LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Kudos for OLLI You probably only hear complaints .... but I wanted to state that my husband, Doug Hill, and I, Marge Bradley, think that OLLI is a wonderful resource to the senior community. We fully appreciate all the time and effort that go into making this organization possible. Thank you. -- Marge Bradley, OLLI member

Do not raise the dues so much. I am not persuaded that this is necessary. I believe that some old members will be forced out.
-- Sibyl Vanneman, OLLI member

Everyone wants a quality program No one wants an increase -- everyone wants a quality program. That requires oversight. Seems pretty simple to me. Brenda Cheadle, OLLI member

First of all, let me take this opportunity to thank the members of the board and all the volunteers that devote their time and energy to the running of OLLI. Your efforts are much appreciated, and nothing that follows is intended to detract from that. I also appreciate Debbie and Gordon taking the time to explain the rationale for the dues increase.
     I joined OLLI over a decade ago; in the course of time I expect dues increases. I must confess that the size of the latest one was a bit of a surprise. The reason, as you point out, is the hiring of an executive director. That is now water over the dam, or under the bridge, if you prefer!
     I fear that OLLI will wind up with a more restricted clientele. We already have trouble attracting a diverse student body; this will only aggravate that problem.
     I know couples who have abandoned OLLI to take courses directly at GMU. Those of us who have degrees from local universities can take audit courses there for a nominal fee. There are other LLIs in this area, so it's not that OLLI members don't have alternatives to go to. Have you estimated how many people will you lose and what will that do to your finances? You may argue that some of the alternatives do not supply the social environment OLLI offers, but to the extent that expansion forces dispersion into "off campus"  facilities, this asset gets lost. There are no social rooms in churches, or American Legion posts; there are only your fellow class members.
     I know of an LRI on the OLLI model in another state that after four months has a membership of 300 which it expects to double each year for the next few years. The fee is $85 for singles and $150 for couples. They do not intend to hire an executive director.
     I think OLLI may have overreached with this dues increase.
-- Gerry Holmes, OLLI member

Editor's note. Under the Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974, Virginia residents who are 60 years of age or older are entitled to audit courses without payment of tuition and fees on a space-available basis at any state institution of higher learning. Individuals seeking to audit a class must notify the Registrar's Office (Mason's is located in the Johnson Center) and register in the Extended Studies program.      We have recently learned that this is not an easy process: You have to apply for admission as a non-degree student (there's an online admission form); there's a $50 application fee; and you have to provide Mason with transcripts from the schools you have attended. After acceptance, you can apply as a senior under the aforementioned law and then you can pursue attending a particular course of interest.

Open Letter To OLLI President and Board Members I am one of the OLLI members who is concerned not only about the very significant increase in dues, but also the apparent way we got to this point. In all the discussion, one heavy cost driver is the cost of employing an Executive Director as compared to the accrued benefits. I am also one of the members who had understood that one of the primary duties of the Director was to be fund-raising – apparently that was not correct.      When the revised by-laws were being discussed I noted that under duties the only reference to the duties of the Executive Director was that the President shall supervise the Executive Director. At that time, I tried to understand what the duties, authority and responsibility of the Executive Director were. I had asked several Board members if they had a copy of whatever document contained the Executive Director Duties that I could have. They did not. One suggested that I might be able to get something at the office. There I was told that the Director may have such a document but I’d have to ask him. At that point I just gave up, quite surprised that the Board members (at least those I spoke with) did not know what specifically we were paying for with the approximate $100,000 in added annual costs.      At the Town Hall meeting in early December one member raised the issue of the costs associated with the new position. The President responded quickly by saying that OLLI would have an Executive Director – and that terminated discussion on that issue.      Now we have had the 3 Jan 07 President’s Message concerning the increase in dues, and again the main cost driver is ignored. I personally can make no judgment concerning the validity of the expense. Like most members I have spoken with, I do not know specifically what the executive director was hired to do, nor what metric was used in deciding that it remains a cost-effective expenditure for OLLI at this juncture in its existence.      I have certainly enjoyed my association with OLLI and the folks I have met there, and appreciate the efforts of those who founded and nurtured the organization to this point. Despite that, I will be one of those not renewing my membership unless the President and Board decide to address this issue in a pragmatic manner, sharing with the members what the specific duties, responsibilities, and authorities of the executive director are, as well as the criteria that they used in determining that such duties and responsibilities were fulfilled in a manner that justifies continuation of the associated costs. -- Dan Feighery, OLLI member

Editor's note. To help members better understand the executive director's job, we have posted on our Website the Board-approved position description used to hire the executive director and under which he operates. The specific responsibilities are listed in priority order. You can read the position description at this page (for future reference, you may locate it on the Organization page at the far right of the listing for the executive director). The president asked me to say that she trusts the issues raised by this letter were answered in her Jan 11 message to the members.

Comments/questions/suggestions about OLLI? Here's how to express your views-- Privately-- Contact any Board member or the Executive Director; Send an email to the entire Board (email the office, which will forward your message to the Board of Directors distribution list); Submit a suggestion online or in the box in the Tallwood social room or on one of the "parking lots for ideas" in classrooms; or Contact the office by email or phone (703-503-3384). Publicly (if you would like your comments to be seen by other members, including the Board, and the Executive Director): Email a Letter to the Editor or a Letter to Ms. Ollie Ettakit for publication in OLLI E-News.