Dr. Richard Stillson Examines New Mexico’s Ancient Pueblo Culture in the First of Four Classes on Archeological and Historical Study of Ancient and Modern Pueblo Communities
Reston-Loudoun Program Planning Group Meeting February 7
By Barbara Wilan, Loudoun Program Planning Group Co-Chair
Please join us for our Reston-Loudoun Program Planning Group Meeting on Monday, February 7, at 1:15. Click on this link to join the meeting. We look forward to seeing you there.
The link will also be available in the OLLI Daily Schedule email; use meeting ID 874 5368 3925, passcode 246810, or dial in at 301-715-8592.
The Tallwood Book Club holds its monthly Zoom meeting at 2:30 on the second Friday of each month.
The February 11 meeting will be a discussion of Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half. The Zoom link will be available in the OLLI Daily Schedule email for February 11. The March selection is The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson.
Please contact Betty Ellerbee if you have difficulty reserving the Isabel Wilkerson book.
By Nancy Scheeler and Luci Martel, Reston Book Club Coordinators
The Reston Book Club will meet via Zoom on Thursday, February 17 at 4:00. The selection will be Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature. This is Ishiguro’s eighth novel, and Klara, who narrates it, is an Artificial Friend (AF), a humanoid machine—with short dark hair, kind eyes, and distinguished by her powers of observation—who has come to act as companion for 14‑year-old Josie. Like that childhood stalwart Corduroy, she’d been sitting in a store, hoping to be chosen by the right child. AFs aren’t tutors. They’re not babysitters (though they’re sometimes chaperones) nor servants (though they’re expected to take commands). They’re nominally friends, but not equals.
Theater Lovers' Group Speaker to Discuss Bringing Theater to Schools and the Community
By Norma Jean Reck, Theater Lovers’ Group Coordinator
You are invited to join members of OLLI's Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) virtual meeting Wednesday, February 23, at 4:30 when Ashley Hammond will discuss the many diversified theater programs that the Educational Theatre Company (ETC) offers to local schools and communities. Its mission is to unlock the potential of children and adults through immersion in theater arts.
ETC, located in Arlington, VA, is a 501(c)3 arts education organization that offers process-driven theater arts programming for students from three to 103. Their programming is based on the belief that the arts serve as an outlet for expression not only of life's frustrations and anxieties, but also for the celebration of human experiences.
ETC is dedicated to life-long learning through academic lecture, reading scripts, storytelling, and more. Since 2009, it has been taking its Creative Age (55+) program to senior living centers, community centers and organizations. The program fosters unique discussions that allow group members to share, relate and learn from each other. ETC's reminiscence classes have been developed for participants with dementia.
For younger children and adults, ETC offers many camps and classes, residencies, workshops, and school curriculum-based programs. Its programming highlights its four pillars: Creativity, Confidence, Collaboration, and Community. Examples of ETC's program offerings include Topics in Theater, ETC-on-Film, Shakespeare in the Schools, ETC STEAM, and themed birthday parties, for example, Scooby Doo, Pirates, and Princesses.
Be sure to join TLG virtually Wednesday, February 23, at 4:30 to hear an enthusiastic and dynamic speaker, Ashley Hammond, discuss a unique approach to theater. For more information on ETC, go to www.educationaltheatrecompany.org.
Finally—to be sure you receive all TLG notices of its meetings, theater events, and activities, register for the OLLI Theater Lovers' Group at the member portal (club registration was formerly a once-a-year task; now we must do it every term).
Long-time member Paul Murad, who joined OLLI in 2011, passed away from glioblastoma on January 24. He loved taking classes at OLLI and will be missed by his friends there.
Paul graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. His first job was as an engineer at the Manned Spacecraft Center of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, working on the Apollo program. He also spent two years in the US Army as a first lieutenant and member of the 82nd Airborne Division, and later worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency.
There will be a memorial service Friday, February 4, at 7:00 (wake 6:00 – 9:00), at Money and King, 171 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA 22180. Funeral service is at noon on Saturday, February 5, at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, 4125 Fessenden St NW, Washington, DC 20016. Livestream service: click here. The family asks attendees to wear masks, socially distance, and be vaccinated.
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 at bschoen@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.
Virginia Opera: Three Decembers
Sat, Feb 5, 8:00
Sun, Feb 6, 2:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $70, $40.
Mason Student & Faculty Performances (see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals)
Dewberry Faculty Artist Series:
(The information below is taken from the list of events at https://music.gmu.edu/events/. Note that although the event listed below is free, the site above provides a link to register for free tickets to attend in-person, and another to watch livestreams.)
Gallery Exhibit: 10th Annual Prince William County Public Schools Student Exhibition
Continues through Sun, Feb 20
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Buchanan Partners Art Gallery
Admission: Free
The Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra
Sat, Feb 5, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion begins one hour prior to the performance.
Merchant Hall
Admission: $55, $47, $33.
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 Feb 5
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Feb 7
1:15 pm
Loudoun-Reston Program Planning Group Meeting
Tue Feb 8
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Wed Feb 9
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
6:00 pm
Memoir and More Writing Group
Spanish Club
Ethnic Eats Club
Thu Feb 10
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Fri Feb 11
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
2:30 pm
Photography Club
Craft and Conversation
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
Tallwood Book Club
Sat Feb 12
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Tue Feb 15
4:30 pm
Tai Chi Club
Wed Feb 16
4:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Thu Feb 17
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Book Club
Tai Chi Club
Fri Feb 18
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Classic Literature Club
Homer, etc.
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.
You are invited to join members of OLLI's Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) virtual meeting Wednesday, February 23, at 4:30 when Ashley Hammond will discuss the many diversified theater programs that the Educational Theatre Company (ETC) offers to local schools and communities. Its mission is to unlock the potential of children and adults through immersion in theater arts.
