The Inside Scoop - for Members Only
 
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Welcome to our eighth edition of 
The Inside Scoop , our electronic 
newsletter  f or members only. 
Please  enjoy this issue,  and  share 
your  f eedback by emailing 

Spring Course Preview on February 3

Encore Learning's instructors will give brief presentations about their academic courses for the spring semester. Visit our website to get all the details. Plan to attend and,  please, note the new time and place.

Hot Off the Presses!

Check out our new Insider's Guide. We wrote this expressly for you - to share the tips and tricks of long-time members and answer the most frequently asked questions we receive in the office. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful. As always, we welcome your feedback.



Bridge Club Holiday Happening

Bridge Club Coordinator Sharon Bisdee reports: On December 4, the Bridge Club had a really festive and enjoyable gathering at Judy Ballard's home.  We had four tables, Judy's lunch was delicious, the bridge fun.

December 2017 Bridge Club. Photo by Judy Ballard.


December 2017 Bridge Club. Photo by Ellen Marcus.

Our Mindfulness Club Meets Weekly

Now that the holidays are over, our Mindfulness Club is meeting weekly for discussion, meditation and exploration of the mindfulness tradition. All Encore Learning members are welcome to join us at n oon  on Wednesdays at Arlington's Lubber Run Community Center. A 20-minute meditation period usually begins around  12:25 P.M.  following open discussion, and each meeting concludes with an (optional) recorded talk. Weekly participation is usually around 15, and there is always more room at the table. If you are interested in receiving the weekly Club email with more specific information on each session, please contact the Encore Learning office. 
-- Dwight Rodgers, Club Coordinator

The Kayak Club is Alive and Well!

A thousand apologies for the inadvertent omission of the Kayak Club from our Spring 2018 catalog. They are going strong and looking forward to their first paddle on May 9, 2018.

Our kayak club welcomes  newcomers, novices and experienced kayakers. The club  meets 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. Outings are the 2nd and  4th Wednesdays of the month from May until late  September, weather permitting, and we paddle for about 1  to 1½ hours. Club coordinators are Janice Yeadon and  Wayne Moore.

Just in case you've forgotten what summer looks like, here's a shot from last season....

Club Co-Coordinator Wayne Moore (foreground) and other members enjoying the day. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Schwartzbard.

Staff Corner

We've Moved! For the next two months, we are in temporary space on the third floor of the Syphax Center. The construction makes things a little chaotic at times but we are settling in. In March, we will move to our permanent location, also on the third floor. Always call ahead for an appointment. All of our contact information remains unchanged.

We are busy getting ready for our Spring 2018 Course Preview, which will be held on Saturday, February 3, at Wakefield High School. Turn left on S. Dinwiddie to enter the parking lot. Enter the building through Doorway One.

Doors open at 8:30 A.M., for thirty minutes to socialize with friends and neighbors. It's a great time to get the latest news on our clubs, special events and volunteer possibilities, along with a quick bite and hot drink.  The formal program begins at 9 A.M. sharp.  Don't miss a minute!

The Course Preview is listed as a public event on Facebook if you'd like to share it. Details are also on our website. This event is for both current and prospective members. As you know, membership is open to those age 50+ in the metro area. Bring interested friends, relatives and neighbors! 

Course Registration opens at 10 A.M. sharp on the following Monday, February 5. Be at your computers and logged in at 10 A.M. for the best chance at getting into your preferred courses. We are offering  36 great courses - a good mix of new choices and perennial favorites. 

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 Spring Course Preview (see above) and "Meet the Speaker" series at Arlington Central Library - there is one more event at the library this month and two in February. These events are open to the public and a great way for prospective members to learn more about us.

Anyone can do it! 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
  • Take time now to login to Member Account Manager to make sure your login ID and password are up to date before course registration begins. Remember to contact the office if you want to change your email address used as your login ID.
  • Volunteers are always needed. If you'd like to get more involved, please email info@encorelearning.net.
  • Check the calendar on our website for our office hours.
Welcome New Members

In December 2017, ten new members joined Encore Learning. Please be sure to give these folks a warm welcome. 

Ken Avis
David Bain
Kit Bigelow
Richard Deavel
Carolyn Gecan
Diane Hellens
Grace Holden
Mark Kronenberg
Michael Loughnane
Mary Smith

And a huge Thank You to the following member for referring friends and family:

Carter Vaden

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.

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 .