Three afternoons a week a group of women get together on the grounds of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) to learn the skills of hand-embroidery.
The main aim of the classes is to help preserve one of Ajijic’s most distinctive crafts. At the same time, it is a perfect example of the kind of cross-cultural activities LCS has launched to develop friendship and understanding among the area’s Mexican and expatriate inhabitants.
Conducted in Spanish by instructor Lupita Vega, participants of different nationalities learn to bridge language barriers and build personal relationships as they practice their stitching.
Founded in 1955 as an essentially Anglo-centered social organization, LCS began strengthening outreach to the native community after relocating its headquarters to Ajijic in 1983. More concerted efforts to close the cultural gap between foreigners and their Mexican neighbors have been underway in recent years, particularly under the leadership of Ben White, who completed his second term as president last month.
The shift has been notable since LCS rewrote its mission statement after registering the organization as a official non-profit. The original purpose to “promote the social enrichment of its members” was redefined with a broader and more inclusive perspective. It now reads: “Our mission is to promote the active participation of Lakeside’s inhabitants to improve the quality of life at lakeside. Our vision is a future where all lakeside residents continually have a role in enriching the community’s quality of life, vitality and prosperity through the exchange of knowledge, expertise, culture, heritage and language.”
After taking office in 2013, White and his board of directors focused on the organization’s future prospects and looking at ways to maintain its relevance in view of changing demographic dynamics in the community.
An initial opinion survey revealed that some members decided to drop out because they felt LCS wasn’t personally useful to them. Reversing that viewpoint has been largely achieved through expanding and enhancing its programs, White explains. “We needed to get people to understand that LCS has much broader focus than other charity organizations.”
Education is a major thrust of LCS activities. That area includes long-standing operation of financial aid for aspiring Mexican scholars, the children’s art workshop program and the Wilkes Education Center encompassing English-language and other learning courses along with the public library for Spanish speakers.
Offering educational opportunities for expats is of equal importance. Spanish classes, the Personal Enrichment Program and TED talk seminars have gained a large following. Conferences and workshops related to Mexican culture and customs have been introduced with wide acceptance. To help foreigners successfully adapt to life in Mexico, LCS organizes meetings with government officials and professionals of many stripes that help folks learn the ropes.
It likewise takes advantage of national holidays and other occasions to host social events that bring expats and local people together in an amicable environment. White points to Mexican Independence Day as one example. “Before, we simply gave a donation for Ajijic’s festivities. A few years ago we opened the campus for a fund-raising party put on by the town’s delegado and staff.”
Last year’s event raised 24,000 pesos to help cover expenses for the town’s Fiestas Patrias celebration, while giving guests a dose of the cultural and culinary side of the country’s most important civic holiday.
White anticipates that newly elected president Carole Wolff and her board will follow in his footsteps. One of their major tasks will be to fully map out the future for LCS, including a major renovation of the campus to make it a focal point and welcoming place for the entire community.
In the meantime, LCS continues as a central hub for more than 100 different events and activities every month. For a full picture, log on to lakechapalasociety.com and the LCS Facebook page.