Open Circle
David Truly will give a presentation on “Retirement Migration to Mexico: 20 years of Research and Reflection” at Open Circle Sunday, January 22, 10:30 a.m. in the garden of the Lake Chapala Society.
David Truly came to Ajijic in 1997 to conduct research for his dissertation on international retirement migration. His study shed new light on the types of people that migrate outside of their home country and the impacts of these migrants on local communities and culture. In 2006 he returned with his wife and children for his sabbatical, only to decide to move permanently to the area to raise their children and continue his research. Over the years, Truly has conducted hundreds of interviews and thousands of surveys, played with the local band The Tall Boys, and watched this community evolve. This presentation offers not only an overall summary of Truly’s studies, but more importantly, his reflections on this community and its future.
Truly received his PhD from the University of South Carolina and has taught at Central Connecticut State University, the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, and at Mocel Primary School in Ajijic. He has consulted with numerous developers and governmental and nonprofit agencies on senior living and health care issues.
LCS seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend a TED seminar, Tuesday, January 24, noon to 1:15 p.m. This seminar, hosted by Rick Rhoda, features social psychologist Adam Galinsky on “How to Speak Up for Yourself.”
Speaking up is hard to do, even when you know you should. Galinsky teaches people all over the world how to assert themselves, inspire others, speak up effectively, lead teams and negotiate successfully. He is currently the chair of the management division at Columbia Business School. He co-authored the critically acclaimed and best-selling book, “Friend & Foe,” which distills his two decades of research on leadership, negotiations, diversity, decision-making and ethics.
Neill James Lecture
John Keeling will present “The Birds in Your Mexican Backyard,” at the Neill James Lecture Tuesday, January 24, 2 p.m.
This presentation will feature slides of the common birds around Lake Chapala. Learn to identify them and find them. Discover which are resident and which migrate, and how to encourage them to come to your backyard.
Keeling grew up in England and worked in Canada as an engineer and professor. He became a serious student of the birds of Lake Chapala eight years ago, and is now recognized as an expert. He runs the Lake Chapala Birders, which organizes bird walks and puts out a free birding newsletter every month.
Lake Chapala Military Ball
Hugo Beauchemin (right), president of the 904 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, presents 13,000 pesos raised at the Lake Chapala Military Ball to Dr. Robert Plinke, director of La Ola Orphange for girls. Distinguished guests at the event held at the Real de Chapala Hotel included the Canadian Defense Attaché for Mexico and Royal Canadian Navy Captain Paul Dempsey and his wife Jamie. Lakeside military groups present included the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 Chapala, the Shrine Legion of Honor and the American Legion Post 9 Ajijic. A highlight of the evening was the draw for a beach trip – won by Roger Ouellet of Ottawa.
Scots unite!
The annual Rabbie Burns supper – a yearly celebration of the Bard to benefit Niños Incapacitados and one of Lakeside’s premier formal events – is on Wednesday, January 25, 5 p.m. at the Hotel Real de Chapala. Included are dancing, bagpipes, tributes and toasts, a traditional dinner including haggis, singing and a wee dram of Scotch.
Tickets, 400 pesos, are available through Mary Steele, 765-3226, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via programaninos.com.
Lakeside Singles
The Lakeside Singles have scheduled a cocktail/mixer on Thursday, January 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Just Chillin’, located at Constitución 32 in Ajijic.
Lakeside Little Theatre
Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) continues its practice of sharing a portion of each of its stage play’s proceeds with a different local charity. At the opening night of “Death and the Maiden,” LLT President Peter Luciano (right) presents a donation to John Kelly, president of Lakeside Assistance Group (LAG), which provides much needed equipment and supplies to emergency responders in Jalisco.
Waldorf Education
The education system advocated by Dr. Rudolf Steiner 100 years ago in Germany will be the focus of a presentation at the Ajijic Cultural Center on Saturday, January 28, 10 a.m. to noon.
Waldorf/Steiner schools now exist in many countries around the world, including several in Mexico.
The name of the program is “Waldorf Ajijic Project Colegio del Lago.”
There is no charge and all are welcome. For more information, see facebook/Waldorf.
Mexican Fiesta
The Chapala chapter of the Guadalajara Camera de Comercio (Chamber of Commerce) will hold a party night with live mariachi, and an all-you-can eat and drink Mexican taquiza with tequila, margaritas and beer, Saturday, January 28, 5-9 p.m. at the Old Train Station (Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo) in Chapala. Tickets, 350 pesos (part of which goes to the Cruz Roja), are available at the Camera office, Yoli’s, Diane Pearl, Ishop or by calling 766-2784.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Sangha meets weekly on Wednesdays at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. The center opens at 3:30 p.m. for silent meditation. The formal meditation period begins at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, January 25 meditation will be followed with a dharma talk by DaeJa Napier, teacher in residence at Heart of Awareness from January 25-30.
Registration is still open (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for a retreat with DaeJa Napier, “Vipassana: Insight Meditation, the way of Awareness,” offered January 27-29. See heartofawareness.org for details on the retreat and the schedule for that week. Registration deadline is January 25.
The Center is open for hour-long silent meditation from Sunday and Monday from 9 to 10 a.m., and Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon. A yoga class suitable for all levels of experience is offered Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. A donation of 50 pesos is requested for the class.
The Heart of Awareness is grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. The sangha’s location is at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For more information, see www.heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert, (331) 043-4669.
Spanish classes
The Lake Chapala Society announces its next round of Introduction to Spanish language classes for current members. This is a casual class offered for the beginner that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information about our area and Mexican culture.
February classes will start on Tuesday, February 7 and continue for three Tuesdays at the LCS campus from noon until 1:30 p.m. Learning materials are provided, and the tuition for the classes is 175 pesos.
Sign up is available at the LCS office during regular office hours, Monday through Saturday or via www.lakechapalasociety.com.
LCS is located at 16-A, 16 de Septiembre. Ajijic. Office: (376) 766-1140.
Jaltepec events
The Jaltepec Education Center in Hotel and Hospitality Management for young women has announced an open house for the general public, Wednesday, February 8, 11 a.m.
Linda Backthorp will give a presentation on the center’s history, academic and scholarship programs. This will be followed by a tour of the facilities.
A complimentary lunch at 1 p.m., prepared and served by the students, will show how well trained the students are in the culinary arts aspect of the program.
To reserve a place, contact Buckthorp at 766-1631 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Seating will be limited to 60 guests.
Buckthorp will also host a special fund-raising event — “Sinatra 101,” in honor of Frank Sinatra — Sunday, March 5 at her home overlooking Lake Chapala. The luncheon will start at 12:30 p.m. and includes unlimited wine, hors d’oeuvres prepared and served by the Jaltepec students and a light lunch, followed by Bill Dingwall’s introduction to Sinatra’s life and music. Guests are limited to 25 and the cost will be 1,000 pesos per person, with proceeds going to the Jaltepec General Scholarship Fund.
Chili Cook-off
For the 39th year the Chili Cook-off returns to Ajijic at Tobolandia Water Park February 10-12. This year, a new expanded parade is scheduled. This three-day fiesta is Lakeside’s largest charity event.
To enter any of the competitions, go to www.mexicannationalchilicookoff.com. For booth space call Jorge at 331-279-1721. To participate in the parade call Hector, 331-065-0725.
CASA
The Culinary Arts Society of Jalisco presented two categories at its January 16 meeting: soups and stews, and tarts and cobblers.
First place and People’s Choice winner in the hearty dish category was CASA President Monica Molloy for her Thai seafood curry with pumpkin & basil. Mary Ann Waite won second place for her sopa de crema de cilantro and Rick Feldman’s broccoli, red pepper and cheddar chowder took third place.
Dana Craft, a new member at her first meeting, won first place in the dessert category for her pecan pie; Carol Westbrook took second place and People’s Choice for her maple pecan pie and third place went to Martha Camacho for a caramel apple-cherry pie.
Greg Couillard,a celebrity chef from Toronto and the former executive chef at #4 Restaurant in Ajiic, will host two cooking classes for CASA members and guests on February 21 and 22, 1-5 p.m. The cost is 700 pesos and includes one class, recipes, tastings and two glasses of wine. To register contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
CASA’s next meeting is February 20, with presentation of a seafood main dish category, and an “anything chocolate” dessert category. For more information about CASA contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..