THE TOM SWIFT SQUAD WANTS YOU!

Volunteers needed for AV Support Committee ONE OF OLLI'S MERRY BANDS OF VOLUNTEERS is the Audiovisual Support Committee, aka The Tom Swift Squad. We help the staff in resolving any difficulties that may arise in our classes with audiovisual (AV) resources. The Tom Swift Squad also helps with the implementation of new AV capabilities such as the instructor public-address systems that were recently added to classrooms at our Loudoun campus. We're looking into technologies to provide "webinars" – i.e., remote Web meeting capabilities – between our various campus locations.      You can help. You don't need a PhD in electrical engineering or computer science – we'll train you in an hour or two to be able to make a contribution in dealing with issues that pop up during classes and events with OLLI’s computers and AV gear.      Our members include: George Addison, Michael Coyne, Don Ferret, Bob Helland, Paul Howard, Harriet Kaplan, Ernestine Meyer, Jim Miller, Manny Pablo, Tely Psitos, Ruth Ruttenberg, and John West.      Please contact either of the committee's co-chairs, Manny Pablo or Paul Howard, if you're interested in becoming a "Swiftie!" Contributed by Paul Howard, Audiovisual Support Committee Co-chair

JUST DOING MY JOB
By Debbie Halverson, Membership Committee Chair
SO NOW, DEAR NEW MEMBERS, YOU ARE BEGINNING TO REALIZE what being an OLLI member means. Of course, that experience will be unique to each of our over 800 members, but very likely by the middle of their first year, new members will realize the scope of opportunities that are available to them as they try out new OLLI activities.
     In my case, at first I tried the really big classes, where we had some impressive dignitaries speaking on a wide range of topics. I liked the smaller lecture classes where I learned in depth about an aspect of American history, and I was able to get into the Music Sampler class that brought tears to my face when nine Mason vocalists offered their amazing voices to TA-1. What a privilege! I make it a habit on Monday afternoons to listen to music at Lake Anne, and whenever possible, I take an art class, just to keep my watercolor brush active. I love the bus trips to interesting places, and I enjoy coffee room banter with friends between classes.
     Once I realized how much fun it is to teach – whether a writing course or a literature course – I found a new part of me that had never surfaced before.
     The OLLI promise is unique to all as we each explore what interests us most. I love the add-ons, the clubs … those drama people have a fine time … and the photographers are a talented lot. You can walk mornings before class with the walkers, and you can stroll down the garden path that the Dirty Knee Club has fashioned as an opportunity for you to collect your thoughts alone or with a friend. You can go to a party, Holiday or Valentine; you can take classes at any of the three sites, like a computer or art class in Loudoun; you can volunteer to work in the office and make new OLLI friends there; you can write, edit or take photos for the E-News.
     You can participate in special activities like the silent auction, or you can join the money managers in the investment group to figure out what to do with your spare change.
     One of my jobs as membership chair is to cheer for OLLI at outside events, not difficult when I have so much material to work with. My next job is to ask each of you to join in this celebration of OLLI to those you meet along the way who haven’t yet found us. Give them a refreshing new idea to spark up their lives. If your enthusiasm is anywhere near to mine, next thing you know it, they’ll be sitting beside you in class.

E-NEWS STAFF RESIGNATION

OLLI MEMBER KAREN HAMILTON has resigned as associate editor of OLLI E-News for health reasons. She has been a key member of the editorial staff for almost four years, serving as proofreader starting with our first issue in July 2005 and later becoming associate editor, with responsibility for coordinating the work of volunteer staff writers.      Always, she was our expert on English usage; she did the copy editing and proofreading, helping make our newsletter as professional and perfect as it could possibly be.      All of us at OLLI E-News thank Karen for her contributions and wish her the best. -- Rod Zumbro, OLLI E-News Editor