By Eileen Duggan, acting Secretary

APPROXIMATELY 50 MEMBERS PARTICIPATED in the kickoff for the Membership Committee’s monthly mini-town meetings at 11:30 on Fri, Feb 10, at Tallwood. Debbie Halverson welcomed the members and said that the meetings would be held in a discussion-style format and would focus on a different topic each month.

OLLI’s dues increase was the focus of this month’s meeting. Treasurer Charles Duggan explained the various components that made up the budget as well as the grants and $1,000,000 endowment from the Osher Foundation. He explained that the Osher endowment was awarded to the George Mason University Foundation on our behalf and will pay out earnings of four percent per year to be phased in over a three-year period. Charles also shared the information that he had gathered comparing OLLI dues with the dues and fees from comparable LLIs.      As at last week’s meeting in Reston, Debbie provided information regarding the executive director’s job description. She clarified that his total compensation (and the total cost to OLLI) is $100,000, which includes the package of benefits provided by Mason to persons at the Administrative Faculty rank.      What followed was a question-and-answer session regarding issues such as space, parking and growth. Everyone seemed to be aware of the challenges facing OLLI in these areas. A few members expressed concern about classes that focused exclusively on DVDs. Dick Chobot explained that DVDs would only be used in the future by an instructor or facilitator leading a discussion. Other members requested that some classes such as those offered by the Krasnow Institute be repeated.

     OLLI member Dan Feighery prepared and distributed a page entitled "Some Considerations Related to the Need for Dues Increases." The handout raises questions regarding OLLI’s vision and its goals and created a lively discussion. Some members suggested that we are defined by Mason, others that our mission is to serve the Northern Virginia community and still others that our only limit is the size of our classrooms.

GEORGE MASON, one of our nation's Founding Fathers, appeared at Tallwood on Tue, Feb 13, in a fitting end to Barbara Farner's course #303, "George Mason: The Man and His Times." Colonel Mason told attendees about representing Virginia at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and why he refused to sign the Constitution; he made history come alive for class attendees.

Note. OLLI members who missed this special appearance by historical interpreter Don McAndrews will have another opportunity at 3:00 on Sun, Mar 4, at Gunston Hall, where George Mason will make opening remarks at the first lecture of the 2007 Liberty Lecture Series (free, open to the public). Light refreshments are served from 2:30 to 3:00. Lecture participants are invited to tour George Mason's home prior to or following the program at no charge; 30-minute tours begin on the hour and half-hour.

 HELP WANTED

PLANNING IS JUST GETTING UNDERWAY for the Summer 2007 program. The History, International Studies and Current Events folks need and will appreciate your ideas, suggestions and thoughts on the program at Tallwood, Reston, and Loudoun.      Let us know your ideas and the names of potential instructors; please consider volunteering and trying your luck at presenting a lecture and helping us make the summer program a success.      Send your ideas to Bob Bohall, Phil True, Ben Gold, Ray Beery or the OLLI office. We need your suggestions by Mar 1. Thank you.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Objection to use of DVDs to replace live teachers I'd like to add my agreement to Mel Gottlieb's and Joan Salemi's comments which appeared in previous OLLI newsletters indicating their objection to the use of a DVD to replace a live instructor. We have always welcomed the use of DVDs as an enhancement to any class, but the use of DVDs as a replacement for a live instructor is a recent practice and, in my mind, a lowering in the high standards of programming that OLLI members have come to expect.      If we want to watch a video, can't we all just stay home and turn on PBS, the History Channel or GMU lectures on TV? We have excellent courses at OLLI, and obtaining excellent instructors has not been a problem. If an instructor cannot be located for a proposed course, I suggest we schedule another course instead. Our members are used to high-quality presentations; let's not disappoint them. Let's not sacrifice quality for quantity.    -- Susanne Zumbro, OLLI member

I tried one of the new test chairs and found it most uncomfortable--mainly due to the fact that it had no arms. (As a matter of fact, none of them have arms.)
     As one who lobbied for a one-minute class "bum break" (and lost), I have a suggestion that would save money and solve the problem as well: purchase comfortable chair cushions. They should be good ones, with ties at each corner so that they can be secured to the chairs. Such cushions could, I'm sure, be purchased in bulk at a reasonable price. I have used one for about two years now and it certainly works for me!
-- Roxanne Cramer, OLLI member

Quite a few people tried out the four chairs in TA-1. I don't see any reason for buying new chairs! All four chairs did NOT have arm rests (and people seemed to feel that arm rests were very important for sitting comfortably and for helping them out of their seats).  Three of the chairs had very short seats (so that legs dangled).  The chairs we have are comfortable, have long enough seats and have arm rests.  Why not buy some cushions, put them in a box at the door, and those who want them can have one to sit on. I hate to see money being spent on unnecessary things, and the purchase of new chairs is one of them. -- Carlyn Elder, OLLI member

The hard chair seats have been a problem for me since I joined OLLI three years ago. Assuming that my comfort was my own responsibility, I brought a stadium cushion which solved the problem very nicely. Many people have commented on what a good idea that is, but very few have followed suit, which puzzles me. We purchased the cushions from our son's high school 10 years ago. I assume that they are available from schools and sporting goods stores. I also use one at choir practice.  
     I am definitely not in favor of spending OLLI's money to buy new chairs. The ones we are testing are armless which makes them much less comfortable than what we already have. If people are unwilling/unable to provide their own cushions, we could consider purchasing some cushions for classroom use, but frankly, I think that this is an issue that we each can handle individually.
-- Valerie Stucky, OLLI member

About scholarships to Mason students The question of what, in my judgment, is a modest expense for GMU University Scholarships raised in last week's OLLI E-News warrants a comment. GMU faculty and staff consistently support the OLLI program and provide needed assistance in maintaining our infrastructure. It is classy and nice to recognize this through some support for a few student scholarships.       For example the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Development, Health and Human Services, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Science and Visual and Performing Arts all provide highly qualified faculty support to OLLI. Think about our courses in Arts and Music; Economics and Finance; History and International Studies; Literature, Theater and Writing; Religion, Philosophy, and Ethics; Current Events and Science Health and Technology. Does GMU staff out all our classes? Of course not, but for persons doing the planning and development of our programs, the goodwill gained by supporting a few University scholarships helps to open doors and makes for a professional and cooperative relationship between OLLI and our host institution.      I am happy to help provide the opportunity for scholarships for members when they are needed but I would also argue there are major benefits of continuing to support University scholarships. -- Bob Bohall, OLLI member, past president

Comments, questions or suggestions about OLLI? Here's how to express your views-- Privately-- Contact any Board member or the Executive Director; Send an email to the entire Board (email the office, which will forward your message to the Board of Directors distribution list); Submit a suggestion online or in the box in the Tallwood social room or on one of the "parking lots for ideas" in classrooms; or Contact the office by email or phone (703-503-3384). Publicly (if you would like your comments to be seen by other members, including the Board, and the Executive Director): Email a "Letter to the Editor" or a "Letter to Ms. Ollie Ettakit" for publication in OLLI E-News.