Winter-term priority registration ended December 7. However, you may still register for winter-term classes on a space-available basis.
Reminder: The Investment Forum hosts a special session with Marc Rubenstein, author of the Net Interest newsletter, sharing his thoughts on the banking industry and financial technology, Monday, December 13, at 10:00. See OLLI Daily Schedule email for the link.
Note: This month, the OLLI Personal Computer Club (OPCUG) is meeting on the 2nd Saturday, at 1:00, December 11 (tomorrow), instead of the 3rd Saturday; see article below.
Periodically check this link to stay up-to-date on winter term changes.
OLLI Mason will be closed on holiday break from December 20 through January 2.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, December 24; regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, December 21, at 6:00.
Co-chair Needed for the Special Events Program Planning Group
By Rita Way, Special Events Program Planning Group Co-chair
The Special Events Program Planning Group is looking to fill the position of co-chair. If you are interested or would like more information about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Rita Way at email: Ritaway27@gmail.com.
The Tallwood Book Club will be discussing Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes at our regular Zoom meeting, Friday, December 10 (today), at 2:30. The Zoom link and other information appears in today’s OLLI Daily Schedule email.
The January selection is Tightrope by Nicholas Kristof.
OLLI writers—beginners or experienced—take note: OLLI Ink is now accepting submissions, including poems, fiction, personal essays, and memoirs, for its 2022 edition.
Now moving into its eleventh year, OLLI Ink is a well‑established publication whose contributors come from a wide spectrum of OLLI members, including, but not limited to, those enrolled in writing workshops.
How to Submit: Please send your entries and/or any questions to Caroline McNeil at caromcneil@gmail.com.
Guidelines:
Poems – limit number of lines to 30
Prose – limit number of words to 2,500, single-spaced.
Contributions are welcome starting now through the end of February.
Share Your Expertise as an OLLI Instructor in 2022!
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co-chair
OLLI is looking for instructors willing to teach a few classes:
Examining the Biden Administration’s Domestic and Foreign Policy Agenda/2021-2024
Democracy vs. Authoritarianism in the USA and Abroad
Is America in Decline? Empirical Indicators and Implications for Present and Future Generations.
This could be you! Please contact one of the following OLLI program coordinators if you are interested: Shannon Kim Morrow, Program Associate—smorrow4@gmu.edu Nancy Klein, Communications and Program Associate— nklein4@gmu.edu.
OR complete the course proposal form available at this link.
We encourage multiple sessions, if possible. Thank you!
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in a recent issue; the Program Planning Group requested the repeat for emphasis and to encourage your participation in sharing the benefits of OLLI.
Correction for the Winter 2022 Catalog: R414 Literary Roundtable
By Ben Gold, Literary Roundtable Moderator
Please note the changes to this entry that were made since publication of the catalog: R414 Literary Roundtable Wednesdays, 11:50-1:15, Jan 26-Feb 16 Four sessions Moderator: Ben Gold Class limit: 30
This continuing short story discussion class will complete The Best American Short Stories 2019, edited by Anthony Doerr & Heidi Pitlor. For those who do not have copies of the book, the four remaining stories from that volume will be provided. Stories for the last two weeks of the term will be distributed. Ben Gold has a BA in political science from Stanford University and also holds an MS degree in computer science. He will serve as moderator.
Supplement for the Winter 2022 Catalog: Classic Literature Club
By Robert Zener, Classic Literature Club Coordinator
For the winter session, club members have agreed to read and discuss Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence. We will also view and discuss the 1993 film based on that book, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, and Michelle Pfeiffer. The club meets Fridays, 11:00-12:30, January 28-February 18.
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Co-chair
Sign up for OLLI Course #977 in the winter 2022 course catalog and get the answer to this question and more. You will find this class listed in the “Special Events” section (page 23). Three distinguished Mason professors discuss their research on this topic on Friday, February 18 from 2:00-3:30 and show how ethical behavior is essential when using technology. Share this critical information with your friends, associates, and young people in your social circle.
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in a recent issue; the Program Planning Group requested the repeat for emphasis and to encourage your participation in sharing the benefits of OLLI.
What a treat OLLI members enjoyed on November 15 when Ben Powell, a well-known improvisational violinist, led us on a tour through the history of, and the creative processes behind, movie scores. Born in Britain, Ben currently lives in New Orleans. He has performed with the likes of Paul Simon, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Neil Young, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder, and has been featured on over 200 movie soundtracks including The Lion King and E.T. Most recently he contributed significantly to the score of Hillbilly Elegy.
An incredibly talented musician, Mr. Powell turned out to be a gifted presenter as well. Sharing many of his own personal stories, as well as informative and entertaining video clips, he opened attendees’ eyes to the previously unknown world of movie scoring. It was fascinating to see how all the parts come together from the first few bars sparked by the movie in the composer’s imagination through the often-collaborative creative process made tangible through the efforts of varied musicians to match music to motion. One of the clips he shared that spotlights his work, and others on Hillbilly Elegy, can be viewed at this link.
Over 250 people attended the presentation, and it was a great public-relations event as well, featured by AARP as one of the classes offered through their Virtual Community Center. Member Stephanie Trachtenberg was responsible for bringing this very special event to OLLI.
Sorry you missed it? Not to worry. You can find it on the OLLI class video recordings page featured each day in the Daily Schedule email under Special Events: 972 Motion Picture Scores. Enjoy!
2nd Saturday, December 11, in-person and via Zoom The Adventure Continues: Apple Watch, HomePods, Home App, and Apple Card Join iPad/iPhone Learn in 30: The Time Lords of Fort Collins, Colorado PC Clinic in the Annex – Click here for clinic rules
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, December 11, both in-person and via Zoom. Program activities begin at 1:00. Details regarding in-person attendance, limited to 75 people, are located here: https://www.patacs.org/fairfaxattreqmts.html. Those wishing to attend in person who are not members of OPCUG or PATACS (not receiving email from the groups) should send an expression of interest to: ffxmtg@patacs.org.
The Adventure Continues: Apple Watch, HomePods, Home App, and Apple Card Join iPad/iPhone – Presented by Gabe Goldberg. Gabe has previously spoken about early and ongoing iPad experiences and the later addition of iPhone to the mix. He will briefly recap and comment on the update of his Apple ecosystem devices, software, and experiences. Over the last eight months, he added an Apple Watch (courtesy of Heartline cardio study), three HomePod Minis, the Home App, and multiple Siri-controlled outlets. He also switched credit card usage to Apple card. He will discuss how he set up and uses these things. While the presentation is Apple-specific, more-or-less equivalent facilities are available with non-Apple devices and software.
Gabe has spent a professional career in computers and technology, including writing about such topics for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and making presentations in a multi-state territory for the Association of Personal Computer User Groups.
Learn in 30: The Time Lords of Fort Collins, Colorado – Presented by Bill Walsh.
Colorado is home to many scientific disciplines researched and maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). As the home of America's time standard instrument, the NIST-F2 cesium fountain atomic clock, the institute maintains a radio station in Fort Collins that disseminates timekeeping information that is critical for government, industry, and daily life. An overview of this station, which includes transmitters assigned call letters WWV and WWVB, will be presented at the meeting.
Bill Walsh is an enthusiast of radio-controlled clocks, and of perusing the web for parts and fixes for a variety of Heathkit atomic clocks and other such technology. Bill was OLLI's Tallwood Site Assistant for 11 years and helps instructors with Zoom sessions on an as-needed basis.
Attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 1:00. Please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 458615 or enter meeting ID 846 0789 9770 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode.
As Mason’s campuses reopen, programs are offered at both Fairfax and Manassas campuses, along with virtual events. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required for all audience members. 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.
Gallery Exhibition: Zia Palmer -Women of the Same Blood
Continues through Sun, Jan 9
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free. Prince William Little Theatre: A Christmas Carol (Touring Version)
Fri, Dec 17, 8:00
Sat, Dec 18, 2:00 and 7:00
Sun, Dec 19, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $24 adults; $21 seniors.
Manassas Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker
Fri, Dec 17, 7:30
Sat, Dec 18, 3:00 and 7:30
Sun, Dec 19, Tue, Dec 21, Wed, Dec 22, Thu, Dec 23, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $75, $65, $45, $35.
Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised 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 Dec 11
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Dec 13
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
What’s in the Daily News?
Tom Crooker Investment Forum: Special Event
Poetry Club
Tue Dec 14
9:30 am
11:00 am
4:30 pm
Annex Art
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Dec 15
10:00 am
10:30 am
6:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Ethnic Eats Club
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
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, Tom Appich, Roz Stark, 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.
with the likes of Paul Simon, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Neil Young, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder, and has been featured on over 200 movie soundtracks including The Lion King and E.T. Most recently he contributed significantly to the score of Hillbilly Elegy.
