Help the dogs
Shop at a bazaar/yard sale at El Paseo de la Colina 22 in upper La Floresta and help the Ranch dogs, Saturday, October 20 and (possibly) Sunday, October 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Open Circle
Pete Soderman will present “Recovering in Chaos Part II“ at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, October 21, 10:30 a.m., on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Last fall, Soderman addressed Open Circle on his new project, “Recovering in Chaos,” in which he explored the then current situation in the United States and explained why the environment makes recovery from self-defeating behaviors, such as drug abuse, so difficult. In this presentation, Soderman will discuss how the situation has worsened in the past year, some attempts to mitigate the problem, and where his research is suggesting some solutions may lie. It turns out that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel that isn’t an oncoming train.
Soderman has nearly 30 years of experience in the recovery field and is the author of “Powerless No Longer, Reprogramming Your Addictive Behavior,” and “Thinking Recovery, A Cognitive Approach to Self-defeating Behaviors.” His Web site is petesoderman.com.
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
Art in the garden
The Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA) will hold its first monthly Garden Show on the grounds of the Lake Chapala Society Saturday, October 20,10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Not only will ASA artists be there, but young artists from the LCS Children’s Art Program will be painting and selling their work.
The ASA Garden Shows will be held on the third Saturday of the month through April. This is a great opportunity to see original art by local artists in a beautiful garden setting.
Toastmasters
Toastmasters Club Lago de Chapala will hold a speech contest Monday, October 22, 7 p.m. The club meets at the Lake Chapala Society (enter through the gate closest to the lake on Ramon Corona). The contest will be in English and usually comprises some excellent, thought-provoking topics. The winning two places will compete at the district level in Guadalajara in November. There is potential to compete in the International Speech contest in Denver next year. The Toastmasters organization is a world leader in communication and leadership development.
Blood pressure
Blood pressure screenings are available to the public Mondays, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Lake Chapala Society.
LCS TED Talks
Michael Shermer will discuss “The Pattern Behind Self-deception” in the next TED Talk, Tuesday, October 23, noon to 1:15 p.m., at the Lake Chapala Society Sala. LCS members only.
Shermer says the human tendency to believe strange things – from alien abductions to dowsing rods – boils down to two of the brain’s basic, hard-wired survival skills. He explains what they are, and how they get us into trouble.
U.S. Voter Assistance
The November 6, 2018, midterm elections are nearing. Need help to submit your voted absentee ballots? The Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad will hold its last day of non-partisan ballot support at the Lake Chapala Society on Tuesday, October 23, 10 a.m. to noon. Look for volunteers under the blue umbrellas to answer questions and provide forms and printer support. Their focus will be assisting with voted ballots that can be emailed, faxed or returned by DHL or FedEx, as it is now too late to return a ballot by regular mail.
If you have not heard from your County Clerk about your request for an absentee ballot, call their office to expedite receipt of your ballot if you can e-mail or fax it back before November 6.
For detailed information, query the link “Find Answers” at: votefromabroad.org, where election deadlines and county clerk telephone numbers and e-mail addresses can be found. Individuals who are housebound and need personalized help can write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request special assistance with returning voted ballots.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society heads to Costco and the Galerias mall in Guadalajara Wednesday, October 24.
The bus departs 9:30 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta. Tickets, 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members, must be purchased no later than two days before any LCS bus trip.
Tech classes
Lake Chapala Society members can take technology classes with Mike Goss Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m., in the LCS sala. Sign up at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your membership number and expiration date.
October 25: Introduction to Facebook.
De-Feet fundraiser
Joggers and walkers will stretch their legs to support breast cancer survivors at the second annual five-kilometer Catrina Run Sunday, October 28. Starting 8 a.m. from the Ajijic plaza, the trekkers will follow Calle Colón to the waterfront Malecón, turn up to the highway heading towards the local cemetery and double back to the finish line at the plaza. Each participant will receive a commemorative T-shirt, a runner’s medal and hydration drink. The top three racers in women’s, men’s and junior divisions win cash prizes. Sign up for a 300-peso donation at Chapala Med, (Plaza Interlago), Diane Pearl or Tepehua Treasures (Riberas del Pilar).
The event is organized under the auspices of the Ajijic Rotary Club and Chapala’s Comude Sports Commission, with proceeds going towards therapy for patients channeled to public medical facilities through Guadalajara’s Fundación Salvati.
LCS Spanish
Spanish classes using the Warren Hardy Spanish-language course begin Monday, October 29, and are given two days per week for 1 1/2-hour sessions for 7 weeks at the Wilkes Education Center in Ajijic. Several levels of instruction are available. The course program manager is available to answer questions and register students October 22-26 at LCS on the blue patio umbrella.
Introduction to Spanish classes for LCS members are held each month starting the first Tuesday and continue for three weeks. Classes begin November 6 at the LCS campus, noon to 1:30 p.m. This is a casual class that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases for shopping, Mexican culture and the lakeside area. Sign up at the LCS office or at lakechapalasociety.com.
Lake Chapala Birders
Monday October 29, the Lake Chapala Birders will meet at 8 a.m. to walk the Allen Lloyd Trail, which follows a mile-long arroyo with lots of underbrush in which birds love to hide. Expect to see stripe-headed sparrow, greater Pewee and groove-billed Ani. At 10:15 a.m. the group will head to Cafe Negro for breakfast. To get to the trail, drive up the Libramiento a half mile from the traffic light at Walmart and park on the north side of the road, across from the El Dorado Condominium tower. E-mail John Keeling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Focus on Mexico
Lake Chapala Society members can take advantage of various courses in November.
Mexico’s Winter Holidays and Traditions, a course taught by Judy King, runs Wednesdays, November 7 to December 19, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Ana Moreno will teach two courses: Mexican Chiles and Salsas on Tuesday, Tuesday, November 6, 1-4 p.m., and Making Corn Tortillas and Other Dishes Mexicans Enjoy and Share with the World on November 20, 1-4:30 p.m.
Alfredo Perez will teach a course on Mexican Manners Friday, November 16, noon to 2 p.m.
Finally, Ricardo Yohualoceloth and Cesar Mata will prepare a temazcal, a pre-hispanic Mexican ritual steam bath Friday, November 30, 1-6:30 p.m.
Enroll for any of these courses at the LCS office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cruz Roja Golf Classic
The Chapala Country Club’s 15th Annual Cruz Roja Golf Classic tournament is Thursday, November 8. The tournament is a scramble with mixed teams. Prizes include a new car, a golf cart and lots of other prizes. Visit the pro shop or call (376) 763-5136 to reserve. Golfers pay 1,500 pesos for golf, cart, breakfast, a bag lunch and a mixed grill BBQ dinner. Dinner-only tickets, 300 pesos, are available at the pro shop or Yoly’s Estetica at Plaza Bugambilias in Ajijic.
Fashion show
Programa Pro Niños Incapacitados del Lago will hold a fashion show and luncheon Wednesday, November 14, noon to 4 p.m., at the Hotel Real de Chapala. The latest fashions by Lynn Gilbank, Cugini’s Boutique and Barbara Milagros will be shown in a promenade on the catwalk. For tickets, 350 pesos, contact Jan Manning, (376) 766-5278 or 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..
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation: Sundays, 9 a.m., Wednesdays, 4 p.m., and Thursdays, 11 a.m. All sessions are open to the public regardless of experience or affiliation. Chairs and cushions are provided as well as brief written instructions on meditation for beginners.
Wednesday, October 24, the meditation period will be followed by another reading from essays by dharma teacher Peter Doobinin, this one titled “The Ship.”
A yoga class is offered Thursdays from 9-10:45 a.m.
The meditation center is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. Information: heartofawareness.org.