By Debbie Halverson, Membership Committee chair

Hand them a business card. (Pick some up at Tallwood.)

Point out to them the address of our very comprehensive Website (www.olli.gmu.edu/).

     How else to be promotive? Notice where you could put up a poster in a place where seniors frequent, maybe in the community room of your resident village or the gym where you do your workout. Thin

PICTURED AT RIGHT IS Board member Susanne Zumbro and Hospitality Committee chair Sandra Driesslein.

OLLI STUDENT, ACTIVE VOLUNTEER, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER, Susanne Zumbro is a busy person and a valuable member of OLLI. She is Chair of the Administration Committee, which has served as a liaison between the paid staff at OLLI and the Board. Previously, Susanne was Vice President and Membership Committee chair.
     Susanne was born and raised in Philadelphia, attended the University of Pennsylvania, and received her Master’s degree in Library Science from Villanova University. It was a job with the U.S. Senate that brought her to the Washington area, where she worked in the Office of Legal Counsel for three years. Subsequently, she worked as a law librarian for several firms in Washington and Northern Virginia.
     A job and raising five children should be more than enough to keep anyone busy. But it seems that Susanne always has the time and energy to do more. While still working she held office in both the local and national associations for law librarianship. After retirement, she has been a coordinator for OLLI’s Readers’ Theatre and is on the Board of GMU’s Friends of the Center for the Arts.
     Her English major in college may influence her choice in OLLI courses. She considers the Readers’ Theatre her favorite course; “In fact,” she says, “It has made me a drama lover.” She also tries to take any Shakespeare course offered by Kathryn Russell.
     Her latest project is heading a committee to form a Travelers Club for OLLI members. She hopes to be able to offer two major trips a year for those interested in seeing other countries with like-minded companions.
     When I asked Susanne what she did in her spare time, she laughed and said, “I do the laundry.” She also manages to find time for her 12 grandchildren. 

IF THERE IS A REASON FOR A PARTY, GET IN TOUCH WITH Sandra ("Sandy") Driesslein. As chair of OLLI’s Hospitality Committee, she and her 13 committee members will arrange for the festivities. They are responsible for, among other events, the New Members Coffee, the annual holiday party, the OLLI Open House, and the annual general membership meeting. “If there is a hint of a party,” let us know,“ she says.
      Sandy was raised in Texas and still keeps her ties to her beloved state by spending every winter in San Antonio. After she married, she and her husband Bill, an Air Force officer, lived the usual military life of moving often.
     While spending six years in Germany, they took advantage of being in EuropeGermany and other European countries. That’s probably where the travel bug bit her because she and her husband are still traveling.
     They’ve already been to Mexico this year. They have plans to go to the Caribbean and Florida at Thanksgiving and England and China in the future.
     Sandy received her undergraduate degree from Southwest Texas State University and her master’s degree from Webster College in St. Louis.
     She had a 43-year-long career in the civil service as a Human Resources officer. Her final job was at the Pentagon.
     Sandy’s many interests, besides her classes and activities at OLLI, are genealogy, skiing, and especially reading. She has a large library of all sorts of books, from ancient classics like Beowulf and Homer to romances, for relaxation.
     Sandy and her husband have six children and four grandchildren.

Editor's Note. Susanne and Sandra are related by marriage, as Sandra and I are distant cousins (which I discovered after meeting her for the first time at OLLI). Our respective sixth great grandfathers were two of four Zumbro brothers who were born in Switzerland and emigrated as young adults from Germany to America, arriving in the early 1750s. --Rod Zumbro  Back to top.

Skyward Reflecti ons   The October sky, full of movement, Invites philosophic thought. The airplane travels in ruler-straight line Keeping its date with scheduled time. The hungry hawk freely soars on high, Scanning for prey with piercing eye. The autumn leaves wildly scamper to and fro Letting the wind decide where they go.   And so it is with earthly mortals: Some never deviate from charted path, Some circle and search to find their way, Some let the wind blow them where it may.

Bernard Osher Again in Forbes 400

By Charles Duggan, OLLI President
OLLI MEMBER JOE FULTON HAS POINTED OUT to me that in the October 10, 2005 edition of Forbes magazine, Bernard Osher has once again made the list of “The 400 Richest Americans.”
     This year he is listed at $900 million and is tied with seventeen others at 384 on the list. The listing for the 78-year-old philanthropist reads as follows:

“With sister Marion and her husband, Herbert Sandler, co-founded Golden West Financial 1963. Took over auction house Butterfield & Butterfield 1970. Built company into one of nation's largest auction houses, sold to EBay for $200 million in stock 1999. Plans to give away entire fortune: ‘I hope to live long enough to do it.’ Avid fly-fisherman, supports arts, Jewish causes, and continued education for people over 50 through Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes.”

     I have been told that the statement that he “plans to give away entire fortune” is true. This is the reason  he conceived a network of 100 OLLIs, each with the potential of receiving three annaul $100,000 grants followed by an endowment of at least $1 million.
     We are very fortunate to have been chosen to be part of the Osher network. Back to top.

By Ben Gold, Facilities Committee chair

IT TOOK A LONG TIME AND LOTS OF NAGGING, but on Oct 1, repairs were finally made to the Tallwood parking lot.
     President Charles Duggan had written to the Pool Association requesting that something be done to take care of what was becoming a serious danger not only to our members’ cars, but also to the members themselves, who had to walk through the pot-holed lot. Jim Patterson of the Pool Association was very cooperative and had promised that repairs would be made a few weeks back.
     All of us who have had to deal with contractors can understand that things did not work out as planned. But Mr. Patterson, with a little prodding from OLLI, kept after the contractor, and the repairs were finally made.
     These are temporary repairs only. Sometime next year, as part of a major construction project at the swimming pool, the entire parking lot will receive a complete resurfacing. We can only hope it will happen at a time that will not cause major disruption. Back to top.

PICTURED AT RIGHT ARE BOARD MEMBERS Bruce Reinhart, Janice Dewire, and Bob Bohall.

Bruce Reinhart
is a new member of the Board, with more than his share of freshman enthusiasm, coupled with wide experience as a clergyman, university professor, research administrator, international consultant, and federal civil servant.
     He is currently the Subject Area Chair for philosophy, religion, and ethics courses. Among his suggestions for an ever-better OLLI is to take advantage of the many centers, institutes, think tanks, associations, and other resources in the DC area.
     He is off to a good start as moderator of "The Great Divide: A Search for Civility and Inclusiveness," which is offering students a wide array of speakers.
     Bruce envisions OLLI "growing in numbers, expanding in offerings, and building a community of learners that work together to share the knowledge, understandings, and enjoyment of learning."

Janice Dewire,
a member of LRI/OLLI since 1991, has seen and done it all. Through the years, Jan has been both Vice President and President of the Board of Directors, Program Director for two years, and Special Events Chair for three years.
     In addition, she has been active on almost every committee at one time or another. Lately Jan offers her help for specific events.
     For the last five or six years, Jan and Carol Henderson have been Co-Moderators of the Literary Roundtable that meets weekly at the Reston Used Book Shop at Lake Anne whenever classes are in session.
     Friends have asked Jan why she has continued to run for the Board and to devote her time to OLLI for so many years. She says that OLLI is "a fabulous organization for the active mind."
     Further, having been there at the beginning, Jan says she has remained to see "how it would all come out." Citing the beginning of a new era with the hiring of the first Executive Director, Jan says, with a flourish of understatement, that OLLI is turning out "rather well."

Bob Bohall
joined LRI in 1998 and, having quickly made his mark, was elected to the Board of Directors in 1999. He has held positions such as Secretary (2001-2002) and President (2002-2004) and served on almost every committee.
     A frequent instructor and class liaison over the years, for this semester Bob helped to develop the popular "Focus on the Media" course where he introduces the speakers each week. Two of Bob's other current jobs for OLLI require him to expand and contract, but as an economist he does it with ease.
     As University Liaison Committee chair, Bob macromanages the relationship between OLLI and GMU, planning the annual meeting and other meetings with GMU officials.
     Then, with fellow Program Review Committee member RoseMary Gustin, Bob micromanages as he assists Kathryn Russell, Chair, in the large job of obtaining instructors from GMU and elsewhere for the winter 2006 courses at Tallwood.
     To the members Bob says, "OLLI is fun and has a bright future. The members and staff are super. Do not be afraid to get involved. Everyone can help make a difference." Back to top.

GMU Band and Wind Symphony Monday, Oct 17, at 8:00 Admission $5 for seniors Concert Hall Center for the Performing Arts	GMU Players Mainstage Uncle Vanya Thursday, Friday, Saturday Oct 20-22 at 8:00 Saturday & Sunday Oct 22-23 at 2:00 Admission $7 for seniors Harris Theater	Society for Photographic Education Mid-Atlantic Region Juried Exhibition Friday, Oct 21-Nov 13 Admission Free Fine Arts Building Gallery (B104), and the Johnson Center Gallery
Munich Symphony Orchestra Phillipe Entremont, conductor/pianist Saturday, Oct 22, at 8:00 Admission $50, $42, $25 For tickets, call 888-945-2468 Includes a pre-performance discussion at 7:15 in the Grand Tier Lobby Concert Hall Center for the Performing Arts	Marvin Hamlisch The Broadway Songbook Sunday, Oct 23, at 7:00 Admission $40, $32, $20 For tickets, call 888-945-2468 Includes a pre-performance discussion at 6:15 in the Grand Tier Lobby Concert Hall Center for the Performing Arts	See reminder above about post-concert reception

     The movie is a 2000 Korean award winner titled Joint Security Area. The movie is based on a novel by Park Sang-yeon titled DMZ. The story centers on an incident in the Joint Security area around Panmunjom involving the abduction by North Korean soldiers, and the subsequent escape, of a South Korean sergeant.
     The subplot relates to the connection of the two soldiers, one North Korean and one South Korean, who are major characters in the tale. The story suggests some of the same friend versus friend conflicts that afflicted many of the combatants in the US Civil War. The film also was praised for “…its sumptuous cinematography.” You may read a review of the film.

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Jennifer Maloney Leaves OLLI for GMU

By Carol Henderson, OLLI Secretary
JENNIFER MALONEY HAS ACCEPTED A POSITION AT GMU. Her last day as OLLI Administrator will be Oct 21. While her departure announcement has already been publicized, we know members would appreciate a little more background. Jennifer says the skills she developed at OLLI were instrumental in her ability to move to this full-time job as she and her husband embark on ten years of college tuition for their three children. Fortunately, the new post is still just a five-minute commute from her home.
     Jennifer joined the then-LRI staff in March 1999, and members quickly grew to rely on her and Joanne Lingerfelt, who arrived about the same time. Jennifer remembers that Carol Ferrara trained both new staffers just as the office was beginning to automate and use database software for registration and program purposes. Membership has grown significantly since 1999, and the program is vastly expanded. When Joanne left in December 2003, Jennifer became the OLLI Administrator.
     Jennifer has done everything from supplying the all-important coffee and cookies to troubleshooting audiovisual equipment, training office volunteers, serving as registrar and becoming the corporate memory. She said she has enjoyed particularly the opportunity to work on the catalog together with program and editing volunteers. In her pre-OLLI days, she had a communications background, spent ten years as a management analyst for the federal government and taught preschool.
     What she will miss most about OLLI is the interaction with members, instructors and volunteers. She noted she has learned more about power cables and A/V equipment than most people learn in two lifetimes. Her advice on this score: “Don’t be afraid of the machines!” She also admitted that though she is some years away from OLLI-member status, she’s learned the value of lifelong learning and will consider continuing her education.
     Almost everyone who’s taken or taught an OLLI course has been helped in one way or another by Jennifer. We’re grateful for her knowledge and dedication to the Institute and wish her well in the next phase of her career at GMU. Back to top.

Ms. Ollie Ettakit Speaks

By Ms. Ollie Ettakit, OLLI News staff manners expert

Late Arrivals

 
Dear Ms. Ettakit:
     Often people arrive late to class and rudely march across the room right in front of the speaker. It sure would be nice if they signed in, then went to the back of the room and crossed over to find an empty seat. --- Anonymous, Burke

The best solution, of course, is to arrive on time. I full understand that sometimes being tardy is unavoidable. Unfortunately, I have noticed that most members scurry across the front of the room, seemingly embarrassed, but unaware of the option of retreating to the rear, where there is a pathway to the other side of the classroom. Perhaps your kind advice will reduce these embarrassing situations.

Email your OLLI etiquette questions to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (who is distraught that she cannot reply personally) via the print-edition OLLI News editor, Gordon Canyock. Back to top.

Letters to the Editor

THE EDITORIAL STAFF WILL PUBLISH your brief letters commenting on OLLI activities and will try to include follow-up information from the relevant committee or staff member, usually the next week.
-- Gordon Canyock, OLLI News editor

 

Instructor Evaluations

Dear Editor:
     An OLLI member wrote [in last week's Letters to the Editor] that while most of the classes he/she attended were excellent, there were several speakers that were not effective and were a waste of his time. He suggested that we adopt an evaluation process.
     I think it is important that each of us acknowledge that our speakers are gracious in their willingness to give their time, experience and expertise without pay. To date the effectiveness issue has been resolved via registration numbers; successful presentation fills future seats. It would be most ungracious and ungrateful for us to invite speakers and reward them with a report card.
-- Joan Salemi, OLLI Program Committee

Tear Down of Tallwood House

Dear Editor:
     Larry Spaine, GMU Facilities, has reported that a request to tear down the old house is in Richmond for action. Spaine's crews are moving utility lines. The architect will work up a plan to close up the small annex containing the bathrooms once the main house is demolished.
-- Dick Chobot, Executive Director

Readers' Theatre Seeks an Audience

Dear Editor:
     Every Thursday this term at 11:30, Readers' Theatre meets and performs readings of various short plays, skits, and scenes from plays. Being hams, we would love to have members drop in and be our audience. There is always room in the back.
-- Lynn Gramzow, Coordinator

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Rod Zumbro Karen Hamilton

OLLI E-NEWS Editor Rod Zumbro Proofreader Karen Hamilton View previous issues

About OLLI E-News. OLLI E-News is emailed to OLLI members on Fridays when sufficient content is available. Each issue contains new content (during class terms, the same content will appear the following week in the printed OLLI News distributed in classrooms). We encourage OLLI members and staff employees to submit news items and write articles. Comments, suggestions or complaints? Please contact the editor or the Publications Committee chair, Gordon Canyock. Note about HTML graphics. If you do NOT see photos and clickable links in this message, you might want to ask your child or teenaged grandchild to fix things for you. Or you could change your email settings yourself. Here's how to view html-formatted messages in three popular email systems: Outlook Express. Click Tools; select Options; in the Read tab, uncheck "Read all messages in plain text."  Yahoo Mail. Click Mail Options/General Preferences; under Security, uncheck "Block HTML graphics in email messages from being downloaded."  AOL. Upgrade, if possible, to an AOL version above 5.0. Back to top.

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