roz Stark, Jane Hassell
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. Search E-News: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News at ENews Archives. To search the content within issues, use Search or enter your search term(s) in Google followed by “site:ollidev2.earthcare.com/” without the quotes.
the George Mason University Center for the Arts this month for the beginning of wonderful live music. We have enjoyed the many excellent virtual performances and programs last year—it kept us peaceful during the Zoom era. But this year will be very exciting!