Congratulations to the following OLLI members who were elected to the Board of Directors. We wish you a successful term: Evan Douple, Paul Howard, Gloria Lowe, Mel Russell, Dave Ryan, and Randall Scott.
The Board of Directors met on Friday, June 2, 2017, at Tallwood. The following slate of officers was unanimously elected:
Ray Beery – President
Randall Scott – Vice President
Michelle Blandburg – Treasurer
Rita Way – Secretary
As presented in the Board package, Ray Beery stressed that for OLLI to grow and improve, the following guidelines should be our focus:
Stability of the organization, promoted by keeping informed with statistics;
Proactive continuous process improvement; and
Innovation, thinking outside the box.
Bill Taylor, chair of the Governance Committee, welcomes visitors to attend meetings. Dave Ryan, chair of the Outreach Committee, announced that OLLI will be an exhibitor at the Fairfax County Festival from June 9th – 11th. Volunteers are needed to staff the booth. Please contact him if you are available.
Membership at OLLI as of June 2, 2017, is 1,147 with 1,129 full-time members and 18 introductory members.
Two resolutions were passed. The Board approved:
adding the new slate of officers to the signature authority on bank accounts and
permanently including the Facilities Management Department in awarding of scholarship funds.
OLLI Contributes to Fairfax County 275th Anniversary Celebration!
By Alice Slayton Clark, Communications and Program Associate
Fairfax County is hosting a series of celebrations and events this year to commemorate its 275th anniversary. Festivities begin June 17 at the Historic Fairfax Courthouse with historical re-enactments, living history demonstrations, booths, and musical performances. You may even catch a glimpse of Lord Nicholas Fairfax (14th Lord Fairfax of Cameron), descendent of Fairfax County’s namesake. More on the county celebration can be found at this link.
OLLI is fully engaged in the celebration. First, the Photography Club has photographed historic Fairfax landmarks, displayed now as part of a "Fairfax County, Then and Now" exhibit in Building 16, Vulcan Muse Gallery at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center, June 6-September 4. The photo at left was taken at the exhibit's opening reception.
Second, OLLI is hosting Alex Bulova, son of Delegate David Bulova and grandson of Supervisor Sharon Bulova, for a discussion of his latest project, “The Complete History of Fairfax: The Musical.” An aspiring playwright in his second year at the College of William and Mary, Alex created this musical for the County celebration and will share his insights on his effort to create and stage an original production.* Register for this summer term class (F408) via the OLLI member portal.
Third, program planners have developed a fall-term course on the history of Fairfax, a series of eight lectures by outside experts on topics ranging from colonial Fairfax and Fairfax in the Civil War to archeology, civil rights, and urbanization. Keep your eye out for more information about this course in the fall catalog.
* The musical will be performed the evenings of July 6-8 at the James Lee Community Center in Falls Church. To purchase tickets, click here.
By Carol Henderson, Literary Roundtable Co-moderator
Carol Henderson and Janice Dewire celebrated 15 years as moderators of OLLI’s Literary Roundtable class at an event on May 17 at the Rose Gallery in the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne Plaza. The course had begun in 1999 as one of the first Reston offerings as the then Learning in Retirement Institute expanded to its second location. Lydia Macdonald began the class; Elaine Schwartz was an early moderator. (Photo shows Janice and Carol at the top, with Elaine at top right.)
Every term since then, Reston’s Used Book Shop has hosted this small circle of short story fans who read 2 or 3 stories per week and take turns leading discussions about them. In a small booklet handed out at the May 17 event, Carol Henderson noted that the group has gone through 26 short story anthologies and read and discussed nearly 1,000 stories by 560 authors.
More than 30 current and former Literary Roundtable participants enjoyed snacks from Lake Anne’s Cafe Montmartre where OLLI members often had lunch after class. Jan and Carol were honored along with book shop owners Bud and Susan Burwell; book shop staffer Julie Lehman; and Anh and Kevin Le, owners of Café Montmartre.
Tickets Available for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at 1st Stage Tysons
By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers' Group Coordinator
On Sunday, June 25, OLLI members and their guests are welcome to join members of the Theater Lovers' Group to attend the 2:00 matinee performance of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at 1st Stage Tysons. Cost is $27/senior rate. We'll car pool. Optional dinner after the show.
August Wilson, a Pulitzer, Tony, and Academy award-winning playwright, was inspired by the real life of legendary blues singer Gertrude "Ma" Rainey to write this theatrical tour de force. It was the first installment in his award-winning Century Cycle—10 illustrious plays that explore the African-American experience in each decade of the 20th century.
The New York Times raves that Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is "Extraordinary! [Wilson] writes with compassion, raucous humor, and penetrating wisdom."
For more information and to sign up, please email Norma at njreck@cs.com.
By Ginge Sivigny , Member Services Committee Member
Back by popular demand! During the winter session OLLI members donated almost 400 empty medicine bottles which were sent to Matthew 25: Ministries, an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization, to be shipped to developing countries around the world.We will hold another collection at Tallwood June 12-July 7. Bottles must be empty, must have lids (standard or child-resistant), and must have all labels removed. "Caring for a needy world with the things we throw away."
The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, June 17, at Tallwood. Join us at 12:30 for soft drinks and socializing in the social room. Program activities begin at 1:00.
Photography as a Retirement Hobby – Presented by Dan Feighery, PATACS
Dan will address his various pictures taken over the past few years with a digital single-lens reflex camera, ranging from scenic/nature photos through sports action to abstract images (without an immediately recognizable subject). His talk will include: taking the camera off “auto” mode while you think about what will be in the picture; local places to find interesting subjects; activities with local photo clubs; travel photography; and Faststone, a free downloadable image-editing program.
Dan is a retired Air Force officer and an avid photographer who has taken numerous OLLI E-News and other photographs. He established the OLLI Photography Club, is a member of several local photo clubs, and teaches OLLI photography courses.
Learn in 30: Nomorobo – Fighting Robo calls – Presented by Judy Taylour, APCUG
Are you tired of robo-calls (e.g., no one there when you answer; "Hello, I’m Rachel from Card Holder Services….;" "Pay what you owe the IRS or you are going to jail.") This session will cover the National Do Not Call Act and Nomorobo, which helps stop those annoying calls as well as telemarketers.
Judy is a 29-year member of the Santa Clarita Valley Computer Club serving as president, editor, and webmaster. She has taught adult education computer classes for 21 years and is a member of the Pierce College Computer Applications and Office Technologies Advisory Committee. Judy is a firm believer in life-long learning. She holds various positions in the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG).
See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG website. OPCUG dues of $5 for 2017 will be collected at this meeting.
Can't make the meeting in person? Dues-paid club members may attend via Zoom's cloud meeting service, beginning at 12:45. Send a message to webinarhosts@patacs.org if you plan to attend in this way. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android: https://zoom.us/j/871105861 (meeting ID: 871 105 861).
For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG website.
The Tallwood Book Club will meet on Monday, June 12 at 10:00 at Tallwood. The book for discussion is Yes, Chef: A Memoir by internationally-acclaimed, award-winning chef and cookbook author Marcus Samuelsson. Born in Ethiopia in 1971, he was orphaned at age three when his mother died in a tuberculosis epidemic. In 1974, he and his older sister were adopted by a middle-class Swedish couple living in Gothenburg. His love of cooking was fostered by his Swedish grandmother with whom he spent many happy weekends cooking for family gatherings. His culinary education began in Sweden, then took him elsewhere in Europe and eventually to New York, where he is now the owner-chef of the Red Rooster in Harlem.
All OLLI members are welcome.
The book for discussion on July 10 is The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan.
By Uncle Olli, Etiquette Consultant, Driving Consultant, and Everything in Between
Uncle Olli has lived long enough that people often ask him various questions, including ones in the matter of etiquette. He is approachable (to take nothing away from Miss Ollie Ettakit) and welcomes your queries: ask Uncle Olli at ollienewseditor@gmail.com. He is embarrassed by nothing!
Question: Who is Gordon Canyock, and what is the Gordon Canyock Rule?
Uncle Olli: Gordon is the past president who had the first cell phone go off during class. Everyone glared at him, and the lecturer lost his place. To atone, he thereafter hounded all three campuses by admonishing all to "Put your phone on VIBRATE!" Those who did so discovered unanticipated pleasures and soon extolled the virtues of The Gordon Canyock Rule.
And so it came to pass that thanks to the Three Golden Rules of OLLI, Plus One (wear name tag, sign in, stash trash, plus VIBRATE) all of OLLI learned to live in peace and harmony and increased in Wisdom, Age and Grace. And we all lived happily ever after.
Helene Layman, OLLI member from 1992 through 2007 and enthusiastic lifelong learner and teacher, died in May a few weeks after celebrating her hundredth birthday. She joined OLLI when it was still known as LRI and developed several courses focusing on opera, especially to complement current DC-area musical productions. She also served as an LRI board member and on the Fairfax Area Commission on Aging.
Born in San Francisco, she sang professionally beginning in her teens and met her future husband, Don, a doctoral student in classics, at Stanford, while they were both singing at the opera. They married in Washington in 1942 and spent most of the war years in Alabama. They had three children and spent most of the following decades in Fairfax, where Helene taught a variety of subjects in elementary schools and is remembered by former students especially for organizing field trips to Amish country and performances of Gilbert & Sullivan.
Since 2011, she lived at The Virginian, close to many long-time friends and neighbors. Her favorite daily activities included staying in touch with world events and cultural activities, browsing catalogs, and listening to classical music on WETA. A memorial will be held June 12 at the Virginian Retirement Community, 9229 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax, VA 22031, at 1:30.
Performances, June 9 through June 19By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff WriterFor tickets for either Center for the Arts (CFA) or Hylton, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hyltonticket purchase page.
At the Fairfax Campus Venues
South Riding Dance Academy: It's a Party
Sat, Jun 17, 11:00 and 4:00
Concert Hall
Admission: Adults, $25; seniors, $20.The Fairfax Symphony: Mozart In Havana
Sun, Jun 18, 5:00
Simone Dinnerstein with the Havana Lyceum Orchestra
Harris Theatre
Admission: $45, $38, $30.
Gallery Exhibit: Sacred Feminine
Jun 6-Jul 15
The Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00-6:00; Thu, 10:00-8:00; and two hours before performances.
For more information, visit https://cvpa.gmu.edu/gands.
Gallery Reception: Thu, Jun 15, 6:00-8:00. Wines by Fabbioli Cellars. Gallery receptions are free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. RSVP to spavia@gmu.edu.
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free.
PowerWorx Dance: Power of Dance
Sun, Jun 11, 6:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.
Dance Etc.: Spring Concert
Sat, Jun 17, 1:00 and 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20.
Virginia Dance Center: Dancing in Neverland
Sun, Jun 18, 12:00 and 4:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $18.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office, with direct web links added when available. The list is accurate as of mid-week but to check anytime for the latest information, please view the latest forecast of upcoming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kickoff coffees, etc. (bolded below).
.Sat Jun 10
10:30am
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Mon Jun 12
10:00am
10:00am
10:00am
What’s in the Daily News cont’d.–TA-1
Bridge Club–TA-3
Tallwood Book Club–TA-2
Wed Jun 14
1:45pm
Social Events Committee–Annex
Fri Jun 16
9:15am
9:30am
11:00am 11:00am
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation–Annex
Homer, etc.–Annex
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Sat Jun 17
10:30am
1:00pm
Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Computer Club–TA-1
Mon Jun 19
10:00am
10:00am
10:00am
What’s in the Daily News, cont’d.–TA-1
Bridge Club–TA-3
Mah Jongg Club–TA-2
Wed Jun 21
2:00pm
A/V Committee–TA-1
Fri Jun 23
9:15am
9:30am
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm
1:00pm
Recorder Consort–TA-3
Craft and Conversation–Annex
Classic Literature Club–TA-2
Homer, etc. –Annex
Photography Club–TA-3
Dr. Who Club–TA-1
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Technical Editor: Irene Osterman
Associate Editor: Sheri Siesseger
Weekly Editorial Team: Jean Boltz, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Leslie Vandivere,
Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Lorna Moran, Susan Van Hemel, Polly Johnsen
Backup Chief Editor: Alice Slayton Clark
Submissions. Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: ollienewseditor@gmail.com. Deadline – 6:00 Tuesday for that week's issue (6:00 Monday for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:ollidev.earthcare.com/" without the quotes.
OLLI is fully engaged in the celebration. First, the Photography Club has photographed historic Fairfax landmarks, displayed now as part of a "Fairfax County, Then and Now" exhibit in Building 16, Vulcan Muse Gallery at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center, June 6-September 4. The photo at left was taken at the exhibit's opening reception.
