Dear Sir,
The Lake Chapala Society Board of Directors acknowledges the recent resignations of the President and Executive Director.
Leadership transitions, while significant, do not alter our commitment to the mission, staff, volunteers, community and members of LCS. Programs and services continue uninterrupted.
The Board has convened to ensure operational continuity and to initiate a structured and transparent process for selecting permanent executive leadership.
LCS remains financially stable and committed to responsible governance, compliance, and long-term sustainability.
We appreciate the continued support of our community and will provide updates as appropriate.
Submitted by on behalf of President Yolanda Martínez
Dear Sir,
Last Sunday morning at about 8:30 a.m., some Canadian friends of our good friends were on a bus from Chapala, with other foreigners, on their way to a day in Tonala. When they were north of Ixtlahuacan, the bus driver noticed something ahead that didn’t look right. As he was trying to turn around, the bus was approached by two men with guns. These men told everyone on the bus to get off. They then fire bombed the bus and shot out the tires.
The passengers and bus driver all ran across four lanes of traffic to get to the other side of the highway, where they thought they could catch a bus back to Chapala. The first bus that came by would not stop. The second one that came by picked them up, but while on the bus, apparently the driver got a message to pull off the road and seek safety. They stopped at a gas station/OXXO, but these were locked down. Then they heard that they were caught between two roadblocks.
The bus driver then took them to a small subdivision, Rancho Alegre. They parked by a park which was out of sight of the main highway, so if the cartels were looking for more buses to burn, they could not see them. They then heard about the Shelter In Place announcement. People from the town started arriving to offer them food, water, blankets, baños, invitations to their homes, etc. They were well fed and cared for by these local people.
Those on the bus who did not have people who could come, by way of alternate routes, to pick them up, spent the night on the bus, after being made as comfortable as they could be by the local residents. In the morning, the bus people were again fed coffee and breakfast while they waited to be picked up by friends who by now could get through the roadblocks.
When these local people were offered money for all the help they had given, they refused to take it. When asked if it could be given to their children, they refused that also.
In a frightening and chaotic situation, it was the humanity and generosity of ordinary people that made all the difference.
Mina Powers
Mina Powers