Seeking ways to stay mentally engaged this summer? We invite you to explore our selection of pre-recorded asynchronous courses.

This past semester we recorded eight of our courses and are offering Encore Learning members the opportunity to view these recordings over the summer. The course content was pre-recorded at class sessions held in March to May 2025 and there will be no live interaction.

Register for your spot in the asynchronous version of the course by June 30, using the links below, and you will have access to the full course recordings and class materials until July 31, 2025. What a perfect activity for those sweltering summer days!



The eight courses offered asynchronously are:

• 3079: History of Journalism in the United States
• 3082: Civil War in Washington and Beyond
• 3083: Populism and Authoritarianism in Latin America: the Recent History of an Explosive Relationship
• 3084: Renaissance in Rome
• 4057: Democracy in America Now
• 5064: Reading James’s The Portrait of a Lady
• 5066: King Lear
• 6038: Understanding Climate Change and Solutions

Want a sneak peak at what the Fall Semester courses have to offer? Mark your calendars for the Fall 2025 Course Preview on Thursday, September 4 at 9:30 AM. Watch your emails for details and check our website and Facebook page frequently for updates. The online catalog will be available in early August. We have 41 courses lined up with a wonderful mix of in-person, hybrid and virtual classes on Zoom.

Registration for the Fall 2025 semester begins on Monday, September 8 at 10:00 AM. Classes start on September 29.

A few classes were able to get together outside of the Zoom meeting or classroom to socialize.

On May 27, members of Janice McLean’s class on Psychology in Your Life and World got together for lunch at Samuel Beckett’s restaurant in Shirlington. The get-together was arranged by Jutta Bauman, one of the two class aides. A good time was had by all. -Photo courtesy of Ed Rader

Some members of Janet Auten’s virtual course, American Storytellers, met for two informal in-person gatherings of their “Reading Circle” at GMU Mason Square.

What a great way to make new friends or catch up with fellow members!

Encore Learning’s scholarship in honor of Art Gosling was awarded this year to Walter R., a graduating senior from Washington-Liberty High School. Walter is originally from El Salvador and lives with his grandmother and older brother in Arlington. He plans to spend the summer continuing to work as a server in a restaurant and preparing for the high academic standards at George Mason University, where he hopes to major in business administration. Asked why he wants a degree in business, Walter said that in the future he wants to be his own boss. He wants to run his own company, and his ideas range from starting his own clothing brand to owning a barber shop. In his free time Walter enjoys working out at the gym and watching YouTube videos that teach him new skills.

What would he like others to know about him? Walter replied that it had taken courage to leave his parents in El Salvador and come to the US. He has tried to take advantage of every opportunity that has come his way. He is proud of what he has accomplished so far, and he is looking forward to the next phase of his life as a university student.

Encore Learning is pleased to support hardworking students like Walter and is grateful to our members for their contributions to our scholarship funds. Please visit https://encorelearning.net/about/scholarships/ if you wish to donate.

Learn more about recipients of Arlington Community Foundation scholarships here: https://youtu.be/r1hCfzLOR9k?si=T4iBaJ_ymqEu_T1n

-Mildred Patterson, Board Vice President

Encore Learning is fortunate to have such a wealth of knowledgeable, engaging and all around wonderful volunteer instructors. We hope to feature one or two instructors each newsletter to share a bit about them. We welcome additional writers and submissions. Thank you!

Jenny Sullivan

By Natalie Hall and staff contributors

Jenny Sullivan taught literature in the Virginia Community College system, mostly at Northern Virginia Community College, for 42 years. She is the author of four books and has taught a variety of courses at Encore Learning for the past six years. In Spring 2025, Professor Sullivan taught Flannery O’Connor Short Stories.

Jenny quickly set the tone for her class – a well-planned outline of interesting stories from her favorite author Flannery O’Connor.

Jenny’s enthusiasm for Southern writers gave the class both reasons to read these classics and the necessary background to understand the perspective of a lifelong Southern writer.

Jenny welcomed questions and comments from class members. She has many repeat students who love her relaxed style and welcoming manner. Come join the camaraderie in Jenny’s next class and learn so much!

Some student comments from Jenny’s course evaluations:

Jenny Sullivan opened a door for me into the fascinating writings of Flannery O’Connor, an author whom I’d never read. Because of the course, I plan to acquire O’Connor’s collected works and read both her fiction and commentary closely.

Jenny Sullivan is an extremely skilled teacher. She stimulates and encourages vigorous class discussion; yet, she manages that discussion deftly so that she always completes her lesson plan for the day. She never loses control of conversational flow.

Over the years Jenny has also taught classes on Melville and Hawthorne, Flannery O’Connor Novels and Letters, Southern Short Stories, Willa Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop, American Short Story Sampler, and Poetry: All You Really Need to Know. This fall Jenny will offer Southern Short Stories on Tuesday afternoons.

Thank you Jenny for sharing your time, knowledge and love of literature with our Encore Learning members!

On May 28, Encore Learning participated in a 55+ Health Fair at Lubber Run Community Center. Many thanks to Dick Juhnke, Gail Massot and David Young for volunteering to represent us to the community. Several potential members signed up to receive more information about Encore Learning – a successful event!

-Photo courtesy Dick Juhnke

Encore Learning Presents

We were fortunate to hear from Ann Friedman, founder and President of Planet Word Museum on June 9. Located in the historic Franklin School on the corner of 13th and K Streets in downtown D.C., Planet Word opened in 2020 as a new kind of interactive and self-guided museum. Ann discussed why and how she founded the museum, including the restoration of the beautiful Franklin School; and events and innovative exhibitions that have been added as the museum has evolved. You can view the presentation on YouTube.

Coming Soon: US vs Europe: What Has Changed? on July 21

American businessman Tony Housh will share his experiences working in Europe over the past three decades. He will discuss such topics as how are the politics and policies of the US impacting Europe and US business in Europe? He has held senior leadership, advisory and board positions at numerous US and European companies.

Barbara Noe Kennedy, author of 100 Things to Do in Arlington, will

talk to us about Arlington’s history and sites on August 4.

Member Tours

On June 18, 50 Encore Learning members attended a virtual tour of the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. This unique museum specializes in original thematic exhibitions that seamlessly combine art, science, philosophy, humor and especially social justice and betterment.

A small but hearty group of members braved the heat on June 23 to attend a guided tour of Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory – home to the nation’s largest collection of working artists open studios under one roof.

Encore Learning members enjoy a guided tour of the Torpedo Factory. Photo courtesy of Tom Underwood, Special Events Committee

Coming Soon: Victims of Communism Museum In-Person Tour July 23.

It is recognized as “the first museum in the world dedicated to describing both the history of communism as well as its current global reach across Europe, Asia, and South America.”  Look for our special events email on 6/26 to register. Space is limited.

Washington Nationals vs NY Mets on Thursday, August 21 at 4:05 PM. Encore Learning secured a block of tickets to attend this game. Just a few tickets are left in this initial group. If necessary we will try to secure another block of tickets if there is enough demand, subject to availability. Please register on the waitlist so we can determine interest.

Many more fun and interesting events are being organized. All upcoming event details can be found on our website, as well as in our special events emails sent out biweekly.

Arlington Philharmonic Pops in the Park

Sunday, June 29, 2025, 6:00 PM

Join Encore Learning at the annual Pops in the Park with the Arlington Philharmonic at Lubber Run Amphitheater.

The Arlington Philharmonic is a professional symphony orchestra in Arlington, Virginia led by A. Scott Wood, Conductor and Music Director. Maestro Wood is a long time Instructor with Encore Learning. Bring a picnic, your family, and your dog(s)! Wear your Encore Learning name badge so members can enjoy the concert together. We hope to see you there!

Click on image for complete program.

Please email the Encore Learning office if you are interested in joining any of our clubs or would like more information. You may 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 meets Wednesday mornings at 8:00 AM for breakfast and conversation at La Madeleine in Bailey’s Crossroads. What a great way to start your day! – Photos courtesy of Lee Cooper.

Cinema Club

The Encore Learning Cinema Club meets monthly to see a current film and discuss it over lunch. Recent outings have included Bob Trevino Likes It, Holy Cow, and, most recently, Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme. Anderson’s films are a sure bet for a lively discussion, with their often surreal plots. 

The next movie dates are Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, August 14.

–Caroline Wooden and Dru Dowdy, co-coordinators. Photo: Club members discussed The Phoenician Scheme at Chef Yan restaurant in Fairfax. Photo courtesy of Lee Cooper

Mindfulness Club

The Encore Learning Mindfulness Club continues to meet by Zoom most Wednesdays from Noon to 1:00 for 20 minutes of guided meditation, some discussion of mindfulness practice, and a bit of sociability. If you ask through the Encore Learning office to be added to the mailing list, you’ll receive meeting reminders as well as what we hope is useful information on contemporary mindfulness practice as well as on the development of mindfulness practice in Buddhist and other venues. You would have no obligation to attend meetings, they are on an as-you-wish-to-attend basis; some participants come rarely but find the weekly emails useful in developing meditation and mindfulness skills. – Dwight Rodgers

Nonfiction Book Club

The Encore Learning Nonfiction Book Club has chosen Burn Book by Kara Swisher as the next book to read. We’ll meet in the Arlington Central library on July 14 at 1:30 PM to discuss it. An instant New York Times bestseller, Burn Book is a “highly readable…bawdy, brash, and compulsively thought-provoking” (Booklist, starred review) account of the tech industry and its founders who wanted to change the world but broke it instead (adapted from Amazon). New members are welcome. Come join us. Contact the office if you want to be included on our mailing list.

– Ed Rader, Co-coordinator

Travel Club

The Travel Club met on June 20 with a presentation by Bill Mugg on his hiking trip in the Cotswolds last September with his wife Ellen.

The next meeting is on Friday, July 18 at 3:30 PM. Judy Ballard will be presenting on her trip to the Brittany region of France.

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 the office. We hope to see you virtually on Zoom! -Charlie Hallahan, co-Coordinator. Photo courtesy of Judy Ballard

Join the fun at GMU’s Mason Square Plaza

Summer 2025 Season

To get updates on what is happening mostly outside on the Mason Square Plaza, like free music and yoga, sign-up for the mailing list here. Or visit the Mason Square website.

We hope you’re enjoying the summer and finding refreshing ways to keep cool. Did you know that from the cozy comfort of your home, you can view our recent Encore Learning Presents? You may alsol sign up for our recorded classes from the spring, making learning both accessible and enjoyable! For those who are eager to connect in person, we invite you to check out the adventurous activities happening with our clubs, where you can meet fellow members and share experiences.

As we close out this month, we reflect on our academic and fiscal year with immense gratitude. Your positive feedback on our classes, clubs, and events has been invaluable. We are thrilled to report that we have achieved our registration revenue goals, exceeded our expectations for general donations, and successfully reduced some expenses. In these uncertain economic times, we are truly thankful to start the new year from a strong financial position.

Looking ahead, we are eagerly preparing for the fall semester, which promises to be filled with a robust roster of courses. Stay tuned for the catalog release in August—we can’t wait to share it with you and continue our lifelong learning journey together!

~ Lora 

Lora Pollari-Welbes

Executive Director

Save these dates!

• Next eNews is a combined July/August issue that will be emailed in early August.
• Fall Semester catalog will be mailed and online in early August.
• Fall Course Preview – virtual on Thursday, September 4.
• Fall Course Registration – Monday, September 8.
• Classes begin – September 29.

During May 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. Stephen Brucker, Connie Desrosiers, Barbara Jones, Cynthia Long, Barbara McKittrick, Hope Pillsbury, and Ron Robertson.

Thank you to Sandy Brucker and Peg Willingham 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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