The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) in Ajijic has planned a grand all-day “Free-esta” on Saturday, November 7 to celebrate the organization’s 60th anniversary.
On the schedule is an array of live music by Javier Reygoza’s Orchestra Tipica, Blanca and Roberto and Noe, lots of opportunities for dancing, informational displays from dozens of lakeside non-profit organizations and businesses and free snacks served by area restaurants.
The remarkable history of LCS began in 1955 when a group of 21 foreign residents met in Chapala to establish a society that would benefit both foreigners and the Mexican community. The early organizers formed two committees to address the priority needs of the times: information services and mosquito control.
Within a year the fledgling group organized a Children’s Reading Room (Biblioteca) and they also established a lending library for members.
Over 60 years, the membership has grown for those first 21 founding members to more than 2,800. There are now almost 300 volunteers helping to provide more than 30 programs and services, including staffing the information and services desk, an English library which shelves more than 25,000 titles, a video library of 4,000 titles, affordable Spanish classes, and free health services. Members, non-members, expats and local residents of the Mexican community find dozens of other benefits and services, learning opportunities and activities that make life easier and fuller.
Today’s LCS members, who pay the equivalent of $US3 a month to belong, have the satisfaction of being part of a service organization that is improving the lives of hundreds of Mexican children and adults each year. LCS provides the only public library in the area with publications in Spanish, scholarships for 30 local students for higher education, free ESL (English as a second language) classes, weekly free children´s art classes, and free summer art and theater camps for youth.
Those who appreciate the history and existence of LCS and all it provides to members, the community and to visitors to lakeside, won’t want to miss this international “Free-esta” on the LCS campus on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Significantly, at the 10:30 a.m. opening ceremony, local area youth and adults will briefly relate the ways LCS has made a difference in their lives.
Throughout the day there will be repeated screenings of a new short video by Harriet Hart and Roy Nolan in the Sala. This video, part of an oral history project, features interviews with residents who share their memories of LCS and its programs. The video also features Neil James, who started children’s reading and art programs for children 60 years ago on her property, which is now the LCS campus.
There will be an exhibit of testimonials from students who have benefited from LCS Student Aid Program scholarships which allowed them to complete their university education. Some of the students will be present to express their gratitude in person to the organization.
Children from Chapala will tell the myth of Lake Chapala through dance. The Children´s Choir of San Juan Cosala will perform. Twenty children from the art program will be dressed in costumes made by the Needlepushers organization to represent the cultures of countries where LCS members have originated.
LCS Board member and local Chamber of Commerce President Yoly Martinez, has organized local business owners, who are generously showing their appreciation for the contributions LCS has made to the community by donating food and other items for the celebration. Soft drinks and water will be served free. A cash bar will be open from noon to 7 p.m. serving beer, wine, margaritas and mixed drinks.
While the “Free-esta” will celebrate LCS’ many past achievements, the society is not willing to rest on its laurels.
Says President Ben White: “Over the next few months we will be announcing more about our intentions to increase outreach to all lakeside residents, introduce new programs and plans for enhancing our campus infrastructure to carry us forward into the next 60 years.”