BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

     Under "New Business," Vice President Ben Gold reported on two issues that were raised during the 2007 Town Meeting--
     • There was a suggestion made to place a box next to the coffee and cookies for people to make donations. It was the sense of the Board that this was not a good idea.
     • The issue of changing the class hours was raised. Our members have been surveyed on this issue several times and the results have always come back that the majority of the members are not in favor of a change. It was suggested that it might be time to look at this again. Bruce Reinhart responded that the Program Review Committee will consider repeating the survey and report back to the Board in January.
     The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for Fri, Dec 14, 10:00 at Tallwood. All OLLI members are welcome to attend.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINTER PROGRAM
TEN DAYS UNTIL WINTER TERM REGISTRATION
HARD TO BELIEVE, ISN'T IT?! We hope that more of you will use the OLLI Online Registration System to plan your schedule and register for the winter term. Do you have a User Account for the system? More than 400 OLLI members already have a User Account … don’t be left out!
     In this and a forthcoming article we will be refreshing your knowledge of the features of the system and how to use it most effectively. We suggest that you print these articles and save them for use when registration opens on Mon, Dec 10. Our goal is to significantly increase the one-third of members who registered and paid online during the fall term.


     The first thing you need to do as you prepare for online registration is secure a User Account. You can create an account at any time. Here is how in three easy steps:

1. Go to www.olliatgmu.org (see screen shot above). 2. Click the link "Get a new User Account if you are an OLLI member." If you are a new member or a lapsed member you first need to click on "Join OLLI." 3. Complete the sign-up form (the username might typically be your first initial and last name, as in jsmith, and is not case sensitive).

      The password must be at least six characters, all alpha or alpha numeric, and the password is case sensitive.
     You will be asked to create a security question and its answer, such as "cat's name?" and "tabby" (used to verify your identity if you lose or forget your password).
     An on-screen message will inform you that the account has been created. There are "Forgot User Name?" and "Forgot Your Password?" links on the log-in page. If you forget your username, you can retrieve it via email on the log-in page by providing your first and last name and email address. If you forget your password, you can retrieve it via email on the log-in page by providing your username and answering the security question (note: the password itself is encrypted, and OLLI does not have access to it).
     Final point: When the system asks you for your name, it must be entered as it appears in the OLLI database. You can check the Member Directory. For example, if I were in the database as Dick Chobot, the system will reject an entry of Richard Chobot, Richard B. Chobot, Rich Chobot, etc.

CONCERNING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MEMBERS AND FRIENDS are invited to join in a reception for Dick Chobot on Wed, Dec 12, from 12:30 to 2:30 at Tallwood.      We know members will appreciate this opportunity to wish the OLLI executive director well and to thank him for his many contributions to our institute. Those who enjoy holiday baking are invited to share a sampling of their kitchen delights. -- Contributed by Debbie Halverson, Membership Committee chair

THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT to recruit a full-time executive director for OLLI is posted at www.olli.gmu.edu/edjob.htm.      If you know of potential candidates, please urge them to check the announcement and consider applying. Any interested candidate should apply quickly, as the ED Search Committee is moving into its final stages. -- Contributed by Carol Henderson, ED Search Committee chair

FRIENDS OF OLLI STEWARDSHIP REPORT FOR 2007
SUPPORT FOR FRIENDS OF OLLI IN 2007 has meant a great deal to the program and its ability to serve over 750 members this year. Dues revenue covers operating costs. Donations to the Friends of OLLI provide the wherewithal to cover certain capital costs and enhancements that would not be affordable without your generous support. Note that the Board of Directors must approve all expenditures from Friends of OLLI funds.
     Here is a summary of our Friends of OLLI account for this year:

BEGINNING BALANCE (1/1/07): $36,978      DONATIONS (THRU 11/30/07): $8,523      CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR 2007: $29,712           • Defibrillators (2): $5,000           • Reupholstering Chairs: $5,503           • Registration System: $8,500           • Classroom Headset Microphones: $1,709           • Scholarships to George Mason: $8,000           • Sponsorship of Fall for the Book: $1,000      BALANCE (11/30/07): $15,789

     Donations include both direct contributions and donations on behalf of OLLI to the GMU Foundation. More on how to donate through the Foundation can be found in John Woods's separate article below in this issue.
     It also should be noted that the Registration System and Database Upgrade were to have cost $20,000. The cost was reduced to $15,000 when the OLLI at American University decided to procure the same system. Funds budgeted for 2007 covered $6,500 of the cost of the system.
     Finally, at the December Board meeting I will bring a proposal to the Board to fund the upgrading of the telephone system in the Tallwood office. This will cost under $4,000 and will increase staff efficiency by allowing each staff member a separate line.
     As you can see, your generosity has greatly benefited OLLI and its members. For 2008, our principal need is to build a fund for replacement of audiovisual equipment and classroom laptops at Tallwood and Reston. We also will continue to award the scholarships to George Mason in appreciation for the University’s support of OLLI. 
     We encourage you to respond generously to our 2007 annual campaign and to favorably consider the alternative strategies for supporting the Institute that will be presented to you by the Development Committee. Thank you for your support.


SAVE ON YOUR TAXES BY HELPING OLLI
COOKIE MONSTER EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD of Directors meeting on Nov 16: There was a suggestion made at the recent Town Meeting to place a box next to the coffee and cookies for people to make donations. It was the sense of the Board that this was not a good idea.
     I argued against the idea not because I don't eat cookies, but rather because I felt it would prove to be an accounting nightmare and would cost us more in staff salary than the cookies were worth. We have spent about $5,500 so far this year for Social Room Supplies, which includes coffee, tea, sundries, cookies and other nibbles. With increased membership, we are budgeting $6,500 for 2008. That makes it one of the largest line items in the budget.
     So, let me make a suggestion: Those of you who would like to contribute to the cause, donate a fresh box of your own favorite cookies, crackers, or pretzels for the benefit of all, rather than donating a couple dollars into a kitty. If you decide to do that, please place your donation in the box next to the refrigerator in the social room, not on the coffee table.

DEC 7: FIRST FRIDAYS AT OLD TOWN HALL

By Valerie Braybrooke, Board member

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.

Kris Chapman Graduate Conducting Recital Fri, Nov 30, at 8:00 Admission: Free Harris Theater See details at right	Virginia Opera Series The Pirates of Penzance Virginia Opera presents a lively traditional Gilbert and Sullivan staging of this clever comedy which premiered in 1879. The story line turns on the hard-of hearing nursemaid of the orphan Frederick. She mistakenly apprentices him to a band of soft-hearted pirates rather than to the intended group of pilots, leading to major complications and hilarity. Sung in English with supertitles. Note: The Sunday performance is an OLLI Special Event. Fri, Nov 30, at 8:00 Sun, Dec 2, at 2:00 Admission: $86, $72, $44 – Fri              $94, $78, $48 – Sun Concert Hall Come 45 minutes early for a free artistic discussion in the Grand Tier Lobby.
GMU Saxophone Ensemble Sat, Dec 1, at 3:00 Admission: Free Harris Theater	Dan Heagney Senior Percussion Recital Sun, Dec 2, at 8:00 Admission: Free Grand Tier III
GMU Wind Symphony and Chamber Orchestra Concert Featuring Graduate Student Conductors Tue, Dec 4, at 8:00 Admission: $10 seniors/students, $15 other adults Concert Hall	GMU Dance Company December Concert Thu, Fri, Sat, Dec 6, 7, 8, at 8:00 Admission: $7 seniors/students, $10 adults Dance Performance Studio, on 3rd Floor of Performing Arts Bldg. which is adjacent to the Concert Hall.
King’s Singers Joy to the World The group will perform their traditional yule concert, which will include Veni, Veni Emmanuel; Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming; The Coventry Carol; and Away in a Manger. Fri, Dec 7, at 8:00 Admission: $46, $38, $23 Concert Hall Come early at 7:15 for a free artistic discussion in the Grand Tier Lobby.	GMU Opera Fri, Dec 7, and Sat, Dec 8, at 8:00 Admission: $15 seniors/students, $20 other adults Harris Theater
Rockapella A Rockapella Holiday MATINEE ADDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND This five-man group will perform holiday classics a cappella in their winning combination style of soul, rock, R&B and jazz. Included will be Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, as well as new pieces like Little Mary Snowflake, and their signature Snowstar. Sat, Dec 8, at 3:00 and 8:00 Admission: $40, $32, $20 Family friendly: Children 12 and under, half price with an adult Concert Hall Come early at 7:15 for a free artistic discussion in the Grand Tier Lobby.	GMU Music Holiday Concert Featuring University Symphony Orchestra and Choirs Sun, Dec 9, at 7:00 Admission: $15 seniors/students, $20 other adults Concert Hall See details at left