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OLLI
E-News
#4-12 of January 27, 2012
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Issue #4-12 of Jan 27, 2012
 "EXPERIENCE CAN OUTRUN BIOLOGY"
From the executive director
THE TITLE QUOTE is
one of the memorable tidbits from the New
York Times article "A Sharper Mind, Middle Age and Beyond,"
published on January 19. Columnist Patricia Cohen notes that the quest
for understanding the effects of aging on the mind can be
illustrated by questions such as, "Why does your 70-year-old neighbor
score half her age on a memory test, while you, at 40, have the memory
of a senior citizen?" She goes on to note that "there is no preordained
march toward senescence."
Several OLLI members have contacted me about
this article, which can be found by clicking here. I encourage you
to read the whole article. You will learn more about the concepts of
"fluid" and "crystallized" intelligence. You will hear that education
is a significant factor in the development of "mental fitness."
As many OLLI members could have predicted:
"Everyone in the study who regularly did more to challenge their brains
– reading, writing, attending lectures or completing word puzzles – did
better on fluid intelligence tests than their counterparts who did
less."
Just one more reason to tell your friends and
neighbors about OLLI!
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Last Friday's Board of Directors meeting
THE
OLLI BOARD OF DIRECTORS met
Friday, January 20 at Tallwood. Executive Director Thom Clement advised
that OLLI has 983 members, with membership expected to exceed 1,000
during 2012. He noted that work is underway to make the online
registration system more user-friendly and accessible (any suggestions
should be sent to him); target date for implementation is August 2012.
Thom discussed the final 2011 budget report, which shows total funding
of $383,613 and total expenses of $372,967 – the surplus of $10,647
will be carried forward as part of working capital. Treasurer Dave
Mason reported that "OLLI is in very sound financial condition as we go
forward."
The Board approved providing a total of
$14,500 in
Friends of OLLI funds to various Mason departments for their awarding
of
2012 OLLI scholarships to deserving Mason students. This annual
tradition shows OLLI appreciation to individual Mason departments for
their efforts in encouraging faculty to teach at OLLI.
The Board changed the name of the Public
Relations Committee to the Outreach Committee at the request of the
chair, Dave Ryan.
There was considerable discussion about the
many changes to the Board Handbook proposed by Gordon Canyock, chair of
the ad hoc committee established six months ago to review the Bylaws
and Handbook, and about whether or not any change to the Bylaws is
appropriate. Further discussion was tabled until the next meeting of
the Board.
The Board approved providing $1,500 in Friends
of OLLI funds to the 2012 Fall for the Book Festival; this is a $500
increase over the amount provided last year and reflects the very
substantial support to OLLI provided by the festival.
The next meeting of the Board will be at 10:00
on Friday, February 17 at Tallwood. All
OLLI members are invited to attend.
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New
Board member Nancy
Scheeler
By Carolyn Sanders, OLLI E-News
Staff Writer
LIKE
MANY OLLI MEMBERS, Nancy
Scheeler—OLLI's newest Board member, appointed this past October—began
life in another part of the country. In fact, her desire to leave the
Midwest and seek greener pastures – Go
East, young woman – led her to college in Georgia (Agnes Scott
College, two years) and North Carolina (UNC, B.A. in English), then to
Maryland (University of Maryland, M.A. in English). Only the birth of
her first child interrupted her work toward a Ph.D. She also has a
Master's in Information Systems from American University. Wow! English
and numbers in the same person – we are lucky. In her career, Nancy was
an IT project and line manager for defense
contractor TASC, working for a variety of government customers.
Guess what? Nancy sometimes writes profiles
for E-News. This profile of her was written during her recovery from a
January 3 total knee replacement. Be
well soon, Nancy, because a new
term has begun, and your newest title is Reston program chair for the
Literature, Language and Theater Resource Group.
She and husband Jim, also an OLLI member,
share a love of theater. They are subscribing members of four
Metro-area theaters, and they go to London for an annual dose of
British theater too. Foreign travel and a combined total of eight
grandchildren are
other interests Nancy and Jim share.
Nancy says she reads “serious contemporary
fiction,” primarily British and American novels. She’s planning to
teach a course in the novels of British author Rose Tremain in the fall
term. She also tries to never miss a Gourmet Club
outing or an OLLI special event luncheon.
A Reston resident, Nancy has taken
classes at all three
locations and is especially interested in expanding offerings using the
resources at each of them. Take a good look at her photo because you’re
likely to see this lady anywhere. Heal
fast, Nancy. You’re a very
special OLLI asset, and we thank you for all this volunteering within
16 months of joining OLLI!
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Wed, Feb 1 at 2:00 – "What Did Harry Read?"
THE OLLI HISTORY CLUB,
awakening from its winter slumber, will meet at Tallwood on Wednesday,
February 1 at 2:00. Frequent OLLI presenter Jim Hubbard will give a
presentation on “What Did Harry Read?" The presentation will look at
the interactions between President Harry Truman and Secretary of
Commerce Henry Wallace surrounding Wallace's foreign policy speech at
Madison Square Garden on September 12, 1946. Jim will describe the
impact of the speech and its aftermath – their significance for the
orthodox views of Truman and the Cold War as well as for the approaches
adopted by many historians.
OLLI
members and guests are always welcome; bring a friend.
-- By Bob Persell, History Club Coordinator
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top
Watch OLLI Players during February on
cable TV
| The cast, from left: Alan Wenberg,
Patricia Daly-Lipe, Veronica Herczogh and John Henkel. Photo by the
writer. |
The OLLI
Players'
Theater
production of The Turing Test,
written by OLLI member Conrad Geller, will air on Fairfax Public
Television Channel 10 in February. Both Cox Cable and Verizon FiOS
carry Channel 10, as does Comcast Cable in Reston.
Conrad Geller's play deals with the question
asked by British mathematician and "father of computing" Alan Turing: Are machines conscious? Unlike past
productions done in readers' theater style, cast members were
challenged to not only act their roles but also memorize their lines.
Following is the list of performances of this 30-minute show.
Thu, Feb
2, 10:00pm
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Sat, Feb
4, 12:30pm
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Thu,
Feb 9, 5:00pm
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Fri,
Feb 10, 8:30am
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Sun,
Feb 12, 5:30am
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Mon,
Feb 13, 6:30pm
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Thu,
Feb 16, 7:00am
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Sat,
Feb 18, 3:00pm
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Mon,
Feb 20, 7:30am
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Tue,
Feb 21, 9:00am
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Fri,
Feb 24, 10:00am
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Sat,
Feb 25, 12:30pm
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Mon,
Feb 27, 7:30am
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Mon,
Feb 27, 11:00am
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Wed,
Feb 29, 8:00pm
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Look for comments from the cast and producer
on the making of the play in a future issue of OLLI E-News.
-- By Karen Hauser, OLLI member and producer of the play
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Roz Schanzer's Witches! receives book award
Click
above image or here to watch Roz's 23-second award acceptance.
Roz Schanzer has just received a
Sibert Honor Book Award for her book Witches!:
The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem, published by the
National Geographic Society. This American Library Association award
was one of four given for Honor Books this year. Congratulations, Roz!
Last October the book was awarded the Gold
Medal from the Society of Illustrators for Best Illustrated Children's
Book of 2011. Roz entertained and informed OLLI members about the Salem
Witch Trials during a special-event lecture last September.
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top
DISSERTATION
STUDY
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Looking for OLLI members to participate
OLLI HAS AGREED
to assist a Georgetown University Ph.D. student by publicizing the need
for participants in her dissertation study on foreign-language learning
in older adults. The study consists of three sessions, each averaging
about one and a half hours, which will take place in a public location
convenient to the participant and the student. Participants will be compensated for
participation.
Requirements for participants:
- Age 60 or older; have never studied Latin
and do not attend religious services in Latin; comfortable with
computers (i.e., can type with two fingers
and use a mouse, with no need to be a proficient user of particular
programs), and have at least a high-school education.
- EITHER monolingual (never studied a
foreign language for more than one year) OR bilingual (read, write,
speak and hear English and Spanish daily).
To find out more about participation in the study, please contact the
doctoral student, Jessica Cox, by email (jgc48@georgetown.edu) or phone
(302-354-7122), or her advisor, Dr. Cristina Sanz, by email (sanzc@georgetown.edu), as soon
as convenient but no later than March 15, 2012. Sessions will be
conducted between March and May.
--
Coordinated by Thom Clement,
Executive Director
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OLLI
SPIRITWEAR
Click image or here to shop
Order
sweatshirts,
shirts, caps and tote bags with the OLLI/Mason logo
at any time directly from the vendor for delivery to your home. At the
store, click "OLLI-GMU Store" to see the pictures, then click on each
item
to see details. Note: The
pictures do not show our logo but it
will be embroidered on items that you order.
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OLLI FACEBOOK GROUP
Click
icon or here to
join
OLLI
members are
encouraged to join the OLLI Facebook group as
a means
of enhancing intra-OLLI communications. Recent articles: how to join;
how to post
photos. (The icon is also under the Quick
Links table
on our Home page and What's New page.) Note: Once you join the OLLI group,
you can access the group from your personal Facebook page by clicking
on "Groups" or "More" in the left-side navigation area. |
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Courtesy of the OLLI Poetry Workshop
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Poetry
On A String
Write your
thoughts.
Hang them on a string
in the market place,
so people have to
pay
more than a penny
to read them.
Later,
be happy when the
wind whirls them away,
leaving you
in peace.
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to top
MASON ARTS AND
MUSIC
Upcoming Fairfax performances, Jan 27 - Feb 5
 By
Jan Bohall, OLLI
E-News Staff Writer
FOR
TICKETS, call
1-888-945-2468 or buy online
(phone and online orders are handled by
tickets.com; a service charge applies) or visit the Center for the Arts
Box Office, Tue-Sat,
10:00-6:00. More info on tickets is at the CFA tickets page.
River North Dance Chicago
Fri, Jan 27, 8:00
This jazz-based contemporary dance ensemble is known for its emotive
dancers, electrifying music and dramatic choreography. It remains one
of the most popular national repertoire companies in the U.S. and
abroad and prides itself on developing the true flavor of Americana
choreography. Click here
for details and a short video.
Admission: $42, $34, $21
Concert Hall
Come at 7:15 for a free artistic discussion on Grand Tier III. |
Honors Music Festival
Fri, Jan 27, 8:00 with Mason Jazz Ensemble
Sun, Jan 29, 2:00 with Mason Wind Symphony Orchestra
The
High School Honors Music Festival offers talented young musicians three
days of musical immersion with George Mason's music faculty and master
classes with guest artists.
Admission: Free, non-ticketed
Harris Theatre |
Aquila Theatre
Shakespeare's
Macbeth
Sat, Jan 28, 8:00
This renowned British/American touring company brings a fresh look to
the classic and chaotic tale in which men combat their own madness and
fates. The Scottish general meets three witches in a wood, who
prophesize that he will one day be king. Lady Macbeth has other plans
in "this wickedly troubled work."
Admission: $40, $32, $20
Concert Hall
Come at 7:15 for a free artistic discussion on Grand Tier III.
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Keyboard Conversations®
with
Jeffrey Siegel
Russian
Rapture: Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky
Sun, Jan 29, 7:00
In
his third concert this season, Mr. Siegel returns with his musical
gifts and illuminating and witty commentary. He will present the
Russian-tinged Preludes, Etudes and Humoresque.
Admission: $38, $30, $19
Family friendly: Youth grade 12 and under, half price with an adult
Concert Hall
Come at 6:15 for a free artistic discussion on Grand Tier III.
|
 Chucho Valdés
Fri, Feb 3, 8:00
Legendary Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdés, winner of five
Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy awards, has made more than 80
recordings. Well-known as a talented musician, composer and arranger,
he will make his first appearance at the Center with his band, the
Afro-Cuban Messengers. Click
here for details and a video.
Admission: $46, $38, $23
Concert Hall
Come at 7:15 for a free artistic discussion on Grand Tier III.
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"Tschaikowski" St. Petersburg State
Orchestra
Roman Leontiev, conductor
Alexandre Pirojenko, piano
Sat, Feb 4, 8:00
Since its founding after World War II, this orchestra has developed a
diverse repertoire from Baroque music through 20th century
compositions. Their program will feature Ravel's Daphne et Chloé: Suite No. 2
and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade
for Orchestra. Mr.
Pirojenko will join the
orchestra for Prokofiev's Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major.
Admission: $50, $42, $25
Concert Hall
Come at 7:15 for a free artistic discussion on Grand Tier III.
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Music Faculty Artist Series
Peter
Haase, violin
Kelly
Ker-Hackleman, piano
Sun, Feb 5, 2:00
Prof. Haase, an adjunct faculty member at George Mason, has been with
the National Symphony Orchestra since 1984. Dr. Ker-Hackleman is an
associate music professor at Mason and principal pianist for the
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. She has been a guest lecturer in OLLI's
Music Sampler and is co-coordinator of the course.
Admission: Free, non-ticketed
Harris Theatre
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Other Mason events, next two weeks
 By Helen Ackerman, OLLI
E-News Staff Writer
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> Vision Series Lecture. Dan Cohen,
associate professor in Mason's Department of History and Art History
and director of the Center for History and New Media, speaks on "The
Future of History." Dr. Cohen's talk will explore the promise and
perils of a new era of history based on computers and networks,
including vast digital libraries and archives; tools for saving and
communicating history; and what the coming decade will hold. Mon, Jan
30, at 7:00. Center for the Arts, Concert Hall. Free. Read more here;
read his bio here.
> W.E.B.
DuBois Lecture. The 2012 W.E.B. DuBois lecture features
artist/performer Brenda Dixon Gottschild. Thu, Feb 2, at 1:30. Harris
Theatre. Free. Click here
to read about the artist.
> Economics
Community Forum Lecture.
Tyler Cowen, Holbert C. Harris Chair of Economics and general director
of the Mercatus Center at Mason, speaks on the European financial
crisis. Prof. Cohen's topic is "What Has Gone Wrong with Europe?" He
writes a column on economics for The
New York Times. Tue, Feb 7 at 7:30. Student Union Building II,
Ballroom. Free. Click
here
to read about the presenter. Note: RSVP date has
passed (RSVP by Wed, Jan 25 to dmulaj@gmu.edu).
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 HYLTON
ARTS AND MUSICUpcoming Manassas performances, Jan 27 - Feb 5
By
Sheri
Siesseger, OLLI
E-News Staff Writer
FOR
TICKETS,
call
1-888-945-2468 or click "Buy Tickets" at the event listing in the calendar
(phone and
online orders are handled by
tickets.com; a service charge applies) – or visit the box office in the
lobby of the Hylton
Performing
Arts Center on Mason's Prince William Campus in Manassas, Wed-Sat,
noon to 6:00. More info on tickets is at the ticket
purchase page. Note: Two OLLI
members have advised E-News that tickets for events at the Hylton
Performing
Arts Center in Manassas are also routinely available at the Center for
the Arts box office on the Fairfax campus, open Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00.
Aquila Theatre
The
Importance of Being
Earnest
Sun, Jan 29, 4:00
Aquila, a British-American touring company, presents the witty comedy
by Oscar Wilde. The New York Times
has called Aquila "Gleefully engaging … almost unbearably fun."
Pre-performance discussion begins at 3:00
Admission, $24, 32, $40
Merchant Hall |
Prince William County Public Schools
Fine
Art Exhibit
Wed, Feb 1 through Sun, Mar 4
The
exhibit is open to the public Wednesdays through Saturdays, noon to
6:00, during this period.
Admission: Free
Buchanan Partners Arts Gallery
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COMING
ATTRACTIONS
Upcoming non-class events at
OLLI
THE
FOLLOWING LIST
covering
the next two weeks is extracted
for your
convenience from the master calendar maintained by the office, with
direct web links added when available. OLLI members are welcome at all
Board, committee and resource group meetings. For more activities
specifically related to the Loudoun
site, see Roberta Sherman's latest Loudoun
Notes (pdf). For
more activities
specifically related to the Reston
site, see Sharon Gilman's latest Eye on Reston (Word
document).
Note:
The below list is accurate as of mid-week but for the very latest
information, please see Upcoming
Non-Class Events to view the
real-time OLLI online
calendar maintained by
the office.
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to top
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).
About
OLLI E-News
and the
member/volunteers who
produce it
Rod
Zumbro
Editor |
Barbara Kyriakakis
Associate
Editor |
Ernestine Meyer
Backup
Editor
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Review Team: Gordon
Canyock,
Barbara Kyriakakis, John West
Database
Manager: Barbara
Kyriakakis
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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 website 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 the
DocStore archive of all past issues by date or issue number.
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Updated:
January
27, 2012
Copyright © 2012 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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