Dear Encore Learning Member,
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. This is the February edition of The Inside Scoop.
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Global Hot Spots: Stay Current
Each topic in this Spring's Global Hot Spots is in the news just about every day. If you sign-up for the class you will be informed on the latest regarding Afghanistan, Taiwan, Russia, South Caucasus, and Haiti. The speakers include three former ambassadors and all speakers are current faculty or fellows at esteemed institutions. Students have the opportunity to ask questions to understand issues more deeply and gain insights exclusively for Encore Learning participants.
Sign-up today for this virtual class that starts Thursday, March 3, at 2:00 PM and runs for five sessions.
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Wonky, but Wonderful: Arlington’s Lead in the Fight Against Climate Change
The bumper sticker summarizes it: Think Globally, Act Locally. Arlington County lives by that slogan and today is a leader among communities acting to reverse global warming. Fifteen years ago, the county rolled out AIRE: Arlington’s Initiative to Rethink Energy. In the first decade after the program’s rollout, the county reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 24 percent, even with a 17 percent growth in building square footage.
Arlington is one of a handful of urban communities in the United States aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Three new elementary schools in Arlington are net-zero energy users. More than 300 green homes in the county cut energy costs in half. Arlington has set an ambitious goal of meeting all of the county’s energy needs with renewable resources by 2035.
Learn how the county has made such large strides toward reducing energy consumption over the last 15 years—and how individuals can help move Arlington forward in its role as a sustainability leader.
Encore Learning’s four-week course, Rethinking Energy: AIRE at 15, will meet on Fridays from noon to 1:30, beginning March 11. To learn more about the course, watch this video with our instructor, Demetra McBride. Click here to register for the course. - Submitted by Jeanne LaBella
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Timely Focused Courses
This semester we are offering six courses with a local or global focus on timely topics that could spark some thoughtful conversation, inspire further exploration, and help make new connections within your community. Click here to learn more.
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Virtual Classes Begin Soon:
Zoom Tips and Tricks
Virtual Spring semester courses are just around the corner. With 2/3 of our courses being virtual you may be seeing us online soon. All members enrolled in a virtual class will receive an email with the Zoom login instructions at least one day before the first class and the information is also available in the class media.
Here are some tips and tricks we learned about Zoom that we find helpful that can make taking an online class even easier!
- Once you obtain your course's Zoom login instructions save them to your own personal calendar or even to your desktop! By adding them to your desktop or wherever you check often, it will make it easier each time to log into class. You use the same login instructions, password, and Zoom link for every session of that particular course you have enrolled in.
- To ensure you can enjoy the presentations, often including videos, be sure you have strong bandwidth. We recommend checking out https://www.speedtest.net/ to help check your bandwidth and internet connection. When connecting to modem best is with Ethernet cable, or, if using Wi-Fi, get as close as possible to the source (your modem).
- When participating in Zoom classes instructors might ask you to turn on your microphone and participate in class. An easy way to unmute yourself is to press and hold the spacebar. Once you let go of the spacebar it will go back to mute. Make sure once you are done participating that you are muting yourself, any background noise can be disruptive to the class.
- We are now offering subtitles, or “Live Transcript”, by enabling these Zoom allows you to be able to read what the instructor, co-host, videos, and movies are saying. If you don't see Live Transcript in your toolbar, and you would like it enabled just send a chat to the Host.
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To enable Live Transcript click the Live Transcript with the "CC" symbol. |
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To hide subtitles or view full transcript click the carrot or "^" on the Live Transcipt button |
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It doesn't hurt to freshen up on all of your Zoom knowledge! Even practice before classes to ensure that you're all ready to go for your Spring semester with us.
If you are enrolled in an in-person class, you may see your Activities to check location. Classes that are meeting in different locations will receive details before the first class. All in-person students will receive information about the relevant Covid protocols in place at that time.
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Special Events Tours Highlight
The February Special Events calendar included two Art Exploration tours. In honor of Black History month, 40 Encore Learning members participated in an interactive tour lead by a favorite Smithsonian American Art Museum docent, Melissa Clark. The tour featured a discussion of several African American Artists in many media- oil painting , collage, photography, sculpture and graphics, whose works are a part of the Smithsonian’s collection. Featured were two local artists, Alma Thomas (pictured, left) and David Driscoll. On February 15, about 30 Encore Learning members joined American Museum of Asian Art docent, Christine Freidel, to learn about Islamic Art. Look for tours later this Spring that will continue our exploration of the Eastern art traditions in Japan, China and India. - Submitted by Michelle Trahan
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Claire Guthrie Gastañaga:
Governing Access to the Ballot Box
Our Special Events speaker helped audience members understand what’s at risk in Richmond. Here’s the script of her talk from February 21 and the YouTube video.
Here are contacts for you to influence outcomes in the General Assembly.
Collaborate to be an effective advocate. Be intentional when engaging others.
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Assess your capacity using the advocacy tool ACT, available from Bolder Advocacy. Evaluate how advocacy can play a larger role in advancing your mission.
- Collaborate and work in coalition with others.
- Find your allies. Build coalitions with other organizations and people who share your goals and objectives.
- Identify your opposition. Find out who’s likely to be against you on an issue and determine whether there is any common ground.
- Center on the people most impacted by the law or policy that you are trying to preserve/change.
Additional Resources:
-Submitted by Kris McLaughlin
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In-Person and Virtual Class Aide Training
The start of the Spring semester is a few days away! Our virtual and in-person Class Aides can’t wait for classes to begin. Last week we had our in-person Class Aide training at George Mason University where Co-Class Aide Chairs Gail Massot and Eileen Janas taught our Class Aides about our COVID precautions, A/V instructions, and more. We also held two virtual Class Aide training sessions where both IT Co-Chairs Richard Rubin and Marty Suydam taught our aides about Zoom.
Each class is assigned either one, two, or three Class Aides to ensure that the classes run smoothly. No matter if it's via Zoom, in-person at George Mason University, or at one of our offsite locations we are here to help.
A big thank you to all of our volunteer Class Aides and volunteer committee members, we couldn't do it without you!
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In-person Class Aide training, masked, at George Mason University |
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Virtual Class Aide Training via Zoom |
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Do You Enjoy Serving as a Historian?
A few Encore Learning Leaders used extensive documents to write this brief history of the organization’s first 10 years. As we begin preparation for the celebration of Encore Learning’s twentieth anniversary, we could use the help of a few volunteers to serve as historians to conduct member interviews and compare memories to documented facts. If interested in learning more, send an email to info@encorelearning.net.
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Nominations Committee Update
Encore Learning’s Nominating Committee for next year’s Officers and Committee Chairs is up and running. An important issue for next year—and probably the next few years—is expanding membership. If you have thoughts and ideas about Encore Learning’s future, consider chairing the Membership Committee. The Committee develops and executes recruitment strategies as well as plans and supports in-person events for members. Contact us at info@encorelearning.net for more information!
To get more involved in a committee, sign-up to volunteer here:
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Join an Encore Learning Club Today!
If you are looking for more ways to get involved in your community look no further! Join one of our many clubs. They meet mostly virtually via Zoom. We currently have nine clubs that promote lifelong learning, personal growth, physical activity and social engagement. Club membership is open to all current Encore Learning members.
Looking to get more involved? We are seeking a Nonfiction Book Club Coordinator(s)! Thank you to Carter Vaden and Pat Chatten for skillfully coordinating the Nonfiction Book Club for so many years. Now it's someone else's turn to helm this popular club. Please consider volunteering for this position so we can keep this club going!
If you wish to join a club or become a coordinator, contact the office at 703-228-2144 or send an email to info@encorelearning.net to let us know which club you want to join.
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Staff Corner
During January and February we have been getting ready for Spring; its wonderful to see the crocuses and daffodils pop-up to remind us that brighter days are ahead. Classes start on Monday, February 28. We are full of gratitude for the more than 50 volunteers who serve as Class Aides and more than 40 outstanding instructors. Our content is unique and made for you, by you, our members.
Our Academic Programs Committee is working hard to develop courses for Fall 2022 so if you were looking for a course this Spring that you did not see on the calendar, make your suggestions now. We welcome any leads for new topics or instructors. At this time we are planning a combination of virtual and in-person classes for Fall 2022.
February launched our 20th Anniversary Committee and they are meeting regularly. We'll be sharing plans soon and we hope you will share some memories.
If you have any questions about membership or registration, please be sure to contact us at info@encorelearning.net and we will respond promptly.
~ Lora
Lora Pollari-Welbes, Executive Director
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Calendar Announcements
- Spring 2022 classes begin on February 28 at 10:00 AM EST
- Member Annual Meeting, Thursday, May 26 at 10:00 AM EST (virtual)
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Welcome New Members
In January 2022, the following new members joined Encore Learning. Please be sure to give these folks a warm welcome.
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- Paxton Baker
- Ingrid Berdahl
- Nancy Charbonneau
- Chun-I Chiang
- Charles Clark
- Veda Engel
- Gail Evans
- Pat Findikoglu
- Gregory Frey
- Kristine Gabster
- Jean Hacken
- Monique Hanis
- Cathy Jabara
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- Audrey Kremer
- Paula Mathews
- Ellen Mooney
- Gerard O'Brien Jr
- Debra Pfaff
- Anne Rodgers
- Carol Rosenberg
- Roxane Rucker
- Joseph Semo
- Jane Walker
- Kathryn Weatherby
- Patricia Wheeler
- Lucy Ziobro
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THANK YOU to Kris McLaughlin, Jade Gong, Lee Cooper, Carolyn Lathey, Richard Rodgers, Steve Shapiro, Cecilia Perry and all of you who kindly refer friends. Thank you to the Membership Committee for their efforts to spread the word about Encore Learning. Tell a friend about Encore Learning so you can see your name here!
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Remember that many of our virtual Encore Learning Presents events are recorded and may be found on our YouTube channel.
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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.
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.
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Lifelong Learning For Those Over 50
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