Legion language practice
American Legion Post 7 Chapala is expecting a visit by an English class from San Juan de los Lagos on Saturday, April 14.
Post Adjutant Vince Britton welcomes expats to show up and help these students practice speaking English. Call him at 331-358-8944 for more information.
Open Circle
Ed Tasca will present “The Parallel Universe of Women’s History” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, April 15, 10:30 a.m. on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
This presentation is a chronicle of women’s contribution to human history, a history often subverted, dismissed or marginalized, with a discussion of why this situation has existed for centuries, a mention of major but little-known female figures who have made extraordinary contributions in all the fields historically preserved for men and who belied this oversight in the face of worldwide gender bias.
Tasca is a minor history buff and believes women deserve their long-overdue credit. His presentation, he says, will only be scratching the surface of a vast subject. He also likes women a lot.
Tasca writes a popular humor column for the Guadalajara Reporter, has won national writing awards, has published novels and plays, and often participates in theater productions at the various Lakeside venues.
For more information on Open Circle, see opencircleajijic.org.
Democrats Abroad
The next film in the Democrats Abroad Lake Chapala chapter’s “Sunday Afternoon at the Movies” is “Anita,” which will be shown April 15, 1:30 p.m. at Cinemas del Lago, Plaza Bugambilias. This award-winning documentary is about Anita Hill, who in 1991 dared to speak the truth against the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court. Her bravery made her a household name and exposed the realities of sexual harassment and gender inequality to a nationwide audience. Film proceeds are being used to support the chapter’s non-partisan voter registration assistance underway at the Lake Chapala Society every Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. to noon.
U.S. citizens who will not be in the United States this year should register and request their absentee ballots as soon as possible through chapter volunteers or online at Votefromabroad.org or FVAP.GOV to be sure their vote will be counted in their primaries and the November mid-term election. For more information on Chapter activities, email 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..
LCS TED talks
Host Susan Weeks features a lecture by Dave Isay, speaking on “Everyone Around You Has a Story the World Needs to Hear,” Tuesday, April 17, noon to 1:15 p.m. at the LCS Sala.
Isay opened the first StoryCorps booth in New York’s Grand Central Terminal in 2003 with the intention of creating a quiet place where a person could honor someone who mattered to them by listening to their story. Since then, StoryCorps has evolved into the single largest collection of human voices ever recorded and stored at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Lakeside Freethinkers
A discussion on justified belief will be featured at the next meeting of the Lakeside Freethinkers Wednesday, April 18, 4-6 p.m. at La Nueva Posada.
We tend to think of ourselves as clear thinkers and those who disagree as misguided. What justifies such a belief? How certain can we be?
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who is an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, or skeptic. Freethinkers reject supernatural and other unsupported claims, and rely instead on reason applied to evidence to guide their lives.
If you would like to attend, or obtain more information, email 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..
File a complaint at LCS
The Ministerio Publico (MP or District Attorney’s office) is asking all community members who need to file or follow up on a denuncia (formal complaint) to come to the Lake Chapala Society, Wednesday, April 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Talking Books Library. The MP will provide legal advice regarding your complaint. Please show up early, as once the waiting line becomes zero, the officials will leave.
LCS Bus Trips
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to downtown Guadalajara for a self-guided walking tour, Wednesday, April 18. See the historical 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century architecture, stunning murals and artwork. The Instituto Cultural Cabañas is a must. A detailed map will be provided. The bus will leave promptly at 10 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta.
On Thursday, April 26, LCS heads to Costco and Galerias Mall, with the bus leaving at 9:30 a.m.
The cost for both trips is 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members. Sign up at the LCS office.
Costco at LCS
Costco will be at the Lake Chapala Society at the Blue Umbrella Patio area Thursday, April 19, for membership sales and renewals.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community, located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic, offers multiple opportunities each week for silent mediation: Sunday and Monday, 9 a.m., Wednesday, 4 p.m. and Thursday, 11 a.m. Sunday, Monday and Thursday practice periods consist of one hour for both sitting and walking meditation. Wednesday there is 45 minutes of sitting meditation. All sessions are open to the public regardless of experience or affiliation, and chairs and cushions are provided. There are brief written instructions on meditation for beginners.
During April, the Wednesday practice periods are followed by brief video presentations from a series titled “Real Happiness”. Sharon Salzberg brings the topic to life in this series of practical teachings. Meditation practice can play a large part in discovering a stable and open happiness that is not shaken by conditions and consists of practical tools to help deepen concentration, mindfulness and compassion. Salzberg’s topic for April 19 is “Mindfulness and Emotions.”
A Movie Matinee” is offered the third Monday of each month at 3 p.m. April 16, the documentary “Ta’ang” will be shown. The Ta’ang, a Burmese ethnic minority, are caught between a civil war and the Chinese border. Since early 2015, heavy fights have forced thousands of children, women and older people on an exodus across the border, into China. The film, a winner of the 2017 International Nuremberg Human Rights Award, follows the daily life of these refugees, forced to leave their home but hoping to return there soon. Admission is free and donations are welcome.
The meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. For more information, see heartofawareness.org.
Chapala meditation
Chapala Meditation Community offers silent mindfulness meditation in Chapala at Calle Cinco de Mayo 260 just north of Lopez Cotilla, (brown door in white building), Monday and Friday, 11 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays, noon to 1:30 p.m. Activities include meditation and teachings from an audio presentation by Frank Ostaseski, author of “The Five Invitations.” All are welcome. For more information, see chapalameditation.com.