Encore Learning's many volunteers and staff are working together to plan for the future. As you  know, Spring 2020 courses and other programs have been canceled and fee refunds have been  authorized. We piloted a virtual course on March 23, and based on its success, will be offering a few  additional virtual courses. Registration will be open soon; more details can be found below.

Last week we announced the first of our virtual Special Events. Some of our Clubs are meeting virtually, as well. And planning is well along to re-institute programs this coming f all, with many spring courses being rescheduled for the fall. While a reduced number of courses, clubs and special events are now strictly virtual, we expect a full return to normalcy  once we are past the current health crisis.

Election of Board Members for 2020-21 is scheduled to be completed during the general  members meeting on May 21. This event may not be doable. If that is the case, we will be asking members  to vote electronically so that a new Board is in place July 1. The  challenges for the Board will be significant as Encore Learning gets back to offering a variety of  programs.

I ask you to join me in sending kudos to staff and Board Members for working  through the health-related challenges of late winter and early spring. Thanks also to our committee members (especially Academic Programs and Special Events, who have been putting in overtime) and our Club Coordinators. We could not do it without their help. I also want to thank you, our members, and let you know how much we appreciate your support during this period. 

-- Art Gosling, President

Interested in serving on our Board of Directors?

Several positions are coming open in May 2020. You must have previously served as a volunteer with Encore Learning. Details were emailed in February. If you are interested, please contact the office at 703-228-2144 or [email protected] and we will pass it along to the Nominating Committee for consideration.

Blooming Where You Are Planted

We want to hear from you! Share with your fellow members what you are doing to stay positive and connected during this time. Send us your ideas and some photos of how you're thriving during this period of confinement. We'll edit and then publish a compilation in next month's eNews. Email to [email protected] and include "eNews" in the subject line.

Partner and Instructor News and Happenings 

While George Mason University is currently closed, they are offering a few virtual events, such as the w ebcast "Policy vs. Pandemics" held on March 26, 2020. To make sure you're in the loop for future events, sign up for Mason's Arlington Campus events email. Details: https://conta.cc/2TN0jAf.

On March 13, 2020, our friends at Arlington County asked us to make sure that you know that all  Arlington 55+ Programs and Centers are cancelling all activities through April 17, 2020. A ll the latest information can be found on its COVID-19 webpage.

A note from Tom Wukitsch:

I've had a suggestion that I should make available to my students (or to everyone in Encore Learning)  the materials, images, and Internet links that I use in my Pompeii and Vesuvius course -- something to look at while suffering  through  the current situation.

All the notes, images, and Internet links for further research for all of the classes that I have taught since ALRI/Encore Learning began in 2002 are available at:

  http://www.mmdtkw.org/ALRItkwPages.html

The current course is always at the top of the first page of the website and a list of other courses is in the right margin. 

T here are more than 6,000 cross-linked pages on my own Internet site with links to many thousands more of other persons' and institutions Internet pages that are, I think, relevant to the subject matter.

Many thanks to Tom for sharing these materials and for all of the teaching hours he has donated over the years.

Keep Your Account Information Up to Date

(and let us know if you'd like a paper catalog mailed to you)

While we're all stuck at home, it's a great time for housecleaning - and virtual housekeeping as well. This is the perfect time to make sure all of your account information is up to date.

As we look to the future, we are trying to be responsive to some member requests about not mailing a paper catalog. We know there was some confusion at registration about this question, so we've updated it to make it clearer. Your options are:

Mail a paper catalog to my home   OR

I will view the pdf online

Please login to Member Account Manager. Under My Account, under the My Personal Info tab, click on EDIT MY ACCOUNT INFO. Make any necessary edits, then once everything on the first screen is correct, click Save and Continue. Then update your course catalog question (required) and let us know if you are interested in teaching (optional).

Taking this step will help ensure that account updates will not slow you down during the next registration cycle.

Staff Corner

March started off with so much excitement for the spring courses. We had great registration results and moved Global Hot Spots to a larger location to accommodate more members.Then we shifted gears, suspended and then subsequently cancelled all courses, events and clubs. A few days later, with the outpouring of interest and support, we have several virtual offerings. This is not any regular semester or new way of doing our business, but an alternative to keep members engaged and connected during this challenging time. 

Our staff are all working during this time, with no open hours, but checking email regularly. The best way to reach us is via email to [email protected], the voicemail is checked once daily.

The last day the Smithsonian was open, I hopped on my bike and visited the Renwick to see the Native Women Artists exhibit. I was so glad I toured it and was proud to know that our members visited it too, just the day before. The opportunities Encore Learning provides to learn, connect, explore are so valuable and we hope you stay with us and continue to offer your time and ideas for programs. 

Ask friends to join to our  virtual  "Encore Learning Presents" 

series   (normally held   at Arlington Central Library). These lectures , panels  and films are open to the public and a great way for prospective members to learn more about us. Details can always be found in our list of upcoming   Special Events .

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. Forward our emails to a friend - use the handy link at the bottom of each email message. 

Announcements

Welcome New Members

In February  2020, the following new members joined Encore Learning. Please be sure to give these folks a warm welcome.

Nat Ames
Kathleen Barnett
Richard Bauder
Brad Bickford
Steven Brody
Jan Burchard
Pilar Cabrera
Evelyn Chiao
Karen Christensen
Gloria Cohan
Juanita Cullen
Paul Cullen Sr.
Dianne Daily
Paula DeMasi
Tom Dickinson
Kenneth Erickson
Wendy Erlanger
George Faison
William Gainer
Ronald Geigle
Barbara Geigle
Cynthia Gillespie
Margaret Goss
Robert Gray
Jim Heegeman
Elizabeth Hickey
Jeff Hoffman
Lindsey Hooper
Judy Johnson
Elaine Johnston
Linda Katz
Kathy Killion
Irene Koerner
Deborah Latimer
Elizabeth Lichter
Jim Lyon
Anne Madden
Patricia McCarthy
Jacquelinn Mooney
Dennis O'Connor
Rebecca Pariseau
Esther Petrilli-Massey
Cynthia Pisinski
Cindy Romanyk
Phillip Rosen
Julie Rosenberg
Dorothy Anne Scanley
Kathy Scheimer
Michael Sieverts
Barbara Simmonds
Dorothy Skinner
Carlos Velazquez
Clelia Walker
Karen Walker
Frederick Wall
Dawn Wilson
Whitney Wilson
Scott Winn
Frederick Wood
Joe Zilincar

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