• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • About Us
    • The OLLI Campuses
    • Our Organization
  • OLLI History
    • The "OLLI Story" Movie
    • Early History of OLLI (PDF)
  • Join OLLI
  • Donate

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

  • Request a Catalog
  • Member Portal
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Calendar
  • Classes
    • Register
    • Current Term Flyer
    • Changes to Current Catalog Schedule
    • Future Term Dates
    • Program Planner Resources
  • Clubs and Activities
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer at OLLI
    • Volunteer - Current Opportunities
    • Instructor Resources
  • Search
  • FAQ

Enews19-15

Here is the OLLI E-News issue of Friday, June 19, 2015:

Website   What's New   Catalog   DocStore   Facebook   Officials   Member Portal   Contact Us
Winter Event 972: Battle of Gettysburg Field Trip March 19

June 19, 2015

Editor of the Week: Paul Van Hemel

Table of Contents

  • Alerts & Notices
  • Summer Term Classes and Events Availability
  • Come Hear Mason Fulbright Scholar at OLLI!
  • Meet Michelle Blandburg
  • Photo of the Month
  • Ask Uncle Olli
  • Poet's Corner
  • Arts & Music at George Mason
  • Meetings & Clubs
  • About OLLI E-News

Alerts & Notices

  • Correction: the location of the special weather presentation by WJLA TV's Brian Van de Graaff (Wed, Jun 24, 9:40) is at Lord of Life in Fairfax. Space is still available; register now for class F814.
  • Please note: it is particularly important that submissions for next week's E-News be made by deadline Tue, Jun 23 at 6.

Back to Top of Page

Summer Term Classes and Events Availability

By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director

Summer term has arrived at OLLI Mason and there are still plenty of classes and special events available for registration. Check out this great colored chart (http://ollidev.earthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Summer2015combscheduleupdated6-8.pdf) which shows all open, closed and canceled classes and Special Events.

“Green Means Go!” Go and take a class that you might think is not your cup of tea. Get outside your comfort zone and jump into the unknown. You may surprise yourself!

Red indicates a closed event/

class that has reached capacity. Often OLLI programs are repeated from time to time and you may have another chance to get into that preferred event/class later in the year.

Black indicates a canceled class. Cancellations are almost always by instructors but some classes are canceled due to low enrollment.

Green indicates classes/events that are still available across all OLLI campuses, so go ahead and sign up today at http://olligmu.augusoft.net/!

Back to Top of Page

Come Hear Mason Fulbright Scholar at OLLI!By Alice Slayton Clark

OLLI Communications Associate/Registrar

OLLI is excited to have two summer-term classes presented by George Mason University Fulbright scholars. The Fulbright presentations kicked off this week with a wonderful presentation by Dr. Mary C. Murphy of the University College Cork in Ireland “How the European Union Helped the Northern Ireland Peace Process.”

You will not want to miss our second Fulbright presentation, by Dr. Elman Eminov, chief economist at PASHA Bank and former senior economist at the Central Bank in Azerbaijan. He will present his research on the “Financial Issues of an Oil Exporting Economy: Azerbaijan and Beyond,” exploring the country's current financial conditions and challenges and its tremendous economic growth and investment over the past decade as a result of its oil industry.

Dr. Eminov’s presentation (F706) takes place at Lord of Life Church in Fairfax on Tuesday, June 30, from 9:40 -11:05. Sign up for this class on the OLLI member portal. It can be found under Spotlighted: Added Courses http://olligmu.augusoft.net/.

Back to Top of Page

Meet Michelle Blandburg,Newly-Elected OLLI Board MemberBy Camille Hodges,

Humanities/Social Sciences Planning Group Member

The first time I met Michelle I was immediately impressed by her obvious commitment to, and enthusiasm for, OLLI. With smiles and accolades for the program, she warmly welcomed me as a new OLLI member and as a class liaison. Michelle shared how OLLI has allowed her to pursue a creative side of her personality–theatrics! In short, her love for OLLI is infectious to all who encounter her. Pleasantly surprised at her election to the Board of Directors, she looks forward to serving the membership and helping everyone benefit from what OLLI offers.

Michelle joined OLLI in 2012 and quickly became involved in programs that allowed her to implement the organizational skills and expertise used in her former career with Navy Federal Credit Union. She not only contributed to OLLI as a member of the Class Liaison sub-committee, but also as a leader in the OLLI Players and Reader’s Theater, Humanities and Social Sciences Planning Committee, and the Dirty Knees Club.

Michelle is inspired by a Robert Frost quote, “In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life; it goes on.” She also likes one by Oscar Wilde, “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” These encourage her to take what comes with confidence.

Michelle is honored by the opportunity to contribute to OLLI on a level that includes its current operations as well as future goals. In turn, we at OLLI are honored to have her as a newly elected member of the Board of Directors!

Back to Top of Page

Photo of the Month

The June Photo of the Month theme was "Sports/Action." We selected Rita Gustin's photo "Mare, Foal Running" which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.

        -- By Dan Feighery, Photography Club Coordinator

Back to Top of Page

Ask Uncle OlliBy Uncle Olli, Driver Safety Consultant 

Uncle Olli has lived in Northern Virginia most of his lifetime, and has encountered most every every traffic situation that might raise a question, however trivial it might seem. Ask Uncle Olli at ollienewseditor@gmail.com. He is embarrassed by nothing!

AT STOP LIGHTS, OR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, HOW FAR BACK SHOULD YOUR CAR BE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU?

A good rule of thumb is, if stopped, far enough to see the rear tires of the car in front of you; if moving, a distance behind as far as your car will travel in three seconds. Danger and traffic is ever-changing, however, and this will not always be possible. Another rule of thumb might be, if your passengers get nervous, edgy, or alarmed, you are probably too close.

Back to Top of Page

Poet's Corner

Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop

Summer

Summer has become too lush,

A wanton woman dripping with

over-ripened flora.

Too heavily bejeweled,

her perfume assaults the senses with

constant fervor.

Hot sun meant to dazzle

now dizzies.

I miss the girlishness of spring,

slight and fresh and pale green,

so cool to the touch.

Claire Hasselbeck

Back to Top of Page

Arts & Music at George Mason

Performances, June 19 - June 29

By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer

For 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 page or the Hylton ticket purchase page.

At the Fairfax Campus VenuesSaya Caporal Dance CompetitionSat, Jun 20, 5:30

Concert Hall

Admission: $20.

Airmen of Note Concert: Part of the National Jazz Workshop

Sun, Jun 21, 7:00

de Laski - Room 3001

Admission: Free.

National Jazz Workshop Concerts

Mon, Jun 22 - Thu, Jun 25, 4:00 each day

Concert Hall

Admission: Free.

World Police & Fire Games: Body Building

Sat, Jun 27, 12:00

Concert Hall

Admission: Free.

World Police & Fire Games: Boxing

Mon, Jun 29 & Tue, Jun 30, 7:00

Concert Hall

Admission: Free.

Back to Top of Page

Mason Student & Faculty Performances(see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)No Performances Scheduled

Back to Top of Page

At the Hylton Center2nd Annual Juried Art ShowMay 17 - June 28

Buchanan Partners Art Gallery

The gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00 - 6:00, Thu, 10:00 - 8:00 and two hours before performances.

Admission: Free.

School of Classical & Creative Dance: Carnival of the Animals

Sat, Jun 20, 4:00

Gregory Family Theater

Admission: $15.

Stage Door Dance Recital

Sun, Jun 21, 2:00

Merchant Hall

Admission: $20.

Rosanne Cash: The River and The Thread

Fri, Jun 26, 8:00

Merchant Hall

Admission: $65, $55, $45.

Castleton Festival: Toujours l'amour, French Masterpieces of Love

Sun, Jun 28, 4:00

A buffet dinner with wine is available for purchase for $60. Dinner will be served at 6:30 in the Gregory Family Theater following the performance.

Merchant Hall

Admission: $50, $43, $30.

Back to Top of Page

For further details on any of the above events, please see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar.

Back to Top of Page

Meetings & Clubs

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 20 10:30am1:00pm Tai Chi Club–TA-3Computer Club–TA-1
Mon Jun 22 10:00am10:00am10:00am What’s in the Daily News–TA-1Bridge–TA-3Murder Mystery Club–TA-C
Tue Jun 23  9:30pm 10:00am11:05am Cottage Art–TA-CKnitting and Needlework Club–Panera, HerndonLoudoun Program Planning–RM 205
Wed Jun 24  1:30pm Memoir Writing–TA-C
Fri Jun 26  9:00am9:30am10:00am

10:00am

10:00am

Recorder Consort–TA-3Travel Club–TA-2Craft and Conversation–Cottage

Classic Fiction Book Club–Loudoun Cascade Library

Craft and Conversation–TA-C

Sat Jun 27 10:30am Tai Chi Club–TA-3
Mon Jun 29 10:00am10:00am10:00am Daily News–TA-1Bridge Club–TA-3Murder Myster Club–TA-C
Tue Jun 30  9:30am10:00am Cottage Art–TA-CKnitting and Needlework Club–Panera, Herndon
Wed Jul 1  1:30pm1:45pm Memoir Writing–TA-CSpecial Events Committee–Annex

Back to Top of Page

About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff

Chief Editor/Technical Editor: Irene Osterman

Associate Editor:

Weekly Editorial Team: Pat Bangs, John Nash, Paul Van Hemel, Sheri Siesseger, Leslie Vandivere

Proofreaders: Gordon Canyock, Susan Van Hemel

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.

Back to Top of Page

 

OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

4210 Roberts Rd. Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone: (703) 503-3384
Fax: (703) 503-2832
Email: olli@gmu.edu

Copyright ©2025 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Website designed and developed by Earthcare Technologies Inc.

OLLI Mason is a nonprofit, equal opportunity 501(c)(3) organization
and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national/ethnic origin.