Banner image above: Board members and the executive director at a recent Reston meeting. Left to right: Debbie Halverson, Bruce Reinhart, Abbie Edwards, Thom Clement; inset, Al Roe, Rosemary McDonald. Photos by Paul Howard, also attending.

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LOCAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
 By Thom Clement, Executive Director
HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO LIVE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA with easy access to the many resources and cultural opportunities of the Washington Metropolitan area. OLLI members are even more fortunate to have such a great forum for networking and sharing between people with similar interests and attitudes about active learning.
     These thoughts crossed my mind this week when I attended a lecture in the Visions Series sponsored by the Mason Provost, Dr. Peter Stearns. The lecture by Mason Professor Carma Hinton was a fascinating visual journey to China focusing on the relationship between its many cultural and generational changes and their impact on architecture. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and what impressed me even more was that I ran into an OLLI member in the lobby when I came in, another OLLI member sitting in front of me and OLLI President Pat Carroll and his wife sitting beside me in the audience!
     Wherever there are opportunities for learning and intellectual stimulation, you’re likely to find fellow OLLI members. And there is certainly is no lack of these opportunities in our area. How fortunate we are!
SEEKING NOMINATIONS...
 By Bob Bohall, Nominating Committee Chair
THE OLLI NOMINATING COMMITTEE WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING if you have an interest in being a candidate to serve on the Board of Directors or if you have suggestions regarding members who should be considered as potential directors. The committee will be meeting next Wed, Feb 20, and would like to get off to an immediate start.
     Please visit, call, or email any of the committee members:

• Bob Bohall            • Brenda Cheadle            • Abbie Edwards            • Paul Howard            • Cloe Ingram            • Ann Wagner

     Also Executive Director Thom Clement will be pleased to pass along any of your suggestions to the committee. Help make the best better and continue the fine programs we have at OLLI. Thank you.
KNOW YOUR DIRECTORS

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SUGGESTIONS SOUGHT FOR LECTURES HISTORY AND CURRENT EVENTS

THE HISTORY AND CURRENT EVENTS RESOURCE GROUP would like your ideas and suggestions regarding lectures for the summer 2008 term.      If you would like to teach or have an interesting lead regarding a class please get in touch with Co-Chairs Bob Bohall, Emmett Fenlon or Phil True. Executive Director Thom Clement or Program Assistant Rae Schafer will also be happy to pass along your comments.

TECH TIPS

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WE WILL PUBLISH your brief letters about OLLI and, if a response seems appropriate, we will include an OLLI response from the executive director or the applicable officer or committee chair in the same issue. Submit your letter via email to the editor or submit it as a "letter to the editor" via the online suggestion box or the suggestion box in the Tallwood Social Room. To be published in a given Friday's issue, the editor must receive the letter no later than 7:00 pm on Monday so that any applicable OLLI response can also be published. Letters can be published anonymously but you must include your name and email address or phone number so we can verify that you are an OLLI member.

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Mark Morris Dance Group Dido and Aeneas music by Henry Purcell      Purcell’s full-length opera tells the tragic love story of Virgil’s Aeneid. Morris conducts a chamber orchestra, chorus and vocal soloists which combine to enhance the rich choreography and the expressive technique of the dancers. Fri, Feb 15, at 8:00 Sat, Feb 16, at 8:00 Admission: $50, $42, $25 Concert Hall      Come early at 7:15 for a free artistic discussion in the Grand Tier Lobby.

American Youth Philharmonic Sun, Feb 17, at 1:00 Admission: $14 seniors/students, $10 other adults Concert Hall

GMU Symphony & Chamber Orchestra Concert with Norma Zindahl, guest pianist Sun, Feb 17, at 7:00 Admission: $10 seniors/students, $15 other adults Concert Hall

Virginia Opera Eugene Onegin Fri, Feb 22, at 8:00 Sun, Feb 24, at 2:00      A jaded young Russian aristocrat carelessly rejects the love of a beautiful, passionate young girl, much to his later regret. Tchaikovsky brings to life many aspects of Russian life in his opera, which is based on the epic poem by Pushkin. Sung in Russian with English subtitles.      Click this Virginia Opera Web page for details, including full synopsis, video preview, stage director's notes and "about the composer." Admission: Friday $86, $72, $44             Sunday $94, $78, $48    Concert Hall         A cheese-tasting will be offered on Fri at 6:30 in the Lobby of the Concert Hall.      Come 45 minutes early to each performance for an artistic discussion in the lobby of the Grand Foyer.      Note: The 2:00 performance on Sun, Feb 24, is an OLLI Special Event.

GMU Players #2 Humble Boy, by Charlotte Jones Thu, Feb 21, & Fri, Feb 22, at 8:00 Sat, Feb 23, at 2:00 and 8:00 Thu, Feb 28, & Fri, Feb 29, at 8:00 Sat, Mar 1, at 2:00 and 8:00 Sun, Mar 2, at 2:00      The setting is an English country garden, in this play directed by Kristin Johnsen-Neshati of the Mason theater faculty. Felix is a gentle scientist whose stammer returns when he is asked to speak at his father’s funeral. His mother, Flora, has little patience with him and believes that he plots to disappoint her. There will be a post-performance discussion with the director and members of the company. Admission: $8 seniors/students, $12 other adults Harris Theater      Note: The 2:00 performance on Sat, Feb 23, is an OLLI Special Event.