Four months after closing the gates and suspending regular activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) is making strides to prepare for reopening, in time to hold the annual general meeting of the membership, tentatively scheduled for August 20.
While the grounds have been relatively quiet and lonely since late March, leaders and staff of lakeside’s largest non-profit organization have been busy putting together alternative activities, drawing up detailed plans and guidelines to gradually resume normal operations and undertake improvements to the facilities to meet the standards for a new era.
During the shutdown LCS has remained active online, offering over 110 language classes, 46 tech sessions, frequent exercise classes and hundreds of support services. Meanwhile, projects to upgrade buildings and common areas have been initiated as maintenance of the sprawling gardens continued as usual. But, with income-generating programs temporarily put on hold, LCS is now struggling to make ends meet.
Through a video posted on the LCS Facebook page showing before and after shots of what has been accomplished so far, Executive Director Steve Balfour issued an appeal for support to reach the 340,000-peso emergency fundraising goal set for August 20. Balfour himself has contributed to the cause with a personal donation of $US10,000, on top of his hard work to keep LCS afloat and gear up for the future.
Other contributors will find a form posted in the donate section of the website lakechapalasociety.com. Contact Balfour via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for questions and additional information.