The Inside Scoop - for Members Only
 
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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.

Fall 2020: Update
The Fall 2020 Catalog is now online! Click to view, print or download. Like all of our activities during this pandemic, our catalog is now virtual - we will not be mailing a printed version this semester.  T hanks to our amazing Publications Committee, chaired by Millie Lawson and Ann Kaupp (formerly Jill Neuville): Don Campbell, Kevin Connors, Carolyn Gosling, Charlie Hallahan, Jerry Hoganson, Kathy LaPier, Jim Morris, Noreen Quill, Bill Reilly, Barbara Sakamoto, and Martha Walters. Thanks again to Carolyn Gosling for her years of service as our Managing Editor. 


Our first Virtual Course Preview will be  Thursday, August 27, 2020 from 9:30 to 11:30 A.M. We will preview all 37 courses and there will be a short break.

Dial in by phone: 301-715-8592,  Webinar ID: 886 3704 9901

Please remember to invite your friends, family and neighbors to the Course Preview. It's a great way for them to learn more about us and hear about our courses firsthand from the instructors. Feel free to forward this email!



We're looking for volunteers to help us publicize the Course Preview via the NextDoor neighborhood social media app. Please email us at info@encorelearning.net if you'd be willing to help.

Online Registration begins on Monday, August 31, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. sharp. Be sure to login and check that all of your account information is in order a few days PRIOR to registration. Your membership must be valid through the last day of a course to register for it. See the Member Account Manager box on page 8 of the  catalog for more details. You can get help 24/7 with our QuickStart Guides. Email us at info@encorelearning.net should you encounter any issues.

All Fall 2020 courses will be online via Zoom. All course registrations and membership renewals will be online via credit cards this semester. No paper registrations or checks will be accepted.

                       ******  PLEASE  VOLUNTEER  *****

We are still actively seeking and training Virtual Class Aides who will host Zoom courses and ensure a successful class experience. If you are interested in being a Virtual Class Aide (VCA), please email info@encorelearning.net and we will reply with information about the training opportunities.
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Getting to Know Your Board of Directors

Mildred Patterson was recently elected Vice President of our Board of Directors. After thanking her for her service, we asked her to help us get to know her better. She gamely answered our questions and provided photos.

1. How long have you been an Encore Learning Member?

I've been a member for 14 years.

2. What made you decide to join the Board?

Guilt. (And Dick Juhnke's persuasive eloquence) It was time to put some energy back into my Encore Learning membership. No more coasting. I was co-chair of the Publications Committee for four years some time ago and enjoyed working with the Board during that time on behalf of the whole organization. I hope I can be helpful again.

3. What is your favorite thing about Encore Learning, so far?

Getting to know other members.

4. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and joined the Foreign Service in 1976. I served in Denmark, Belgium and Turkey (twice). Because my husband was also a Foreign Service Officer, we spent an unusual amount of time in Washington in order to avoid nepotism issues and to make our two careers work, which is why I had so few overseas assignments. I loved my whole career.

5. What else do you do in your spare time, when you are not volunteering for Encore Learning?

Like so many Encore Learning members, I seem to have a busier schedule in retirement than I did when actively working. I enjoy being a volunteer instructor for Arlington County's citizenship class program; I am taking a Spanish class online; and I often challenge the patience of my kind-hearted piano teacher. Then there are all those New Yorker magazines I'm behind in reading!

6. What's your favorite food?

Now that it's summer, my favorite food is a great peach. Homemade peach ice cream is a close second.

7. Where in the world would you like to visit?

I'd love to see Morocco. I am always glad to go back to France, England and Italy. I hope someday to return to Turkey as well.

8. What is one thing you'd like our members to know about you?

I'm terrible at remembering names! If I am looking blankly at you, don't hesitate to remind me of your name!
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Ongoing Virtual Activities
We will continue to host virtual Clubs and Special E vents throughout the summer on Zoom.  Many of you are already familiar with Zoom but if you need help, our Zoom Resources page will help get you started and troubleshoot, if necessary.

Clubs
We have two new updates to share to the  April 2020 update from all ten Clubs . The Kayak Club is meeting once again. As they meet outdoors, and appropriately socially-distanced, the Board approved this as the only Encore Learning in-person activity at this time.  The Nonfiction Book Club held its first virtual meeting this month to discuss Tony Horwitz' Spying on the South. They will continue to meet virtually every other month until it is safe to meet again in person. Email info@encorelearning.net if you would like to join a club and we will connect you with the coordinator(s).

Zoom Hang Outs
We had another great Zoom Hang Out on July 16 - Sandra Borden shared several good tips. We love to see members teaching and learning from each other!

Join us for our next Zoom Hang Out on Thursday, August 6, 11:00 A.M. to noon. Drop in! Come by to practice your Zoom skills, or just to chat with Encore Learning friends.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82520841742
Dial in by Phone: 1 301 715 8592
Meeting ID: 825 2084 1742

Second Zoom Hang Out - Registration/Member Account Manager
We'll hold another Zoom Hang Out on Friday, August 28, 11:00 A.M. to noon. This one will focus on using Member Account Manager - if you have questions about how to access your account, your class media, or how to join, renew or register, then join us on Zoom. There's no agenda, we'll just be taking your questions.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82530984018
Dial in by phone: 1 301 715 8592
Meeting ID: 825 3098 4018

We hope to see you online! 

Special Events Wrap-Up

On July 13, we had an amazing panel of experts teach us about Gender, Language and Power in 2020 and Beyond. Thanks to Juliana Martinez and Perry Zurn of American University, Bonnie Stabile of George Mason University, and moderator Diane Kresh of Arlington Public Library. The presentation is now available for viewing on our YouTube Channel

On July 20, Dr. Liza Durant, Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement at Mason's Volgenau School of Engineering, presented an overview of the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) HQ being built on the Arlington campus. We were thrilled that Mason offered our members this special opportunity to learn more and ask questions about the project. For more information:  https://www2.gmu.edu/Arlington-forward

On July 27, author Meredith Wadman discussed  The Vaccine Race: Then and Now and answered many audience questions. Her presentation is also available for viewing on our YouTube Channel.
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Mohamed Zakaria meets with Encore Learning and 
the Arlington Community Foundation.
 
A Note from our Most Recent Youth Scholarship Recipient

Dear Encore Learning,

I would like t o take this opportunity to thank you for your generous  support in helping me pursue my dream of attending college. I am very  honored to be one of the recipients of the Encore Learning Scholarship  and I am deeply appreciative of your support. The financial assistance you  have provided will be a great help to me in paying for my educational  expenses, and it will allow me to concentrate and give all my time for my  education.

I am currently a freshman majoring in business with a concentration in accounting at George Mason University. My goal is to get my master's degree and work as an accountant and hopefully save money and open my own business one day.

Thank you again for your thoughtful and generous gift. My educational goals would not be possible without the generous support from scholarship sponsors like your organization. I thank you for your confidence and willingness to help me achieve my goals.

Sincerely,
Mohamed Zakaria Mohamed
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Staff Corner

We've enjoyed seeing you online at our VCA trainings, hangouts, Clubs and Special Events. We are working hard, alongside our instructors and volunteers, to finalize all the details required to deliver 37 courses online for you this Fall. The gratitude we receive from all of you in our support of ongoing connections is really appreciated and keeps us moving forward. Our staff are all working remotely during this time, with no specific open hours, but checking email regularly. The fastest and best way to reach us is via email to info@encorelearning.net. Voicemail messages are checked once daily.   

~ Lora 
Lora Pollari-Welbes, Executive Director
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Please Volunteer - Important Roles *Still* Vacant

The Publications Committee is looking for a new Managing Editor. While Managing Editor sounds intimidating, the role is really less about editing and more about logistics and team coordination. You must be able to manage timelines, keep track of documents and work well on a computer. The Publications Committee is a well-oiled machine and you will have lots of support. In fact, they will soon be starting on the Spring 2021 catalog. Please send an email to info@encorelearning.net if you are interested and staff will connect you with Publications Committee Co-Chairs.

The Special Events Committee is looking for a volunteer to help with publicity. The primary responsibility is contacting local media outlets via email or online form submission to notifying them of upcoming events. This role is about two hours a month, plus attending Committee events and meetings. If you would like to help plan or promote our ongoing events, please email the office at info@encorelearning.net.
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Connecting Friends with Encore Learning
We're often referred to as the "best kept secret in Arlington." New members join mostly because they hear about Encore Learning from a friend.  When joining online, new members may enter a "Referred by" name. We look forward to thanking you here in the newsletter - see below.

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. 

Like us on Facebook
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Announcements
  • Volunteers are always needed. If you'd like to get more involved, please email us.
  • Check our calendar for Special Events, Club meetings, and office holiday closures.
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Welcome New Members
In June  2020, the following new members joined Encore Learning. Please be sure to give these folks a warm welcome.

Yi-ting Chiu*
Peter Harnik
Pam Hines*
Janet Katz
Salar Khan*
Carol Ann Linder
Jeremiah Mitoko*
Peter Vaselopulos*

*New Instructors, as well as new members

THANK YOU to Rhonda Goodman, Kris McLaughlin and all of you who kindly refer friends.
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Don't Want to Wait for the Next Edition of The Inside Scoop ?
     
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Donations are Always Welcome
Encore Learning is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Any donation is a charitable contribution deductible from income tax to the full extent permitted by law. Members, friends and organizations wishing to support Encore Learning may direct contributions to our  General Fund  or to our  Arlington Youth Scholarship .

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 Beth Dowd: info@encorelearning.net .


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