New to Lakeside or Mexico?
The Lake Chapala Society’s “Introduction to Lakeside Seminar,” originally slated for Thursday, April 12, has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn all the basics: banking, shopping, restaurants, medical, getting around, entertainment and recreation, all for only 250 pesos. Sign up at the service desk, or at lakechapalasociety.com.
Open Circle
Luis Enrique Ramos will present “Key Issues of Water Management in Mexico” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, April 22, 10:30 a.m. on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Competition over fresh water will increase in the coming years. How are water rights allocated in Mexico? Which uses should have preference? How does water policy protect environmental flows? What is happening with the current conflicts among users? This presentation will answer these questions and discuss the main concerns of water policy in Mexico. It will also describe existing projects to improve water quality and water quantity.
Ramos, a local attorney-at-law and notario público, has worked during the last 18 years in water-related projects as an independent consultant at all three levels of government, as well as for not-for-profit and international organizations. His primary legal expertise lies in water governance, aligning the interests of and resolving conflicts among stakeholders in the water sector.
For more information on Open Circle, see opencircleajijic.org.
Democrats Abroad
The next film in the Democrats Abroad Lake Chapala chapter’s “Sunday Afternoon at the Movies” is “The Last Mountain,” to be shown Sunday, April 22, 1:30 p.m. at Cinemas del Lago, Plaza Bugambilias. Called a “furious documentary” by The New York Times, this film is not just about the ecological horror of mountaintop-removal coal mining, but is also an exploration of the threat that strong corporations can pose to democracy. The filmmaker shows how local communities in West Virginia are standing up to the industries that are making decisions harmful to their lives. Film proceeds are being used to support the chapter’s non-partisan voter registration assistance underway at the Lake Chapala Society every Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. to noon.
U.S. citizens who will not be in the United States this year should register and request their absentee ballots as soon as possible through chapter volunteers or online at Votefromabroad.org or FVAP.GOV to be sure their vote will be counted in their primaries and the November mid-term election. For more information on Chapter activities, 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..
LCS TED talks
Host Susan Weeks features a lecture by novelist Chimamanda Adichie, speaking on “The Danger of the Single Story,” Tuesday, April 24, noon to 1:15 p.m. at the LCS Sala.
Adichie observes that our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. She tells how she found her authentic cultural voice – and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
LCS Bus Trips
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to Costco and Galerias Mall in Guadalajara Thursday, April 26. Major retailers include Best Buy, Sears, H&M, Liverpool and The Home Store. Among restaurants are Cheesecake Factory, Applebees, Outback Steakhouse and PF Chang. A Walmart and Sams store also adjoin the mall. The bus leaves at 9:30 a.m.
The cost is 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members. Sign up at the LCS office.
Chapala stock show
Animal exhibits and entertainment galore await visitors at Expo Ganadera, Chapala’s fifth annual livestock show, set to run April 27 through May 6 on the grounds of the Lienzo Charro J. González Gallo located on Avenida Madero, opposite the Pemex service station.
The ten-day country-style shindig kicks off Friday evening with a equestrian parade departing from the gates of the arena around 6 p.m. to make full loop along the main thoroughfare.
While nowhere near the magnitude of Guadalajara’s giant stock show held each October, the local version will attract crowds with a slate of family-oriented activities in the exhibition area and the music-cum-cowpoke events happening in the main arena. Visitors can meander through the pens holding horses, cattle, sheep and other farm animals, turn small fries loose in the petting farm, hop on mechanical rides and savor typical vittles at assorted food stalls.
Tech stuff help
The Lake Chapala Society is offering LCS members the following tech classes, all to be held on Thursdays, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the LCS Sala.
May 3: “Keeping Your Passwords Safe” will cover methods for safely storing your list of passwords.
May 17: “Streaming TV in Lakeside” will cover what is streaming, will it work for me, what are the options here? This is not a sales presentation. Both free and paid options will be covered.
May 24: “iPhone Q&A” will be an open discussion on any Apple iPhone or iPad questions.
May 31: “Microsoft Word for Writers” will be a basic class on how to use Microsoft Word for advanced writing. Topics will include: creating a table of contents, footnotes, inserting images, creating a PDF to send to someone and spell & grammar checking.
You must be an LCS member to take advantage of these classes. Register by emailing 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.. Include your name, email address and LCS member number.
Also, every Thursday a tech expert will be available to help with questions and issues with phones, tablets and laptops from noon to 2 p.m. outside the Sala. Members are encouraged to bring their portable device so that questions can be solved during the sit down.
Spanish classes
Classes using the Warren Hardy Spanish-language course begin at LCS May 7 and run through June 23. Classes are two days per week at the Wilkes Education Center (Biblioteca) in Ajijic. Several levels of instruction are available as students progress in the program. LCS members only. For more information, see LCS Spanish Classes at lakechapalasociety.com, or email the Spanish Program Coordinator, Vivian Sternfield at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the LCS office at (376) 766-1140.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community, located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic, offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation: Sunday and Monday, 9 a.m., Wednesday, 4 p.m. and Thursday, 11 a.m. Sunday, Monday and Thursday practice periods consist of one hour for both sitting and walking meditation. Wednesday there is 45 minutes of sitting meditation. All sessions are open to the public regardless of experience or affiliation, and chairs and cushions are provided. There are brief written instructions on meditation for beginners.
April 25, the meditation period will be followed by a video presentation titled “Lovingkindness: Alone with Others,” from a series titled “Real Happiness.” Sharon Salzberg brings the topic to life in this series of practical teachings. Meditation practice can play a large part in discovering a stable and open happiness that is not shaken by conditions, and consists of practical tools to help deepen concentration, mindfulness and compassion.
The meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. For more information, see heartofawareness.org.
Chapala meditation
Chapala Meditation Community offers silent mindfulness meditation in Chapala at Calle Cinco de Mayo 260 just north of Lopez Cotilla, (brown door in white building), Monday and Friday, 11 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays, noon to 1:30 p.m. Activities include meditation and teachings from an audio presentation by Frank Ostaseski, author of “The Five Invitations.” All are welcome. For more information, see chapalameditation.com.