Dr. Hakam Aydogan, Former Resident of Russia and Foreign Journalist, Explores Russian Life, Systems, and Foreign Policy Relations in Course on Russia Under Putin, Spring 2022
Julija Pivo Wins Fulbright Teaching Fellowship to Lithuania
By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director
Julija Pivo, one of OLLI’s offsite assistants and Mason alum, has won a Fulbright teaching fellowship to Lithuania. I couldn’t be more thrilled for Julija! To read about her achievement, click here.
It’s been almost two years since OLLI launched online classes using Zoom and still most of our attendees are hiding behind what I like to call “the Zoom black square of death.” These same individuals share themselves when they come to in-person classes, but, with Zoom classes, they suddenly prefer anonymity. My plea is for the membership using Zoom to become more social and welcoming to other OLLI members. This is for our own socialization and to welcome our newest members who only know the Zoom version of OLLI.
If you won’t, or can’t, turn on a camera, then display an avatar photo of yourself, hopefully smiling. To use an avatar, you will need to set up a FREE Zoom account and load your small picture into that account so it will be automatically displayed whenever your camera is not enabled. Let’s start seeing each other again at OLLI events.
by Toni Acton, Member Services Committee Chair and Event Coordinator
Looking for something to do before starting your Memorial Day holiday? Then join your fellow OLLI members for a lively discussion at a virtual coffee klatch on Friday, May 27, at 10:00 to discuss “Life After Covid!” Did you attend in-person classes this term? Are you ready to venture out into the world of traveling again? Summer plans? What do you think OLLI’s path forward should be regarding health precautions for in-person events?
You can register for this coffee on-line (Event 1102Z) or through the Registrar. And if you forget to register or decide that morning you want to join us, no problem; just check the OLLI Daily Schedule email for the link.
Science, Technology & Health (ST&H) Program Planning Group Meeting
By Michele Romano, ST&H Program Planning Group Co-chair
The co-chairs of the ST&H Program Planning Group (Mary Kornreich, Michele Romano [that’s me], and Mark Dodge) invite all OLLI members to attend our next meeting at 10:00 on Thursday, June 9, via Zoom. We are very interested to learn of any presentations you would like to hear. If you have any expertise in the science, technology, or health fields (or know of someone who does) and would be willing to teach a class, we would love to know about that also. Many of our awesome instructors had no experience in teaching until they dipped a toe in the OLLI waters. We will be glad to help you. If you would consider joining the program planning group and providing your insight, we would be delighted to have you. Let us know. It’s a lot of fun and we are a very cool group of people.
So, please save the date and mark your calendars—Thursday, June 9, at 10:00. There will be free beer and pizza. Well, not really—it’s virtual. Would be fun, though.
Michele Romano (tufax2@gmail.com).
Reston Town Square Park Outdoor Music Series Linda H. Harber, Friends of Music at Mason President
Mark your calendars for this great outdoor music series at Reston Town Square Park (See dates in graphic). Enjoy the early evening listening to free live concerts by the talented students at George Mason University Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music. You can choose to stay and have dinner in one of Reston's great restaurants or go home in a happy, Mason-musical mood.
These concerts were great fun last June and I am looking forward to this June’s music magic in Reston Town Square Park, even though the first concert is in May!
When you’ve got a “win-win” situation, it can be dramatic! (No pun intended.) For the last several years, members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Photography Club (OPC) have been supporting the School of Theater (SOT) with their photographic expertise. The results please both: the SOT gets a selection of pictures from various productions and the OPC photographers are supporting a good project and have increased their skills. “Wins” for everyone!
You’ve seen the results of the OPC photographers on Mason SOT websites, brochures, and lobby monitors, and in the Friends of Theater @ Mason E‑News. In addition to supporting the SOT’s marketing, the OPC provides students with photos to build their portfolios as they move into the larger theater community after graduation.
Since 2016, OPC photographers have covered more than a dozen photo shoots per year, delivering head shots of incoming students, publicity shots for each play, and extensive photo collections or galleries for all dress rehearsals and photo calls. OPC member Tom Simpson organizes the photographers, and coordinates the shoots with Ruth Yamamoto, the SOT production manager. George Bradshaw maintains the OPC photo repository and provides access to all the photographers’ publicly viewable SOT images.
As a photographer who participates in this project, Dan Feighery recalls the initial involvement with the SOT through the Friends of the Center for the Arts. “The Friends held dinner meetings in their homes with presentations from Mason's College of Visual and Performing Arts faculty. Rita Gustin asked for OPC volunteers to document those events,” Dan said. The OPC’s generosity and ability was quickly recognized and the relationship with the SOT began.
The actors’ skills never cease to amaze me. In 2015, I attended the SOT’s first reading of The Crucible. Next to me sat a young lady playing the role of Abigail. When her time came to read, she suddenly became a different person, assuming the appearance and voice of that character. I didn’t recognize her. I wanted to capture that transformational experience with my new photo hobby!
The OPC photographers find opportunities for taking their photographic skills to the next level: from capturing the right moment to making sure the camera’s exposure accommodates the quickly varying lighting conditions, to organizing the cast’s group shots after photo call. “Every new experience and challenge makes all of us better photographers,” said OPC member John Nash.
Ruth’s appreciation of the OPC photographers completes the circle, explaining why they so enjoy this project: “It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with the OLLI photographers since I have been here. Odd as this may sound, it’s like finding a good mechanic. People who are dependable, good at what they do, and eager to share their expertise are hard to find.”
The April 2022 Photo of the Month theme was Environmental Portrait. We selected Robert Kelberg's photo "Beach Portrait N25" 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 John Olsen and Ed Marion, Photography Club Coordinators
Current vaccination policy for the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center is summarized as follows:
Audience members are not currently required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result for most events except when required by the event organizer or artist. If proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result is required for a specific event, it will be indicated on the webpage with event details. Face coverings continue to be required at all events.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just send an email to Brianna Schoen atbschoen@gmu.edu. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website,Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances. Information can also be found at CFA ticket purchase page, Center for the Arts YouTube Channel, or the Hylton ticket purchase page.
At the Hylton Center (Manassas Campus) Gallery Exhibit by Jayne Matricardi: Motherscape
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Continuing through May 22
Admission: Free.
Manassas Ballet Theatre: Cinderella
Fri, May 20, 7:30
Sat, May 21, 7:30
Sun, May 22, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $65, $55, $45, $35, $25.
ARTfactory Pied Piper Theatre: Matilda The Musical
Sat, May 28, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, May 29, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $20, $14 youth (12 and under).
Manassas Chorale: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Fri, Jun 3, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $25, $23.
Axial Dance: Out of This World
Sat, Jun 4, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $12.
Virginia National Ballet Recital
Sat, Jun 4, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $35, $25 youth (12 and under).
JNJ Dance Expressions: A Juneteenth Celebration
Sun, Jun 5, 1:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $10, $8 child.
Boyle School of Irish Dance: Spring Performance
Sun, Jun 5, 1:30 and 6:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $15.
Please note: Although some physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled, some may be meeting in person or, in a hybrid mode, both in person and online. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates; also, check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for event information.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming 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, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat May 21
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon May 23
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News
Bridge Club
Poetry Club
Tue May 24
9:30 am
11:00 am
4:30 pm
Annex Art Club
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed May 25
10:00 am
10:30 am
4:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Tom Crooker’s Investment Forum
Theater Lovers’ Group
Thu May 26
11:50 am
4:30 pm
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri May 27
9:15 am
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
Recorder Consort
Craft and Conversation
Grab ‘n’ Gab Coffee Klatch
Homer, etc.
Photography Club
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Linda Randall, Tom Appich, Jane Hassell
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: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Search E-News: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News at ENews Archives. To search the content within issues, use Search or enter your search term(s) in Google followed by “site:ollidev.earthcare.com/” without the quotes. An Amazon Smile Link appears here. When you shop using the Smile link designating OLLI as your charitable choice, we'll receive a 0.5 % donation, based on the value of your purchase.
Dewberry Family School of Music. You can choose to stay and have dinner in one of Reston's great restaurants or go home in a happy, Mason-musical mood.
