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OLLI
E-News #33-06 of Sep. 1, 2006
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Issue 33-06 of Sep 1, 2006
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FLASH
> NAME
THE BUILDING CONTEST. We have a winner. Read results.
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ALERTS
> OLLI ON TV: This Sun, Sep 3, is
your LAST chance to see the "Forever Young" TV episode featuring Debbie
Halverson, Dick Chobot, Gordon Canyock & Kathie West. Air
times.
>
GRAVESIDE CEREMONY FOR ART COOK
at 11:00 on Wed, Sep 6, at the Church
of the Good Shepherd, Burke, Virginia. See tribute
below for details.
>
FICTION WRITERS' CLUB has a new coordinator, Joan Salemi. Note
schedule change: Sep 6 meeting is canceled. All other
dates as published in fall catalog.
>
SENIOR BEACON
INFOEXPO AT SPRINGFIELD MALL 11:00-3:00, Thu,
Sep 7: Exhibits, giveaways, free health screenings & computer
classes.
Free senior
movie (previous article)
at 9:00 with free continental
breakfast; choice of Failure
to
Launch or Boynton Beach Club. |
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REMINDER
> FALL-TERM CLASSES START MON, SEP 18. |
ARTICLES AND
NOTICES
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DEPARTMENTS
> LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR.
A forum for expressing member comments.
>
COMING
ATTRACTIONS: OLLI non-class
events for next two weeks. |
IN MEMORIAM: ART
COOK
Remembering a longtime OLLI member
ART COOK PERFORMING
IN READERS' THEATER
Photo by Gordon Canyock
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ART COOK
Photo by Richard Lanterman
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OLLI
LOST A DEAR FRIEND ON AUGUST 17 when Art Cook
passed away. Art, who joined LRI in March 1998, was
quickly recruited
into
the Readers' Theater group
and the Program Committee. Elected to the
Board of Directors in 2001, he served as chair of the Membership
Committee, then as chair of the Hospitality Committee. After leaving
the Board in 2004, he volunteered to chair the Nominating
Committee in 2005, participated on the Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee
last fall and manned the reception desk in the office every week. He
was so dedicated to OLLI that when he went into the hospital near the
beginning of the year, he called the office to apologize that he
couldn't make it in that day.
As often happens at OLLI, common interests in
courses and activities led to social contacts and Art found himself
organizing "Art’s Lunch Bunch" and joining a group of movie fans once a
month as well as a group of theater fans. Some of these friends had
rotating dinner parties in their homes, where Art
turned out to live up to his surname as an excellent cook.
Several OLLI members shared with me their
memories of Art.
- Bob
Bohall, former OLLI president: Art
was the heart and
soul of
OLLI. He was well-organized, quiet, very effective and always
ready to help make OLLI a success.
- Audrey
Moore: He was kind to everyone and
could
always be
depended on
to help when it was needed, including organizing local history
trips. He was a hero to many foreign-born students at Mason for his
leading of discussion groups where they could practice their
English. He was a very good friend to all of us.
- Margaret
Andino: This very knowledgeable,
smart engineer
was
still growing and learning. He took various art-type classes, always
wanting to learn more about unfamiliar subjects. He was so thankful
for LRI because it came into his life when he needed it most.
- Nancy
Jarvis: Art was a true gentleman,
loyal,
courteous,
kind, and
stoic these last eight months.
- Lynn
Gramzow: An exceptional friend. He
was
very generous
with
his time, he listened well, tried to help as much as possible in
times of need. He liked to laugh, and he certainly liked to eat
new types of food.
- Ann
Shell: If I were to choose one word
to
personify Art it
would be "gentleman." He acted with fairness and good will with
everyone
and I never once heard him say an unkind thing about anyone. This is a
friend who will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.
- Cloe
Ingram: A wonderful and giving
person
who also
organized a
dinner group of OLLI members where he enjoyed cooking delicious
side dishes which we all loved.
- Rosemary
Reardon: His OLLI friends delighted
in
visiting him in the hospital and nursing center and I know that he was
just as delighted to have us visit. I usually had to wake him up
when I visited, and his face just lit up. It made my day. Only days
before the end, he was figuring in his head the amount of
cubic-whatever there was in the large canister of oxygen and how many
days it would last. He was sharp, in control, and with friends until
the last.
On Wednesday, September
6, at 11:00 AM,
Art’s ashes
will be placed under the rose bush with his wife's in the Memorial
Garden at the Church
of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Rd., Burke (on the corner of
Braddock Road and Olley Lane). There will be no formal memorial service
in the church, but Art’s long-time friend Father Jim Cunningham will
conduct a simple graveside ceremony. Art’s son wrote that they would
love to have any of his OLLI friends attend.
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A CONVERSATION
WITH THE MERTENS
Part 2 of an interview with Mason's
president and
first lady
 By Barbara Kyriakakis, OLLI
E-News assistant editor
(If you missed Part 1 of the interview,
you may read it here. --Ed.)
I ASKED
SALLY ABOUT HER INVOLVEMENT in the arts at Mason. She is on the
Theater of the First Amendment's Community Advisory Board and wished
they had the ability to do more
with theater at Mason. She loves dance and has opened the Mathy house,
their home, to the dance scholarship's annual tea. She feels the dance
program has become remarkably advanced, with amazing talent being
recruited. The Mertens are impressed with the young men and women who
study at Mason and go on to professional companies.
In the vocal area, the Mertens recently funded
a scholarship for a School of Music voice major in honor of two friends
in Michigan who reintroduced them to the opera. The Mertens are
pleased, excited and looking forward to seeing the first winner of the
scholarship. As an aside, they mentioned that their 20-month old
grandson loves classical music. He makes his parents turn off the rock
and contemporary music in the car, then moves his body with the
classics, protesting loudly when the music stops for the five-second
interval between pieces.
And speaking of protesting, President Merten
did just that when I asked if he had any plans to retire. "I have no
interest in retiring," he said firmly.
He's in the process of signing another
five-year contract. Does he like being a university president? He
doesn't know. He likes being George Mason's president, but there are
many universities of which he would never want to be president. He
cannot envision a university president and his wife having had a better
year than they have had in 2005-06: the people hired, finishing of the
capital campaign, and the Final Four.
"There is something about being president
here," Dr. Merten said. "George Mason is unique. The culture here is so
different. There is a family feeling here."
Speaking of family, I went on to a more
personal venue—his family. The Mertens have two children, two
grandchildren, and another grandchild due in October. Their family is
an
integral part of their lives. They babysit often for Ryan (20
months) and Adam (four months) who live in nearby Burke with their
parents. President Merten decided to take many Fridays off during the
summer to enjoy his grandchildren. They love visiting him and sometimes
spend the night.
On to travel and President Merten's annual
hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon... What motivates a man to do
this
year after year?
"A variety of things," replied Dr. M. "The
grandeur of the Grand Canyon is very relaxing to me; it's humbling;
it's a religious experience; it is beautiful. I do it for the grandeur,
the physical aspect, the family and the complete separation; it is
totally different from everything else I do." At least one family
member joins him on the trek, and the fact that he
knows he is going to do it reminds him to stay in shape. The sense of
accomplishment when he walks out of the Canyon is also a factor.
Sally is not as ambitious as her husband in
the outdoor department, but she certainly works at keeping physically
fit with regular workouts and Pilates classes at the Aquatic and
Fitness Center. She also spends time with her grandchildren and relaxes
with her knitting. A lot of her time is devoted to volunteerism and
entertaining at the Mathy House. The Mertens frequently host a small
20-person sit-down community dinner in their dining room. It
started 10 years ago with the idea of introducing people from the
community to the university and its mission.
"It is a friend-raising, not a fund-raising
dinner," say the Mertens. It paid off dramatically with the capital
campaign. |
And finally, what about OLLI? Will there be
space in the new buildings? George Mason is different than most
universities in that service to the community is not an add-on, but a
part of Mason’s mission. The university has a special relationship with
community organizations such as OLLI, which is important because it's
one of the outreach elements of the community.
But the question is: can OLLI help Mason with
its fund raising activities? President Merten feels that OLLI needs to
move to the next step, where members and contacts are out there helping
find the five-thousand, fifty-thousand, five-hundred thousand, and
five-million dollar gifts. The university needs every group associated
with
it to be a fundraiser for it. It is the only way to move to the next
level of excellence. OLLI has been helpful in several cases, putting
pressure on politicians to get state support. Mason needs more of that.
OLLI members need to help persuade the governor and members of the
House and Senate to get the university more state dollars and help
find that base of private support. Private support is going to be that
margin of excellence.
As for space, it is a big problem. A recent
study shows that despite all the construction at Mason, there is still
a shortage of space for the university's day-to-day activities. Over
the next five or 10 years, helping Mason find the private support it
needs hopefully will become an OLLI agenda. If Mason can get that kind
of support, then it can look at such things as space. |
The Mertens finished the interview with an
upbeat report on the incredible year they've had, driven near the end
by the basketball team's success: "an experience of a lifetime." This
past year has seen the university community and the greater Washington
area, the United States and the world, all focusing on George Mason
University. The whole nation was hugging the basketball team. Sally and
Alan Merten are proud of their team and proud of the way their team
behaved. They pointed out that even the news media were impressed with
the team's conduct.
"Something has happened to the students in ten
years," notes Dr. Merten. "Not only are the grades and SAT scores
better … but when I meet with the students, they are smart—all around
they are broader, more educated, proud, more mature."
Dr. Merten celebrates his tenth anniversary
this year as George Mason University's president. The university is
dedicating part of its October 11 convocation to this anniversary.
| POSTERS EXHIBITED IN SOCIAL ROOM ANNEX |
Between
class sessions, the Facilities Committee is displaying selected
posters from those donated by members for the Tallwood classrooms. The
currently exhibited posters are from the Folger Shakespeare Theater,
donated by Susanne Zumbro, and from the Pavilion Old Post Office,
donated by Lilda Lando. The posters are representative of those in
TA-1, all of which are from museums, theaters and galleries.
-- Marvina Munch, Exhibits coordinator |
WE HAVE A WINNER!
Results of the building-naming contest
 By Ben Gold, Facilities Committee chair 
The Smallwood
House
Photo
by Gordon Canyock
to name the
newly renovated remains of Tallwood House that now house additional
restroom facilities. After careful consideration of submissions
spanning the range from "The Head Shed," "The OLLI Loo" and "The
Necessary" to "Annex P," the Facilities Committee selected a
winner.
Drum
roll.
Actually, there was a three-way tie: Sandy Driesslein, Elizabeth
Crawford and Richard Lanterman all picked the same winning name, "The
Smallwood House."
The three winners ( shown above, left to right: Sandy,
Elizabeth and Richard) will share a 12-pack of Charmin Ultra, and each will also
receive a free subscription to OLLI
E-News!
Congratulations to Sandy, Elizabeth and
Richard. And thanks to all of you who participated. The committee had
lots of fun reading your entries.
THE CONVERSATION
PROGRAM
You can help international students with
their English
 By Joan
Crawford, George Mason University
THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
INSTITUTE AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY will again sponsor "The
Conversation Program (TCP)," an extracurricular program for
international students who would like to
improve their oral English skills by
participating in small-group discussions. This is an excellent
volunteer opportunity for retired teachers and other OLLI members who
enjoy meeting
internationals.
A core of experienced volunteers who have led
groups in the past will provide orientation and training for those new
to the program at 11:30 on Tuesday, Sep 12, in Krug Hall, Room 107.
OLLI member/volunteers should park in the parking deck by the Center
for the Arts and follow the signs to Krug. Parking stickers will be
provided.
The
eight weeks of TCP sessions with students begin the following week on
Sep 19 and 20. There are four time slots for the
weekly hour-long meetings with small groups of students:
- 1:30 and
4:30 Tuesday afternoons; and
- 9:30 and 3:30
Wednesdays.
If you are interested in volunteering or in
learning more about the program, please email me
(or phone 703-993-3660) and provide your phone number and the best time
to
reach you. Thanks much.
Back to top
FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Reconstituting the committee
By Ben Gold, Facilities Committee chair
THE
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE have evolved over
the
past year with the establishment of the Executive Director position.
The Executive Director and his staff are now performing some of the
duties once performed by the Facilities Committee while other
responsibilities of the Facilities Committee have taken on more
importance. The following are the responsibilities of the Facilities
Committee:
- Develop plans
and proposals for efficient facility
and land utilization requirements at the Tallwood campus, including
replacement of modular classrooms, landscaping, additional parking
spaces and restrooms.
- Monitor
facility and space needs for the Reston
campus in coordination with the Reston Support Committee.
- Develop plans
and oversee existing contracts or
agreements as required with non-George Mason University organizations
for the use of
facilities.
With these changes, it is time to reconstitute the membership of the
Facilities Committee. Volunteers are being sought to participate.
Past members interested in continuing on the committee as well as new
members are requested to submit their names to me via email or phone
(703-860-8798).
A meeting of the new Facilities
Committee will be held at 10:00 on
Thursday, September 7, at Tallwood.
Back to top
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
A forum for members to voice their views
on OLLI matters
THE
EDITORIAL STAFF WILL
PUBLISH your brief letters commenting on OLLI activities and, if
applicable, will try
to include follow-up information from the relevant committee or staff
member, in the same or a subsequent issue. Submit your letters via
email to me or
submit them (please indicate that it is a 'letter to the editor') via
the online
suggestion box or the suggestion box in the Tallwood Social Room.
-- Rod Zumbro, OLLI E-News editor
More
concern about paying for meals
I just
read Joe Torpey's
letter critical of the monetary set aside for Board and staff expenses,
specifically meal allowance. I am sympathetic to Joe's position. We are
incrementally moving into operational modes that belie the foundation
of our organization. There is something out-of-sync with the volunteer
aspect of our OLLI community when we engage in tactics that better
describe the personal-relations efforts of a politician.
OLLI program committee members engage and
enlist speakers for our ever-expanding programs. On occasion when a
special and appropriate situation arises, we may invite someone to
lunch, or provide that person with a small gift (writing instrument,
stationery, etc.). We don't, however, file an expense voucher. It is a
function of the role we volunteer to undertake and in which we find
great pleasure.
I am particularly dismayed at the lack of
transparency Joe described in the policy change that was made
vis-à-vis expenses. My personal application of logic says: Staff
are paid. Volunteers are by definition willing contributors. That
includes our Board. Nothing coercive in what is asked of them. We are
on thin ice in this approach.
-- Joan Salemi, OLLI member
| Editor's note: Joe Torpey's
letter in last week's OLLI E-News and the president's response may be
read here. |
COMING ATTRACTIONS
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 more
complete OLLI
Staff Forecast of Non-Class Events. Board, committee and resource-group
meetings are highlighted
in bold. OLLI members are
welcome at all Board, committee and resource-group meetings (except
executive sessions).
Sept
1 Friday 10:00 AM
Liaison Coordinators Mtg TA-1
10:00 AM
Recorder Group TA-2
10:30 AM Homer
Book Club Annex
4 Monday Labor
Day Office Closed
5 Tuesday 10:00 AM Membership Committee Meeting
TA Annex
6 Wednesday 10:00
AM Special Events
Resource Group Meeting TA Annex
10:00 AM
Bridge TA-3
10:00 AM
Investment Forum TA-1
7 Thursday 10:00
AM Facilities
Committee Meeting TA-1
10:00 AM
Watercolor Painting TA Annex
8 Friday 10:00 AM
Planning
Committee Meeting
TA Annex
10:00 AM
Recorder Group TA-2
1:30 PM Homer
Book Club TA Annex
12 Tuesday 10:00
AM Publications
Committee Meeting TA Annex
13 Wednesday 10:00
AM Book Club at Tallwood TA-2
10:00 AM
Bridge TA-3
10:00 AM
Investment Forum TA-1
15 Friday 9:30 AM
Drama Club TA-1
10:00 AM Board of Directors Meeting
Lake Anne Church
10:00 AM
Recorder Group TA-2
1:30 PM Homer
Book Club TA Annex |
Rod
Zumbro
Editor
Karen
Hamilton
Deputy
Editor
|
About OLLI
E-News. OLLI
E-News is
OLLI's weekly newsletter; it is emailed to OLLI
members with email addresses on Fridays. When classes are in
session, printed copies of this newsletter are distributed in
classrooms, primarily for members without email. We encourage OLLI
members and
staff employees to submit news items and write articles; deadline to
the editor is 7:00 PM Wed for that week's issue. Comments,
suggestions or complaints? Please contact the OLLI
E-News editor or the
Publications Committee chair, Gordon
Canyock.
Note
about HTML graphics. If
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three popular email systems:
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Click Tools; select Options; in the Read tab, uncheck "Read all
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Mail.
Click Mail Options/General Preferences; under Security, uncheck "Block
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Upgrade,
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GMU Webmail.
If OLLI E-News is being sent
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integrated
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easily use other email systems, such
as Outlook Express or Yahoo Mail, to retrieve mail sent to external
addresses such as your gmu.edu address. An alternative is to read your
newsletter online at the OLLI Website after it is posted
each Friday.
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OLLI
E-News Editorial Staff
Assistant
Editor, Database Manager
Barbara Kyriakakis
Assistant
Editor
Arleen Richman
Photo
Editor
Michael Coyne |
| Copyright
©
2006 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University.
Materials in this publication subject to OLLI-GMU copyright may be
reproduced for noncommercial educational purposes as long as credit is
given to OLLI-GMU. |
|
Updated:
September 1, 2006
Copyright © 2006 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at
George Mason University. Materials in this publication subject to
OLLI-GMU copyright may be reproduced for noncommercial educational
purposes as long as credit is given to OLLI-GMU.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University
4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone: (703) 503-3384; E-mail: olli@gmu.edu;
Fax: (703) 503-2832
Original site design and construction by OLLI-GMU member Rod Zumbro. |
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