LLI has received letters of thanks from Food for Others and the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Both organizations report an increase in the need for food this year and are grateful for our donations. Thank you all for your generous contributions to this worthy cause. We routinely collect three overflowing grocery carts of food each month!!
In June, the designated recipient of LLI’s food collection is ALIVE (Alexandrians Involved Ecumenically). This non-profit was founded in 1967 and currently is supported by 40 religious congregations in Alexandria. Annually, over 12,000 needy Alexandrians are served. ALIVE runs a shelter for women and children, operates a low-cost center for early childhood education and childcare, provides financial help for rent, utilities, and medical care, and provides donated furniture and housewares in addition to its emergency food program. Over 700 volunteers support the organization. In part, their mission is "to put their faith and love into action by committing themselves to alleviate the suffering caused by poverty and to bring about dramatic improvement in the lives of those in need."
You might have seen The Washington Post article in April that reported that the ALIVE warehouse was robbed of over $2,000 worth of canned food. We hope our donations will help replenish their supplies. Current needs are peanut butter and jelly, canned meats, rice, spaghetti and tomato sauces, spaghetti noodles, cereal, crackers, and cookies. However, any non-perishable item would also be appreciated.
Carol Weber has volunteered to deliver our donations to ALIVE following the June Forum. This will be the last food collection until the September Forum.
If the Fairfax County school system cancels school for the day due to inclement weather, LLI classes, Forums, and other activities are canceled (except for bus tours), regardless of the LLI class location and whether or not NVCC holds its regular college classes. LLI morning classes are canceled if the County announces a 2-hour delay in class openings. LLI afternoon classes are canceled if the County announces early dismissal. For bus tours, please contact the tour leader listed on the “LLI Tour Registration Form.” Listen for radio and TV announcements.
More I.C.E. Information
Jim Litchko, who spoke at our March Forum about dealing with emergencies by getting organized, has a new free download on his web site: www.theiceguy.com. It’s a workbook
for adults to educate their children or grandchildren on how to recognize and respond to emergencies. Also take a look at www.theiceguy.com/agent for additional information.
Summer 2008 Program
The LLI Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2008. Back row, from left to right: Marianne Moerman, Doug Johnson, Libby Burge, Mary Underwood, and Phil Runge (Treasurer). Front row, from left to right, Gina Trapp (Secretary), Don Reynolds, Paul Hopler, Deanna DeMember, Dick DiBuono (President), Liddell McLeod, and Norma Hughes. Not pictured are Bob Huley (Vice President) and Barry Newman.
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President’s Corner
Those who attended the May 6 Forum meeting heard the U.S. Postal Service representatives tell us that the one penny raise in the price of a first class stamp to 42 cents beginning on May 12 is not to be considered a rate increase, rather it is to be viewed as a “rate adjustment” because along with this hike comes a reduction in the cost of mailing certain parcels. This may sound like government-speak, but we did learn that there is much to be gained by exploring the options the USPS provides us customers on its website www.usps.gov -- from buying stamps to mailing packages right from our homes without having to burn expensive gasoline to drive to the Post Office. Our Annual Meeting will be held following the guest speaker’s presentation at the June 2 Forum meeting. We will be electing officers and members of the Board of Directors for the next operating year (1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009) and learning about the Board-approved fiscal year 2009 budget. I encourage all of you to attend and participate in this important meeting. Although a summary of LLI’s activities and accomplishments during FY 2008, which ends 30 June, will be presented in the August/September newsletter (no newsletter in July), I want to provide you with a few facts here: this is LLI’s 12th operating year, in which, sadly, we lost our founder Knox Singleton; we currently have 383 members; we’ve managed to hold our annual dues at the $110 level for a second successive year; we conducted a successful education program extending over three terms with 27 courses of instruction in the summer curriculum, 38 courses in the fall and 43 courses in the current winter-spring curriculum; we have held 8 very interesting Forum meetings (the 9th will be on June 2nd) with attendance ranging from 140 to 190 members; we conducted 8 day trips and 2 overnight ones; we enjoyed a fall picnic and a holiday luncheon; we’ve sponsored 7 very active special interest groups; and we managed to secure use of the Ernst Cultural Center Forum and Seminar Rooms at least through the end of 2009. These and more we’ve achieved through the vast volunteer efforts of our members with the administrative support of just one paid part-time person. As I conclude my year as your president, I am proud of our Institute and its accomplishments. Continuation of this success depends on all of you members volunteering for at least one activity or committee in the coming year.
Dick DiBuono
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Arts and Smarts
A reminder of our tour on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 11:00 a.m. of the Sixth
and I Historic Synagogue. Our docent-led tour will be approximately one
hour, after which we can go to lunch either in a group or separately. I
will bring a list of restaurants in the area.
There will be a suggested donation of $3.00/person and I can collect this
from each of you and give the docent either the cash or a check, whichever
they prefer.
The main entrance to the Synagogue is on Eye Street, so we should plan to
be at the entrance, either just inside or outside (depending on the
weather) by 10:50 a.m.
The Synagogue may be reached by Metro - Red, Green and Yellow lines to
Gallery Place. Use the Chinatown exit and walk north one or two blocks -
6th & I Streets NW. There is at least one parking lot on 6th Street.
Please let me know if you are planning to attend either by E-Mail or
phone: . Any questions, please feel free to call me.
Donna Trogler
Bridge Group
The Bridge Group plays twice a month, usually on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays,
at the Mason District Governmental Center in Annandale. Play time is 10:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a break for a bag lunch.
Our remaining play date for May is Wednesday, the 28th. In June, the play dates are Wednesdays, June 4 and 18. In July, we will play on Wednesdays, July 16 and 30.
All levels of players are welcome in this very friendly game. You do
not need a partner because we rotate partners. This way, you'll get to play with
everyone. We are looking for new players in particular, or those who would
like to brush up on their bridge skills. Please call or email if you
would like to attend (or for more information) so we can provide
sufficient card tables.
Bob Huley
Bridge Group Guru. :-)
Community Theater Group
Our next theater outing has not yet been planned, but stay tuned for further information as it becomes available.
The Current Events Group
The Current Events Group meets each month at the Mason District Governmental Center, Small Conference Room, in Annandale from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For information on June’s date and topic, contact Shirley Lotz at .
Favorite Books Club
Join us to review the book “The Whistling Season” by Ivan Doig. The core of this fictional story takes place in the autumn of 1909 in rural eastern Montana. A recently widowed farmer with three sons is overwhelmed with raising his children on his own and running the family farm. He hires a housekeeper from the East, who brings her brother with her. Although an utter novice to the West, to children, and to teaching children, he becomes a teacher in the rural one-room school system. The core of the book’s narrative is its themes of all the different ways of knowing and learning (inside and outside the classroom), at any age. The novel embraces the love for the landscape, the characters, and the events of the story. This book should be a joy to discuss. Please join us on Thursday, May 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Mason District Governmental Center, Small Conference Room, in Annandale.
The Gourmands Group
Alina Otal is hosting the May Gourmand event at her home on Wednesday, May 14. She has planned a Cuban lunch. Space will be limited to 15, so please contact Alina at 703-323-9366 or aotal@hotmail.com if you wish to attend this luncheon.
On Thursday, June 19, the Gourmands will have lunch at J. Gilbert’s in McLean. Eleanor Shubinski-Mosser has planned this event. Please contact her at 703-280-2542 or emosser@cox.net if you would like to attend.
The Walkabouts Group
The remaining walk in May will take place on Friday, May 23. Lake Accotink is the proposed destination. Please contact Liddell McLeod at 703-698-8366 or liddell_mcL@cox.net to add your name to the Walkabouts email list or to get locations and directions.
Study/Travel
Stay tuned for information on our proposed trip to Sicily and Southern Italy.
Doug Johnson
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Virginia
Joint Resolution No. 402:
Commending the Lifetime Learning Institute of Northern
Virginia on the occasion of its 10th anniversary
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