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OLLI
E-News #15-09 of April 17, 2009
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OLLI IS ALIVE AND WELL IN RESTON!
From the executive
director
FOR THOSE OLLI MEMBERS WHO CALL
TALLWOOD HOME, or
those who only attend OLLI classes in Loudoun, I would like to report
that our program in Reston is thriving. There are 19 courses offered at
the Washington Plaza Baptist Church site this spring, and the popular
"Literary Roundtable" meets at the Lake Anne Used Book Shop across the
plaza. Some classes have attendance exceeding 40 members, with 10
boasting over 20 attendees. Popular OLLI instructor Bruce Boston has 70
members registered for his course, "The New Atheism."
OLLI’s Reston coordinator, Al Roe, is quick to
note that well over 200 full-dues-paying OLLI members live in the
Greater Reston area, which includes parts of Vienna, Oakton, Great
Falls, McLean, and Herndon as well as Reston itself. Many of these
members have served on OLLI’s Board of Directors, chaired committees
and resource groups, and taught popular courses at all three OLLI
locations.
Reston has been identified by U.S. News and World Report as one
of the "Best Places to Retire" (see article at http://tinyurl.com/ceqgd4). Along
with eastern Loudoun County, the area of western Fairfax County
surrounding Reston holds great potential for future growth in the
membership and program offerings for all OLLI members.
OLLI
member/Reston founder Bob
Simon with his statue at Lake Anne Plaza.
Photo by Stan
Schretter.
One of the Reston courses
this spring is entitled, "Reston: How It Began, Where It’s Going"
(R710). OLLI member Bob Simon will kick off the course on Thu, Apr 23.
Bob is the visionary who started it all back in 1964. He is better
known as Robert E. Simon
(the RES in Reston).
Because Reston will be celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, Bob
has been featured in numerous articles and interviews (see recent
article at http://tinyurl.com/dzcyxp).
In subsequent weeks, the course will feature Joe Ritchey, developer for
Reston Town Center, Heidi Merkel, Senior County Planner, and Katherine
Hudgins, Fairfax County supervisor.
I encourage all full OLLI members to
experience the rich program offerings at OLLI-Reston as well as the
ambiance of Lake
Anne.
PROGRAM CORNER
A new occasional feature from the Program
Committee
 By Kathryn Russell, Program Committee Chair
IF YOU FIND THAT YOUR SPRING CLASS
SCHEDULE is a little light, it's not too late to add
another course or two. OLLI program planners have put together an
impressive array of four-week courses that begin next week.
One of these – "Avoid Being Targeted for
Identity Theft" (F203) – should interest all of us, especially in this
time of economic crisis when financial crimes are on the rise. We know
that seniors often fall prey to financial predators. Avoiding the
pitfalls of identity theft requires more than just shredding old
financial documents. To help us understand and cope with the dangers,
instructor Vee Johnson, community outreach liaison with the Fairfax
County Consumer Affairs Branch, returns to OLLI with updates and
suggestions for minimizing risk. Vee is known as a dynamic instructor,
and this course has been a very popular one at both Reston and
Tallwood. Brighten your spring schedule and plan to attend this vital
course that begins Thu, Apr 23.
Another exciting four-week course – "Early
Medieval England" (F101) – blends history, art, archeology and
literature to give us a multidisciplinary approach to this fascinating
era. The course is taught by Larry Butler, associate professor and
former director of art history at Mason. You won’t want to miss this
one, which begins Monday, April 20.
In
fact, it’s not too late to sign up for any of the four-week classes
(except closed
courses), either by visiting the office or, perhaps more
conveniently, by logging onto the Member Portal at http://www.olliatgmu.org/, then
click Register/Add Course under the Courses menu.
FREE EDUCATIONAL
VIDEOS
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A NEW HIGHER EDUCATION
WEB SITE CALLED "YOUTUBE EDU"
was
launched on Mar 31. It displays more than 20,000 videos of lectures,
research findings and other subjects from more than 100 colleges and
universities, including Carnegie Mellon, Duke, Harvard Business School,
Harvard Kennedy School of Government, MIT, Stanford, UCLA, Vanderbilt,
and Penn's Wharton School.
YouTube EDU can be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/edu
and is easily searchable. OLLI program planners and instructors looking
for supplementary information for their courses may find the site to be
of value, and OLLI members in general may be interested in this new,
free option for "distance learning."
-- Rod Zumbro, OLLI E-News Editor
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PHOTO
OF THE
MONTH
Selected by the OLLI Photography Club
"Spiral," by Jean Feighery.
on this
page
of the Photography Club's Web site.
Back
to top
 STAGED
READING AT OLD TOWN HALL
Fri, May 1, at 7:30 in Fairfax City
 By Kevin Murray, TFA Managing Director
MASON'S THEATER OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT
and
Fall for the Book are proud to present Five Variations on the Art of Aphrodite
by Hayley Rushing as part of the City of Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts
celebration. The event is also sponsored by Mason President Dr. Alan
Merten and Sally Merten.
The staged reading of this 2007 Winner of
TFA's First Light Mentoring Program and Competition for High School
Playwrights will be held on Fri, May 1, at Old Town Hall (3999
University Drive, Fairfax). The goddess Aphrodite examines the many
incarnations of love in this contemporary spin on mythological
relationships. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.
For more information about TFA, see this Web page.
KEY CONTACT
INFORMATION
How to contact OLLI
HERE
IS A READY REFERENCE on how to contact OLLI. For email
addresses and phone numbers not listed below, please consult the online
Membership Directory (log in to Member
Portal).
- President:
Pat Carroll
- Executive
Director: Thom
Clement, phone 703-503-7866
- OLLI Office, phone
703-503-3384
- Tallwood
Administrator/OLLI Registrar: Maria
Buczek, phone 703-503-3384
- Board
members: See Organization page
(to send an email to the entire Board, send it to the office or the OLLI
E-News editor, and your
message will be forwarded to all members of the Board)
- Committee
chairs, resource-group chairs: See Organization
page
- Suggestions: Online
suggestion box
- Letters to
the editor or letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit
(etiquette
matters): OLLI
E-News Editor Rod Zumbro,
phone
703-569-2750
 EYE ON RESTON
An update on Reston matters
 By
Sharon Gilman, OLLI
E-News Staff Writer
THE
FIRST NEWSLETTER ("EYE ON RESTON EXTRA") for OLLI-Reston area
members was distributed on Mon, Apr 13. If you didn't receive it or if
you had difficulty opening the attachment, please contact the Tallwood
office.
"Meet the Candidates" morning at Lake Anne
will be held on Fri, May 1, at 10:00, with doors opening at 9:30.
Volunteers are needed to provide finger food as refreshments following
the meeting; a sign-up sheet will be in each classroom starting Mon,
Apr 20. For additional information please contact Alice Roe.
There are some very good programs being
conducted in Reston this spring – you may want to consider bringing a
friend to try us out!
Finally, another reminder – the carpet at the
Lake Anne Church is begging you to use the coffee cup lids. We are
doing it (and our host, the church) a disservice by not using the lids
and spilling coffee. Thanks for your understanding.
MASON ARTS AND
MUSIC
Upcoming Mason performances, Apr 17-26
By Jan Bohall, OLLI
E-News Staff Writer
FOR
TICKETS,
call
1-888-945-2468 (phone orders are handled by tickets.com)
or visit the Center for the Arts Box Office, Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00. More
info on tickets at the CFA tickets page.
Mason Dance Company
Spring
Concert
Fri, Sat, Apr 17, 18, 8:00
This is the second of three concerts this season, which features modern
dance performed by a company of talented dancers at the start of their
professional careers.
Admission: $10 seniors/students/staff, $15 other adults
Harris Theater |
National Acrobats of China
Fri, Sat, Apr 17, 18, 8:00
Sat, Apr 18, 2:00
Performers in China centuries ago used dramatic folk arts and variety
shows to demonstrate their cultural roots, and this group continues the
tradition. They use common objects as stage props, such as tables,
chairs, flags and plates, in daring feats with startling agility.
Admission: $46, $38, $23
Family Friendly: Children 12 and under, half price with an adult
Concert Hall
Come 45 minutes early for each performance for a free artistic
discussion on Grand Tier III. |
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American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra
Virtuosity
Sun, Apr 19, 1:00
This orchestra is the Youth Orchestra in Residence at George Mason’s
Center for the Arts. Led by Luis Haza of the National Symphony, it
provides world-class training and performance opportunities for more
than 400 young musicians each year, ages seven to 21, from the
Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Admission: $10 seniors/students, $14 other adults
Concert Hall |
Keyboard
Conversations® with Jeffrey
Siegel
Musical
Pictures
Sun, Apr 19, 7:00
In
his final concert here of the season, Mr. Siegel will play the two of
Rachmaninoff’s Études Tableaux,
Debussy’s Fireworks and
impressionistic Voiles and
Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an
Exhibition.
Admission: $38, $30, $19
Family Friendly: Children 12 and under, half price with an adult
Concert Hall |
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University Vocal Jazz
Concert
Sun, Apr 19, 3:00
Admission: Free, no tickets required
Harris Theater
University
Chorale
Broadway
Pops Concert
Tue, Apr 21, 8:00
Admission: $10 seniors/students, $15 other adults
Harris Theater
Mason
Jazz Band Workshop
Wed, Apr 22, 8:00
Admission: Free, no tickets required
Harris Theater
Saxophone
Ensemble Recital
Sat, Apr 25, 3:00
Admission: Free, no tickets required
Harris Theater
GMU
Symphonic Band Concert
Sat, Apr 25, 8:00
Admission: $10 seniors/students, $15 other adults
Harris Theater
GMU
Various Chamber Ensembles
Sun, Apr 26, 2:00
Admission: Free, no tickets required
Harris Theater |
GMU Players #3
Say
Goodnight Gracie
By
Ralph Pape
Thu, Apr 23, Fri, Apr 24, Sat, Apr 25, 8:00
Sat, Apr 25, 2:00
Thu, Apr 30, Fri, May 1, Sat, May 2, 8:00
Sat, May 2, Sun May 3, 2:00
This comedy-drama captures a generation at a turning point in 1976.
Five high school friends from the 60s in New York’s East Village gather
for their reunion and reminisce about good times. Idealistic, they have
difficulty coming to terms with the uncertain 70s.
Note:
The Saturday
matinee
is OLLI Special Event #960.
Admission: $8 seniors/students, $12 other adults
Stay for a post-performance discussion with the director and members of
the company.
TheaterSpace (Lower level
of Performing Arts Bldg, adjacent to Concert Hall. From Level 2 of
Parking Deck take the bridge. Enter first door on the left and follow
hallway; go through the gray doors and downstairs). |
National Philharmonic of Russia
Vladimir Spivakov, conductor
Denis
Matsuev, piano
Fri, Apr 24, 8:00
Founded in 2003 by President Putin and the Ministry of Culture, the
orchestra is now the musical symbol of the new Russia. Mr. Matsuev is a
Tchaikovsky Competition Gold Medalist and said to be one of the most
sought-after pianists of his generation. The program includes
Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Romeo and Juliet; Prokofiev’s Four Pieces from Romeo and Juliet Suites;
and Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake.
Admission: $60, $52, $30
Concert Hall
Come at 7:15 for a free artistic discussion on Grand Tier III. |
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The Acting Company
Henry
V
Sat, Apr 25, 8:00
Shakespeare’s history play of one
of the great English warrior kings balances the heroics of battle with
the painful and complex reactions of those who fought it. This classic
epic follows Henry, a young ambitious monarch, who tries to secure his
position at home by launching a hasty invasion of France to divert his
country’s attention. Directed by Davis McCallum and co-produced with
the Guthrie Theater of Minneapolis.
Admission: $36, $28, $18
Concert Hall
Come at 7:15 for a free artistic discussion on Grand Tier III. |
The Acting Company
The
Spy
By
Jeffrey Hatcher
Sun, Apr 26, 4:00
This is the stage adaptation of
James Fenimore Cooper’s 1821 Revolutionary War tale, which launched the
genre of the espionage novel. Cooper presents both sides of a fateful
historic conflict, using as protagonist a mysterious peddler
wrongly
suspected of being a British spy, who is, in fact, spying for General
Washington.
Admission: $36, $28, $18
Concert Hall
Come at 3:15 for a free artistic discussion on Grand Tier III. |
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Other Mason events
 By Barbara Kyriakakis, OLLI
E-News Associate Editor
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• Vision Series – "A Glimpse Into
the Writer’s Workshop." Alan Cheuse, novelist, critic, and Professor of
English, hosts an informal commentary on one of his recently published
short stories. Mon, Apr 20, 7:00, Concert Hall. Free but tickets
required; informal reception in lobby follows.
• Life Planning Seminar Series –
"Long-Term Health Care Planning and Decision Making: Critical Issues,"
presented by Jean Ball, Esq., Elder Law Attorney, Wed, Apr 22, 12:00 to
1:00, SUB II, Room 7. OLLI members are welcome. Registration requested.
Left to
right, the writer
and Suzi Brunelle at last
year's Bike to Mason Day (article).
–
Come to the Second Annual Bike to Mason Day. Free food, bike tune-ups,
and Bike to Mason T-shirts. Wed, Apr 22, Johnson Center North Plaza. Registration
required.
• Zimbabwean Film Series – Flame. Fictional rendering of the
liberation movement against Rhodesia based on accounts by women who
joined the armed struggle. Thu, Apr 23, 7:00 to 9:00, Eisenhower Media
Room in President’s Park.
 • Visiting Writers Series – Mindy
Lewis (photo at right), author of Life
Inside: A Memoir, has been published in Newsweek, Lilith, Body & Soul, and Poet's & Writers magazine.
Reading, Thu, Apr 23, 7:30, 163 Research I. Reception in lobby prior to
reading.
• Environmentalist Thomas Lovejoy to Speak at
Mason – "Climate Change, Nature, Ethics and Health." Thu,
Apr 23, 11:00, 163 Research I.
• Mason’s Potomac Arts Academy Summer Programs
– Got a grandchild visiting this summer? Mason offers a variety of
Summer Arts Programs for participants of all ages. Classes and
workshops include: Guitar Rendezvous, Jazz Connection Summer Workshop,
Drumline/Colorguard Clinic, Piano Pedagogy Seminar, Acting for Young
People, and Summer Woodwind Camp.
• Summer Intensive Japanese Course –
Intensive Japanese language and culture program offered for the first
time this year. JAPA 110 and JAPA 210. Mon through Thu, 9:30 to 1:30,
Jun 15 through Aug 7. View pdf flyer.
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Non-class events at OLLI for the next two
weeks
THE
FOLLOWING LIST covering the
next two weeks is extracted for your
convenience from the master calendar maintained by the office (see Upcoming
Non-Class Events to view the real-time OLLI online calendar used by
the office). Note: Board,
committee, resource-group and 'membership-type' meetings/events below
are highlighted
in bold. OLLI members are
welcome at all Board, committee and resource-group meetings (except
during executive sessions).
Fri Apr
17 10am Recorder Consort -
TA-2
10am Drama Club - TA-3
10am
Board of Directors
Meeting - TA-1
11am Homer Group - Social
Room Annex
3:30pm Teacher Appreciation
Reception - GMU Center for the Arts
Sat Apr 18 12:30pm OLLI
Personal Computer User Group - TA-1
Mon Apr
20 2pm – 3:30pm Reston
Science, Tech & Health
Mtg. - Annex
Tue
Apr 21 11am Knitting and
Needlework
Club - Church at Lake Anne
11am Fiction Writer's
Club - King's Park Library
Wed Apr 22 1:30pm Bridge Club
- TA-3
2pm Special Event 958 -
Generation Y - TA-1
Fri Apr 24 9:30am
Photography
Club - TA-1
10am Recorder Consort - TA-2
10am Drama Club - TA-3
10am Special Event 959 -
Tour the Basilica - National Shrine
10:30am Classic Fiction Book
Club - Cascades Library
11am Homer Group - Social
Room Annex
12:30pm Loudoun Let's Eat Out
- Eiffel Tower Cafe, 107 Loudoun St. SW, Leesburg
Tue Apr 28 11am
Knitting and Needlework
Club - Church at Lake Anne
Wed Apr
29 1:30pm Program Committee
Meeting - TA-2
2pm Special Event 961 -
Titanic: The Rest of the Story - TA-1
Fri May 1 10am Recorder
Consort - TA-2
10am Drama Club - TA-3
11am Homer Group - Social
Room Annex
3:30pm Special Event 962 -
Carmina and Illuminare - Fairfax Town Hall
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About this newsletter and the people who produce it
Rod
Zumbro
Editor |
John West
Deputy
Editor |
Barbara Kyriakakis
Associate
Editor |
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We
welcome Barbara Kyriakakis as our new associate editor.
Review Team – Gordon Canyock,
Michael Coyne, Barbara Kyriakakis, John West, Susanne Zumbro
Database
Manager – Barbara
Kyriakakis; Photo
Editor – Michael Coyne
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• About
this newsletter. OLLI's weekly newsletter, OLLI E-News, is emailed to current
OLLI
members with email addresses on Fridays. When classes are in
session, printed copies of this newsletter are distributed in
classrooms. Comments,
suggestions or complaints? Please contact Editor Rod
Zumbro or Communications Committee Chair Gordon
Canyock.
• Submissions. We
encourage members
to submit news items, articles and photos for this newsletter. The deadline
to
the editor is 7:00 pm Wed (7:00 pm Mon for letters to the editor
for which an
OLLI response is appropriate) for that
week's issue; submissions earlier in
the week are strongly encouraged and greatly appreciated. Please
limit
articles to about 250 words. Submit material via email to Editor Rod
Zumbro
(email rzumbro@gmu.edu).
• Read the latest
issue early. The
new weekly issue of OLLI E-News
is posted to the OLLI Web site Thursday evening. Read it by visiting http://www.olli.gmu.edu/pubs.htm#enews,
where you will find a list of the last 12
issues; click the latest issue listed.
• Viewing or searching past
issues. Your options for finding items in past issues of OLLI E-News include viewing the last 12
issues; searching the content of
ALL issues for any word or words; and searching our
archive of all past issues by date or issue number.
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Updated: April 17, 2009
Copyright © 2009 Osher
Lifelong Learning Institute at
George Mason University. Materials in this publication subject to
OLLI-Mason copyright may be reproduced for noncommercial educational
purposes as long as credit is given to OLLI-Mason.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George
Mason University, 4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone: (703) 503-3384; Email: olli@gmu.edu;
Fax: (703) 503-2832
Original site design and construction by OLLI-Mason member Rod Zumbro. |
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