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.

Have You Registered Yet?

Our Spring 2020 semester begins March 9, 2020.  As of today, seats are still available in 20 courses. Check the Quick Pick List for details. 

We have expanded all of the courses that we could expand. If you are on a waitlist and have not heard from us yet, that means someone else will have to drop the class before we can offer you a seat. If there is another course you've been thinking about instead, now would be the time to go online and register.

News and Photos


On February 1, we held our biannual Course Preview. Thanks to all the instructors who presented and all the members who attended. It was a great turnout!




If you missed the Course Preview, the recorded presentations are available online.

On January 30, our Ethnic Lunch Club ate at RusUz Restaurant for Russian and Uzbek cuisine in Ballston.  Thank you to Arlene Kigin for coordinating and to Connie Francis for the photos.


We are very proud to be an exhibition partner in Arlington Public Library's Women's Work Then and Now. We're even more proud that our nominee, Encore Learning former Executive Director Marjorie Varner, is among the women included in the exhibit. 
There will be a grand opening reception on the evening of March 5, 2020. The event is free but you must RSVP to attend. Attendance is limited, so if there are no seats left, never fear - the exhibit will be shown in the Central Library Lobby from March 5 to April 2, 2020.

Special Events

Our ongoing Encore Learning Presents series is jointly sponsored by Arlington Public Library. On January 27, Peter Vaselopulos' talk about the Civil War in Arlington was covered by Charlie Clark in his Our Man in Arlington column for the Falls Church News-Press.

On February 10, Professor Allan Lichtman discussed his book Repeal the Second Amendment.
Professor Allan Lichtman at Central Library. Staff photo.

Our Special Events Committee coordinated two tours this month to celebrate African American History MonthOn February 19, our members toured the new Rosa Parks In Her Own Words exhibit at the Library of Congress.
Thanks to Louise Kenny for volunteering to coordinate both tours and providing photos.


On February 27, our members toured the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House


The Census is Coming! (Almost here...)

We are a proud Arlington 2020 Census Partner. In the coming months, we'll continue to share information with you.

Please join George Mason University's Office of Community & Local Government Relations , University Life-Arlington Encore Learning  and Arlington County for an informative and fun special event about the 2020 Census.

The event will be held on Thursday, March 19, 4:00-5:45 P.M. at Mason's Arlington Campus in Room 113 of Van Metre Hall.

You'll learn from Mason's Dr. John May about how census demographics inform population policies and our own Art Gosling about how the census will impact Arlington specifically (hint: money).

Staff from the Arlington County census team will also be on hand to answer questions about the process. W e'll also have some fun trivia (with prizes!) and light refreshments.  No registration required - drop in when you can.

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 earlier this month. If you are interested, please contact the office at 703-228-2144 or info@encorelearning.net and we will pass it along to the Nominating Committee for consideration.

Partner News and Happenings - George Mason University


On March 4, 2020 at noon, the Schar School of Policy and Government welcomes author Daniel Gerstein to discuss his book The Story of Technology. Free, registration required.

Staff Corner

New! Office Hours at GMU-Arlington Campus

Our office at the GMU-Arlington Campus will be open on Wednesdays from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. during the semester - March 9 to May 21, 2020. Stop by to return equipment , check lost and found, or give some feedback/praise.

Regular Office hours 

The Syphax building office is open Monday through Friday  from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M., except holidays. Details are listed on our calendar . Please contact us ahead of time if you require a face to face meeting.  To reach us, call 703-228-2144 or send an email to info@encorelearning.net.

~ Lora 
Lora Pollari-Welbes, Executive Director

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.

Bring friends to our  "Encore Learning Presents" series at Arlington Central Library. These lectures 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.

Like us on Facebook

Announcements
  • SAVE THE DATE - Annual Meeting will be held on May 21, 2020 
  • 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.
Welcome New Members

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

Gloria Black
William Brent
Shirley Brott
Stephanie Buchner
Duanjie Chen
Deborah Cohen
Eileen Collins
John Crowley
Jackie Fishman
Mary Flynt
Colleen Gibbons
James Gillespie
Mark Haynes
Michael Hoefer
Marie Iszkowski
Renee Klish
Tina Kreisher
Durrell Kreisher
Robert Lamp
Jane Leclerc
Robert Love
Kathy McGarril
Judy Metcalf
Mona Milberg
Eleanor Miller
Lydia Mitchell
Miguel Monteverde
Joan Niles
Edward Niles
Katherine Rutkowski
Gerald Sajewski
Kay Smith
Susan Starling
Pamela Stutts
Wilmot Summerall
Stan Trost
Elaine Trost
Carol Van Voorst

And a huge THANK YOU to the following members for referring friends and family:

Charlyn Buss
Carla Fletcher
Elizabeth Hoefer
Tina Kreisher
Trudy Saracco
Thomas Schum
Carol Silverberg
Barbara Spangler
Linda Summerall
Joseph White
Julianne Wojay
Gail Woolwine

Please email the office with any corrections.

Photos, Photos, Photos...

We all love looking at them and it seems we can never get enough here in the office. Please share your photos of Encore Learning activities with us. The higher the resolution of the photo, the better (1 MB or higher). Shots taken on your mobile phone are great! Just email them to us and if we use your photos, we will make sure to acknowledge you as the photographer. We can't use thumbnails, though, so please check your photo size settings prior to emailing.

Free Help with Technology

Did you know... Our friends at Central Library offer  one on one technology help sessions and free technology classes from beginner to advanced.

And...  Arlington County's Walter Reed Senior Center also offers free tech help.  Call (703) 228-0955 to reserve your appointment.


Don't Want to Wait for the Next Edition of The Inside Scoop?

 

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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