British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, June 2, 12:45 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
The speaker will be Sony Strahl, who, having been blessed with many gifts at birth, would like to share one of her favorites, “Hands-on Healing.” Menu choices begin with a small salad or vegetable soup; choice of steak pie with mashed potato, vegetables and gravy or grilled fish, mashed potato and vegetables or a large salad with protein. Dessert is chocolate cake and ice cream. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance and menu choice.
Open Circle
Dr. Sydney Metrick will present “Why Fit in When You Were Born to Stand Out (or Normal Is Overrated)” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, June 3, 10:30 a.m. on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society.
“The most talented, thought-provoking, game-changing people are never ‘normal.’ They usually overcome great obstacles, take surprising routes to their goals, are often dysfunctional and under no circumstances do what people expect them to do,” asserts Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, billionaire, and someone who has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD).
People who have ADHD or other executive function disorders, and even people who are simply divergent thinkers, like those in the arts, have ways of being in the world that might make successes more of a challenge; but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Dr. Sydney Metrick, coach, teacher and author, personally familiar with both failures and successes, offers unwavering support, enthusiastic encouragement, and practical tools and resources to others.
For more information on Open Circle, see opencircleajijic.org.
Democrats Abroad
Join Mel Goldberg, a longtime resident of Ajijic, Monday, June 11, 4 p.m. at Fonda Doña Lola’s (west Ajijic across from La Casa del Waffle).
Goldberg will review the history of gun rights and laws in the United States since before the Constitution was ratified up to the present. From the ratification of the 2nd Amendment, the NRA being founded, the various acts, bans and court cases, gain a clear understanding of how and why guns have such an important role in the United States.
The horrors of terrorist attacks and school killings are ever-present in the minds of all Americans, young and old. Can parents even send their children to school without fear in their throats? Come engage in a lively dialogue on what can be done to eradicate this horror.
Goldberg grew up in the Near North Side of Chicago. After completing his bachelor’s degree at Northern Illinois University and his master’s degree at California State College at Long Beach, he taught literature and writing in California, Illinois, and Arizona. In 1990 he was a Fulbright Exchange Teacher at Stanground College in Cambridgeshire, England.
He and artist Bev Kephart sold most of their possessions in 2003, bought a motor home, and traveled throughout the United States for seven years working at RV parks. They made the long drive through Canada to work one summer in Alaska.
After visiting Mexico several times, they settled in Ajijic in 2010, joining the expat artist and writing community.
Goldberg has published three novels, a book of short detective stories, and several books of poetry. He has been published online and in print in the United Kingdom, United States, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. His books are available on Amazon.
LCS TED talks
Frances Frei presents “How to Build and Rebuild Trust” Tuesday, June 5, noon to 1:15 p.m. at the LCS Sala.
Frei is a culture builder and professor at Harvard Business School. What do we do when trust, the foundation of everything we do, is broken? Frei gives a crash course in trust: how to build it, maintain it and rebuild it – something she worked on during a recent stint at Uber. “If we can learn to trust one another more, we can have unprecedented human progress,”
iLOX public meeting
A group of lakeside residents are working to convince the iLOX Fiber Optic Internet division of TV Rey Group to extend their existing high-speed fiber optic network to homes and businesses to lakeside. Fiber optic transmissions are not affected by severe weather or electrical interference and are capable of transferring large amounts of data at very high speeds.
With a single strand fiber optic connection, homes and businesses would be able to have fast internet, up to 300mbs, two telephone lines and 132 channels of television. Studies have shown that having broadband high speed internet available increases property values and is a factor in the relocation decision of businesses and families.
If you are interested, come to the Lake Chapala Society’s Sala Tuesday, June 5, 4 p.m.
Fitness walks
Every Wednesday, 10-11 a.m. from June 6 to September 26, a walk for fitness will take place on the LCS gazebo. This activity will follow Leslie Sansone’s “Walk at Home” program – an activity endorsed by the American Heart Association. Contact Lisa O’Dell for more information at 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..
Yoga
One-hour yoga classes by certified instructor Delia, featuring both chair and mat techniques, are held every Wednesday, 9 a.m. at American Legion Post 7 in Chapala. To sign up, or for more information, call 331-222-0438.
LCS tech help
Every Thursday, tech expert Mike Goss will be available to help with questions and issues with phones, tablets and laptops from noon to 2 p.m. outside the LCS Sala. Members are encouraged to bring their portable devices so that questions can be solved during the sit down.
LCS Spanish
Introduction to Spanish is cancelled for June, but will begin on Tuesday, July 10. Register in the LCS service office. Meanwhile, continue to learn by joining Exploring Spanish, held every Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Sala. LCS Members only. Free.
New to Lakeside or Mexico?
The Lake Chapala Society’s “Introduction to Lakeside Seminar” will take place 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.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to Costco and Galerias Mall in Guadalajara, Thursday, June 28. Tickets for either trip are 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members. Sign up at the LCS office at least two days before the trip is scheduled. The bus leaves at 9:30 a.m. in front of the sculpture in La Floresta.
July 4th shindig
Democrats Abroad is holding another fun-filled U.S. Independence Day celebration, Wednesday, July 4, 4-8 p.m. at the lush gardens of Hotel Villa Montecarlo in Chapala.
The fiesta includes a live show and music by the Jamm Band and a menu of American outdoor specialties: hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, watermelon and apple pie. A cash bar is available. Come celebrate with your neighbors and friends and make some new ones while you’re there.
Tickets, 300 pesos in advance, 350 pesos at the door, are available at Diane Pearl, Yoli’s Beauty Salon and Hotel Monte Carlo.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation, Monday at 9 a.m., Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m. 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.
Sunday, June 3, the center is open from 9 a.m. to noon for three rounds of sitting and walking meditation.
Wednesday, June 6, the meditation period will be followed by a video talk by Stephen Batchelor, contemporary Buddhist teacher and writer, best known for his secular or agnostic approach to Buddhism. Batchelor’s topic in the series of talks in June is “Buddhism for This One and Only Life”, beginning with the segment “Awakening to Life, Awakening to Death”.
A yoga class is offered at The Heart of Awareness on Thursdays at 9 a.m. These gentle and relaxing yoga practice sessions are taught by Latika. Some mats and blocks are provided but participants are invited to bring their own mat and water bottle. The class is one hour and 45 minutes.
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. During May, the Community will present teachings by Ram Dass on “Conscious Aging.” The teachings will be presented on Wednesdays following a silent meditation. The sessions are presented from noon until 1:30 p.m. For more information, see chapalameditation.com.