Clubs

Are you a morning person? If so, join this club for breakfast and conversation with other Encore Learning members. We meet on Wednesdays at 8:00 AM at La Madeleine, a low-key, Parisian-style breakfast and coffee place in Bailey’s Crossroads. Club Coordinator is Ron Wise.

The Bridge Club consists of Encore Learning members who enjoy getting together once a month to play social bridge. Members take turns hosting the games, either in their homes or at another facility (e.g.,: community center, condo association's community room). The monthly gatherings begin at noon with a simple lunch; each player gives $5 (sometimes a bit more if the community room requires a fee) to the host/hostess to offset the cost of food and drink. Club coordinators are Sharon Bisdee and Joan Carter.

If you like watching movies and discussing them with friends, join the Cinema Club. Currently, members are offered two movie selections each month to watch virtually. We then get together via a Zoom session to discuss the movies. If the pandemic ever ends, we will resume the previous practice of going to a selected movie on a weekday at local theaters each month. Afterward, there is an informal discussion and socializing over coffee, lunch or dinner at a nearby restaurant. Club coordinators are Dru Dowdy and Lee Cooper.

The Current Issues Discussion Group meets twice a month (1st and 3rd Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:00 PM) to discuss recent events in the news. Each session deals with a topic that has been chosen by club members. Discussions are always polite and everyone’s participation is encouraged. The group’s coordinator is Richard Lawrence.

The Global Lunch Club meets once per month to enjoy the area’s great ethnic food. Twenty to thirty members come together at a local restaurant for a social and culinary adventure. Details for each meeting are sent by email each month. We try new ethnic restaurants, as well as old favorites, and Irish cuisines.

During the pandemic, the club suspended its activities. The club will not restart until public health constraints are eased such that a group of up to 30 members can safely share the dining experience.

Are you interested in kayaking on the Potomac with other Encore Learning members? Our club welcomes newcomers, novices and experienced kayakers. We meet at Fletcher’s Boathouse off Canal Road in DC. Fletcher’s provides all the necessary equipment and attendants to help you in and out of the kayak for a reasonable hourly cost. We meet at 11:00 AM on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from May through October, weather permitting, and paddle for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Club coordinators are Janice Yeadon and Diana Warmann.

The Mindfulness Club meets each Wednesday from noon to 1:30 PM for meditation, discussion, and exploration of the mindfulness tradition as it has developed in the modern West. Each week features a short talk, a guided meditation, and a chance to bring questions and observations to the group, and a relevant recorded talk by an expert. All are welcome regardless of experience. Contact the office for the weekly Zoom link. The Club Coordinator is Dwight Rodgers.

The Nonfiction Book Club meets once every two months to discuss a book chosen by the members. Meetings are held on the second Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November in the assigned meeting room at Arlington Central Library to share evaluations of that month’s chosen book. (Meetings during the pandemic are via Zoom). The book discussions are lively and often extend to discussions about the author, as well. The club coordinators are Ed Rader and Pat Chatten.

Like to tinker with new technology? During the pandemic, we have held weekly zoom meetings. Once we receive further guidance from Virginia Tech, we hope to reconvene at the Thinkabit lab in the Virginia Tech Falls Church campus. Club Coordinator is Steve Shapiro.

The Travel Club meets once monthly (usually Friday at 2:00 PM) to hear a presentation about a member’s trip experience.  We have enjoyed presentations on various parts of the world. The date and any schedule changes for the meeting will be noted on the Encore Learning website calendar and e-mail notices with the date for the monthly meeting are sent to members.  During the pandemic, the club has been meeting virtually via Zoom.  Once space becomes available in one of the Arlington community centers, the club anticipates reconvening in person.  The club coordinators are Connie Collins and Charlie Hallahan.