Spring is here, but it’s not too late to join our engaging spring courses! It’s so wonderful to see so many of our members in-person or on Zoom. Whether you love history, writing, politics, or literature, we have a spot for you starting this April.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s coming:

• Planning for Changes, Loss, and New Beginnings: Facilitator Sallie Wiley helps you navigate life transitions with practical strategies and fresh purpose. Starts April 3 at GMU.
• Writing a Memoir: Ready to share your story? Join Marty Suydam’s virtual workshop for expert guidance and peer feedback. Starts April 4 on Zoom.
• Eight Modern British Poets: Michael Collins will guide you through the works of poets like Hardy, Yeats, Eliot, and Thomas, uncovering the beauty of modern British poetry. Starts April 9 on Zoom.
• Democracy in America Now: Political analyst Bill Schneider examines the 2024 election results, MAGA-style populism, and evolving American politics in this virtual course. Starts April 10 on Zoom.
• Flannery O’Connor Short Stories: Instructor Jenny Sullivan explores the rich, darkly humorous stories of this American writer. Starts April 15 at GMU.

Don’t forget that eight courses are being recorded this term and will be available for registered participants to view online until July 31. Check out the list of recorded courses here.

Don’t miss out! Visit the Encore Learning online catalog for course details and registration.

With both in-person and virtual courses being offered, we encourage you to select which format you feel is most comfortable and beneficial for you.

Our Spring Semester kicked off on March 3 and we have 20 classes being held at this moment. Students are happy to see each other in-person and connect online.

We are hearing rave reviews of the classes and instructors. Thank you to all of our volunteer instructors and class aides.

Photos: Upper- hybrid class Understanding Happiness in our Encore Years. Lower left: Wisdom of Important Texts; Lower right: Ballet: Seeing More, Enjoying More.

Join us for Special Events – Zoom presentations and in-person tours – to learn something new and make the most of your membership. Most virtual presentations are recorded and available on Encore Learning’s YouTube channel.

Want to explore the idea of joining the committee? We’d love to talk to you. Contact Louise Kenny at LKenny1208@gmail.com.

Encore Learning Presents

Back to the Library for a book talk!

The Encore Learning Presents hybrid event on March 3rd, (author Rebecca Graham spoke about her book on Frances Perkins) at the Central Library was very successful with a great turnout. About 80 attended at the library, and another 100 online. Attendees were very happy to be in person again. This was a wonderful way to commemorate Women’s History Month and continue our partnership with Arlington Public Library. If you missed this event, you can find it online at our YouTube channel.

We hope to offer more hybrid events at the library soon!

April is Volunteer Month – Learn and Share About Volunteer Opportunities

There are so many benefits to volunteering. On Friday, April 4, join us on Zoom to learn more about how and why to volunteer. We will hear from Lisa Fikes, CEO of the Leadership Center of Arlington; and Jane Nagy, Encore Learning Volunteer Coordinator.

Immediate Family Film Screening and Reception

Did you know…about the world class back up musicians that helped make the iconic songs from the 1970s hits with long lasting impact? Join us on Monday, April 7 at 3:00 PM at George Mason’s Van Metre Hall theater to watch the film Immediate Family. This documentary film allows us to get to know these talented musicians and see interviews with the superstars they performed with. The film presentation will be followed by a wine and cheese reception and Q and A with the film’s director Denny Tedesco. Admission is free; you do not need to be a member to attend. Special thanks to our partner, George Mason University, for hosting the reception with cash bar. We ask that members register. Non-members of Encore Learning may attend and do not need to register.

We are currently seeking volunteers for a variety of roles:

• Developing strategies to diversify our membership and ensure we are inclusive
• Planning academic courses or Special Events
• Joining a newly forming Public Relations/Marketing committee
• Be a photographer for your class or event

If any of these opportunities are of interest to you, please visit our Volunteer page or send an email to info@encorelearning.net.

Please email the Encore Learning office if you are interested in joining any of our clubs or would like more information. You can also visit our Clubs page on our website for details and a full list of our clubs.

Please note: Clubs are maintained by Encore Learning as a benefit to our members. If you’re not a member or have let your membership lapse, please go to our membership page for how to join or renew. Thank you!

Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club continues to meet every Wednesday at 8:00 AM at La Madeleine, Baileys Crossroads, for breakfast and conversation. We have no formal program, although we do have “check-in,” when we go around the table and give people an opportunity to tell what they’ve been doing or are planning to do or to solicit helpful information (e.g., a good plumber or a favorite Chinese restaurant). Usually, the attendees start leaving around 9:00, although some stay later to continue small group conversations. We don’t take reservations; just show up and follow the noise to our table in the outer room. -Ron Wise, Coordinator

Chamber Music Club

The Chamber Music club continues to enjoy free, Friday Morning Music Club chamber concerts the first and second Friday of the month, through May. Upcoming concerts will be on April 4 and 11.

The musicians are top quality and the repertoire varied. What’s more, the musicians introduce each piece, a welcome addition to the listening experience.

Thinking of becoming a member of the club? Want to try it out? Contact the office to receive email updates.

All performances start at noon.

Location: St. George’s Episcopal Church, 915 N. Oakland St, adjacent to the Virginia Square Metro. – Rhoda Ritzenberg, Coordinator

Cinema Club

The Cinema Club meets monthly for a movie, lunch and discussion. We’ve had some very interesting discussions at our usual lunch spot, Mamma Lucia, and Chinese food at nearby Chef Yan. The next movie dates are Thursday, April 17 and Friday, May 16. –Caroline Wooden and Dru Dowdy

Electric Vehicle Club

The club will meet next on April 9 at 4:00 PM.

Ken Heitner, who helped develop the Ultium Battery (the GM battery platform) will present on “A Retrospective of Advanced Battery Development”.

A link will be sent a few days before the meeting. To join the club contact Barry Ginsberg at btg100@gmail.com.

Global Lunch Club

March brought us together for another great lunch albeit with some parking challenges, this time at SER in Arlington. Eighteen club members had Spanish-style sandwiches in the sunny dining room and made it back home in time for Global Hot Spots! Next lunch tentatively scheduled for April at Mama Chang’s. We try to keep lunches to 18 – 20 people to make conversation easier and so as not to overwhelm restaurants. Contact info@encorelearning.net to be on the notification list for the club. -Jan Rothstein, Coordinator

Kayak Club

We’re happy to say that our paddling season is getting close. If the weather permits, Fletcher’s Boathouse will be open for kayak rentals starting in mid-April. Last season was very successful, since we didn’t have to cancel any of our paddles due to negative water/weather conditions. Diana and I are hoping that 2025 will also be a great season to be out on the Potomac. Look forward to seeing you on the water!!! -Janice Yeadon and Diana Warmann

Nonfiction Book Club

The Nonfiction Book Club will meet next on May 12 at 1:30 pm in the Arlington Central Library to discuss The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt. The book won both the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction as well as the National Book Award. The Swerve tells the story of how, in the winter of 1417, Poggio Bracciolini, the greatest book hunter of the Renaissance, discovered Lucretius’ ancient poem On the Nature of Things. It was a beautiful poem of the most dangerous ideas: that the universe functions without the aid of gods, that religious fear is damaging to human life, that pleasure and virtue are not opposites but intertwined, and that matter is made up of very small material particles in eternal motion, randomly colliding and swerving in new directions. Its return to circulation changed the course of history. New members are welcome and encouraged to come. Notify the office if you’d like to be added to our mailing list. – Ed Rader, Co-coordinator

Travel Club

On March 21st, Marty Suydam moderated the Travel Club discussion on Making Sense of Travel for Seniors: Traveling Solo. Thirty-seven members participated providing advice and comments on needs of senior solo travelers, along with anecdotes of solo travel mistakes.

Much of the discussion was based on an outline prepared by Barbara Nickerson, an 80-year old who has significant solo travel experience over the last 20 years.

Join us on April 18, to hear about Lora Pollari-Welbes‘ trip to India.

The Encore Learning Travel Club meets once a month, usually on the 3rd Friday of the month at 3:30 PM on Zoom. To become a member of the club and receive the club announcements, send an email to info@encorelearning.net. We hope to see you virtually on Zoom!

-Charlie Hallahan, co-Coordinator. Photo courtesy Lora Pollari-Welbes

Join the fun at GMU’s Mason Square Plaza

Spring 2025 Season March 17 – May 16

Our March kept us busy with launching so many courses including being at Mason every weekday. The joy we see in students being together to learn, explore and connect makes our work worthwhile.

We are looking forward to some new events in April including exploring volunteer opportunities and a film screening. Our clubs are so active right now as well, its impressive to read about all they are doing, completely run by volunteers.

As your classes may conclude soon, remember to complete your course evaluations which are sent on the last day of class. Save the date for the Annual Member Meeting on Thursday, May 16 held on Zoom. For an optional program immediately after the meeting, you can join our free laughter yoga session. We all can use some more laughter.

~ Lora 

Lora Pollari-Welbes

Executive Director

Important Date Reminders

• Course registration is open and ongoing.
• Please note that your Encore Learning membership must be current through the last class session to enroll.
• Annual Meeting is Thursday, May 15 at 10:00 AM on Zoom.

Please note that our regular office hours are 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. If you reach us after 2:00 PM, you may not receive a response until the next business day.

During February 2025, we welcomed the following new members and look forward to having them become active participants in Encore Learning. Please introduce yourself to them if you meet them in a class, club or event.

Thank you to Tyler Anbinder, Jutta Bauman, Chris Holdeman, Emmett Holman, Dick Juhnke, Jeanne LaBella, Barbara McBride, Martin Menez, Lynne Morsen, Jane  Nagy, John Pfordresher, Lora Pollari-Welbes, Craig Syphax, Bob Taylor, Pat Walsh and Goodwin Living for referring friends who became members of Encore Learning! Spread the word and please refer friends and family to Encore Learning. If you’d like to bring Encore Learning into your community (residential building or neighborhood) to share information about membership, let us know.

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 to support our sustainability or to the Arthur W. Gosling Youth Scholarship Fund. If you wish to designate a charitable gift in someone’s honor or memory, please email us indicating how the gift should be recognized. If you would like to discuss tax benefits of charitable giving and charitable remainder trusts, please view our Donate page or contact the office.

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.

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