Homeless Dogs
Lakeside Spay and Neuter’s 12th Annual Country Critter Bash is on Monday, November 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the La Floresta home of Gudrun and Dryden Jones.
Tickets at 250 pesos include the dinner and music by Sol y Luna. There will be a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and door prizes. Proceeds are used to feed, house, medically assist, groom, care and provide medical assistance for the 80 animals at the Dog Ranch Rescue and Adoption Center and other animal-related projects.
Tickets are available at Diane Pearl Colecciones, Handymail, Pet Care, Superlake, Mia’s Boutique and Your Daily Farmer’s Market. For information or to donate items for the silent auction or door prizes call Manna at (376) 766-2214 or Gudrun at (376) 766-3813.
Dems Meet Monday
The Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico will conduct a board and general membership meeting on Monday, November 10, 4 p.m. at La Bodega Restaurant in Ajijic.
A review of this year’s voter registration program and brief clips from some of the films being considered for the organization’s Sunday Afternoon at the Movies series will be among items on the agenda.
Anyone interested in Democrats Abroad is invited to attend the meeting. There is no admission charge. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 763-5271.
Bilingual Toastmasters
Adaptability and action were catch words at the November 2 meeting where Arturo Gutierrez gave a spontaneous 5- to 7-minute talk. Guiterrez is representing Lakeside and the Guadalajara area at the national competition in Durango this week. The officers will be announcing new programs and practices following their November 5 meeting to discuss plans for the group.
The 7 to 8:30 p.m. meeting on Monday, November 10 meeting will be in Spanish. Meetings are held in the LCS Sala, with members entering through the side gate on Ramon Corona. For more information in English, contact Guy Jobidon at (376) 766-5181. Information in Spanish is available from Marissa Urrutia at (33) 1600 5937.
LCS Seminars
The first of the 15 TED Talks planned as part of the 2014 Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Learning Seminars will be held in the LCS Sala on Tuesday, November 11, noon. This seminar, available for LCS members, will be chaired by Fred Harland and features “How to Make Hard Choices” by philosopher Ruth Chang. She offers a powerful new framework for making difficult decisions and which, at the same time, can help shape who we truly are.
“Big decisions, such as where to live, can be agonizingly difficult,” suggests Chang. “But that’s because we think about them the wrong way.”
Lakeside Progressives
The November U.S. mid-term elections will be the major topic for discussion when the Lakeside Progressives meet on Tuesday, November 11, 4 p.m. at the Peacock Garden Restaurant in Ajijic.
Most attendees of this group of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to problems not being addressed by major political parties stay for an early dinner after the meeting.
Check out Lakeside Progressives on Facebook, or email Chad Olsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Lakeside Conservatives
The monthly general meeting of the Lakeside Conservatives Group will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 4 p.m. at Plaza de Ribera, Rio Bravo 10. During the meeting, the group will elect the 2015 officers.
Gary Keeler will present a U.S. election recap and introduce two informative YouTube video presentations. Plans for the Wednesday, December 10 Christmas party will be announced. Those interested in the group or wishing more information should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional information.
Canadian Club
The November meeting of the Canadian Club of Lake Chapala begins with a social meeting at 3 p.m on Wednesday, November 12 in the garden of La Nueva Posada. During the 4 p.m. program, the Honorable Frank Oberle, P.C. will be on hand to discuss issues he feels will arise in the 2015 Canadian National Election. Oberle is a distinguished Canadian businessman, author and former federal cabinet minister.
The 200-peso annual membership fee (which includes four 25-pesos drink tickets) is now due and can be paid during the November meeting. Returning 2013-2014 members are asked to bring their plastic membership card to speed up the renewal process. Non-members are invited to attend monthly meetings for a fee of 50 pesos.
Autumn Barbecue
The benefit luncheon featuring barbecue ribs, chicken, sausage and an assortment of side dishes will be hosted on Sunday, November 11, 1 p.m. by American Legion Post 9. The event will be held at the Tepehua Community Center at Roman Chavez 16 in Chapala, and the proceeds from the lunch, the 50-50 draw will be donated to the Center.
Tickets for the event area available at Diane Pearl Colecciones, El Barco and the Tepehua Treasures store in Ribera del Pilar. For directions and information contact Perry and Moonie King (376) 765-3126 or Susan Netherton (376) 766-3118.
LCS Singles
The LCS Singles is ready to start mingling again and will meet at Adelita’s in San Antonio (beside the church near the plaza) on Monday, November 17, from 4:30 p.m.
The Jam Band starts playing at 7 p.m. and great dinners at special prices will be available. There will also be half price margaritas for Singles event attendees from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Sue at (376) 106-1180 by November 11 to help with numbers.
Get Tickets Soon
Those who are anxious to celebrate Everything Old is New Again are reminded to quickly reserve their 250-peso tickets for the popular 8th annual event which helps fund the School for Special Children. Just two tables remain available for the luncheon, fashion show, and auction of vintage, gently-worn apparel and accessories.
The Wednesday, December 3 fundraiser to provide equipment and supplies for the school’s 80 children will be held at a magnificent mountainside private estate surrounded by glorious gardens and studded with sweeping lake views.
For tickets and additional details, or to donate special clothing and accessory items, call Leslie Martin at (376) 766-2274 or email Patricia Doran: 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..">.
Thanks to Donors
The children and staff of Villa Infantil de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and San Jose are grateful to readers of the Guadalajara Reporter and the congregation of the San Andres English Mass who responded to solve the crisis after the orphanage’s main electric transformer was destroyed by lightning during a summer storm.
The new transformer has been installed at a cost of 38,000 pesos for the transformer and 13,000 pesos for parts and installation. The generosity of Reporter readers and Mass attendees covered this expense and quickly had the lights back on at the home which currently shelters 28 abandoned and orphaned children.
Open Circle
During the 10:30 a.m. Open Circle program on Sunday, November 9, Lake Chapala Society President Ben White will describe four LCS programs which cater to the Mexican community: the Children’s Art Program, the English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, the activities of the Neill James Biblioteca de Publica, and the Student Aid Program.
White will be joined by graduates of the various programs so they can describe the benefits reaped from their participation.
Open Circle attendees gather at 10 a.m. for fellowship and coffee, tea, and sandwich bits prior to the program.
White’s goals as president of the LCS are to improve community and member perception of the society, optimize programs to ensure continued relevance, and re-engineer campus infrastructure to meet current and future needs. His volunteer efforts in Denver, Colorado included terms as president of the board of directors of the Montessori Child Development Center, and on a collaborative decision making team for a public school.
Lakeside Presbyterian
“So, You’re Excited about Salvation,” based on Ephesians 1:18-20, is the topic Rev. Sidney DeWaal has chosen for the 10 a.m. Lakeside Presbyterian Church worship service on Sunday, November 9.
DeWaal, who is filling the pulpit while Ross Arnold and his wife, Carolyn Hansen, are abroad on a lecture tour, asks attendees to remember facing ultimate disaster, times when only divine intervention could save them. Then he asks how they can celebrate that. He hints, “The key is that hope transforms a life of routines into spectacular surprises.”
The congregation will share a buffet lunch following the service. The church is on the mountain side of the Carretera next to S&S Auto in Riberas del Pilar. Watch for the sign “You have family at Lakeside!”
St. Andrew’s Anglican
“Life’s Not Fair … Deal With It!” is Fr. Winston Welty’s challenging sermon for the Sunday, November 9, 10 a.m. service at St. Andrews Anglican Church. He refers to Jesus’ story about so-called “bridesmaids” who are shut out of the wedding reception and thought of as “foolish” for the next 2,000 years.
There is a time of welcome, fellowship and refreshment in the garden after the service. The children’s bilingual Sunday School program starts at 9:45 a.m.
The “Company of Gentlemen” meets at the church at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12 for their cordial and informal monthly breakfast. Signing up on Sunday ensures enough food on Wednesday.
St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
San Andres English
“The Bridegroom is Here!” is the title of the homily chosen by Rev. Basil G. Royston, D. Min. for the 9 a.m. English Mass at San Andres, the parish church in the center of Ajijic. “The whole of the Christian life, our response to the love of Christ, our waiting with joyful hope for his coming, is summed up in today’s celebration in a single word: wisdom,” says Royston.
During the English Mass on November 16, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be offered to those who wish to receive it. The children of Villa Infantil of Nuestra Señora of Guadalupe and San Jose will attend and participate in the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday November 30.
Christ Church
Father Danny Borkowski will preside at the 9:30 a.m. service of Christ Church Lakeside on Sunday, November 9. His message theme is “Wisdom & Hope” based on Matthew 25:1-13. Holy Communion is available to all baptized Christians.
The congregation meets in the Little Chapel by the Lake at Carretera 9 in Riberas del Pilar. After the service attendees will join the Little Chapel members for a joint coffee fellowship from about 10:35 to 11:10 a.m.
The Tuesday morning Bible study led by Deacon Rob Wells resumes on Tuesday, November 11, 10 a.m. in the fellowship hall of the Little Chapel. The group is currently studying the Gospel of Luke. It is not necessary to have attended earlier sessions. The study is open to sidetrack issues, opinions and insights.
Little Chapel
Rev. Gene Raymer will deliver a message entitled “Election Results” during the Sunday, November 9, 11:15 a.m. worship service of the interdenominational Little Chapel by the Lake.
Members share a refreshment period beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the Christ Church congregation. Following the service, many of the members will have lunch at Yves’ Restaurant.
Preparations for the posada in San Juan Tecumatlan co-sponsored by the Little Chapel and Christ Church are underway. Toys for approximately 50 children, piñatas and refreshments are planned for the pre-Christmas celebration.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is on the mountain side of the Carretera, east of the golf course in Chula Vista. Children’s Church is available for parents attending the Sunday service.
Unitarian Universalist
Heidi MacLennen will be the speaker when the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets on Sunday, November 9, 10:30 a.m. at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A in Ajijic. Her presentation is entitled Justice In Education: Traditional Public Schools vs. the Charter School System.” She will consider if charter schools deserve the benefits of public funding at the expense of traditional public schools. A coffee hour will follow.
Unitarian Universalists say they search for truth along many paths and gather around common moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of every person. For more information call (376) 766-1458 or visit www.uuflc.org.
Buddhist Meditation
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meets in Ajijic for meditation and dharma teachings each Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Encarnacion Rosas 9. The dharma talk on Wednesday, November 12 is “Triple Gem and Four Noble Truths.”
Heart of Awareness is a non-sectarian Buddhist practice community grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Membership includes people with Zen, Tibetan and Shambhala backgrounds as well as people who have no prior experience with meditation. For more information, call Karin Miles at (376) 766-0020.