LLI Summer Program 2008

Members must register for the classes prior to attending because of space constraints. If you are unable to attend after registering, please contact the course coordinator so that anyone on the waiting list can be given the opportunity to attend the class.

ART/MUSIC
Dutch Masters: The Age of Rembrandt

GOVERNMENT/POLITICS
Great Decisions Videos

HEALTH/SCIENCE
Fairfax County Water Supply System: Techniques, Storage and Distribution
Web Site Development

LITERATURE
Poetry and You

HISTORY/RELIGION
Crossroads in History
Escaping Detection: Women in the Civil War
Golf, Gettysburg, and Grandchildren: Protecting the EisenhowersThe Hidden Truth: A National Icon Revealed
The War of 1812

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT/CRAFTS
Cell Phone Features: How to Use Them
Digital Photography: Using Your Camera, Transferring Images from Your Camera to Your Computer and to Your Audience

TRIPS/TOURS
Building a Town: A Walking Tour of Old Town Fairfax/a>
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens “Insider’s Tour”
Highlights of the National Gallery of Art from Giotto to Van Gogh (given twice)
Newseum and President Lincoln’s Cottage
St. Michael’s, Maryland
Travelogue: Asia, Australia and Hawaii
Travelogue: Ireland
World War I& II Memorials Tour: The “War to End All Wars” and “The Greatest Generation Revisited”

LLI Forum and Open House

The “Forum” is a meeting that offers presentations by guest speakers on a variety of topics. It is open to both members and non-members. Following the presentations, brief announcements are usually made regarding LLI’s activities. Light refreshments are available at 9:30 a.m. The meeting begins at 10:00 a.m. Refer to the LLI newsletter for details.

Upcoming Forum dates are: Monday, June 2; Tuesdays, September 2, October 7; and Wednesday, November 5. No Forum in December.

Place: Ernst Cultural Center (CE), NVCC Annandale Campus

Lunch Bunch

LLI members and guests are invited to join fellow members for lunch following each Forum meeting. For the convenience of participants, a restaurant not too far from the NOVA Campus that offers quality food at moderate prices is selected each month. The lunch gives attendees a chance to meet and greet fellow LLI members. No advance reservation is necessary. A count of those planning to participate that day is taken at the Forum. Contact John Bogart at (703) 273-2547 or jebogart@juno.com.


Monday Morning

Course 8S01A Golf, Gettysburg, and Grandchildren: Protecting the Eisenhowers (1 Session)

A Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service recalled Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential terms simply as: protecting “the three G’s”—golf, Gettysburg, and grandchildren. What special role has the Secret Service played in American history and what kind of a job is it to protect the most powerful man in the world and his family? Explore how this organization faces its many challenges and how the service adapts to the special needs of each First Family. Hear both harrowing tales and humorous anecdotes. We will place special emphasis on Secret Service operations during the period from 1953 to 1961 when General Eisenhower served as Commander in Chief and introduced the nation to three favored things—his golf game, his Gettysburg farm, and his four grandchildren.

Date & Time: Monday, July 14; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Mason District Governmental Center (Main Community Room), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 75

Leader: Michael Kelly

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391


Tuesday Mornings

Course 8S02A The War of 1812 (4 Sessions)

Born of the Napoleonic Wars and begun in ignorance, the War of 1812 exposed deep divisions within the United States, uncovered tears in the fabric of the Union, and opened another opportunity for Great Britain to conquer her former colonies. Derisively dubbed “Mr. Madison’s War” by some, the conflict included disastrous American defeats, frustrating stalemates, the near secession of New England, and the humiliation stemming from the British capture and torching of Washington, D.C. In spite of a foreign invasion on three frontiers and military setbacks, this American “Second War for Independence” produced great heroes, impressive naval victories on the lakes and seas, the triumph at New Orleans, and an unforgettable, stirring national anthem. We will explore how the War of 1812 ultimately transformed the United States into a rising power on the world stage.

Dates & Time: Tuesdays, August 5, 12, 19, 26. Note class times: The August 5, 12, and 26 classes will meet from 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. The August 19 class will meet from 12:30 p.m.—2:00 p.m.

Place: Mason District Governmental Center (Main Community Room), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 75 Leaders: Michael Kelly and Jason Martz

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391


Course 8S03A The Hidden Truth: A National Icon Revealed (1 Session)

The Lincoln Memorial endures as an icon to which millions of visitors make an annual pilgrimage. However, do you know what lies beneath the statue of Abraham Lincoln or what lies behind the innumerable myths and legends about it? Have you ever pondered the meanings of the thirty-six exterior columns or stopped to study the intricate details carved into marble and limestone? This course will debunk myths and delve into the deep symbolism contained within each carving, while developing the story of how the Lincoln Memorial Commission rose above raging battles over competing architectural schemes and suitable locations to create the most visited memorial in the nation’s capital. Join National Park Ranger Jason Martz as he takes you on a figurative journey to hidden treasures and secrets that only a Washington insider could know.

Date & Time: Tuesday, September 23; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Mason District Governmental Center (Main Community Room), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 75

Leader: Jason Martz

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391


Course 8S04A World War I & II Memorials Tour: The “War to End All Wars” and “The Greatest Generation Revisited” (1 Session)

On November 11, 1931, President Herbert C. Hoover dedicated the D.C. World War Memorial as a tribute to Washington’s World War One veterans, but, as he spoke, the seeds of a second, more devastating global war had begun to grow from soils already enriched with the blood of American patriots. Within a generation, Great War veterans were forced to see their sons go off to fight in another world war and to realize that President Wilson’s “War to End All Wars” declaration did not prove true. On May 29, 2004, President George W. Bush dedicated the World War II Memorial in the midst of another war begun by others in the wake of the Cold War. Experience the World War I and World War II memorials — respectively, the National Mall’s oldest and newest veterans’ memorials—as you never have before. Learn the insider secrets and see these sites from the perspectives of the subject matter experts — National Mall Park Rangers.

Date & Time: Tuesday, June 10; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Survey Lodge Ranger Station (Independence Avenue, between 15th and 17th Streets, SW, on the Washington Monument Grounds)

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 20

Leaders: Brad Berger and Michael Kelly

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391


Course 8S05A Digital Photography: Using Your Camera, Transferring Images from Your Camera to Your Computer and to Your Audience (3 Sessions)

The first session begins with a brief discussion of what kind of camera you will likely find useful. We’ll then move on to how to take pictures with the camera you have and tips for using some of the common camera settings. The second session will cover how to get the images from your camera into your computer and arranged so you can find them. The third session will cover how to print pictures, send them to your relatives and friends, and adjust the photos for color balance, brightness, contrast, and size (cropping) if needed.

Dates & Time: Tuesdays, July 22, 29, August 5; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. Place: Ernst Cultural Center (CE), Seminar RoomsC& D, NVCC Annandale Campus

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 40

Leader: Phil Runge

LLI Coordinator: Virginia Fernbach (703) 751-8369


Wednesday Mornings

Course 8S06A Crossroads in History (1 Session)

If you were on the waiting list for this course scheduled for June 10, you will need to submit a registration for this course, but will be given priority. Join Mary Lipsey and hear about William Fitzhugh’s tobacco plantation, the Ravensworth Tract. Learn about the legend of General Braddock’s gold buried in the area. Travel back in time when a person on horseback had to pay three cents every five miles to use Little River Turnpike. Learn about a community of freed slaves who settled near the intersection of Guinea Road and Little River Turnpike and operated a blacksmith shop there. Finally, discover the secrets of an almost forgotten cemetery of African Americans.

Date & Time: Wednesday, June 25; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Ernst Cultural Center (CE), Seminar RoomsC& D, NVCC Annandale Campus

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 40

Leader: Mary Lipsey

LLI Coordinator: Salli Wise (703) 256-8001


Course 8S07A Travelogue: Ireland (1 Session)

Whether you are an armchair traveler or avid travel participant with LLI, come join us for a PowerPoint, pictorial recap of the 13-day “Irish Tradition” tour taken by LLI members in June 2007. During this coach excursion, we traveled clockwise around the entire island, stopping at many highpoints including: Galway, Cliff of Moher, the Burren, Cong, Donegal Bay, Glenveagh, Derry, Giant’s Causeway, Belfast, Dublin, Kinsalle, Blarney, Killarney, and more.

Date & Time: Wednesday, July 9; 10:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m. (Note class time.)

Place: The Virginian, Fairfax (lunch is available onsite in the cafeteria)

Class Size: Min. 15, Max. 70 Leader and LLI Coordinator:Bob Huley (703) 534-4819


Course 8S08A Travelogue: Asia, Australia and Hawaii (2 Sessions)

This past Fall, Lorrin and Ann Garson embarked on a 22,000-mile voyage of the Pacific. Heading west, they visited fascinating ports of call on three continents. Join us for these breathtaking presentations.

August 6 This program will highlight the first segment of the trip from Russia’s Far East to Japan and China. From the stark beauty of remote volcanic Russian islands, to a honeymoon destination in South Korea, to quiet Japanese gardens, to famed antiquities of China, juxtaposed against its thoroughly modern cities, this presentation will convey the history, beauty and emotion of these diverse and exotic destinations.

August 13 Join the Garsons for this spellbinding itinerary with a continuation from Singapore to Hawaii. Explore the many faces of Hong Kong, Java’s colonial past and Buddhist temples, and Bali’s rich Hindu traditions, and then continue on to see Australia’s pristine landscapes and intriguing wildlife, view the natural tropical wonders of Fiji and Samoa, and finish with a military history tour in Hawaii.

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, August 6, 13; 10:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m. (Note class time.)

Place: The Virginian, Fairfax (lunch is available onsite in the cafeteria)

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 70

Leaders: Lorrin and Ann Garson

LLI Coordinator: Paul Hopler (703) 978-9381


Course 8S09A Cell Phone Features: How to Use Them (2 Sessions)

Perhaps you have a cell phone and have some questions on charging, call back numbers, techniques for use, special costs, etc. Perhaps you have never used text messaging, found your way with a GPS, taken and sent pictures, accessed your e-mail or the Internet, set up special ring tones, caller ID, or pictures, used the calendar, or downloaded songs/ring tones. This course will help you understand and perhaps use these features.

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, August 20, 27; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Little River United Church of Christ (Room 8), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 25

Leader: Loria King

LLI Coordinator: Paul Hopler (703) 978-9381


Course 8S10A Great Decisions Videos (4 Sessions)

View these 25-30 minute videos (two per class) produced by The Foreign Policy Association that were discussed by more than 25 LLI members during the Winter/Spring 2008 term. If you were unable to attend Course 8W36P, or you missed some of the classes, here is your opportunity to examine some important foreign policy issues. There will be time for discussion.

July 9 Iraq End Game
European Union at 50

July 16 Talking to Our Enemies
Russia

July 23 U.S. Defense & Security Policy
Latin America: Shift to the Left?

July 30 U.S./China Trade Policy
Private Philanthropy

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, July 9, 16, 23, 30; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. Place: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church (Room 304), Annandale Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 30

Leader/LLI Coordinator: Lorin Goodrich (703) 425-9574


Thursday Mornings

Course 8S11A Dutch Masters: The Age of Rembrandt (4 Sessions)

This is a continuation of our Winter/Spring program on Dutch Masters. During these four sessions, we will watch eight videotaped lectures given by Professor William Kloss, Independent Art Historian, The Smithsonian Associates, Smithsonian Institution, and published by The Teaching Company. These lectures will focus on Rembrandt. The lecture titles are as follows: (1) The Decoration of the Amsterdam Town Hall; Rembrandt to 1630; (2) Rembrandt in Amsterdam, 1631-34; Rembrandt and the Baroque Style; (3) Rembrandt’s Personal Baroque Style; Rembrandt’s Etchings; and (4) Rembrandt in the 1650s; Rembrandt’s Last Years.

Dates & Time: Thursdays, July 24, 31, August 7, 28; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. Place: Ernst Cultural Center (CE), Seminar RoomsC& D, NVCC Annandale Campus

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 30

Leaders/LLI Coordinators: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391 and Donna Trogler (703) 751-8932


Course 8S12A Escaping Detection: Women in the Civil War (1 Session)

Tales of women spies and women soldiers excited the nation after the Civil War. These women hailed from all walks of life; some even lived in Fairfax County. The idea of women using their femininity and ingenuity to pass on vital information about the enemy was totally unexpected. The lesser known story was that of women who donned uniforms and posed as men to fight the war. During the Civil War, approximately 400 women successfully hid their gender and were true soldiers in every sense of the word.

Date & Time: Thursday, September 4; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Mason District Governmental Center (Large Conference Room), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 50

Leader: Mary Lipsey

LLI Coordinator: Salli Wise (703) 256-8001


Course 8S13A Meadowlark Botanical Gardens “Insider’s Tour” (1 Session)

This program will include a guided tour of the non-public areas, such as the greenhouses, maintenance area, and the pump house, and will also include a visit to the cabin where Caroline Ware and Gardner Means, founders of Meadowlark, lived after their arrival in the area in 1935 and where planning sessions for FDR’s New Deal programs were held. (The cabin is open to the public.) The lecture preceding the tour will describe the behind-the-scenes functions of these non-public areas and the history and background of both the Botanical Gardens and Caroline Ware and Gardner Means.

Date & Time: Thursday, July 24; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Visitor Center, Vienna

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 30

Leader: Keith Tomlinson

LLI Coordinator: Elaine Cherry (703) 560-4860


Course 8S14A Building a Town: A Walking Tour of Old Town Fairfax (1 Session)

This guided walking tour will use maps, photographs, and statistics, in addition to buildings and the streetscape, to acquaint participants with how Old Town Fairfax has changed and evolved over the last 100 years. Special emphasis of the tour will be on an update of the downtown redevelopment project and an insider’s first glance at the restoration of Historic Blenheim, a 12-acre site with two mid-nineteenth century houses, strongly linked to Civil War events in the area. The tour will begin and end at the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main Street, and will cover about one and one-half miles, all on sidewalks. Participants should dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a water bottle. Parking and restrooms are available at the Museum and Visitor Center.

Date & Time: Thursday, June 26; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center

Class Size: Min. 5, Max. 20

Leader: Susan Inskeep Gray LLI Coordinator: Elaine Cherry (703) 560-4860


Course 8S15A Fairfax County Water Supply System: Techniques, Storage and Distribution (1 Session)

The course will present the history of water supply in Fairfax County, describe the formation of the Fairfax County Water Authority, and provide an overview of water sources, water treatment techniques, and water storage and distribution methods used to serve the residents of Fairfax County and some surrounding areas. In addition, participants will learn about the specific treatment process and water quality testing used at the Griffith Facility. The course will also include a walking tour of the Griffith Water Treatment facility. Directions to the Fairfax County Water Authority will be provided prior to the class to those who are registered.

Date & Time: Thursday, July 24; 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. (Note class time.)

Place: Griffith Water Treatment Facility, Fairfax County Water Authority

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 30

Leader: Jeanne Bailey

LLI Coordinator: Richard DiBuono (703) 960-5981


Thursday Afternoon

Course 8S16P Web Site Development (2 Sessions)

This course will provide an introduction to developing, making changes to, and uploading information to a web site. Attendees may use this information for a personal web site or to maintain an organization web site. The LLI web site will be used as a specific example, and people interested in helping to maintain this web site are specifically invited to attend.

Dates & Time: Thursdays, August 28, September 4; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

Place: Spring Hill Clubhouse, Lorton, VA

Class Size: Min. 4, Max. 8

Leader: Sidney Sachs

LLI Coordinator: Paul Hopler (703) 978-9381


Friday Morning

Course 8S17A Highlights of the National Gallery of Art from Giotto to Van Gogh (1 Session, given twice)

Professor and Art Historian Tom Hardy will lead a tour of highlights of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The tour will focus on 15 single works by great artists from the 14th to 19th centuries: Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian, Bronzino, Grunewald, Holbein, El Greco, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Courbet, Manet, Monet, and Van Gogh. If time allows, we will tour the special exhibition on the disturbing 21st century photographs of Richard Misrach entitled “On the Beach.” Two class times are offered for convenience; both will assemble in the Rotunda, Main Floor of the West Building next to the Fountain of Mercury, either at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. (See Course 8S18P under Friday Afternoons.)

Date: Friday, June 20

Time: 10:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m. (Note class time.)

Place: National Gallery of Art, Rotunda, West Building, 6th St. & Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC. Participants must arrange for their own travel. Closest Metro station is Archives/Navy Memorial (on the green and yellow lines). Please assemble no later than 10:15 a.m.

Class Size: Strictly limited to 20. (NOTE: Because of the special nature of a guided museum tour, each session will be for registered members only.)

Leader: Professor Tom Hardy

LLI Coordinator: Virginia Fernbach (703) 751-8369


Friday Afternoons

Course 8S18P Highlights of the National Gallery of Art from Giotto to Van Gogh (1 Session, given twice)

Professor and Art Historian Tom Hardy will lead a tour of highlights of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The tour will focus on 15 single works by great artists from the 14th to 19th centuries: Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian, Bronzino, Grunewald, Holbein, El Greco, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Courbet, Manet, Monet, and Van Gogh. If time allows, we will tour the special exhibition on the disturbing 21st century photographs of Richard Misrach entitled “On the Beach.” Two class times are offered for convenience; both will assemble in the Rotunda, Main Floor of the West Building next to the Fountain of Mercury, either at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. (See Course 8S17A under Friday Morning.)

Date: Friday, June 20

Time: 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

Place: National Gallery of Art, Rotunda, West Building, 6th St. & Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC. Participants must arrange for their own travel. Closest Metro station is Archives/Navy Memorial (on the green and yellow lines). Please assemble no later than 1:15 p.m.

Class Size: Strictly limited to 20. (NOTE: Because of the special nature of a guided museum tour, each session will be for registered members only.)

Leader: Professor Tom Hardy

LLI Coordinator: Virginia Fernbach (703) 751-8369


Course 8S19P Poetry and You (4 Sessions)

Join us for one of LLI’s long-time favorite classes and learn more about how poetry can change your life. We will read and talk about the work of contemporary poets as well as our favorite classics.

Dates & Time: Fridays, July 11, 18, 25, August 1; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

Place: Little River United Church of Christ (Room 8), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 8, Max. 15

Leader/LLI Coordinator: Richard Risk (703) 578-9898


Day Trips

DT-7-15-08 Newseum and President Lincoln’s

Join us for a tour of the recently opened Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue and President Lincoln’s Cottage at The Soldiers’ Home. Lunch will be on your own at the Newseum food court, at Wolfgang Puck’s new restaurant, The Source, or elsewhere in the area. Our coach will take us first to the Newseum where we will start with an orientation film and a 4th dimensional film before we begin our self-guided tour. Featured are the 40 x 22 foot hi-def media screen showing news as it happens; an open balcony with breathtaking views of the Mall and the Capitol; 14 major galleries depicting the history of newsmaking and its delivery; Pulitzer prize-winning photographs; a wall containing the current front pages of newspapers from around the country and world; two state-of-the-art broadcasting studios; and much more. Artifacts on display include a piece of the New York World Trade Center, a piece of the Berlin Wall, and an ATS satellite.

In the afternoon, at President Lincoln’s Cottage, we will be divided into groups of 15 for the hour-long docent-led tours. Tours start through the house every half-hour. Those not touring can watch the orientation film, explore the museum, or use the interactive computers to discuss issues of the Civil War, etc., or just rest. The tour involves stairs and standing for long periods. A small elevator is available. The excellent guides provide much insight into Lincoln, his family, and the times.

Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008. Cost: $55 for members; $65 for non-members. Please submit check payable to LLI/NOVA with your registration. Be sure to sign the “Assumption of Risk and Acknowledgement of Responsibility” statement. Include a SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED, LEGAL-SIZE ENVELOPE.

Time & Place of Departure: Bus leaves from Little River United Church of Christ, Annandale, at 9:15 a.m. and returns at approximately 5:15 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure. Park in the center of the parking lot away from the church entrance.

Trip Size: Max. 44

Leader/Assistant Leader: Ginny Moser (703) 451-7469 and Genevieve Thiem (703) 764-5866 LLI Coordinator: Louise Sousk (703) 323-9144

DT-8-14-08 St. Michael’s, Maryland

We will travel to St. Michael’s, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. St. Michael’s is steeped in history dating from before the American Revolution. We will begin our visit with a cruise on “The Patriot” on the Miles River. View historic homes and wildlife and learn some of the history of this beautiful town.

Lunch is included at The Crab Claw. After lunch, you will have time to stroll the streets, tour the adjacent Maritime Museum, or visit the shops on Talbot Street.

Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008. Cost: $65 for members; $75 for non-members. Please submit check payable to LLI/NOVA with your registration. Be sure to sign the “Assumption of Risk and Acknowledgement of Responsibility” statement. Include a SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED, LEGAL-SIZE ENVELOPE.

Time & Place of Departure: Bus leaves from Little River United Church of Christ, Annandale, at 8:15 a.m. and returns at approximately 5:15 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure. Park in the center of the parking lot away from the church entrance.

Trip Size: Max. 44

Leader/Assistant Leader: Betty Pogermon (703) 323-7634 and Giovanna Prestigiacomo (703) 425-4465

LLI Coordinator: Louise Sousk (703) 323-9144