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OLLI
E-News
#5-12 of February 3, 2012
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Issue #5-12 of Feb 3, 2012
WHAT
IF I'M WAITLISTED?
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
>
Members have unlimited access to courses, events & activities – as space is available.
>
The
OLLI honor system: check first to
see if a class is closed before joining a class for which you
are not registered.
>
Our
registration system is as equitable as possible. Prioritize your
selections for the best chance of getting into your desired courses.
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From the
executive director
ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS about
our OLLI membership is that it entitles all members to "unlimited"
courses, special events, and activities at any of our locations.
However, the caveat is this short phrase: " as space is available." OLLI
members know the feeling of disappointment when they are not able to
get into a popular course due to what we call "over-subscription" –
more people wanting to register for a course than there are seats
available.
We have an honor system regarding class
attendance. We ask OLLI members to be respectful of this process and
avoid awkward situations in classes that are "closed." If you would
like to join a class for which you are not registered, check to see if
it is closed. Our
website's Closed
Courses page is continually updated with the latest information.
You can also contact the OLLI offices to see if
any seats are available in specific courses. For large lecture courses,
there are inevitably a few empty seats, but we don't want to be in the
position of "policing" attendance to see if each person is on the class
roster. This is even more critical in classes that feature small-group
discussion or "hands-on" activities with materials or computers.
Until 2007, OLLI had a "first-come,
first-served" registration policy that resulted in many members
standing in long lines to submit their paper registration forms on the
first day of each registration period. With the advent of our online
registration system, our Board of Directors determined that it would be
more equitable to have a process that gave equal advantage to all
members who registered during the registration "window." As long as a
member submits the registration (paper or online) on time, there is an
equal chance of getting into selected courses and activities. In order
to make this even more effective, the "priority" system was implemented
– members prioritize their selections at the time of registration.
Immediately following the closing of the
registration window, OLLI staff determines the numbers of registrants
for each course and event. In most cases, we have plenty of seats
available at each of our locations. For a few courses, we rent extra
space at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Reston Community Center,
Cascades Library or elsewhere in advance. Based on actual enrollment
numbers and the need for any specialized equipment, our staff assigns
classrooms at Tallwood, Reston and Loudoun. At that time, we can enter
the seating capacity for each room and let the system randomly assign
confirmations and waitlisting. The system automatically confirms people
who have selected Priority 1 first if space is available (otherwise, a
random selection occurs), and then moves on to any who have
selected Priority 2, etc. |
Although we can't guarantee that a particular
course will be repeated in the future, our Program Committee pays close
attention to the enrollment numbers and numbers of people who were
waitlisted. They will make a reasonable effort to persuade the
instructor to offer the course again if there is significant interest.
Thank you for making OLLI such a stimulating
and convivial place to experience lifelong learning!
Back
to top
 Thoughts on being a Board member
YOU'VE HEARD THAT THE NOMINATING
COMMITTEE is looking for a
few good men and women who are willing to serve on the OLLI Board of
Directors. You may be wondering what is involved – and why a member
might volunteer to run as a candidate in the May election. Here are my
thoughts after my almost six years as a current Board member.
According to the OLLI Bylaws (our
constitution), 18 members serve on the Board, with the responsibility
of
governing our Institute. Board members (or "directors") meet in monthly
Board meetings, typically two hours each, usually 10 times a year,
where they debate and decide on various policy matters ( operational and administrative matters are the
responsibility of our full-time executive director).
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Directors get to know and work with incredibly talented Board
colleagues who share an appreciation for our wonderful Institute but
who have different ideas about the best policies for governing it,
which keeps things interesting. Directors learn much about how OLLI
functions, and they actually have a vote on important decisions
affecting the membership – including structural changes and dues.
Directors have the satisfaction of having worked hard and done their
best to make OLLI a better place. |
My advice to all the dedicated
member-volunteers out there who are asked to run or who are considering
volunteering themselves to be a candidate: Don't hesitate to throw your hat in the
ring! You won't regret it. If you are interested yourself or
know someone who would be an excellent candidate, please contact
Nominating Committee Chair Susanne
Zumbro.
Back
to top
Last Friday's gathering of new and current
members
| President Manny Pablo (at left of
left-hand photo) and OLLI members attending the Kick-off Coffee on
January 27; photos by the writer. |
-- By Gordon Canyock, Communications Committee Chair
Back
to top
 BOOK
CLUB
Wed, Feb 8 at 1:30 – The Elegance of the
Hedgehog
THE OLLI BOOK CLUB will
meet at 1:30 on Wednesday, February 8 at Tallwood. The book for
discussion is French author Muriel Barbery's novel
The Elegance
of the Hedgehog.
Set in Paris, it tells the story of life in an upscale apartment house
as seen through the eyes of the 54-year-old concierge and the
12-year-old daughter of one of the resident families.
All OLLI members are
welcome.
-- By Ceda
McGrew, Book
Club Coordinator. Click
here for a book summary and reviews at BookBrowse.
| Next
month's book for discussion on Wednesday, March 14 is The Unvanquished by William
Faulkner. |
Back to
top
PHOTOGRAPHY
CLUB
Fri, Feb 10 at 9:30 – "Bald Eagles of the
James River"
 ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY
10 the
OLLI Photography Club will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 in TA-1.
Our speaker will be Captain Mike Ostrander. Capt.
Mike took his love of fishing
and the James River and started the James River Fishing School more
than 10 years ago. Over this period his business has transformed into
Discover the James
– "Richmond's Premier River Experience."
Capt. Mike leads history and wildlife tours,
specializing in bald eagles of the James. These tours take people into
a five-mile stretch of the James River called "Jefferson's Reach,"
where one can observe the resident population of bald eagles.
Capt. Mike's "Bald Eagles of the James River"
presentation covers the last two years of the lives of five pairs of
bald eagles in Jefferson's Reach through stories, facts and
photographs.
If you are interested in photographing or observing bald eagles, or
have an interest in conservation photography, you will find this a very
interesting presentation.
You do not have to be a member of the
Photography Club to attend; all OLLI members are invited.
-- By Steve Schanzer, Photography Club Coordinator
Back to
top
CHINESE
LANGUAGE/CULTURE CLASSES
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Offered by Mason's Confucius Institute
CLASSES AT THE
CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE include Mandarin Chinese language classes
and Business Chinese: Language and Culture. OLLI members qualify for the
significantly lower tuition/registration fee available to Mason
students/staff and may still register, even for classes that have
already started.
All
classes meet once a week for 90 minutes. Click here for more information.
--
Coordinated by Beth Baroody, OLLI
Administrator
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OBITUARY
Burt Weisman, husband of OLLI member Doris
Weisman
 BURT WEISMAN
(photo at right),
husband of longtime OLLI member Doris Weisman,
died on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. A memorial
service will be held on Sunday,
February 5 at 12:00 noon at National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway,
Falls Church, VA 22042 (click
here for
map/directions).
From
the death notice published in the Post
on February 1:
BURTON
WEISMAN – On February 1, 2012 at Fairfax Hospital. Burton
Weisman of Vienna, Virginia since 1971 died of complications from
bladder cancer.
Commander Weisman was born in Webster,
Massachusetts and graduated from Clark University in Worcester,
Massachusetts. While in high school and college in Worcester, he played
tenor sax and clarinet in a local dance band. After attending Officer
Candidate School, he received a commission in the Navy. From 1957 to
1983, he held various assignments in the Navy, including service on
five ships—mainly cruisers and amphibious-force ships in the Pacific
Fleet—and two assignments on the staff of the Chief of Naval
Operations. He also served in Naples, Italy and as the U.S. Naval
Attaché to the former Yugoslavia and to Romania. Among his
military awards was the Defense Superior Service Medal. He retired from
the Navy in 1983 and worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency in the
Joint Military Attaché School through 1994.
After retirement, he became a docent at the
National Museum of Natural History in a series of exhibits. An
enthusiastic trout fisherman, he was an active participant for many
years in the activities of the Northern Virginia Chapter of Trout
Unlimited. He was an admirer of the life of Winston Churchill and
served for years on the executive board of the Washington Society of
Churchill. He also served as a certified stream monitor, helping to
keep track of the continued health of a stream located in Reston. He
loved to travel and also enjoyed skiing and hiking.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Doris
Weisman of Vienna; two children, Cara Breuer (Michael) of Montgomery
Village, MD and Daniel Weisman of Vienna; a brother, Sumner Weisman of
Framingham, Massachusetts; step-sister Irene Sherman of Clover City,
California; and numerous relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made
to BCAN Bladder Cancer Network, 4915 St. Elm Ave., Suite 202, Bethesda,
MD 20814. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2012
at 12:00 noon at National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church,
VA 22042. Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a
later date.
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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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Who's
in Charge Here?
Billy Collins
says he writes like the monks
with the sun shining in the window
I write at my desk where I can see into our yard
check for birds at the feeders
squirrels leaping limb from limb.
Not so very different after all
though it takes a late afternoon sun
to glint upon my page
but words will come if I quiet and invite them in.
I watch pen course across the page
wonder if an artist has a parallel thought
if she put color onto page or canvas or pot
would the muse take it from there
arrange shading, figures, expression
guide the hand with little direction
from the one who believes she's in charge?
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Back
to top
MASON ARTS AND
MUSIC
Upcoming Fairfax performances, Feb 3 - 12
 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.
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. |
"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
Spring 2012
Peter Haase, violin
Nancy Thomas, viola
Kenneth Law, cello
Kelly
Ker-Hackleman, piano
Sun, Feb 5, 2:00
 This
quartet from the music faculty at George Mason will perform selections
of chamber music from Mozart’s Sonata in E minor for violin and piano,
his Klavier-Quartet No. 1 in G minor and Faure’s Quartet No. 1 in C
minor. Dr. Kelly Ker-Hackleman has been a guest lecturer in OLLI's
Music Sampler and is co-coordinator of the course.
Admission: Free, non-ticketed
Harris Theatre |
The Vagina Monologues
Fri, Feb 10, 8:00
Sat, Feb 11, 3:00 & 8:00
George Mason performs the Monologues as part of V-Day, a global effort
to end violence against women and children that raises funds and
awareness through productions of the playwright Eve Ensler. Proceeds
will go to the Mason Victims of Violence Fund and worldwide campaigns
fighting sexual violence.
Admission: $25; groups of 10, $15
each
Harris Theatre
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Virginia Opera
Orphée
by Phillip Glass
Fri, Feb 10, 8:00
Sun, Feb 12, 2:00
Based on the myth of Orpheus and Euridice, this romantic yet
surrealistic tale explores the sacrifice of love for art, love
transcending death and the immortality of art.
Orphée is a famous but misunderstood poet in Paris who falls for
a beautiful new muse, Death herself, all but turning his back on life
and his wife, Euridice. Uplifting jazz orchestrations are featured,
with themes of neglected love, inspired passion and fevered obsession.
Sung in French with English supertitles. Click here
for much more info at Virginia Opera's website.
Admission: Fri, Feb 10, $86, $72, $44
Sun, Feb 12, $98, $80, $48
Concert Hall
Come 45 minutes before each
performance for a free
artistic discussion on Grand Tier III.
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Arlo Guthrie
Boys
Night Out
Sat, Feb 11, 8:00
When we think 20th-century American folk music we think of Arlo
Guthrie. He will bring his son, Abe, his grandson, Krishna, and
long-time collaborator Terry a la Berry for a program of folk favorites
and story-telling. Son of singer/song-writer/activist Woody Guthrie,
Arlo is remembered for his anti-war anthem hit of 1967, "Alice's
Restaurant," as he became a hero to young people involved in
social consciousness and activism.
Admission:
$48,
$40, $24
Concert Hall
Come at 7:15 for a free artistic
discussion on Grand
Tier III.
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Music Faculty Artists Series
Julianna
Nickel, flute
John
Kilkenny, percussion
Kelly
Ker-Hackleman, piano
Sun, Feb 12, 2:00
Besides her work in Mason's School of Music, Prof. Nickel performs with
the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.
Prof. Kilkenny plays with the National Symphony, the Washington
National Opera and Ballet and the Washington Concert Opera, among other
groups. Prof. Ker-Hackleman is principal pianist for the Alexandria
Symphony Orchestra and is co-coordinator of the OLLI course, Music
Sampler.
Admission: Free, non-ticketed
Harris Theatre
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Music Faculty Artist Series
Lisa
Berger, voice
Patricia
Hussey, voice
Sun, Feb 12, 4:00
Lisa Berger, soprano, sings with the Washington National Opera, as does
Patricia Hussey, mezzo soprano. Thomas Reilly will accompany them in
this duet recital.
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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> 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).
>Contemporary Exhibition Series: Progeny by
Deborah Willis and Hank Willis Thomas.
Progeny features the work of Deborah Willis's literal progeny, Hank
Willis Thomas, and to the progeny of her artistic efforts, the
remarkable photographs presented here in dialogue with Hank's. Standing
beside this scene, however, is her other progeny—her work as curator
and historian of photography and visual culture by and about African
Americans. Continues through Wed, Feb 29. Center for the Arts, Fine Art
Gallery. Free. Click here
for more info.
>Film Festival: War on the Silver Screen.
The festival focuses on love in war and features several classic
movies, all at Johnson Center Cinema – Hope and Glory, Mon, Feb 13,
7:00; Casablanca, Tue, Feb 14, 7:00;
and Band of Brothers, Wed, Feb 15,
7:00. Each screening will be preceded by a brief introduction and
followed by a moderated discussion with the audience. Free. Click here
for more info.
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 HYLTON
ARTS AND MUSICUpcoming Manassas performances, Feb 3 - 12
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.
Prince William County Public Schools
Fine
Art Exhibit
Continues 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 |
"Tschaikowski" St. Petersburg State
Orchestra
Wed, Feb 8, 8:00
Conducted by Roman Leontiev and featuring pianist Alexandre Pirojenko,
the program will feature Wagner's Overture from Der fliegende
Hollander, Prokofiev's Symphony No 5
in B-flat major, Op. 100, and Chopin's Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21.
A
pre-performance discussion by Nicole Lacroix of WETA 90.0 FM begins at
7:00.
Admission: $30, $38, $46
Merchant Hall
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Prince William Little Theatre
Baby
Fri, Feb 10, 8:00
Sat, Feb 11, 2:00 and 8:00
Sun, Feb 12, 2:00
Directed by Susy Moorstein with music direction by Milton Rodgers, this
production revolves around three couples each expecting a child. The
original Broadway musical opened in 1983.
Admission: Adults, $20; seniors and students, $16; children 11 and
under, $10
Gregory Family Theater
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Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain
Boys
Sat, Feb 11, 8:00
Dr.
Stanley, a celebrated bluegrass banjoist, formed the Clinch Mountain
Boys band with his brother in 1946. At age 84, he still performs more
than 150 concerts a year. He has won a Grammy Award for his soundtrack
for the film, O Brother, Where Art
Thou?, and is a recipient of the National Medal of the Arts.
Pre-performance discussion by Randy Barrett, president, DC Bluegrass
Union, begins at 7:00.
Admission: $30, $38, $46
Merchant Hall
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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.
Back
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:
February 3, 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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