2008 Winter/Spring Classes


Registration Form

Course 8W01A The Peace Corps: “The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love”
Course 8W02A The Life and Times of Shel Silverstein
Course 8W03A The Civil War in the West
Course 8W04A Meaning in the Bible for Today
Course 8W05A Classical Mythology II
Course 8W06A Knitting for Beginners and Others
Course 8W07P Preparing the Family for Emergencies
Course 8W09P Energy, Climate and Ethics
Course 8W09P Symphonic Sensations
Course 8W10A Crossroads in History
Course 8W11A Make a Multi-Use Basket
Course 8W12A More National Parks
Course 8W13A William Shakespeare Tragedy, Comedy, History
Course 8W14A Using DNA in Genealogy
Course 8W15P The Impact of the Sinking of the RMS Titanic on Washington, DC
Course 8W16P English History Part II
Course 8W17P Soldier Life in the Civil War
Course 8W18A Topics of Interest
Course 8W19A The First World War Causes, Conduct, Consequences (1870-1923)
Course 8W20A Emergency Preparedness
Course 8W21A Elements of Railroading History in Motion
Course 8W22A Historical Jesus
Course 8W23A "What's the Big Idea?" (Post WW II Visions of the Future)
Course 8W24A Getting in Touch with Historical Artifacts
Course 8W25A Elder Law Comes of Age
Course 8W26P Presidential Campaigns in Song and Story (1800-1948)
Course 8W27P Study/Travel Alaska
Course 8W28P Concepts of Divine Punishment: Hebrew and Christian
Course 8W29P Achieve Your Dreams in Retirement
Course 8W30P Opera Spotlight
Course 8W31A Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Tour and Lecture
Course 8W32A Lighthouses
Course 8W33A Dutch Masters The Age of Rembrandt
Course 8W34A Heaven in Your Own Backyard: Building a Habitat
Course 8W35A Four Artists from the 19th and 20th Centuries
Course 8W36P Great Decisions
Course 8W37P Genelogy
Course 8W38P Geology The Long and Short of It
Course 8W39P Poetry and You
Course 8W40A Wildflower Walk in Spring Great Falls, VA
Course 8W41A Wildflower Walk in Spring Linden, VA
Course 8W42A Make Multi-Use Basket
Course 8W43A History Presentations by NVCC Faculty
DT-4-4-08 Air Force Memorial and Nationl Museum of the Marine Corps
DT-5-5-08 Thurmont and Frederick County, MD

 

 Monday Mornings

 

Course  8W01A            The Peace Corps: “The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love” (1 Session)

 

Come and learn about the history of The Peace Corps since its inception in 1961 to the present and watch a video of older volunteers serving in many different countries, and in different sectors. Dorothy will share some of her experiences as a 64-year-old health education volunteer in Mali, West Africa. You will learn the three goals of The Peace Corps and why it’s “the toughest job you’ll ever love.”

 

Date & Time: Monday, June 9; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: James Lee Community Center (Room 111), Falls Church

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 30

Leader: Dorothy Schoeneman

LLI Coordinator: Dick DiBuono (703) 960-5981

 

Course  8W02A                       The Life and Times of Shel Silverstein (2 Sessions)

 

Where do you go when the sidewalk ends? Join Mary O’Day for the life and times of Shel Silverstein, a gifted poet, playwright, song writer, illustrator, and cartoonist. He is best known as a children’s poet. It is suggested that participants in the class familiarize themselves with either: “Where the Sidewalk Ends” or “A Light in the Attic.”

 

Dates & Time: Mondays, April 21, 28; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

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

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 40

Leader: Mary O’Day (703) 216-4546

LLI Coordinator: Arlene Gribben (703) 569-0357

 

Course 8W03A                       The Civil War in the West (8 Sessions)

 

While national attention during the American Civil War remained fixed on Union military setbacks in the East around Washington, DC, and Richmond, VA,, the North actually was winning the war in the West. Union gains there not only took territory, they deprived the rest of the Confederacy of supplies and provisions needed for its armed forces and its population. Explore the strategic operations that forced the Confederacy into submission. Discussions will focus on dynamic battles such as Shiloh, Stones River, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, and Atlanta and the personalities whose actions and decisions determined the fate of the United States.

 

Dates & Time: Mondays, March 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28; 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

 

Course  8W04A                       Meaning in the Bible for Today (2 Sessions)

 

Using Bruce Feiler’s book Where God Was Born, we’ll take a journey looking for meaning in the Bible for today’s world.

 

Dates & Time: Mondays, February 11, 25; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Greenspring Village, Village Square, Accotink Room (across from Theater)

Class Size: Unlimited

Leader: Rabbi Bruce Aft

LLI Coordinator: Ellen Gale (703) 569-3370

 

Course 8W05A            Knitting for Beginners and Others (6 Sessions)        

 

Join one of LLI’s favorite courses and review basic knitting stitches—knit, purl, cast on, increase, decrease, cast off, and yarn over. Knit simple objects or garments using these stitches. Learn to knit with four double-pointed needles or circular needles for making mittens, socks or hats, booties, etc. Make a fancy scarf with fun fur! The instructor will contact each student prior to the first class regarding purchase of yarn and knitting needles. Note: Knitters of all skill levels are encouraged to participate—we learn from each other.

 

Dates & Time: Mondays, February 4, 11, 25, March 3, 10, 17; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Little River United Church of Christ (Room 7), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 5, Max. 10

Leader/LLI Coordinator: Genevieve Thiem (703) 764-5866

 

Course  8W06A                       Classical Mythology II (4 Sessions)

 

This is the second part of three of a course by Professor Elizabeth Vandiver published by The Teaching Company. This Fall, we will continue our focus on Greek mythology and culture with her lectures 11 through 18. Topics include Aphrodite, goddess of sexual love; culture and background of the gods and the Great Goddess; humans, heroes and half gods; Theseus and the “test and quest” myth and its development from myth to history and back; Heracles, the greatest hero of all; and the Trojan War and the related myths of the house of Atreus. There will be time for discussion after each half-hour film. Classical Mythology I given during the Fall 2006 semester introduced the subject by covering the first 10 lectures of the course.

 

Dates & Time: Mondays, March 24, 31, April 7, 14; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church (Room 304), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 8, Max. 30

Leaders/LLI Coordinators: Shirley Lotz (703) 978-2977 and Marjorie Runge (703) 451-0589

 

Monday Afternoons

 

Course  8W07P            Preparing the Family for Emergencies—The Family Emergency Workbooks (1 Session)

 

You never know when an emergency will happen. A flood, earthquake, tornado, fire, accident, major illness, or death are just a few potential emergencies. The question is NOT: ARE YOU prepared. It is ARE YOUR family members prepared. Jim Litchko, The I.C.E. Guy, will provide a simple outline for a family book and a child’s workbook that will prepare your families to help you and themselves. He will also show how a valve can save $18,000, rubber band can save your credit cards, programming your phone can save your life, duct tape and a baggy can save your computer, and many other useful items. Jim has authored over five books on security and management.

 

Date & Time: Monday, February 4; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

Place: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church (Room 304), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 40

Leader: Jim Litchko

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391

 

Course  8W08P                        Energy, Climate and Ethics (3 Sessions)

 

United States energy policy affects all of us. Don Igo, an energy policy expert who retired from the U.S. Department of Transportation, will discuss energy dependence, affects on climate and associated ethical issues. Specific topics include: U.S. energy policy in the context of our absolute dependence on energy as the basis of civilization, arrayed against the severe societal costs associated with energy use, including climate change; military and geopolitical costs; economic impacts of oil shocks; environmental pollution; and ethical and philosophical issues that appear to be barriers to U.S. action on climate change.

 

Dates & Time: Mondays, May 5, 12, 19; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

Place: James Lee Community Center (Room 111), Falls Church

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 30

Leader: Donald Igo (703) 569-3182

LLI Coordinator: Lorin Goodrich (703) 425-9574

 

Course  8W09P                        Symphonic Sensations (3 Sessions)

 

William Hudson, Music Director and Conductor, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO), continues his popular previews of the orchestra’s concerts. His presentations include insights into the lives of certain composers and how their environments influenced their compositions. Portions of the composers’ works will be played from CDs.

 

February 25    Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber; Mozart: Exsultate Jubilate; Mahler: Symphony No. 4

April 21          Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy; Prokofiev: Excerpts from Romeo and Juliet Suites 1 and 2; Beethoven: Symphony No. 5

May 5              Debussy: Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun; Bruch: Scottish Fantasy; Prokoviev: Symphony No. 5

 

Dates & Time: Mondays, February 25, April 21, May 5; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

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

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 60

Leader: William Hudson

LLI Coordinator: Lorin Goodrich (703) 425-9574

 

Tuesday Mornings

 

Course  8W10A                       Crossroads in History (1 Session)

 

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

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

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 40

Leader: Mary Lipsey

LLI Coordinator: Salli Wise (703) 256-8001

 

Course   8W11A                       Make a Multi-Use Basket (3 Sessions, given twice)

 

This 6” x 13” basket can serve many purposes, e.g., as a bread basket, a toilet tank topper, etc. The basket will be approximately 5” high. Colored reed is available so you can create your own unique basket. Materials Fee: $9. Enclose a check payable to Louise Sousk with your registration.

 

Dates & Time: Tuesdays, March 11, 18, 25; 11:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m. (Note class time.)

Place: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Fellowship Hall), Springfield

Class Size: Min. 5, Max. 8

Leaders/LLI Coordinators: Louise Sousk (703) 323-9144 and Edward Mark (703) 323-9144

 

Course  8W12A                       More National Parks (3 Sessions)

 

This is a continuation of the “Introduction to the National Parks” course conducted in the Summer 2007 term. This course will focus on the National Park system beyond the Greater Washington local boundaries. While nothing replaces visits to these parks, veteran Park Rangers remain fair substitutes. We invite you to experience six of our National Parks through the stories, recollections, and insights of eight current Washington, DC Park Rangers who once served in other parts of America.

 

Dates & Time: Tuesdays, February 26, March 11, 25; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

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

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 75

Leaders: Michael Kelly and Jennifer Epstein

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391

 

Course  8W13A            William Shakespeare: Tragedy, Comedy, History (4 Sessions)

 

This course offers further insight into Shakespeare’s plays through lectures by Professor Peter Saccio of Dartmouth College, presented by The Teaching Company.  In each class session, we will view the DVDs, followed by time for questions and discussion.

 

April 8             The Taming of the Shrew

April 15            Richard III

April 22            The Merchant of Venice

April 29            King Lear

 

Dates & Time: Tuesdays, April 8, 15, 22, 29; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

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

Class Size: Min. 15, Max. 30

Leaders/LLI Coordinators: Marianne Moerman (703) 751-0523 and Liddell McLeod (703) 698-8366

 

Tuesday Afternoons

 

Course  8W14A                       Using DNA in Genealogy (1 Session)

 

This one-session class will explain how DNA testing can and cannot help the advanced genealogist. The class is open to anyone interested in learning about DNA, but the use of DNA testing for genealogical purposes is recommended for the more advanced genealogist who has either “hit a brick wall” or is trying to prove a suspected relationship.

 

Date & Time: Tuesday, May 20; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

Place: TV Channel 10 Building (Studio A), Fairfax

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 25

Leader/LLI Coordinator: Arline Sachs (703) 646-5606

 

Course  8W15P            The Impact of the Sinking of the RMS Titanic on Washington, DC (1 Session)

 

Survivor Jack Thayer believed that “the world of today awoke April 15, 1912” when the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic “not only made the world rub its eyes and awake, but woke it with a start.” Humanity’s crowning achievement lay two and a half miles beneath the waves of the North Atlantic. Discover how the loss of the great ship affected the Nation’s Capital—its memorials, its institutions, and its people—through an exploration of the numerous and interesting connections between the Titanic disaster and Washington, DC.

 

Date & Time: Tuesday, April 15; 12:00 p.m.—1:30 p.m. (Note class time.)

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

 

Course  8W16P                        English History—Part II (10 Sessions)

 

This portion of our course will cover English history from the Tudors to the 20th century. It will include English expansion and the colonization of North America; the development of the English constitution and how it affected America; and the rise of the industrial revolution. Suggested text: The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain, ed K.O. Morgan.

 

Dates & Time: Tuesdays, February 12, 19, 26, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15; 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: Burt Greenstein (703) 913-6153

 

Course  8W17P                        Soldier Life in the Civil War (2 Sessions)

 

Our first session consists of a lecture and demonstration on the uniform, equipment, food, and soldier life of the U.S. Regular Army during the American Civil War, with particular emphasis on the year 1862. Class participants will have the opportunity to sample authentic period food and try on uniform items. Weather permitting, the session will be held outdoors.

The second session (optional) includes a field trip, location to be determined. Union and Confederate military and civilian re-enactors will portray daily life with living history impressions, infantry drills and demonstrations. Note: class participants will travel to the field site on their own.

 

Dates & Times: Tuesday, February 12 (for lecture); 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m. Date for field trip (optional) to be determined.

Place: John Marshall Library (Meeting Room), Alexandria (for lecture); field trip site to be determined.

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 50

Leader: Darrell Cochran

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391

 

Wednesday Mornings

 

Course  8W18A            Topics of Interest—Continued (4 Sessions)

 

March 19                    The China-U.S. Connection: To What End?

March 26                    Israel and Palestine: Ancient “Curse,” Modern Conflict

April 2                        Health Care in America: An Issue Demanding Solutions

April 9                        The “United Nations:” Ideal and Reality

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, March 19, 26, April 2, 9; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church (Room 304), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 40

Leader: Dr. Carl Steiner

LLI Coordinator: George Pearsall (703) 451-0916

 

Course  8W19A            The First World War: Causes, Conduct, Consequences (1870-1923) (4 Sessions)

 

World War I has been characterized as the unnecessary war that turned out to be the defining event of the 20th century. Part I will consider the long- and short-term causes of the war, starting with the unification of Germany in 1870 through the trench warfare stalemate on the western front in early 1915. This is Part I of a two-part course.

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, May 28, June 4, 11, 18; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

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

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 75

Leader/LLI Coordinator: Bill Deary (703) 354-8593

 

Course   8W20A                       Emergency Preparedness (2 Sessions)

 

Enhance your public protective actions and promote citizen emergency preparedness so that you can adequately mitigate, prepare for, respond appropriately to, and quickly recover from any natural, technological, or terrorist related emergency that may impact the residents of Northern Virginia. The information conveyed in this course pertains to all Virginia localities to varying degrees. Staff from the Fairfax County Health Department, Office of Emergency Preparedness, Medical Reserve Corps, will present an overview of each office’s mission and their roles and responsibilities, as well as appropriate citizen responses in order to enhance safety and promote cooperation with any emergency mobilization. This is a repeat of the popular course given in the Winter/Spring 2007 term.

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, March 12, 19; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: James Lee Community Center (Room 111), Falls Church

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 25

Leaders: Dianne Quebral and Ellen Kamilakis

LLI Coordinator: Barry Newman (703) 941-0445

 

Course  8W21A            Elements of Railroading: History in Motion (4 Sessions)

 

Come and hear about and discuss the following: Rome’s influence on the world’s railroads; model railroads come in all sizes; Amtrak’s disaster at Bayou Canot, and seeing the world by railroad.         

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, April 16, 23, 30, May 7; 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. (Note class time.)

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

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 35

Leader: Glenn Downing

LLI Coordinator: Moe Moser (703) 451-7469

 

Course  8W22A                        Historical Jesus (6 Sessions)

 

In this six-session course, we will hear about and discuss information on the following subjects: Archeological Studies in Israel; Chronologically Arranging the New Testament;

Jesus Seminar Work and Techniques; Comparisons of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, along with Some of Paul’s Writings; Evidence of Wealth in Jesus’ Family and Close Friends; and A “Fuzzy” View of the Historical Jesus.

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 5; 10:30 a.m.12:00 p.m. (Note class time.)

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

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 40

Leader: Glenn Downing

LLI Coordinator: Moe Moser (703) 451-7469

 

Course  8W23A            “What’s the Big Idea?” (Post WW II Visions of the Future) (4 Sessions)

 

Participants will look at excerpts of two films that seemed to capture a “cross-eyed” vision of the America’s future soon after the end of World War II. In “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart provide us with a sublimely “corny” version of a big-hearted America, while in “The Fountainhead” (1949), Ayn Rand and Gary Cooper present a darker vision of America in which a heroic individual is pitted against an oppressive “system.” This course will examine the underlying messages in these films and how they illuminate the nation’s continuing left-right “culture wars.” The messages will be compared and the cinematic techniques used to bring them to life will be discussed.

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28; 10:00 a.m.11:30 a.m.

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

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 20

Leader: Professor Michael Anderson

LLI Coordinator: Lorin Goodrich (703) 425-9574

 

Course  8W24A            Getting in Touch with Historical Artifacts (4 Sessions)

 

This course is a continuation of the annual “Discovering Archaeology” classes offered by the Cultural Resource Management and Protection Unit of the Fairfax County Park Authority. Instructors will conduct classroom sessions on cataloguing historical artifacts, including examples. Registrants will then have the opportunity to perform archaeological lab processing, including washing and cataloguing of artifacts. Participants in the lab portion of this course will be encouraged to wear clothes they don’t mind getting soiled. This does not apply to the first session.

 

Dates & Time:  Wednesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23; 10:00 a.m.11:30 a.m.

Place: James Lee Community Center, Falls Church (look for signs directing you to the classroom)

Class Size: Min. 5, Max. 15

Leader: Dr. Elizabeth Crowell

LLI Coordinator: Lorin Goodrich (703) 425-9574

 

Course  8W25A                       Elder Law Comes of Age (5 Sessions)

 

This course, a repeat of the popular course given during the Winter/Spring 2007 term, will cover a variety of topics related to Elder Law and its interrelationship with estate planning. Issues surrounding how capacity affects the execution of legal documents to ways to understand and avoid probate will be thoroughly discussed. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a discussion of how to advocate for ill or disabled family and friends as well as to learn more about various living/housing options and sources of payment. The five sessions will include:

 

Planning Before It’s Too Late: Issues in determining capacity and the purpose of powers of attorney, advance medical directives and trusts.

 

Thinking About Housing and Long-Term Care Options: A discussion of different living options from living independently to living in a nursing home. How to evaluate contracts for continuing care retirement communities and how to select an assisted living facility.

 

Planning For a Long Life and How to Pay For It: A discussion of long-term care insurance and other sources of payments such as Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans benefits. A brief discussion on the purpose of special needs trusts.

 

Comprehensive Estate Planning for Retired Persons and How to Avoid Conflict: A discussion of wills and types of beneficiary designations, along with the differences between probate and non-probate assets and how to select fiduciaries.

 

How to Advocate for Ill/Disabled Family or Friends: An interactive discussion among participants as to their own experiences with physicians, hospitals and nursing homes, and what techniques are helpful.

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, April 9, 16, 30, May 7, 14; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: James Lee Community Center, Room 111, Falls Church

Class Size: Min. 15, Max. 25

Leader: Susan Pollack, Esq.

LLI Coordinator: Barry Newman (703) 941-0445

 

Wednesday Afternoons

 

Course  8W26P            Presidential Campaigns in Song and Story (1800-1948) (2 Sessions)

 

When election politics was a participatory rather than a spectator sport, party faithful did more than just cheer or boo. They heaped lyrical praise on their man and/or lyrical scorn on his opponent. For a sampler, Jefferson and Liberty, Tippecanoe and Tyler Too, If the Johnnies Get into Power Again, Get on a Raft with Taft Boys, and Keep Cool and Keep Coolidge. Between songs, our instructor, LLI member Bill Deary, will give short summaries of the key issues at the time of the campaigns, personalities, and how they affected the results.

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, January 30, February 6; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

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

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 75

Leader: Bill Deary (703) 354-8593

LLI Coordinator: Sally Reynolds (703) 352-7494

 

Course 8W27P                        Study/Travel: Alaska (3 Sessions)

 

Join us to discuss the many sights we’ll see and activities in which we’ll participate during our trip to Alaska in June 2008.

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, April 2, 9, 30; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

Place: Mason District Governmental Center

Class Size: Min. 15, Max. 40

Leader/LLI Coordinator: Doug Johnson (703) 628-3115

 

Course   8W28P            Concepts of Divine Punishment: Hebrew and Christian—Sheol, Gehenna, Hell…How They Differ with Modern Understanding (3 Sessions)

 

The Hebrew word sheol and the Greek word gehenna are oftentimes translated as hell, with the understanding being an abode of Divine and eternal punishment. In reality, however, neither of these words as they are used in their Hebrew and Christian scriptural contexts has the implicit meaning of modern concepts of hell. These concepts will be examined, along with other words and phrases alluding to the concept of Divine punishment. Note: No registration required for this course.

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, January 9, 16, 23; 2:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m. (Note class time.) (Also note that January 30 will be the alternate date in case of snow.)

Place: Greenspring Village, Village Square, Accotink Room (across from Theater)

Class Size: Unlimited

Leader: John Rybicki

LLI Coordinator: Ellen Gale (703) 569-3370

 

Course  8W29P                        Achieve Your Dreams in Retirement (1 Session)

 

In college we all had goals. Because there was a set curriculum we had to complete before we could graduate, we were driven toward that goal. In our careers we could see the corporate ladder and mostly knew where we wanted to finish. In retirement, schedules, plans and the idea of goal setting become somewhat blurred. In this session, Kelly Campbell, Certified Financial Planner and Motivational Speaker, will provide you with the tools that will make possible what seems to be impossible and to set up a path to make your dreams a reality. The program will highlight: the 80/20 Paradigm Shift; the Top 100 List; the 10x Mind Expander; 24/7 Accountability; Retiree Delegation; and “The Secret.”

 

Date & Time: Wednesday, April 30; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

Place: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church (Room 304), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 40

Leader: Kelly Campbell

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391

 

Course  8W30P                        Opera Spotlight (3 Sessions)

 

Most of us know the music of Peter Tchaikovsky through his great symphonic works and ballets. This season we have the opportunity to experience one of Tchaikovskys operas when Virginia Opera presents its first Russian opera, Eugene Onegin, on February 22 and 24. Three classes will explore Tchaikovskys masterpiece and discuss its place in Russian culture. Join us and experience the passion and melancholy of one of the worlds great composers.

 

Dates & Time: Wednesdays, February 6, 13, 20; 1:00 p.m.—2:30 p.m. (Note class time.)

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

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 50

Leader: Candy Leibundguth

LLI Coordinator: Helen Clark (703) 573-1671

 

Thursday Mornings

 

Course 8W31A            Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Tour and Lecture (1 Session)

 

This program will include a guided tour of the gardens, led by Meadowlark’s Manager and featuring seasonal blooming plants. The lecture sets the stage and also includes highlights of the gardens’ master plan. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Entrance fee to the gardens is waived for class registrants. In case of inclement weather, the program will be conducted indoors.

 

Date & Time: Thursday, May 8; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Visitor Center, Vienna

Class Size: Min.10, Max. 50

Leader: Keith Tomlinson

LLI Coordinator: Elaine Cherry (703) 560-4860

 

Course  8W32A                       Lighthouses (1 Session)

 

This course will provide a worldwide tour of lighthouses as they have appeared on the stamps of more than 80 countries of the world. Nearly 800 lighthouse stamps have been issued worldwide, 27 by the United States. Both the lighthouses and their interesting history and characteristics, as well as their corresponding stamps, will be discussed during the presentation.

 

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

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

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 40

Leader: Grant Fulkerson

LLI Coordinator: Blanche Goulet (703) 971-1460

 

Course  8W33A                       Dutch Masters: The Age of Rembrandt (4 Sessions)

 

During each of our four sessions, we will watch three videotaped lectures given by Professor William Kloss, Independent Art Historian, The Smithsonian Associates, and published by The Teaching Company. Holland in the 17th century was home to the most remarkable concentration of artistic talent and accomplishment in modern history. From this tiny land came the great masters Vermeer, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Pieter de Hooch, and Rembrandt, as well as an abundant assembly of memorable artists. The focus of this series will be: Jan Steen: Order and Disorder in Dutch Life; Pieter de Hooch and Quietude; Art in Delft; Johannes Vermeer, c. 1655-60; 1660-1665; 1665-1670; Still Life Painting, c. 1620-54 and c. 1652-82; Landscape Painting: The Early Decades; Landscapes of Jan van Goyen and Rembrandt; Foreign Landscapes; and Landscape Painting in the 1640’s and 1650’s.

 

Dates & Time: Thursdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Place: Providence Presbyterian Church (Parlor), Fairfax

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 40

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391

 

Course  8W34A            Heaven in Your Own Backyard: Building a Habitat to Attract Beautiful Birds & Wildlife (1 Session)

 

Northern Virginia is blessed by a population of beautiful birds, butterflies and bees, and other animals that bring joy to our daily lives. Dan Dennison, a local photographer and gardener, will present a class that will share many of the secrets of attracting birds and wildlife to your own backyard. He will highlight immediate steps one can take to bring the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird and the Monarch Butterfly to your garden. Dan has photographed 32 species of birds and numerous other animals in his own yard. He will emphasize the building blocks of a healthy backyard habitat, including recommended plants, food, and water. He will also discuss many of the unique needs of different birds like the Goldfinch during the year, as well as strategies to discourage visits by unwanted pests and predators.

 

Date & Time: Thursday, April 10; 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: Dan Dennison

LLI Coordinator: Mary Underwood (703) 329-8391

 

Course  8W35A            Four Artists from the 19th and 20th Centuries: An Overview of Their Work and Backgrounds (4 Sessions)

 

WETA has produced several documentaries on various artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. During these four sessions, we will explore the works of Cezanne, Van Gogh, John Singer, and Mary Cassat. The sessions will be conducted by WETA staff and persons from the educational department of the National Gallery of Art.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

Dates & Time: Thursdays, May 22, 29, June 5, 12; 10:00 a.m.—11:30 p.m.

Place: WETA, Arlington

Class Size: Min. 25, Max. 60

Leader: Karen Kenton, WETA

LLI Coordinator: Lorin Goodrich (703) 425-9574

 

Thursday Afternoons

 

Course  8W36P                        Great Decisions (8 Sessions)

 

Take an in-depth look at eight major foreign policy challenges facing the United States in 2008. Each session addresses one of the issues. Sessions consist of viewing a 30-minute videotape on the issue prepared by the Foreign Policy Association, followed by a 1-hour discussion on the issue. A pre-selected leader is responsible for each session. Class participants are expected to purchase the Briefing Book and read the materials before the class. Cost is $15 for the Briefing Book and your contribution to the cost of the videos. Please enclose a check payable to LLI/NOVA with your registration.

 

March 6            Iraq End-Game

March 13            European Union at 50

March 20            Talking to Our Enemies

March 27            Russia

April 3             U.S. Defense & Security Policy

April 10            Latin America: Shift to the Left?

April 17            U.S./China Trade Policy

April 24            Private Philanthropy

 

Dates & Time: Thursdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10, 17, 24; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.
Place: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church (Room 304), Annandale

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 40

Leader/LLI Coordinator: Helen Clark (703) 573-1671

 

Course  8W37P                        Genealogy (5 Sessions)

 

This is a repeat of the course given during the Fall 2006 semester. The 5-week class will cover topics including how to begin, what to look for, and where to look. During one session, we will discuss actual on-line research. Information on local resources will be provided, including the Family History Centers, the Library of Congress, and the Archives. We’ll also talk about methods of saving and protecting the information you have gathered. There will be plenty of time for questions and individual help.

Dates & Time: Thursdays, April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

Place: TV Channel 10 Building (Studio A), Fairfax

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 25

Leader/Coordinator: Arline Sachs (703) 646-5606

 

Friday Afternoons

 

Course  8W38P                        Geology: The Long and Short of It (2 Sessions)


This course will include a survey of the importance of geology in our lives and history. We’ll discuss the basics of rocks and rock cycles (what are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and how they interact). The course will include both an example of field research conducted by Professor Rasmussen and lab work with rock specimens.

Dates & Time: Fridays, February 8, 22; 12:30 p.m.—2:00 p.m. (Note class time.)
Place: CT/TV-Tech Building (CT), Room 330 (Geology Laboratory)

Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 20
Leader: Professor Ken Rasmussen
LLI Coordinator: Doris Balinsky (703) 941-1794

 

Course  8W39P                        Poetry and You (4 Sessions)

 

Join us for one of LLI’s long-time LLI 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, April 4, 11, 18, 25; 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

 

Saturday Mornings

 

Course  8W40A                       Wildflower Walk in Spring: Great Falls, VA (1 Session)

 

This is always a popular activity! Walk in the outdoors and welcome back the flowers of Spring. We will take a walk in Great Falls National Park, VA, to see what is blooming. Wear sturdy walking shoes! Bring water to drink and a picnic lunch, if you wish. Also, if you have a Golden Age Pass, bring it for free admission to the National Park. This is the first of two wildflower walks. See Course 8W41A.
 
Date & Time: Saturday, April19, 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. (Note class time.)

Place: Great Falls National Park (Virginia side). Meet in parking lot.

Class Size: Unlimited

Leader/LLI Coordinator: Doris Balinsky (703) 941-1794

 

Course  8W41A                       Wildflower Walk in Spring: Linden, VA (1 Session)

 

See the fabulous displays of trilliums and other wildflowers at the Thompson Nature Preserve in Linden, VA. After enjoying the beautiful flowers, we may go to the nearby Linden winery for wine tasting before returning home. Wear sturdy walking shoes! Bring water to drink and a picnic lunch, if you wish. This is the second of two wildflower walks. See Course 8W40A.
 
Date & Time: Saturday, May 3, 9:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m. (Note class time.)

Place: Thompson Nature Preserve, Linden VA. We will carpool to Linden from the parking lot at Little River United Church of Christ, Annandale. Please arrive at 9:15 a.m.

Class Size: Unlimited

Leader/LLI Coordinator: Doris Balinsky (703) 941-1794

 

Various Days

 

Course 8W42A                       Make a Multi-Use Basket (3 Sessions, given twice)

 

See Course 8W11A under Tuesday Mornings for description, cost of materials, and other details.

 

Dates & Time: Fridays, March 7, 14, Thursday, March 20; 11:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m. (Note class time. Also note that first two classes are on Fridays and third class is on Thursday.)

Place: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Fellowship Hall), Springfield

Class Size: Min. 5, Max. 8

Leaders/LLI Coordinators: Louise Sousk (703) 323-9144 and Edward Mark (703) 323-9144

 

Course  8W43A                       History Presentations by NVCC Faculty (5 Sessions)

 

Members of the NVCC Annandale Campus history faculty will continue their annual informative presentations.

 

April 7            “Women in Myth and Fairy Tale” (Prof. Mary Zimmerman)

April 14          “Robert Fulton, The Naval Inventor: More than the Steamboat” (Dr. Wallace Hutcheon)

April 21            “Protestant Reformation” (Dr. William Kinsella)

April 29            “The Third Reich and the Holocaust” (Prof. Ana Fesser Johnson)

May 6              “Revolution of 1848—a Year of Turmoil” (Prof. Mary Zimmerman)

 

Dates & Time: Mondays, April 7, 14, 21; Tuesdays, April 29, May 6; 1:30 p.m.—3:00 p.m. (Note that first three classes are on Mondays and last two classes are on Tuesdays.)

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

Class Size: Min. 20, Max. 50

Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Wallace Hutcheon

LLI Coordinator: Lorin Goodrich (703) 425-9574

 

Day Trips

 

DT-4-4-08                  Air Force Memorial and National Museum of the Marine Corps

 

Our first stop on this tour will be the Air Force Memorial, dedicated on October 14, 2006, and located on Ft. Myer in Arlington, VA. We will have a close-up look at the Memorial’s 270-foot arches soaring against the sky, various statues, and inscription walls. After our brief visit at the Memorial, we will proceed to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA. Open to the public on November 13, 2006, the Museum is adjacent to the Marine Corps Base in Quantico. As we approach the Museum, we’ll observe the 210-foot stainless steel spire rising over the tree line depicting the image of the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima. Inside, era exhibit galleries utilize multi-media technology, taking us from the “Halls of Montezuma,” a 1941 living room as the occupants listen to the news of Pearl Harbor, onto the beach at Iwo Jima, a frigid winter night on watch in Korea, and then to a hot Vietnam landing site. Tying the exhibits together, the Legacy Walk will transport us through 200 years of Marine Corps history, exhibiting priceless artifacts such as the original flag raised at Iwo Jima. Mike Stephens, an LLI member, will be our docent.

 

Lunch will be on your own at either of the Museum’s two eateries: the “Mess Hall,” which is cafeteria-style, or “Tun Tavern,” a replica of the tavern in Philadelphia where the first Colonial Marines were recruited in 1775. You will have time to browse in the Museum’s gift shop.

 

Date: Friday, April 4, 2008. Cost: $25 for members; $35 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 only if you do not have e-mail. 

Time & Place of Departure: Bus leaves from Little River United Church of Christ, Annandale, at 8:00 a.m. and returns at approximately 3:30 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

Leaders/Coordinators: Peggy Wright (703) 329-9247, Martie Klee (703) 644-4931, and Louise Sousk 703-323-9144

 

DT-5-5-08                  Thurmont and Frederick County, MD

 

Frederick County, MD, holds a wealth of history. We will tour The Monocacy Aqueduct, the largest of the eleven aqueducts erected along the C&O Canal, often described by historians as one of the finest canal features in the U.S. We’ll also visit The Catoctin Furnace, in operation from 1776 until 1903, representing in microcosm the history of the Industrial Revolution in America. Frederick County is home to three covered bridges. The tour includes stops for pictures at the Roddy Road and Loy’s Station covered bridges. Our delicious buffet lunch will be at the Historic Cozy Inn with time to look around the Camp David Museum and shops.

 

Date: Thursday, June 5, 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 only if you do not have e-mail.

Time & Place of Departure: Bus leaves from Little River United Church of Christ, Annandale, at 8:00 a.m. and returns at approximately 6:30 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: Deanna DeMember (703) 866-0907, and Martha Siemering

(703) 569-2450

 

Registration Form