WELCOME TO THE WINTER TERM
 By Pat Carroll, President
THE WINTER TERM STARTS ON MONDAY. Everyone should have their class assignments with a minimum of wait lists. The Program Committee continues to create a catalog of classes that makes it difficult to choose. Being a native Texan, I can’t wait for the class on Texas history to start. My mother was a Texas History teacher in junior high school (before there were "middle schools"). I am sure others have similar interests that occur with each new catalog.
     Thom Clement left last Friday night for a three-week missionary trip to the Republic of the Congo with his church. I know we all wish him God speed and a safe return on Feb 6. It is an extremely worthwhile and charitable mission that he has undertaken. I am sure he will perform there with the same dedication and effort that he does for us at OLLI.
     The Nominating Committee under Chair Bob Lawshe is hard at work planning for the upcoming election for a new Board. The committee is looking for recommendations for nominees to run for the open Board positions. I will be finishing my six years on the Board and would highly recommend that you and every OLLI member consider becoming involved in OLLI and help make our institute a better place. OLLI's success depends on you and me.
     John Woods, Chair of the Development Committee, has started planning for the silent auction to be held in conjunction with the annual meeting on May 8. He is looking for volunteers to help with the auction and to provide items to use in the auction. The Hospitality Committee will be assisting with the picnic that will be held after the annual meeting.
     A reminder to all that the New Member Coffee will be in the social room and annex on Fri, Jan 30, at 10:30. All are invited to attend.
BOARD HIGHLIGHTS THE GIFT OF OLLI

Oswald Addison Colleen Baskin Page Bradley Robert Carpenter David Cartier Anne Chaloux Pete Conklin Mary Ellen Daley Sheila Day John Deeley Jo-Anne Deeley Jeanne Donovan Rita Flickinger Melvin Goldfarb Constance Herrmann

Jeremy Hilton Katharine Hood Jackie Kelly Maury Lee Ruth Lee Marvin Levy Sharon Lloyd Richard Loudis Jacqueline Lowe Edward Marks Louise McDermott William Moses Carol Parks Ann Powell Terry Radlinski

Jeanne Rush Denice Salter Gerald Salter Rosalyn Schanzer Jerry Schubert Mary Seesholtz Gail Sullivan Sara Tate Trudy Taylor Guy Toscano Ginny Vizi Mark Weinstein Barbara Wilan Harriett Wilson Michael Zwicke

A REPORT TO BE PROUD OF, PART 2
FOLLOWING IS THE SECOND INSTALLMENT in this four-part series that showcases segments of our 2008 Annual Endowment Report submitted to The Bernard Osher Foundation.

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      The [$1 million] Osher Endowment was awarded to the Institute in 2006 after the completion of its second grant year. As OLLI-Mason is an independent 501(c)(3) corporation affiliated with the University, the endowment funds are held and managed by the George Mason University Foundation. In 2008, the original grant agreement of 2006 was amended in three areas to reflect changes in distribution, administrative fee, and original intent. As a result of these changes, we are guaranteed a minimum annual return of at least five percent of the principal, which is currently $1.02 million. In this uncertain economy, we have a great deal! The amended agreement also reduced administrative fees taken from the earnings.
     Despite significant growth and improvements, OLLI-Mason closed 2008 in excellent financial condition, within 1/10th of one percent of the budget and with an improved cash balance for the year.
     In addition to rent-free use of the University facilities, Mason covers all costs of site operation (utilities, housekeeping, basic maintenance and repairs), assistance with computer and Internet infrastructure, and access to surplus furniture. The estimated value of these services is approximately $55,000.
     The University also made significant capital improvements to the Tallwood site in 2008, again at no cost to OLLI-Mason. These included repainting the exterior and interior walls in our main building and recarpeting all classrooms, our social room, and social room annex. The value of these improvements is approximately $25,000
     Friends of OLLI-Mason: The institute conducts an ongoing solicitation from members for contributions to what is known as the Friends of OLLI fund. In 2008, 205 OLLI members (counting both husbands and wives) contributed generously to the Friends of OLLI fund. This represented 24 percent of our membership. The total contributions were $34,978.
     The funds were used for–

• A new office telephone system
• Landscaping items
• A gravel parking area
• New signage
• Upgrades to audiovisual equipment in Tallwood and Lake Anne: new projectors and screens at Tallwood; a new laptop and sound equipment for Lake Anne; and new microphones for each classroom
• Scholarships totaling $8,000 for George Mason students

     The Board has already approved funds for additional chair reupholstering as well as additional scholarships for 2009. For the first time, funds will be used for members who request financial support for their annual fees.