Summer 2009 Catalog (June 22 - July 31)
Below is a list of the courses, special
events and ongoing activities for summer 2009 at all three locations
(Fairfax/Tallwood, Reston/Lake Anne and Loudoun/Sterling). Fairfax
courses are
denoted by "F", Reston courses are denoted by "R", and Loudoun courses
are denoted by "L". To view non-course information in the catalog,
click the following links for the Schedule
of Classes
(pdf), Registration
Form (pdf) and Miscellaneous
Catalog Information (pdf).
Note:
If you plan to print the catalog rather than read it on your
computer screen, you may prefer to print the Summer 2009
Catalog (pdf) in its normal
two-column format.
Wednesday, July 1, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Dan Feighery
Dan
Feighery,
OLLI Photography Club coordinator, will discuss one of
the most popular retirement activities, photography. While we have
taken lots
of family snapshots over the years, now, as we explore new horizons, we
may
develop trip tales to share, see commonplace objects with different
perspectives and perhaps explore photography as an art form. This
session will
provide an overview of camera selection considerations, basic exposure
relationships and elements of visual design. Through photography we
exercise
the body (walking around finding sights to capture) and the brain
(seeing and
composing that perfect shot). With digital cameras we avoid the cost of
film
and all those slides or prints that ended up in the trash can. It can
be
inexpensive, or an excuse for taking that special trip to capture
stunning
landscapes. We might use a simple point and shoot camera or decide we
“need”
that latest new camera, lens or other gadget. Most importantly, it can
be a lot
of fun.
Thursday, July 2, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Robert DeCaroli
This
lecture will
explore the life of the Buddha and the earliest artwork associated with
the
religious movement he founded. We will look at some of the earliest
extant
monasteries from South Asia and explore how the artwork developed over
time.
Special attention will be given to the depiction of miraculous events
associated
with the narrative of the Buddha, including tales from his past lives.
Our
study will culminate with a look at some of the earliest Buddha images
and the
narrative events they depict. The artwork we will study ranges in date
from the
third century BCE to the fifth century CE. Robert
DeCaroli received his PhD in art history from the University of
California,
Los Angeles, in 1999. He has been teaching at George Mason since 1999
and is
currently chair of the Art History Program. Dr. DeCaroli has published
the
book, Haunting the Buddha: Indian Popular Religions and the Formation
of
Buddhism.
Tuesday, June 30, 2:00–3:30
Lake Anne Church
Instructor: Peter Murray
The
instructor will
discuss the eight major design elements and how each plays an important
role in
the landscape design process. Then he will show a series of
“before and
after” photos of projects. With each photo, he will explain how
the
project evolved through client requests and site constraints. Peter Murray is the president of Hidden
Lane Landscaping & Design. He is on the Virginia Tech Landscape
Advisory
Board and is a regular speaker at The University of Maryland and at
Penn State
University. Peter has been president of the Northern Virginia Landscape
Association
and has served on the board of the Virginia Society of Landscape
Designers. He
has been a lifelong gardener.
Tuesday, July 7, 2:00–3:30
Lake Anne Church
Instructor: Lillian Naar
The
illusive bel
canto: is it a vocal style, a singing technique, an opera tradition,
the cause
of a war? The answer is yes, bel canto is all of these. How does it
make opera
so thrilling? Drive singers mad? Lead to war? This program will explore
and
define the magic of bel canto. Lillian
Naar has been a lifelong opera lover, attending frequent
performances at
the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City and the renowned theaters
of
Europe. A growing interest in the history and literature of opera and
its
composers has taken her on a fascinating journey of research and
discovery,
giving her great enjoyment.
Tuesdays, July 14–28,
2:00–3:30
Lake Anne Church
(3 sessions)
Instructor: Gloria
Sussman
Be
transported into
a world of listening with a difference. No matter what your level of
musical
understanding, there is always the opportunity to add another dimension
to your
listening ability. Each class is based on a single musical topic—a
composer,
style, form or idea. Let the wide assortment of visual and aural
samplings lead
you to a deeper musical experience.
Gloria Sussman has been providing the play lists for The Ongoing
Pleasures
of Music since 2000 and continues to enjoy the exploration.
Tuesdays, July 21–28, 10:00–11:30
Lake Anne Church/GRACE (2 sessions)
Coordinator: Al Roe
The
mission of
Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) is to enrich community life through
involvement and promote excellence in contemporary visual arts. GRACE
presents
changing exhibitions throughout the year featuring regional artists.
Over the
course of its 35-year history, the center has developed a reputation
for
presenting challenging exhibitions that invite audience involvement and
for
offering a rich array of related programs for all ages. In addition,
GRACE
presents the nationally recognized Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival
in May
of each year. On July 21 John Alciata, president and CFO of GRACE, will
come to
OLLI at Reston. On July 28, we will meet at GRACE and tour the juried
exhibition, “Faraway Nearby.” The exhibition is in celebration of
GRACE’s 35th
anniversary. The works in the exhibit have been selected from artists
who have
shown at GRACE or the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival in the past.
The
exhibit will be installed in the main gallery, a contemporary art
space,
recognized as one of the premier nonprofit art galleries in Northern
Virginia.
Wednesdays, June 24, July 1, 22, 29, 9:00–12:00 (Note dates and time)
Locations: See below (4 sessions)
Instructor: Stan Schretter
There
are many
marvelous local venues for photography. This four-session class will
combine a
small amount of instruction with a large amount of photo taking. The
objective
of this course is to further hone your skills in composition and in
seeing a
subject from multiple perspectives, capturing unique shapes, forms,
abstracts
and macros, as well as taking traditional “documentary” photographs.
Any type
of camera can be used for your photography. If you have several, you
might want
to bring a couple to note their differences. Our goal as a class is to
present
a photo exhibit at OLLI. Stan Schretter will contact you to arrange the
shoot
locations; be certain the office has your correct email address. This
session
we will be visiting sites along the Metro system. The instructor is an
enthusiast of digital photography and has been teaching at OLLI for
several
years.
·
June 24: Metro: Arlington Cemetery, Rosslyn—Arlington
Cemetery, Iwo Jima Memorial.
·
July 1: Metro: Woodley Park—National Zoo.
·
July 22: Metro: Capitol West, Union Station—U.S.
Capitol, Capitol Hill, Supreme Court, Union Station.
·
July 29: Metro: Foggy Bottom, McPherson Square—Monuments
from Lincoln Memorial to the White House.
Wednesdays, July 8–22, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun (3 sessions)
Coordinator: Madeline Lynn
This
course,
introduced in the winter term, will present in video form further
excerpts from
Civilisation, by celebrated scholar Kenneth Clark. These films may be
enjoyed
in any order; the winter class is not a prerequisite. The National
Observer
called this program “...gorgeous footage of some of the greatest works
of art
in the Western world.” The 13-part series, originally produced by the
BBC, is
filmed on location in 11 countries and illuminates 16 centuries. It is
richly
illustrated with architecture, art, philosophy and music. Lord Clark’s
personal
narration is described as “building bridges over time and space,
imparting an
awareness of the breathtaking beauty of the priceless legacy that has
been
handed down to us.” Civilisation won the Saturday Review of Literature
Award,
the George Foster Peabody Award, the Royal Television Society Award and
other
honors.
Thursdays, June 25–July 30, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun
Instructor: Sigrid Blalock
In
this course,
students will explore the possibilities of basic watercolor techniques
applied
to realistic subjects and abstract designs.
Beginning and experienced painters will learn the differences
between transparent
and opaque watercolor. Sigrid Blalock
is an artist and teacher, with experience as an illustrator, exhibits
designer,
painter and art teacher for the Smithsonian Associates.
Thursdays, July 2–9, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun (2 sessions)
Instructor: Mary Coyne
In
our first class
we will discuss Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn, both
nineteenth-century
European pianists and composers who lived very different
lives. In
the second class we will discuss Amy Beach, also a pianist and composer
but
born later and in the United States. Regarded as the first
major
American woman composer, she wrote both instrumental and vocal
music and
was trained completely in the United States. The majority of class
time
will consist of listening to CD recordings of their music. Mary
Coyne is a long-time OLLI member who was trained and worked as
a social worker. She took piano and instrumental music lessons as
a child
and has revived her interest in music in recent years.
Tuesday, July 7–14, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood (2 sessions)
Instructor: Shirley Smith
An
ancient proverb
says: “Wise person learns from his own experience; wiser one learns
from experience
of others.” The instructor will lead two informal open discussions,
inviting
participants to share both their good and their bad experiences in the
effort
to hold fast against today’s economic upheavals. Navigating the choppy
financial seas of the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, what has
helped us
get through? What might we do differently in the future? The focus will
be on
diversification strategies and avoidance of risks to retirement funds.
Join us
for what is sure to be a lively and informative interchange. Shirley Smith is a retired teacher and
a nonprofessional in the investment field. She has taught her very
popular
Basic Investing course at all three OLLI locations.
Wednesdays, June 24–July 29, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Tom Crooker
The
forum is an
ongoing investment discussion group that meets regularly throughout the
year.
Discussions are open, and all members are encouraged to participate.
Both
prepared and extemporaneous discussions are offered. The focus is on
topics of
particular interest to retirees, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds,
partnerships and investment trusts. The Investment Forum has its own
Web site,
www.olligmu.org/~finforum/ that provides further information for
prospective
members. Thomas Crooker is a retired
engineer who has taught at the college level and is a longtime student
of the
stock market. He has served as moderator of the forum for several years.
Wednesday, June 24, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: J. Michael May
With
the current
turmoil in world financial markets, many are concerned about their nest
egg and
time to recover. Might this be a good time to consider 529 college
savings
plans for our grandchildren with their longevity advantage? Before
answering that question, Mike May
will guide us through the four important questions that grandparents
should
ask, while providing food for thought in light of our current economic
state.
He has earned both the Chartered Financial Consultant and the Chartered
Life
Underwriter designations from The American College in Bryn Mawr,
Pennsylvania,
and a BA degree from George Washington University. He has helped
seniors manage
their finances for more than 29 years and is a frequent presenter at
OLLI.
Wednesday, July 15, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Lee Cutler
Extreme
market
swings, failing financial institutions, Ponzi schemes and government
bailouts
are enough to make everyone nervous about money today. We
have witnessed the wiping away of financial security and retirement
funds by circumstances we never prepared for. The promised safe
harbors of
pension and retirement plans are proving to be only partial truths.
Guidance
from the financial services industry is clearly conflicted by economic
threats
to their own survival. This session will focus on the basic elements of
saving
and growing financial equity. Hands-on practice with the arithmetic of
compounding, interest rates and the concept of intrinsic value will
help you to
better understand the time-worn rules of how money grows. Discussion
will cover
the effects on your security when the government changes policy and the
cost of
under-disclosed fees and distorted claims made by those selling
financial
products. It will highlight the financial traps that can result from
making
emotion-based decisions and falling for pitches based on big promises
paired
with only partial truths about your money. Lee
Cutler is retired from a professional background in marketing and
financial
services.
Disclaimer:
This
workshop is for educational purposes and does not provide financial,
accounting
or legal advice.
Note:
This class
will also be offered at Loudoun on July 14. See Course L208.
Thursday, July 9, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Elizabeth York
The
instructor will
present the legal nuts and bolts of estate planning, including, but not
limited
to, revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, durable powers of
attorney and
advanced medical directives. This is the chance to learn from an expert
and
determine the areas that might need adjustment in your own estate plan.
This is
Elizabeth York’s fifth presentation
to members of OLLI. An attorney specializing in estate planning and
probate and
trust administration, she is also an adjunct professor at the Mason
School of
Law.
Tuesdays, June 23–July 7, 10:00–11:30
Lake Anne Church (3 sessions)
Instructor: J. Michael May
One
of the most-used
terms in financial planning is “It All Depends,” says financial
consultant J. Michael May.
·
June 23: Individual group teams will identify
circumstances that must be considered in responding to “It All
Depends.”
Through a case study, you will gain an understanding of the challenges
to
determining a proper financial foundation on which to develop a plan.
For this
session, please bring a calculator for the case study.
·
June 30: Sustainable retirement plan distribution
strategies depend on variables that are difficult to predict, including
market
conditions, taxes, interest rates and your own life expectancy and
health
issues. We will identify the five biggest risks to your retirement
funds, and
options to be considered in managing those funds.
· July
7: This session’s objective is to provide answers to
the 12 most frequently asked questions about IRA distributions and
beneficiary
designations. As laws and the interpretations of the laws are always
subject to
changes, the answers to today’s questions may be different than
yesterday’s.
See
Course F203 for
instructor information.
Tuesday, July 14, 10:00–11:30
Lake Anne Church
Instructors: Cindy Fox, Katherine Hurley
This
program is
structured to allow you to ask your questions about today’s financial
conditions. The Baby Boomers and the retirees have experienced major
losses in
their investment accounts, as well as their housing equity. As a result
of the
experience, many have lost confidence and are confused about all things
financial. Economists, politicians and professional money managers are
filling
the media with sharply contrasting opinions about how to address the
issues. Katherine Hurley, president of Infinity
Financial Group, and Cindy Fox, a
mortgage planner with Sun Trust Mortgage, each with more than 20 years
of
industry experience, will lead the
discussion about the causes of the global economic crisis and the
strategies to
be considered for a recovery.
Tuesday, July 14, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun
Instructor: Lee Cutler
See
Course F204 for
description and instructor information.
Disclaimer:
This
workshop is for educational purposes and does not provide financial,
accounting
or legal advice.
Tuesday, July 21, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun
Instructor: Linda de Marlor
This
lecture might
be subtitled, “What You Have Always Wanted to Know About Your Taxes but
Were
Afraid to Ask.” Linda de Marlor will
give a short presentation on issues that affect most seniors and then
open the
discussion to questions on real estate and legal and financial issues
of
interest to the OLLI population. Linda has appeared on hundreds of
national TV
and radio shows and interviews. She teaches tax law to real estate and
educational institutions and is fluent in four languages. She is an
annual
presenter to the Widowed Persons Service of Northern Virginia.
Wednesdays, July 1–15, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun (3 sessions)
Instructors: Eric Showalter, John Clawson
Join
the leaders and
fellow OLLI members for an informal series of three open forums. Both
prepared
and extemporaneous discussions will be offered and all are encouraged
to
participate. Important issues in fixed income investing, stocks versus
bonds
and strategies of diversity will be discussed.
To ensure that specific individual interests are addressed, the
instructors plan to invite participants to offer suggestions of any
“hot
topics” they wish to see covered during the sessions. Eric Showalter,
CFP, is a
financial advisor and president of the Washington Association of Money
Managers. He has taught a course, Financial Planning and Investing, at
Loudoun
for several terms. John Clawson is also a financial advisor and helps
clients
in long-term income planning.
Tuesday, July 7, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Richard Deringer
It
is fitting that
as we mark the two hundredth anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth we
examine
his life and how he developed what he referred to as “his big
idea”—natural
selection. What contingencies almost prevented his voyage on the
Beagle, and
how do we explain Darwin’s gap—the 20 years between his big idea and
its
publication? How was his concept of evolution received and why was the
word
“evolution” not used in his Origin of Species? How was his big idea
almost
scooped, his concept of evolution received and how has his theory held
up over
the years? We will explore the answers to these and other questions as
we look
at the life of one who revolutionized how we see ourselves and the
world around
us, and yet remained a pillar of Victorian society. Richard
Deringer, a long-time OLLI member, is a retired federal employee
with a career as an environmental
specialist with the U.S. EPA. He received his undergraduate
degree in
American institutions from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and
also
holds graduate degrees in history from the University of Wisconsin and
in urban
planning from the University of Virginia.
Tuesday, July 14, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: George Heatley
As
popular knowledge
and interest in the effects of geography, climate, genetics, human
nature and
similar forces on the story of mankind increases, there is renewed
speculation
on long-term trends in history. The instructor will endeavor to
present a
view of the big picture study of mankind’s development from the early
roots in
paleoanthropology, through human migrations and the settlement of the
world, to
present-day globalization. George
Heatley is a long-time member of OLLI who enjoys reading
history. He
has taught classes at OLLI including Chinese History, Nomads, French
History
and Early Man.
Tuesday, July 21, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Dick Young
This
class will
trace the movements of John Wilkes Booth and his coconspirators from
the moment
that President Lincoln was shot until Booth’s coconspirators were
executed. Attention
will be paid to sites along the route and the people Booth encountered.
The
escape route will be traced using historic and current maps, satellite
images
and photographs. An objective of the class is to prepare students for
their own
self-guided tours. Dick Young, an
OLLI member since 2007, is a retired patent attorney with an interest
in Civil
War-era history. He has taught OLLI courses and classes on California
history,
the Galapagos, Alaska’s bear country and
his great grandfather’s experiences while serving in the Civil
War and
sailing to the California Gold Rush.
Tuesday, July 28, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Jim Hubbard
What
happened to
Britain’s African colonies? In 1945 Britain controlled an area in
Africa ten
times bigger than Britain itself and with a population four times
bigger than
Britain’s. In 1968, all Britain’s former colonies were independent
states. What happened? This presentation will look at the end
of
Britain’s African empire in the context of world history. It will
explore
the factors large and small that contributed to it. Jim
Hubbard is an OLLI member and frequent presenter at the OLLI
History Club. He holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison,
in
African history. A long-time student of Africa and her relations with
colonial
powers, Jim’s Education under Colonial Rule, based on his
dissertation, has been published.
Wednesday, July 22, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Almuth Payne
He
was neither rich
nor famous, but he lived a long life (1867-1952) in interesting times.
Best of
all for posterity, he wrote a book-length memoir, which the instructor
has
translated into English. He was a
customs official in Hamburg in the late nineteenth century, where he
lived
through the cholera epidemic of 1892. He served in the Imperial Army
and saw
action in the Battle of the Somme in WWI, despite being in his mid-40s
at that
time. He was a police commissioner in
Berlin, where he experienced civil unrest, hunger, inflation and the
beginning
of the Nazi era. He ended his memoirs in 1943. Based on fond memories
of her
vigorous old Opa, the instructor adds family stories and describes the
values
and outlook represented by this upper middle-class officer and
gentleman. Almuth Payne is an OLLI member who has
lived in this area since 1982. She was born in Germany and grew up in
California. She is a graduate of the University of California,
Berkeley, and is
an avid reader; she enjoys music and travels with her husband, Brian.
Thursdays, June 25, July 9, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood (2 Sessions)
Instructor: Dennis Van Derlaske
How
American Homes Went from Spartan Dwellings to Comfortable Places to
Live: The
Evolution of American Houses from Colonial Times to the Early Twentieth
Century
is
reviewed, with particular emphasis on common houses in
the Northeast quadrant of the country. Architectural styles of houses
are
discussed in the context of how people lived in them. Included are
changes in
room arrangement and design over time, with the evolution in sleeping,
dining
and kitchen arrangements, heating, lighting, sanitary accommodations,
furniture/décor and the first appearance of garages. The changing roles
of
women as both homemakers and managers of the household and their
influence on
the architecture are included. Dennis Van Derlaske has studied
historic
preservation at the University of Mary Washington, and currently serves
as the
Coles District Commissioner on the Prince William County Historical
Commission. He is affiliated with the
University of Mary Washington Elder Study Program.
Thursday, June 25, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Carrie Meyer
From
the diary of
midwestern farm wife, May Lyford Davis, “98° at noon, no sign of rain
& oh!
So dry & dusty.” “Banks not open as predicted.” She recorded in her
diaries
and farm ledgers the pain of the Great Depression. She also recorded
the
astonishing prosperity that existed on midwestern farms in the first 20
years
of the twentieth century. Her daily chronicle offers a window into the
roots of
the resilience of these farmers and lessons for those struggling today.
As in
the recession of 2008-09, the shift to hard times was swift. This
workshop will
explore prosperity and depression on this typical family farm in
Illinois
during the first half of the twentieth century. The instructor, Dr.
Carrie
A. Meyer, was raised on a farm in Illinois and is now an associate
professor of economics at George Mason and author of Days on the
Family
Farm: From the Golden Age through the Great Depression.
Thursday, July 2, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Carol Mattusch
Mathy
Professor of
Art History at George Mason, Carol Mattusch, was a guest
curator at the
National Gallery of Art who helped to develop an exhibition that ran
from
October 2008 through March 2009. The exhibition included luxurious
works of
sculpture, painting, mosaic and decorative art excavated from Pompeii
and
nearby imperial villas on the Bay of Naples, as well as recent
discoveries on
view for the first time in the United States. Exquisite objects from
the richly
decorated villas reveal the breadth and richness of their cultural and
artistic
life and the influence of classical Greece on Roman art and culture in
this
region. Dr. Mattusch will present a lecture covering the material
presented in
the exhibition.
Thursday, July 16, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Norbert Michaud
There
is more to the
Acadians than Evangeline or the Cajuns of Louisiana. Their
descendants
number about 3.5 million and are scattered throughout the world
following their
dispersal from their Acadia (Nova Scotia) in 1755. They are a political
force
in Canada and, unlike the French Canadians, are not
separatists. While
their appearance and Acadian language is of interest, independence is
their
outstanding characteristic. Their history is one of pride in
having developed
a virtual paradise, one with religious undertones, one of misfortune
with
dreadful treatment, numerous displacements from many places and one of
resurgence in having resettled and flourished. This course will include
some
etymology, history, genealogy, politics, travelogue, religion, social
conditions, literature and geography. Norbert Michaud is an
amateur
genealogist with family ties to the Acadians through both of his
parents. He
has published articles about his family history and prepared two
history
compendiums of his family. After retiring from the Defense
Intelligence
Agency in 1993, he pursued his Acadian family genealogy with trips to
Louisiana, Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. He has a master’s
degree
in economics and later studied economic history.
Thursday, July 30, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Ivan Dietrich
Six
hundred years
ago Europe was composed of multiple trade-city states; languages and
dialects;
and various spiritual concepts, practices and beliefs. We will explore
Johannes
Gutenberg’s development of his idea and invention for movable print
type. We
will also discuss the challenges of Martin Luther and other persons
relative to
political and spiritual authority. Gutenberg’s invention and the ensuing quantities of printed material facilitated
dissemination of ideas, which stimulated study, thought and questions.
Martin
Luther’s invitation to present and discuss his ideas dramatized and
challenged
the authority and teaching of the Church of Rome. Taken together, the
work of
Gutenberg and Luther rings down through the years to our present age.
The
discussion will be presented by Ivan Dietrich, retired private
and
corporate lawyer and a long-time member of OLLI.
Thursday, July 30, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Dick Cheadle
On
April 16, 1746,
the forces of Prince Charles Edward Stuart met the forces of Prince
William
Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland, head on at Drumossie Moor, near
Culloden, not
far from the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. At stake was
nothing
less than the crown of Great Britain.
Would it belong to the House of Stuart or the House of Hanover?
It would
be the last battle ever fought on British soil. Was it yet another in a
centuries-long series of battles between the Scots and the
English, or
was this more of a battle between Catholics and Protestants? This class
will
address these issues in detail. Dick Cheadle is a long-time
member of OLLI and has presented classes on General Custer, law
enforcement and
Texas history. He emphasizes that he is neither a historian nor a buff,
merely
a student of American frontier history….Whoa! Does this mean that Dick
is in
over his head in this one? Come to the class and find out.
Thursdays, July 23–30, 10:00–11:30
Lake Anne Church (2 sessions)
Instructor: Alice Roe
The
late nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries brought a popular form of investigative
journalism called “muckraking.” It specialized in exposing corruption
and
social wrongs. This class will look at such famous names as Ida
Tarbell, Upton
Sinclair, Nelly Bly, Lincoln Steffans, Jessica Mitford, Bob Woodward
and Carl
Bernstein. Muckraking began as early as the eighteenth century and
continues
today. Much of the work of these journalists contributed to the
betterment of
our society. Join us for this class and be the judge of their
significance. Alice
Roe has taught classes at OLLI on Alice Paul and Eleanor Roosevelt.
She has
a special interest in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century
history and
has a BA in education from Westminster College in New Wilmington,
Pennsylvania.
Tuesdays, June 23 –July 7, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun (3 sessions)
Instructor: Marc Leepson
Journalist,
historian and author Marc
Leepson will
present lively talks on his three latest books. He
is a former journalist for Congressional Quarterly whose work
has also
appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall
Street
Journal, and the Baltimore
Sun, and in the magazines Military History,
America’s Civil War and Smithsonian. He has been
a guest on radio and television shows, including All Things
Considered, The
Diane Rehm Show, Talk of the Nation, The Today Show
and CNN.
He will address the following:
· June
23: Saving Monticello (2001) is the complete history of
Thomas
Jefferson’s “essay in architecture” in Charlottesville. The book
focuses on the
Levy family—U.S. Navy Lt. Uriah P. Levy and his nephew, U.S.
Congressman
Jefferson M. Levy—who owned the house for 89 years, from 1834 to 1923.
· June
30: Flag: An American Biography (2005) is a history of
the Stars
and Stripes, including its early history, which is filled with myth and
misinformation. Find out why his chapter on Betsy Ross is titled
“Mother of
Invention.”
· July
7: Desperate Engagement
(2007) is a history of the little-known but crucial Civil
War
Battle of Monocacy, which took place four miles south of Frederick,
Maryland,
on July 9, 1864, and Confederate General Jubal Early’s subsequent move
on
Washington, D.C. The book includes an analysis of what happened when
Early,
with 12,000 troops, marched to the outskirts of Washington on July 11
and faced
a city that was seriously undefended.
Wednesday, July 8, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun
Instructor: Janette Kenner Muir
While
much is known
about the men who served as President of the United States,
historically their
wives have often been very much overlooked or their role minimized.
This class
will look at some of the interesting women who have served as America’s
First
Ladies whose patriotism and activism, both behind the scenes and in the
public
forum, has influenced their husbands and the country at large. Being
First Lady
goes well beyond choosing china and dressing fashionably. We will look
at some
of the major roles these women have played and talk about expectations
for
“first spouses” in the future. Janette Kenner Muir is an
associate
professor in New Century College at George Mason. Muir has written
several
articles on First Ladies, presidential campaigns and political activism. She has received a Mason Teaching
Excellence Award and is a C-SPAN fellow and a member of the Virginia
Women’s
Leadership Network. She is also editor of Communication Quarterly,
a
top-tier journal in the communication field.
Thursday, July 16, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun
Instructor: Andrew Jampoler
Andy
Jampoler will
speak on his book, Adak: The Rescue of Alfa Foxtrot 586,
which was
selected as the Naval Institute Book of the Year in 2003. Adak
is
the true story of the 15 men of Navy AF 586 who went down in their
stricken
plane off Siberia in late October 1978, 90 minutes after a propeller
failure
ended their sensitive mission. Ten lived through the ordeal and
were
rescued by Soviet fishermen. Hear about the flight crew’s
courageous fight
to survive in stormy seas from someone who has flown the same aircraft
over the
same waters. The presentation includes portions of the original
emergency
radio transmissions. Andrew Jampoler, a retired Naval aviator,
is a
maritime historian and author. He is a graduate of Columbia College and
Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and
currently
writes full-time. He is also the author of Sailors in the Holy
Land: The
1848 American Expedition to the Dead Sea and the Search for Sodom and
Gomorrah,
and of The
Last Lincoln Conspirator:
John Surrant’s Flight from the Gallows.
Thursday, July 30, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun
Instructor: James Whitehead
In
1860 the election
of Abraham Lincoln triggered the secession of the cotton states from
the Union.
Through PowerPoint presentation and interactive discussion, this
program will
explore slavery, the main explanation for the war, as well as states’
rights,
tariff issues, party politics,
economics and sectarianism, all factors enmeshed in this critical
conflict. The primary focus of this talk,
however, is
not the Civil War, but Abraham Lincoln, the man and his character.
Examine the
ways by which this remarkable man, not
elected by popular vote, became, for generations to come, one of
America’s most
beloved leaders and emulated intellects.
Revisit the enduring impact of the Emancipation Proclamation,
the
Gettysburg Address and the Thirteenth through Fifteenth Amendments to
the
Constitution of the United States. What can we expect from President
Obama for
human rights issues? Join us and reacquaint with Abraham Lincoln,
venerable
icon of the American story, and discuss the echoes of his message in
our world
today. James Whitehead is a history teacher from Warrenton
with a
particular knowledge and interest in all aspects of the Civil War.
Tuesdays, June 23–July 28, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Moderators: Mike McNamara, Jan Bohall
The
Poetry Workshop
allows beginning and experienced poets the opportunity to read their
work and
to receive criticism from the group on how best to improve their
poetry.
Members should bring to each session an original poem for discussion in
draft
or revision, or a poem they admire by another poet. At each meeting,
the
workshop will also briefly explore some major aspect of poetry and
examine the
mysteries of how to get published. Some members have won prizes in
poetry
competitions and have had poems published. Mike McNamara has
been
published in Mindprints, a Literary Journal; Write On!!;
Spitball,
The Literary Baseball Magazine; Patrolling, The Journal of the
75th
Ranger Regiment and Fairfax Ink. He has won seven awards
over the
past three years in the Poetry Society of Virginia annual competition. Jan
Bohall has been published in Passager: A Journal of Remembrance
and
Discovery; The Orange County Register; Write On!!; The
Poet’s Domain; and Fairfax Ink. She is a member of the
Poetry
Society of Virginia and edits the OLLI catalog.
Tuesdays, June 23–July 21, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood (5 sessions)
Instructor: Diane Coppage
This
course examines
the writings, art and cultural impact of the “Bloomsbury Group,” some
of the
most important of all English artists, writers, economists and art
critics in
the first half of the twentieth century. Referred to by E.M. Forster as
“the
only genuine movement in English civilization,” the group took its name
for the
area in London where its members lived, worked and congregated for more
than 25
years. Rejecting the constraints of Victorian society, the
“Bloomsberries” as
they were sometimes called, emphasized the pleasures of human
friendship,
aesthetic appreciation and intellectual liberty. Virginia Woolf, the
preeminent
center of the group, will serve as our touchstone, but we will also
read a
sampling of the fiction, essay and biographical writings of Leonard
Woolf, E.M.
Forster, Lytton Strachey and economist J. Maynard Keynes, as well as
look at
the art of Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry.
The class will use a course reader that will be distributed
during the first class, and A Room of One’s Own by Virginia
Woolf, which
will be available for purchase in the OLLI office. In addition to
teaching at
OLLI, Diane Coppage teaches at George Mason and Northern
Virginia
Community College. She received both her BA and her MA
degrees in English from George Mason. Class
limit: 40.
Tuesday, July 21, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Stuart Endick
Is
book collecting
too expensive, does it require an extensive knowledge of arcane
terminology,
and is it difficult to find rare and interesting books? In this
overview of the
hobby, avid book collector Stuart Endick uses examples from his
collection to demonstrate that the answer is no to all of the above.
Among the
topics covered will be how to search for desirable books at antiquarian
book
fairs, on the Internet, at book sales, used book shops and antique
malls; how
to assess the value of a used book, including the basics of the grading
system;
and some of the specialty areas that are popular with collectors. The
pleasures
of finding “tip-ins” and other curiosities in books will be discussed.
Along
the way, you will get to form your own opinion of some overlooked
treasures by
authors such as Bayard Taylor, dubbed the poet laureate of the Gilded
Age;
Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, who advised Emily Dickinson on her
poetry;
nineteenth century children’s writer Oliver Optic; and Lacadio Hearn,
who wrote
about the exotic East.
Tuesday, Wednesday, July 28, 29, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Rick Davis
The
Italians have a
saying: traduttore, tradittore, meaning “translator, traitor.”
Of course
the Italians (like most great literary cultures) are very protective of
their
poets, from Virgil, Horace and Dante down to the present day.
Nevertheless, any
act of translation is also a bit traitorous—because no translation can
ever be
both perfectly faithful to its source and perfectly successful as a
work of art
in its new language. Still, the art of translation is a necessary evil
if we
are to appreciate the riches of world culture.
In these two lectures, Rick Davis will lead a
comparative
examination of passages of famous translated works of literature
(across
several genres including poetry and drama), and where appropriate, take
a
glance at the original texts, with the goal of increasing appreciation
for the
challenges and possibilities of translation. Rick is associate
provost
and professor of theater at Mason, where he serves as co-artistic
director of
Theater of the First Amendment. He has
translated four works of the Spanish Golden Age dramatist Calderón de
la Barca,
which have been produced in professional and collegiate theaters and
recently
published. With Ibsen scholar Brian Johnston, he co-translated five
plays by
Ibsen. He received his BA from Lawrence University and his MFA and DFA
from the
Yale School of Drama, and has worked and taught at Mason since 1991.
Wednesdays, July 1–8, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood (2 sessions)
Instructor: Martin Cohen
In
this course we
will examine how films can expand our knowledge of American history.
While
brief attention will be paid to documentaries and historical fiction
films, our
prime focus will be on Hollywood feature films from a variety of eras
and
genres. What factors influenced their content? Do they reflect the
thoughts and
events of their era? Do their
depictions change over time? Do they show us anything that we
can’t get
from such traditional sources as printed material? This course will
examine
women’s roles as shown in twentieth century American films. Clips from
such
films as It, Our Dancing Daughters, Stella Dallas and Mildred
Pierce will
be viewed and discussed. Good overviews are provided in Robert Sklar’s Movie-Made
America: A Cultural History of American Movies and Andrew
Bergman’s We’re
in the Money: Depression America and Its Films. Note that a
related two-week
course on the representation of American politics in films is being
offered as
Course F406. Martin B. Cohen taught in the History Department
at George
Mason for 40 years until retiring in 2007 and has been a frequent
speaker on
film to local educational groups. Trained in U.S. diplomatic history,
he
broadened his teaching in 1980 to include history and film.
Wednesdays, July 15–22, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood (2 sessions)
Instructor: Martin Cohen
This
course
continues the examination of American history through film that began
in Course
F405, but from another perspective. These two sessions will examine
American
politics, as depicted in such films as Gabriel Over the White
House, The
Best Man, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and
The Manchurian Candidate. There is no requirement to
have attended the first film course to attend this one. See
course F405
for additional information and instructor background.
Thursday, July 16, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Nadine James
Are
you a
storyteller? Whether you realize it or not, we tell stories every day.
From
knock-knock jokes to tales of a favorite movie, storytelling is a part
of our
lives. Learn how you can hone your own storytelling skills in this
workshop.
You will also learn about the history of the craft as you learn how to
use this
powerful teaching tool to spark interest and lend a fresh outlook to
any
subject area. Storytelling can build self-esteem, stimulate inventive
thinking
and develop appreciation of other ethnic cultures. Participants are
encouraged
to bring a story that they are interested in learning to tell or in
enhancing
their telling of it. Nadine James, an elementary school reading
specialist became interested in the craft of storytelling when she
realized
that storytelling brings books to life and that listeners gain a love
of
language. She has shared her stories with a variety of local audiences.
Thursday, July 23, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Mike McNamara
Remember
the days
when magazines and newspapers had short, light (and funny) poems?
Return with
us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, where we find none other
than The
Lone Versifier. Guaranteed to make you smile and think a bit—to enjoy
the day,
despite tough times—these verses will build on part of a course taught
three
years ago at OLLI, Short Poems for Busy People. It will include U.S.
and
British poems, limericks, clerihews, Japanese senryu (sort of an
enigmatic
haiku), and of all things, Burma-Shave sign verse. Students are asked
to bring
a poem to share with the class: funny, very short and socially
appropriate. Other
poems to be covered will be furnished by the instructor. Mike
McNamara
has degrees in English from Rutgers University and the University of
Kansas,
and is a published and prize-winning poet. He has co-chaired the
OLLI
Poetry Workshop for two years.
Tuesdays, June 23–July 28, 10:00–11:30
Lake Anne Church
Instructor: Jane Catron
Ernest
Hemingway
wrote, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark
Twain called
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” While this carries truth,
it is
only one of the many truths that can be said of this novel including
the
excitement the reader experiences as he joins the young and vulnerable
runaway
on his raft in the Mississippi River and with him confronts many
uncertain and
often dangerous encounters. Although many OLLI members may have already
read
the book, this class is an opportunity to reread it, share reactions
and
consider why every few years a certain call goes out to remove it from
the
curriculum of Fairfax County high schools. Jane Catron is a
retired
teacher from McLean High School where she taught AP English and
creative
writing. She holds a master’s degree in liberal studies from Georgetown
University where she continues as a liberal studies fellow. She is also
a
docent at the Folger Shakespeare Library. This class is the thirteenth
she has
taught for OLLI.
Wednesdays, June 24–July 29, 11:30–1:00
Reston’s Used Book Shop at Lake Anne
Moderators: Janice Dewire, Carol Henderson
Discover
the allure
of the short story as this long-running class continues an anthology
begun two
years ago: The Story and Its Writer, sixth edition (2003),
edited by Ann
Charters. This book includes good stories, old and new, from around the
world,
as well as commentary on the stories from the authors and other
writers.
Stories this term range from Edgar Allan Poe to Flannery O’Connor.
Reading a
few stories each week, it will be next year before the class completes
all the
great fiction and illuminating commentary in this impressive paperback.
The
moderators have collected inexpensive (under $10) used copies of the
sixth
edition for class members. Students new to the course will be advised
after
they register how to obtain and pay for their books, and should note
that the
class is now more than halfway through this anthology. Janice Dewire
and
Carol Henderson are enthusiastic Literary Roundtable
participants and
former OLLI Board members who took on the moderator role several years
ago for
this popular course, one of the longest running at Lake Anne. Class
limit: 20.
Thursdays, June 25–July 30, 1:30–3:30
Lake Anne Church (Note time)
Instructor: Ben Gold
Film
buffs! Come and
experience six of Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest films. The legendary
director
produced over 50 feature films, including such famous classics as: The
Man
Who Knew Too Much, Foreign Correspondent, Lifeboat,
Strangers
on a Train, Dial “M” for Murder, Vertigo, North
by Northwest,
The Birds and, of course, Psycho. Join us as we view
some of
these and other Hitchcock classics. Each week a different Hitchcock
classic
will be presented, designed to spark your awareness of his critically
acclaimed
and significantly historical motion pictures. The instructor will
introduce the
film and, depending on time constraints, will lead a post-viewing
discussion. Ben
Gold, a frequent instructor at OLLI, has been a life-long film buff
and
can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than to watch a
classic film.
Tuesday, June 23, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun
Instructor: William Cooper
Clive
Staples Lewis
was an Oxford and Cambridge don and an expert in medieval and
Renaissance
literature. He is best known, however, for his Christian apologetics
and his
fiction, which include The Screwtape Letters and The
Chronicles of
Narnia. His words, both written and spoken, address the heart and
mind with
a strength equaled by few other authors. William Cooper, who
has read
and studied Lewis for some 60 years, will talk about Lewis, his works
and his
life.
Tuesday, July 28, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun
Instructor: Bebe Faas Rice
You
had a story to
tell, and you told it, as fiction or nonfiction, book-length narrative
or
magazine article. Now what? How do you get it published? This class
briefly
covers the basic facts of a writing life that every writer should know:
how to
find an editor, how to interpret the current markets, the pros and cons
of
using an agent, how to write a good query letter, the proper form for
manuscript submissions and a number of print and Internet resources. Bebe
Faas Rice is an Edgar Award nominee and author of 18 published
novels for
teens and preteens, as well as an historical novel for adults set in
the time
of the Norman Conquest of England. She has also written a number of
articles
for newspapers and magazines, and both articles and short stories for
such
children’s magazines as Jack and Jill and Highlights for
Children,
to name just a few. Bebe is a former teacher, newspaper writer and the
wife of
a retired Marine Corps major general with whom she has crisscrossed the
globe.
These broad travels and experiences enhance her work, which has been
translated
into German and French and has been recorded as audio titles.
Wednesday, June 24, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun
Coordinator: Madeline Lynn
Join
us to explore
together several selections of what once was called the “short-short”
in
literary circles. Today such brief but powerful tales are often
referred to as
“sudden fiction.” We will read aloud and discuss stories from Sudden
Fiction
International, edited by Robert Shapard and James Thomas, and
sections of
its introduction by Charles Baxter. This introduction alone, said one
reviewer,
is “worth the price of admission.” A particularly fine example of this
story
form was presented in the Creative Writer’s Workshop at Loudoun this
winter by
OLLI member Beth Ticknor, and we’ll read that as well. Sudden
Fiction
International is readily available in bookstores for those who are
interested, but no text or preparation is necessary for this class.
Copies of
selections to be read will be provided. Madeline Lynn received
an MA in
interdisciplinary studies in literature and drama from American
University. Her short stories have
appeared in Nimrod International Journal Awards 20, Kalliope and
Union Street Review.
Wednesday, July 29, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun
Instructor: Bebe Faas
Rice
Everyone
thinks he
or she can write a children’s book. But
is it as easy as it sounds? Books for children and teens come in four
main age
group categories and the genres are many and varied. What age group do
you want
to write for? What is your niche? And how do you go about getting it
published? The aim of this presentation
is to give an overall picture of the field of writing for children on
its
various levels. Bebe Faas Rice will also briefly cover the
subjects of
finding the right editor; manuscript preparation; letters of query;
agents; and
the books, magazines and Internet resources that are available to
writers
seeking publication. See Course L413 for instructor information.
Wednesday, June 24, 11:30 –1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Rose Cherubin
What
if the leaders
in politics, business, science and the military had spent their youth
as
Playboy bunnies or car show models? What if the second most powerful
person in
the country, the top advisor and speechwriter to the president could
not vote
and had no right to own property or bring a legal case? This was the
situation
in ancient Athens in the fifth and fourth centuries BCE, and we can
trace
aspects of this back to Homer three centuries earlier. Today we might
find some
features of this picture paradoxical: the fact that a person was
expected to be
cute and dumb at first and then was supposed to become an intelligent
and
responsible leader, and that a
community would think it acceptable for a person to be a top political
advisor
yet prohibit this person from voting and bringing a legal case. Indeed, even at the time some people found
these inconsistencies troubling, and suggested alternatives—some of
which influenced
modern political and social thought. By reflecting on the peculiarities
of the
ancient Greeks’ ideas about sex and gender, we can gain some
perspective on our
own. Rose M. Cherubin is an associate professor in philosophy
at George
Mason and has taught classes at OLLI in the past.
Thursday, July 2, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Rabbi Jack Moline
Our
faith
communities have a long history of providing services to those in need.
However, proposals to funnel government dollars directly into houses of
worship
and religious organizations are a grave concern to many, because the
sanctity
of religion and the integrity of government become issues. By accepting
funds,
houses of worship would be subject to government oversight and invasive
government regulation, including compliance reviews, audits and perhaps
even
the subordination of religious principle to government policies and
objectives.
Such practices could undermine the independence and integrity of
religious
organizations. For decades, houses of worship have set up separately
incorporated institutions to fulfill their prophetic missions.
Faith-based
service organizations and government have long been partners. The
instructor
will describe the issues involved in preserving the partnership in an
appropriate relationship between government and faith-based providers. Rabbi Moline is chairman of the board of the
Interfaith Alliance and the rabbi of the Agudas Achim congregation in
Alexandria. He is former president of the Washington Board of Rabbis
and the
Alexandria Interfaith Association.
Thursdays, June 25–July 30, 10:00–11:30
Lake Anne Church
Instructor: Abbie Edwards
Do
we learn from the
mistakes or accomplishments of individuals and societies in history or
are we
condemned to making the same mistakes over and over again? As part of
the Great
Courses series, J. Rufus Fears, professor of classics at the University
of
Oklahoma, offers his views on this very timely topic with 36 half-hour
lectures entitled The Wisdom of History. Last summer this class
focused
on lectures concerning the Middle East. Since, Americans have elected a
new
president, and President Obama and his administration are tackling the
problems
of the ongoing war in Iraq, the escalating war in Afghanistan and the
economic
woes of this country, plus education, health care and the environment.
What
lessons can be learned from the past as our new president, his
administration
and the American citizen deal with these issues? The six lectures
chosen by Abbie
Edwards for this summer session will focus on the
following
concerns:
· June
25: Abraham Lincoln as Statesman.
· July
2: The United States and Empire.
· July
9: Franklin Roosevelt as Statesman.
· July
16: A Superpower at the Crossroads.
· July
23: The Wisdom of History and the Citizen.
· July
30: The Wisdom of History and You.
The
instructor has
taught a variety of classes at OLLI since 2001, including Digital
Photography;
World Religions; Journey of Man; Guns, Germs and
Steel and
Evolution.
Thursday, July 9, 2:00–3:30
Lake Anne Church
Instructor: Steven Goldman
“How
then can man be
justified with God?” (Job
25:4) This session will examine Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and other
perspectives regarding the answer to this critical question. What does
God
require for a person to be justified in his sight? The focus will be on
biblical texts regarding faith, works, law and grace and will include a
discussion of the teachings set forth in the Hebrew scriptures and the
New
Testament. Steven C. Goldman retired from federal service in
2007 as
director of the Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance at the
U.S.
Department of Commerce. His avocation for many years has been in the
area of
biblical studies.
Note:
This class will also be offered at Loudoun on July 29. See Course L606.
Thursday, July 16, 2:00–3:30
Lake Anne Church
Instructor: Steven Goldman
“His
blood be on us,
and on our children.” (Matthew 27:25) Is the New Testament anti-Semitic
or have
its teachings been grossly misunderstood and misused? This session will
examine
biblical texts relating to this issue and present alternative
perspectives on
how to understand those texts. See Course R604 for instructor
information.
Wednesday, July 29, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun
Instructor: Steven Goldman
See
Course R604 for
description and instructor background.
Tuesday, July 28, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Ben Gold
Join
Supreme Court
docent, Ben Gold, as he shares his insights into how the Court
operates
and how cases to be considered are selected, and enjoy some anecdotes
of some
of the past and current justices. Ben graduated from Stanford
University with a
BA in political science. In addition to his frequent presentations at
OLLI, he
has served as a docent at the Supreme Court for the past six years.
Wednesday, July 8, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Kevin Deasy
Can
they? Does it
matter? In 2004, Newsweek called General David Petraeus (then
charged
with training Iraqi forces), “The only exit plan the United States has.” In November of 2006 Donald Rumsfeld told the
Iraq Study Group in the White House, “Training [the Iraqi Army] is the
highest
priority. That’s where we’re beginning to put the money, the time and
the
effort.” But we’ve seen this movie
before in Korea, Formosa, Vietnam, Kosovo and elsewhere—with varying
results.
Come and compare what Washington policymakers and troops returning from
the war
zone have said about Iraqi prospects, then judge for yourself what
outcome to
expect there (and perhaps in Afghanistan, too). OLLI member Kevin
Deasy
is a retired U.S. Army officer with service in Germany, Vietnam,
Belgium and
various posts in the United States. He holds a BS in electrical
engineering
from Northeastern University, and Master’s Degrees in computer science
and
business management from George Washington University. He has worked as
an
engineer and manager at several government contracting firms around the
Beltway, most recently at Northrop Grumman.
Thursday, July 30, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Stephen Dachi
The
Obama
Administration is talking about dialogue with Iran, but will it be
about a new
policy or the old one? A presidential election will have been held in
Iran.
Will that bring a new policy toward the West, or continue the old? From
what
perspective and on what merits does Iran justify its current foreign
policy?
How does it affect Iraq and Afghanistan? Will it yield to Western
pressure and
stop producing weapons-grade uranium? Iran’s economy is woefully
mismanaged already
and could get much worse if world oil prices stay below $90 per barrel.
Who is
getting richer and who is getting poorer in today’s Iran? What should
we look
for by way of risks of confrontation versus opportunities for improved
relations for the rest of 2009? Stephen Dachi is a foreign
policy
specialist and international consultant who served as a diplomat in the
U.S.
Foreign Service for 30 years, in South Asia, Central Europe and Latin
America.
Currently, he is in charge of South Asia Area Studies Training at the
National
Foreign Affairs Training Center of the Department of State.
Thursday, June 25, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun
Instructor: John H. Johns
Brigadier
General
John H. Johns, U.S. Army, Ret., will discuss the Obama National
Security
Strategy (NSS) and contrast it with the Bush strategy of the past eight
years.
Specific applications of the overall strategy will be applied to areas
such as
the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Specific topics, such as
torture and
the War on Terrorism will also be addressed, with implications for
national
military strategy. General Johns emphasizes that in the event President
Obama
has not published a formal NSS, his coverage will be based on
inferences from
policies/actions made public and attendance at the April 7-8 Symposium
on
National Security Strategy conducted by the National Defense University
Institute for Strategic Studies. BG John H. Johns served 26
years as a
combat arms officer, retiring in 1978. He held command positions from
platoon
leader to assistant division commander, 1st Infantry Division. In 1960,
he
began a series of assignments focused on counterinsurgency strategy and
doctrine, including eight years on the Army General Staff. After
retirement and
a tour as a deputy assistant secretary of defense, General Johns was a
professor of political science at the National Defense University,
where he
taught national security strategy and national security decision-making.
He is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, the
National
War College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Tuesday, June 23, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Raoul Drapeau
Some
of the large
and interesting construction projects along the U.S.-Canadian
East coast
will be described and illustrated with photographs and video
clips. These
projects include the massive new underground New York City water
tunnels that
burrow deep under the city to bring billions of gallons of water daily
to
Manhattan from upstate reservoirs; the underused Cape Cod Canal that
was
constructed at the same time as the Panama Canal and has some of its
same
history and reasons for existence; Boston’s “Big Dig” central artery
tunnel
that replaced a congested and ugly 1970s-era steel monstrosity with
urban
parks; and the St. Lawrence Seaway, a huge ship canal project that was
a wonder
of its day, but which is now beset by economic, maintenance and
ecological
woes, and whose time may have passed. As the instructor is skilled
in
explaining complex technical subjects to lay people, no engineering
knowledge
will be needed to understand what is discussed. Raoul Drapeau
is a
high-tech entrepreneur, author, inventor, commercial arbitrator and
retired
Naval officer. He holds electrical engineering degrees from Cornell
University
and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has published numerous
articles in
technical and historical journals. He has also developed and
teaches adult
education courses in intellectual property protection, creativity,
global
warming, sustainable energy, engineering history and maritime
history.
Tuesday, June 30, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Raoul Drapeau
The
fascinating
history of passenger ships began with the era of the great sailing
ships and
massive, fast, steam-powered transatlantic ocean liners. It has evolved
to the
present day slower but roll-stabilized cruise ships with tunnel
thrusters for
low-speed steering in tight places and azimuthal propeller pods for
additional
propulsive flexibility. Some of the changes in ship characteristics
during this
evolution were related to the evolution of transatlantic travel from a
pure
transportation method to one that is much more leisure oriented. This
light-hearted
treatment of the subject will describe when and why things happened as
they
did and will be illustrated with
modern and archival photographs. See Course F801 for
instructor information.
Tuesday, June 30, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Coordinator: Bruce Reinhart
Is
the weather
changing? Is the earth changing? Is climate changing? Is human activity
causing
global warming? Bob Ryan, NBC4’s chief meteorologist, will weigh in on
one of
the most controversial subjects facing TV weathercasters: global
warming. In a
recent interview he said that he fears that the public is growing more
confused
about what scientists know about climate change and what their findings
mean
for society. “With what seems like increasing polarization of views and
politics, I felt the science was (and still is) getting muddled or
being
selectively ‘cherry-picked,’ resulting in confusion for many
people,
especially young people.” In this presentation he will lay out some of
the main
scientific findings as well as some of the societal uncertainties. Bob
Ryan has
been NBC4’s chief meteorologist since 1980, making him the longest-serving
weathercaster in Washington, D.C. In 1996 he was elected president of
the
American Meteorological Society, and has served AMS as chair of the
Committee
of Broadcast Meteorology, commissioner of Professional Affairs and
member of
the Council of the Society. Ryan’s expertise has also been called on
repeatedly
to testify before various committees of Congress.
Thursday, June 25, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Harriet Kaplan
Deaf
Culture is a
lifestyle for many people with hearing loss.
With its own history, values, traditions, folklore and
communication
behaviors. Above all, it has its own language, ASL (American Sign
Language).
Deaf people do not consider deafness a pathology or abnormality; it is
not
defined by degree of hearing loss as seen on the audiogram. They
consider
themselves an often misunderstood cultural minority that has been
persecuted
for hundreds of years. Gallaudet University is one of the hubs of Deaf
Culture.
In recent years, cochlear implants have become a reality for increasing
numbers
of deaf children and adults, and for many deaf people have allowed a
high
degree of integration into the hearing world. This poses a threat to
Deaf
Culture, which espouses isolation from the hearing world.
In this class, we will discuss these issues
and their impact on the deaf and hearing communities. Harriet Kaplan
is
a retired audiologist and a member of OLLI. She earned her BS degree at
Brooklyn College in speech/ language pathology, her MS degree in
audiology at
Pennsylvania State University, and her PhD in hearing and speech
science at the
University of Maryland. She worked in
the Gallaudet University audiology clinic and then taught in the
Graduate
School for 23 years, where she interacted with deaf students and
faculty who
used all kinds of communication. She has published many articles and
has given
many presentations on communications issues of deaf and hard of hearing
people.
Wednesday, July 29, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Lorrin Garson
Chemistry
impacts
our daily lives in countless ways—in the medicines we take; the foods
we eat;
the clothes we wear; the homes we live in; the air we breathe,
including its
pollutants; how we travel and how we defend
our nation. “Chemical,” and especially “artificial” chemical,
often
carries negative connotations. So is
there any truth to the slogan with which we grew up…“Better Things for
Better
Living…through Chemistry?” Learn some of the facts and myths about
chemicals
and chemistry from the wealth of knowledge of a long-term chemist. How
many
chemicals are there? Is there such a thing as “chemical free?” Are
there
differences between artificial and natural chemicals? What is the most
toxic
chemical known? What do ethanol and phenolphthalein have to do with the
night
watchman? How is the Nobel Prize-winning chemist, Donald Cram, linked
with
carpet cleaner? Organic chemist Lorrin R. Garson, an OLLI
member, has
worked in the pharmaceutical industry, in the College of Pharmacy at
the
University of Tennessee and for 30 years at the American Chemical
Society,
where he most recently was director of information of
Technology/Publications
and then chief research scientist. In 2005 Dr. Garson received a
prestigious
award for his pioneering work to develop and enhance electronic
editions of
chemical journals.
Note:
This class will also be offered at Reston on July 7. See Course R811.
Thursday, July 9, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Robert Wallace
Science
fiction
writer Arthur C. Clark’s third law of prediction observed, “Any
sufficiently
advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
Faced with a pervasive KGB security apparatus during the Cold
War, American intelligence needed “magic” if its spies were to operate
securely
inside the Soviet Union. This class, which includes photos, video and
equipment
artifacts, traces the 50-year development of devices needed by U.S.
agents to
acquire the Kremlin’s most closely guarded secrets. It also
describes
how American intelligence progressively applied advanced commercial and
government technology to support new tradecraft techniques to defeat
the KGB
and run dozens of secret operations inside the USSR by the late 1970s.
It
reviews the technical development of audio devices, subminiature
cameras and
long-life batteries combined with human stories of the spies who used
the
equipment. The class concludes with a look at the threats and
opportunities
posed by the digital revolution for American intelligence. The
behind-the-scenes descriptions of the successes and frustrations of the
men and
women responsible for producing the equipment will rival any CSI
or 24 television episode. Robert
Wallace, a
retired CIA officer, is former director of the CIA’s Office of
Technical
Service and author of SPYCRAFT: The Secret History of the CIA’s
Spytechs
from Communism to al-Qaeda (2008). He is a graduate of
Ottawa
University and holds an MA in political science from Kansas University.
Thursday, July 16, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Lorrin Garson
What
is a scientific
publication? Why and how do scientists publish the results of their
research?
What are secondary and tertiary sources of information? What role do
patents
play in documenting scientific innovations? If a scientific
breakthrough is
made and is not communicated to others, will it impact society? The
first two
scientific journals were published in print in 1665 to communicate to
the world
advances made in France and Britain. However, almost all worldwide
scientific
communication now takes place electronically. This electronic
revolution
started in 1843 with the patent for a “FAX machine.”
The revolution continued at a greatly accelerated pace in the
last half of the twentieth century with extraordinary advances in
computer and
telecommunications technologies. The transition in publishing from
bruised
gallnuts on crushed trees to photons flowing through minuscule glass
fibers has
been an exciting revolution in publishing with a profound impact on our
lives.
See
Course F805 for
instructor background.
Thursday, July 23, 9:30–11:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Leila Hamdan
The
demand for land
and living resources in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed from the
Colonial
period to the present has left a lasting mark on the complex food webs
of the
Bay. Resource utilization and dynamics in human population growth in
the
Chesapeake Region will be discussed. Specific emphasis will be
placed on
the oyster fishery and the role of the oyster in maintaining the
integrity of
food webs and water quality. Leila J. Hamdan earned her PhD
from the
George Mason Environmental Science and Policy Department and is
currently a
research microbiologist at the U.S. Naval Research Lab, Section of
Marine
Biogeochemistry.
Thursday, July 23, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Alan Rubin
Modern
wastewater
(sewage) treatment is essential to the control and elimination of
waterborne
diseases and the maintenance of ecologically healthy waterbodies in the
U.S.
and much of the Western world. A consequence of sewage treatment in the
U.S. is
the annual production of eight million metric tons of biosolids, which
must be
managed in an environmentally responsible manner to attain and maintain
environmental
quality in our waters, airsheds and land. Several options will be
presented,
including direct land application to farms, forests and strip mines;
further
processing to produce high-quality fertilizers and soil amendments for
use on
lawns, home gardens and golf courses; landfilling; incineration and
other “high
tech” thermal treatment; and transport from the point of generation to
management in other communities. A quick summary of current federal and
state
regulations for biosolids management will be given. We will discuss the
pros
and cons of each management option regarding: pollutants in biosolids,
pathogens in biosolids, odor and quality of life issues, benefits
associated
with each management practice, costs and economic feasibility, public
acceptance and equity (for biosolids transport to other communities),
and long-term
sustainability including “greenhouse” gas emissions. The attendees will
be
sworn in as “city council persons” to vote on the biosolids management
option
most suitable for the community they represent. Alan B. Rubin
joined
OLLI in 2008. Dr. Rubin retired from
the EPA in 2005 after 28 years of service, the last 15 devoted to
development
of the federal regulations for the use or disposal of biosolids.
Tuesdays, June 23–30, 2:00–3:30
Lake Anne Church (2 sessions)
Instructor: Stan Schretter
The
Internet of
today is nearly unrecognizable from its original form—the one invented
by Al
Gore. We are all quite familiar with Internet services such as email
and
text/graphic Web pages, e.g., the OLLI E-News. The two sessions
will
discuss and demonstrate how you can actually use and take advantage of
the
myriad of free services offered on the Internet, such as entertainment,
education, lectures, video calls, international telephony,
encyclopedia,
driving directions and others. You may even surprise your
grandchildren! Stan
Schretter is well-traveled on the Internet. While he has stumbled
down some
dark alleys, Stan is a strong advocate for finding and using the many
Internet
gems often hidden in the information deluge.
Tuesday, July 7, 2:00–3:30
Lake Anne Church
Instructor: Lorrin Garson
See
Course F805 for
description and instructor information.
Tuesdays, June 30–July 7, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun (2 sessions)
Instructor: Ellen Polishuk
· What
Is “Organic” Anyway?
An experienced local organic
vegetable grower will explain in some detail organic methods of food
production. One way to look at organic farming is to outline what
materials are
prohibited. The more interesting view is to learn what practices and
materials
are allowed. What difference does organic agriculture make in the big
picture,
and in your personal well-being?
· Local
Foods: What’s Behind the Buzz?
“Local” depends on who’s
using the term: American grown, East Coast grown, Virginia grown,
Purcellville
grown. Does it matter? How can you get your hands on it: farmers
markets,
supermarkets, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), roadside stands? Ellen
Polishuk, co-owner of Potomac Vegetable Farms (PVF), grew up in
Reston.
Since earning a horticulture degree from Virginia Tech, she has pursued
a
career in farming in Purcellville. Together with her partners in Tysons
Corner,
she runs a very successful ecoganic farm using organic practices. PVF
has been
in business for more than 45 years and continues to grow and thrive.
Tuesday, Wednesday, July 14–15, 1:00–3:00
(Note time)
Loudoun (2 sessions)
Instructor: Suzy Jampoler
The
first class will
include the basics of good presentations, choosing and designing a
master
template, creating text, adding images and PowerPoint Viewer. The
second day
will cover advanced techniques designed to make your presentation more
efficient, attractive and manageable.
Issues including timing, compressing images and adding videos
and music
will be addressed. This is a hands-on computer class. It assumes a
familiarity
with Windows, file management, keyboarding and using a mouse. At the
end of the
class you will have a basic template to take home either on a flash
drive or to
email to yourself. Please bring a flash drive if you want to save your
presentation template by that method. Suzy Jampoler is a
retired
geographer and educator. She has worked extensively with PowerPoint to
create
interactive presentations. Class limit: 15.
Tuesdays, July 21–28, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun (2 sessions)
Instructor: Bill Aird
Scientists
have
predicted a disaster if we do not appreciate the effects of long-term
climate
change that impacts our environment. We are breathing polluted air and
eating
pesticide-laden food. The likelihood of melting ice in the poles,
increased
ocean water levels, possibilities of more tsunamis and earthquakes
around the
world are a major concern for the future of humanity. Learn from an
expert how
to make our own contributions to the environment. Bill Aird, an
OLLI
member, is a professional meteorologist who has master’s degrees in
engineering
and education. He served 27 years in the military. Bill’s initial
forecasting
was done in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In career
positions with The
New York Times, IBM, Control Data Corporation, the American
Institute of
Architects and the U.S. State Department, he has traveled extensively
to
foreign countries gaining background on their culture, political
atmosphere,
climate changes and customs. He will discuss solutions using Hot,
Flat and
Crowded, the latest book by three-time Pulitzer
Prize-winning author
Thomas Friedman.
Wednesday, July 1, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun
Instructor: Don Helbringer
At
any one time
during a typical day, there are approximately 6,000 aircraft in the
skies over
the United States. Managing the safety and scheduling of such a large
number of
moving planes with their precious human and commercial cargo is a
daunting
task. It takes a staggering number of people,
numerous pieces of equipment and intricate systems of
organization to
ensure the safe travel of the flying public. Join us for an inside look
at some
of the technology and some of the specific day-to-day
concerns
of orchestrating this crucially
important work. Donald Helbringer has
been an employee of the FAA since 1991. Since 1995, he has worked at
the Air
Traffic Control System Command Center as a program analyst with the
National
Operations Group.
Wednesday, July 22, 1:30–3:00
Somerset Retirement Community
Coordinator: Thom Clement
Falls
are not an
inevitable part of aging—falls are preventable. Local experts from the
Northern
Virginia Fall Prevention Coalition will present key components of a
Fall
Prevention Program developed by the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention.
The presentation will concentrate on the importance of exercise,
medication
management, vision checks and home modifications known to reduce the
risk of a
fall. Refreshments will be served. Note: This will also
be
opportunity for OLLI members to promote OLLI to the residents of
Somerset
attending the seminar. Somerset is located at 22355
Providence
Village Drive, Sterling, Virginia 20164. Directions will be provided to
participants with confirmations for the summer term.
Tuesday, June 23, 11:30–1:00
Tallwood
Instructor: Thom Clement
During
the winter of
2009, Executive Director Thom Clement participated in a
church-sponsored
Missions Trip to Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, Africa. The
group of ten
people worked with missionaries on a variety of construction projects
to
improve facilities at a bible college, a women’s center and a
church. This
presentation will include the historical and economic context of the
Republic
of Congo and its larger neighbor, the Democratic Republic of
Congo. Thom
will provide narrative to accompany pictures of the Congolese people,
their
living environment and the ongoing work of the missionaries. He
will also
share how, despite overwhelming governmental corruption and
malfeasance, the
people remain resilient. Prior to his position with OLLI/Mason, Thom
enjoyed an
educational career of 31 years, first as an elementary school teacher
and
subsequently, as principal of two Fairfax County elementary schools.
Although
he has been active in various leadership roles in his church, this was
his
first missions trip.
Note:
This class will also be offered at Loudoun on June 24. See Course L906.
Tuesday, June 23, 2:00–3:30
Lake Anne Church
Instructors: Ben and Sheila Gold
Ben
and Sheila Gold
continue their globe-trotting with a
trip to the Baltic. Follow them as they visit Lithuania, Latvia and
Estonia,
enjoying the capital cities of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn. Then continue
along
as they tour St. Petersburg and Moscow. Get handouts on two dozen
cabbage and
potato recipes!
Thursdays, June 25–July 16, 10:00–11:30
Lake Anne Church (4 sessions)
Coordinator: Joanna Fazio
Reston
Hospital will
conduct four sessions on health issues, which are affecting the well-being
of the senior population. As we age, health concerns grow with us.
Physicians
from the Reston Hospital Center will discuss hearing loss, the cause
and
remedies; sleep disorders, the reason why and the treatment; nutrition,
a happy
body through food; and dermatology, keeping our skin healthy. Joanna
Fazio,
director of communications for the Reston Hospital Center, will
coordinate this
program.
Tuesday, June 23, 12:00–1:00
Loudoun (Note time)
Instructor: Celeste Brodigan
All
are invited to
bring a lunch on the opening day of summer term; dessert and beverages
will be
provided. Join fellow OLLI members in the Loudoun campus break room for
a
briefing from Elderhostel Ambassador Celeste Brodigan about
some
exciting upcoming national and international trips.
Celeste will provide brochures and information and always
welcomes input from other members who wish to share interesting travel
and
learning experiences they have had in the delightful world of
Elderhostel
travel. She is a veteran traveler, and a trail blazer in the pilot
program for
OLLI in Loudoun.
Tuesday, July 14, 12:00–2:30
Loudoun (Note time)
Instructor: Audrey Markham Sullivan
Widowed,
divorced or
single attendees will enjoy this event. Join fellow OLLI members for a
summery
“picnic” lunch in the break room at Loudoun.
Tea sandwiches, iced tea, lemonade and watermelon will be
provided,
along with the ubiquitous OLLI cookies and coffee, in honor of a visit
from Audrey
Markham Sullivan of Widowed Persons Service. A charter member of
Learning
in Retirement and founder of Widowed Persons Service of Northern
Virginia,
Audrey has guided hundreds of learners to Learning in Retirement, now
OLLI.
Widowed Persons Service is a proven support system for widowed men and
women
soon after the loss of a spouse. Audrey believes that life at this
stage is a
bittersweet juggling act. With compassionate guidance to getting on
with your
life, you will find ways to give back as well as to get. Learn the
difference
between loneliness and being alone. Expanding your networks for
companionship
leads to discovering your unexpected talents. Come to
this event
and pick up your “Golden Ticket.”
Wednesday, June 24, 10:30–12:00
Loudoun
Instructor: Thom Clement
See
Course F901 for
description and instructor information.
Thursday, July 16, 1:00–2:30
Loudoun
Instructor: Holly Peterson
The
Loudoun County
Public Library provides resources for research and recreation. The
instructor
will discuss several databases that can be accessed, for example, to
provide
articles from popular magazines and academic journals, full text
content about
stock market investments from Valueline and genealogical data from
Ancestry’s
Library Edition and Heritage Quest. She will explore the following
services
offered at the library’s Home Page: electronic books, “MyLibraryDV,”
Mango
languages, interlibrary loans, newly acquired titles, and the Suggest a
Title
form. Participants will learn about monthly book discussions at the
LCPL
branches, and the answer to the question, do librarians really get to
read on
the job? Holly Peterson is head of Reference at the Rust Branch
of the
Loudoun County Public Library. She has degrees from William and Mary
and
Rutgers University and has worked in public and association libraries
for more
than 20 years. When not attached to a computer, she is a painter.
Saturday, June 20, 10:00
(Note date, prior to start of term)
Coordinator: Madeline Lynn
Round Hill is one of some 30 working studios open free to the public this weekend. The annual tour invites you to “enjoy paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry and much more... talk personally with the artists, purchase artwork, view demonstrations, take part in hands on activities…win a door prize.” Our plan is to meet at Round Hill Studio, see the watercolor paintings of Catherine Hillis and other artists on hand, then gather for lunch across the street at Savoire Faire Café, run by a popular Loudoun caterer, Joan Wolford. We have reservations for seating together with individual orders and checks. After lunch, you may return; or you may follow the detailed maps provided at the Round Hill Center and venture further. The Tour is open until 5:00 on Saturday, June 20, and from 12:00 to 5:00 on Sunday, June 21. Directions will be emailed to participants prior to this event. If you need a ride, or are willing to drive others, please notify Kathy Breen in the OLLI office, 703-993-4488.Bus trip to the Wayside Inn and Wayside Theatre
Wednesday, July 29, 10:00–6:00
Coordinator: Lorraine and Norm Rosenberg
(703)361-4572
The Gin Game, written by D.L. Coburn, is a touching and hilarious Pulitzer Prize-winning drama. In their twilight years in a dilapidated retirement home, two kindred spirits befriend each other and over a game of gin rummy reveal the intimate details of their lives, running the gamut from comic encounter to a poignant endgame of loneliness and frustration. At 12:00 we will dine at the Wayside Inn, which has been serving the public for more than 200 years. Our luncheon will include the Inn’s Famous Peanut Soup, freshly baked bread, an entrée choice, fruit cobbler and coffee, tea or iced tea. Please choose one of the following entrees:
Second Wednesdays
June 10, Sept. 9, 10:00–11:30
Monday, July 13, 10:00–11:30
Tallwood
Coordinators: Kathryn Russell 703-323-0168
Ceda McGrew 703-323-9671
On June 10 we plan to discuss One True Thing by Anna Quindlen. The July 13 selection will be Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. We don’t plan to meet in August. On September 9 we will discuss East of Eden by John Steinbeck. All OLLI members are welcome.Fridays, May 15–June 19, 10:00–11:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Kathie West 703-451-6419
Drama Club is open to all OLLI members. We are called “The OLLI Players.” Its concept is lessons in acting, diction, improvisation, blocking and performance. The focus is on becoming a better actor and learning the tips and techniques that go with becoming a truly great thespian. We perform comedy and serious scenes with all the emotion and giggles that the scenes require. We are now working on presentations of one-act plays. Join us for a trip into theater that you can only imagine. We will not meet during the summer but will resume on September 25.First Wednesdays
Tallwood
Coordinator: Bob Persell 703-941-9349
The club does not meet during the summer: the next meeting will be October 7. The club welcomes OLLI members who are interested in discussing historical events and sharing reviews of articles, books or interesting topics. The club compiles a book list of suggested reading, which can be viewed at www.olli.gmu.edu/historyclubbooklist.pdf. If you’d like to receive email notification of upcoming History Club meetings, contact bpersell@bellatlantic.net.Fridays, May 15–July 31, Aug. 21–Sept. 18, 11:00–12:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Sibyl Vanneman 703-506-0699
This book club with a different twist—no outside reading required—meets every Friday to read aloud “great books” to each other. We have finished Shakespeare’s plays and have started Don Quixote by Cervantes, the new translation (2003) by Edith Grossman. New members are welcome.Third Saturdays (except May & Dec.) 12:30–3:30
June 20, July 18, August 15
Fairfax County Government Center
Coordinator: Paul Howard
plhoward@verizon.net
Fourth Fridays
May 22, June 26, July 24, Aug. 28, 9:30–11:30,
Tallwood
Coordinator: Dan
Feighery
703-250-1491
Second Fridays
June 12, July 10, Sept. 11, 10:00–11:30
Tallwood
Coordinator: Shelly Gersten 703-385-2638
The club welcomes any and all OLLI members who are interested in traveling, either domestically or internationally. OLLI has a vast wealth of experience in both traveling and living in other parts of the United States and the world. Come share your experiences and learn from other members about their travels and experiences living overseas. We also try to find common interests so members can plan to travel together.Weekly
Tallwood/Pool Parking Lot
Coordinators: Doris Bloch 703-591-3344
Sherry Hart 703-978-0848
During OLLI terms, the Walking Group at Tallwood meets one morning a week, an hour before the first morning class. We gather in the pool parking lot and walk for about 45 minutes, arriving back at Tallwood in time for the start of classes. All levels of walking ability and speed are accommodated—our goal is camaraderie as well as exercise. We set the day of the week for our walks during the first week of the term, based on which day is most convenient for the majority of participants. We also walk weekly between terms, often for longer walks and more varied locations. Contact Sherry Hart at harts66@hotmail.com or Doris Bloch at dbloch50@hotmail.com for more information or to be added to the email list.Fridays, May 22–July 31, August
21–Sept. 18,
10:00–11:30
Tallwood
Coordinators: Robert and Louise McLean
703-768-6297
If you have been a part of the Consort, or have played the recorder and would like to expand your abilities and play in the group, join us on Fridays. Music may need to be purchased.Mondays
June 1–July 27, Aug. 17–31, 10:00–Noon
Tallwood
Coordinators: Susanne Zumbro 703-569-2750
Gordon Canyock 703-425-4607
Drop in anytime and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of “party bridge.” Skill levels vary from advanced beginner to aspiring expert. Partnerships are rotated every four hands. Note the time change. Note the change in the day of the week from the usual Wednesday.Tuesdays
Coordinator: Sheila Gold
703-860-8798
Thursday, July 23
Loudoun
Coordinator: Mary Coyne 703-729-6855
In an OLLI Loudoun tradition, join us at a local restaurant for lunch. This is a great time to get together and get to know our classmates better. Exact time and location will be announced via email in the Loudoun notes. To join us, please sign up on the sheet in one of the classrooms or call the OLLI Loudoun office.Fourth Fridays
May 22, June 26, July 24, August 28, 10:30–12:00
Cascades Library, Loudoun
Coordinator: Sigrid Blalock 703-723-6825
On May 22 the group will discuss Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The selection for discussion on June 26 is The Woman in White written by Wilkie Collins. On July 24 we will discuss Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth, and on August 28 the discussion will cover Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad.