Dear Encore Learning Member,
Welcome to The Inside Scoop, our electronic newsletter for members only. Please enjoy this issue, and share your feedback by email. We always look forward to hearing from you. This is the November/December edition of The Inside Scoop.
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Civil War Class Takes a Tour
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Bob Stone’s Lee’s Hollow Victories: Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville end-of-course battlefields field trip was held November 20, 2021. The battlefield tour covered the time period of December 1862 to May 1863. Bob has taught 30 Civil War courses with Encore Learning. After six weeks of Zoom classes, Bob brings vivid meaning and understanding to the thousands of soldiers who fought and died on the broad-view landscape and epic battles of Fredericksburg-Chancellorsville. The tour included 14 drive-stop-walks. The weather was cold, but otherwise, perfect.
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View the photo slideshow from this in-person trip
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The following numbers tell the story of how epic these battles were:
Fredericksburg
Engaged forces: 123,000 Union vs 78,000 Confederate
Casualties: 12,500 Union vs 6,000 Confederate
Chancellorsville
Engaged forces: 130,000 Union vs 60,000 Confederate
Casualties: 17,000 Union vs 12,000 Confederate
- Marty Suydam
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Give the Gift of Learning
The best thing about Encore Learning is our members! Give a friend an Encore Learning “gift membership” this holiday season. That would be a warm, Encore Learning welcome for the coming year.
To do that, email the staff at info@encorelearning.net and provide the gift recipient's name, address, email, and telephone number. A trusted Encore Learning staff member will call you and take your credit card over the phone to activate the membership.
Alternatively, if you know someone now who seems interested in joining or know someone recently retiring, take a moment to explain to them what you find rewarding about Encore Learning. Then, let them know how to join. Joining is easy; all they have to do is visit the website and click on “join.” If they have questions about the process, they can email the staff at info@encorelearning
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Health Impact of Global Climate Change
Dr. Joan Schiller was the featured speaker for Encore Learning Presents in November. Since retiring as Deputy Director of the Inova Schar Cancer Center, she has committed herself to educating people on the health effects of Global Climate Change. This presentation was a natural extension of an earlier Encore Learning Presentation providing a general status update on Global Climate Change. Being aware and understanding the negative health consequences can help us to plan ways to avoid or mitigate them. If you missed the presentation, we have posted it to our Youtube channel.
- David Tate
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MLK Day of Service
In 2020 Encore Learning hosted a volunteer project on the MLK Day of Service with several volunteers visiting seniors at Culpepper Garden and Mary Marshall Assisted Living. Our Encore Learning volunteers and the visited seniors enjoyed the time together. This year, you too can volunteer on January 17 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., even at home. Check out the opportunities and sign-up soon, spots do fill-up.
If you volunteer on MLK Day, send us a note about your experience.
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Inside, Online and Outside Classes for Spring
You'll have 35 classes to choose from when you register for the Spring Semester. This includes 13 in-person classes, three of which will bring you out and about in Arlington:
- Walk Four Mile Run
- Spring in Arlington Parks
- Arlington History
Enjoy these pictures from Walks with Charley class in November, and picture yourself in such a class this spring.
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Remembering Ambassador Sprott
by Thomas C. Adams, Encore Learning President, December 2021
Encore Learning founder and Past President, Dr. John Sprott passed away on November 9, 2021.
I first met Ambassador John Sprott when I joined the Board of Encore Learning in 2018. At that time, he had become an ex officio member of the Board, having completed his dozen or so years as our first and longest serving President. I, and all other members of the Board, including then-President Art Gosling, found John’s continued participation on the Board invaluable, and sought John’s views on how to address the issues that came before the Board. John had a very kind voice, but he spoke with authority and on more than one occasion his advice saved us from making a serious mistake.
Encore Learning might not have survived in its early years or even gotten off the ground had John not willingly thrown his organizational skill and ability to work harmoniously and effectively with a wide variety of individuals into this new continuing education organization.
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New Courses Coming to You This Spring
This upcoming Spring semester Encore Learning is offering 17 new courses. From arts to sciences, we have it all! Here's a sneak peak of three of our new courses starting this Spring 2022.
Introduction to Astronomy (Virtual) Whether you are an astronomy buff or neophyte, this virtual class will situate you of the universe and our place within it. Instructor Lewis Cook will review the human study of our skies, theories of the formation of our universe, solar system description, including our planets and their moons, and many more topics. This course will be offered virtual via Zoom.
Greek Gods (In Person) Join the cult of instructor Dwight Rodgers, and explore the character, powers and forms of worship of the classical era Greek gods, beginning with the philosophy of Plato and the importation of traditions from the east during the time of Alexander the Great. This course will be offered in-person in Van Metre Hall at George Mason.
Viruses and Vaccines (Virtual) There has been a lot of science to keep up with over the past few years. Instructor Barry H. Ginsberg will take students through the essentials around the COVID-19 pandemic, covering what viruses are, how coronaviruses infect humans, how our immune system fights them, how vaccines work to destroy viruses and how viruses mutate to regain an advantage. This course will be offered virtually via Zoom.
Mark your calendars for the Spring Course Preview on Thursday, January 27th at 10:00 AM to hear from all of our instructors about the courses they are teaching. We are recruiting class aides for Spring 2022 so please contact us at info@encorelearning.net if you are interested in becoming a volunteer class aide.
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Members at Psychology: It's Everywhere.
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Members enjoying a beautiful fall day at their Walks with Charley class.
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It's a Wrap - Fall Semester
Our Fall Semester wraps up this week. We are so thankful to the 40 instructors and speakers who brought engaging curriculum to our members. The blend of in-person, outside and virtual classes kept us alert. The semester brought us 16 brand new courses. Please be sure to complete your course evaluation. Look for an email from virtual@encorelearning.net with the link for your specific course feedback form. We share your feedback with the Academic Programs Committee and the instructors. Our volunteers who plan the courses, recruit instructors, and assist in classes make this possible. During this season of giving, we are very grateful to all of you.
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As our semester winds down we are so grateful to our volunteers, those who teach, those who are class aides, those who plan our events. Please take a moment and pat yourself on the back! We love reading the course evaluations and appreciate the time you take to give us feedback. We recently sent an email to members who are not current in their membership to learn about what we can do to bring them back. Be sure stay current in your membership.
Encore Learning office will be closed for the holidays from December 20-31. The staff wishes you a peace and joy during this winter break.
The Spring 2022 course catalog will be online in early January!
~ Lora
Lora Pollari-Welbes, Executive Director
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In December we bid farewell to longtime staff member Donna Banks. For the past 28 months Donna served as Academic Course Coordinator. Serving as our Registrar she confirmed all of the details of our courses, instructors, and class volunteers. Donna was so helpful to our members, a pleasure to work with, and a valued member of our team. From 2009-2015 Donna was the Encore Learning Administrator, so she chalked up nearly seven years of working with us.
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Encore Learning is Hiring
We are now recruiting a new Academic Course Coordinator. Please share the position announcement, its a great opportunity for someone seeking a rewarding part-time position. Click here to learn more about the Academic Course Coordinator position. Interested applicants should submit resume and cover letter to exec@encorelearning.net.
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Calendar Announcements
- The office is closed December 20 - December 31.
- The Spring Course Preview will be Thursday, January 27 at 10:00 AM on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82381968040
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Spring Course Registration is on Monday, January 31 at 10:00 AM.
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Welcome New Members
In October and November 2021, the following new members joined Encore Learning. We are pleased to have some new instructors join us. Please be sure to give these folks a warm welcome.
- Caren Anton
- Janet Bickel
- Lewis Cook
- Jeff Gorsky
- April Herbert
- Nina Janopaul
- Demetra McBride
- Barbara Nelson
- Carla Preston
- Deborah Sliz
- AJ Alonzo Wind
- Carol Wolter
THANK YOU to Marie Schryver, Kate Mattos, Helen Ely, Patti and all of you who kindly refer friends. Tell a friend about Encore Learning so you can see your name here.
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Remember that many of our virtual Encore Learning Presents events are recorded and may be found on our YouTube channel.
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We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Inside Scoop. If you would like to submit an article or share some photos of members participating in Encore Learning activities, please email us at info@encorelearning.net.
Share on social media. When you simply like our Facebook page or share our Facebook posts and events to your social network, it's a huge help.
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Lifelong Learning For Those Over 50
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