Bilingual Toastmasters
The Lake Chapala Bilingual Toastmasters return from the holiday break to hold a meeting in Spanish on Monday, January 5, 7 p.m. in the Sala of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS). Lakeside visitors and full-time residents make up this group that alternates meetings in English and Spanish.
The LCS gate on Ramon Corona is open for attendees. Contact Guy Jobidon at (376) 766-5181 for information in English. Marissa Urrutia has Spanish information at (33) 1600-5937.
LCS Seminars
Bill Frayer will host the learning seminar for Lake Chapala Society members on Tuesday, January 6, noon. The seminar podcast is “Why Our IQ Levels Are Higher Than our Grandparents” by New Zealand-based moral philosopher James Flynn.
Flynn notes that each generation scores higher on an IQ test than the previous generation and he asks, “Are we actually getting smarter, or just thinking differently?” In this fast-paced spin through the cognitive history of the 20th century, he suggests that changes in the way we think have had surprising (and not always positive) consequences.
The 2 p.m. Neill James seminar highlights Phillip Rylett presenting “How to Speak to a Spanish Speaker.” The lecture, which is open to the public, will investigate how language is learned, how it works and how it is used in communication. Myths about learning and communicating in a second language will be busted. Attendees may be ready to toss out Spanish grammar books and apply this latest knowledge. Orale!
LCS Bus Trips
Lakeside shoppers can take advantage of the post-holiday sales in Galerias Mall stores including Best Buy, Sears, H&M, Liverpool and Sanborns, when the next LCS bus trip leaves the sculpture in La Floresta on Wednesday, January 7, 9:30 a.m. Shoppers can also visit the adjoining Super Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco and SuperMega. A variety of U.S. and Mexican chain restaurants are located in the mall.
Then, on Wednesday, January 21, the bus will leave the La Floresta sculpture at 9 a.m. headed for the arts and crafts centers of Tonala and Tlaquepaque. Both of these destination suburbs are studded with small factories and delightful showrooms where Lakeside shoppers will find great shopping opportunities for accent pieces, clothing and crafts.
Tickets for both trips are 250 pesos and must be purchased in advance at the LCS office.
Military Ball
The Anezeh Shriners Legion of Honor Unit will sponsor a Military Ball at the Hotel Montecarlo in Chapala on Saturday, January 10, beginning with refreshments at 5:30 p.m. This event is open to all who have honorably served in the military of their country. Also participating are the Shriners Legion of Honor Unit, the 904th Wing of the Canadian Air Force Association, American Legion Post 7, American Legion Post 9, the Canadian Legion and the Navy League.
The presentation of flags will head up the 6:30 p.m. opening ceremonies, followed by the introductions of special attendees and a brief memorial service. Dinner commences at 7 p.m. Sol y Luna will perform music for listening and dancing from 7 to 10 p.m.
Information and tickets at 220 pesos per person are available from Denny Strole at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (376) 766-0485.
Cooking Classes
Chef and cooking instructor Linda Harley is set to present another series of classes on how to cook authentic Mexican cuisine in January. All classes require early sign up and payment of the 300-peso fee in the Lake Chapala Society office.
Frijoles (beans) are not only a daily staple in Mexico – they are a dietary mainstay and favorite, also served at most special occasions. The featured class dish will be frijol con puerco (beans with pork). The sign-up deadline is Tuesday, January 6 and the class will be held on Tuesday, January 13.
The Wednesday, January 14 class is Tianguis to Table and features the preparation of puerco en pipian con calabacitas y arroz a la mexicana (pork in pipian sauce with zucchini and Mexican-style rice). Those wishing to attend must sign up by Monday, January 12.
Cantina food, including botanas (appetizers), tapas (Spanish bar food) and bocadillos (snacks), will be the topic of the Thursday, January 15 class. The sign up deadline is Monday, January 12.
Additional details about each of the classes scheduled for the second week of January are available at lakechapalasociety.com.
Health Day
LCS members will have access to a a wealth of health tests, vaccinations and health screenings during the organization’s winter Health Day on Thursday, January 22, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Members must sign up early in the LCS office (and in some cases pay fees) in order to take advantage of such opportunities as diabetes screening, medication/supplement consultation, blood pressure testing, and immunizations, such as the lifetime or five-year pneumonia, the flu vaccine and for the first time at LCS, the shingles (Zostavax).
For additional information and schedules and fees, members can check www.lakechaplasociety.com. The Heath Day will be taking place on the LCS patio.
Behind the Walls
Ticket holders for the Behind the Walls fundraisers will see four lakeside homes and open the door to a brighter future for the School for Special Children in Jocotepec. Tours participants for the first monthly tour will meet at the Ajijic Pier on Thursday. January 22, 10:15 a.m. Other tours will be held on Thursday, February 26 and Thursday, March 26.
Tickets (200 pesos) are available at Diane Pearl Colecciones and at Charter Club Tours. If the tours don’t sell out in advance, any remaining tickets will be available at the pier on the day of the tour. For more information call Jessie Wynant at (376) 766-1438 or Dale Wilson at (376) 766-5283.
Open House
The students and staff of Jaltepec Centro Educativo are hosting an open house on Wednesday, January 28, 11 a.m. at the hospitality school. The morning will begin with an explanation of the history of the school, its academics and the scholarship program. A tour of the facility and a complimentary lunch will be prepared and served by the students.
Reservations are vital so that the students know how many will be arriving for lunch. For additional information or to make a reservation, email Linda Buckthorp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (376) 766-1631.
Black and White Gala
The traditional winter Black and White Gala fundraiser for the School for Special Children is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, at Villa Encantada in Chapala. The theme for the elegant dinner dance will be the big bands swing music of the 1940s.
Tickets at 600 pesos per person are available at Diane Pearl Colecciones or at Mia’s Boutique. Tables for eight can be reserved by contacting event coordinator Claudette Champagne at (376)766-1033 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Lakeside Presbyterian
During the Sunday, January 4, 10 a.m. worship service of the Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Pastor Ross Arnold’s sermon will be entitled “Seeking Redemption.” He has based the message on Luke 2: 22-40. For many generations before the birth of the Messiah, God had promised redemption of healing for His people. Arnold will look at how this promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and how that fulfillment was first recognized by two elderly prophets, Simeon and Anna, in the Jerusalem temple.
Refreshments and fellowship in the garden follow the worship service. Lakeside Presbyterian Church is in Riberas del Pilar, on the mountain side of the Carretera, next to S&S Auto. Watch for the sign “You have family at Lakeside!”
St. Andrew’s
“Home by Another Way” is the title of Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon for the 10 a.m. worship at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on Sunday, January 4. This week’s message is an imaginative retelling of the story of the visit of the Magi. The children’s bilingual Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m. and there is coffee hour in the garden after the service.
The weekly feeding program welcomes non-perishables such as beans, rice, lentils, pasta, salt and oil. Donations can be left in the baskets by the church doors.
St. Andrew’s is at Calle San Lucas 19, one block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Unitarian Universalists
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalists Fellowship meets at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, January 4. The theme of the service will be “Janus, God of Beginnings and Transitions: Should the Door be Open or Closed?” Lew Crippen will be the service leader.
A coffee hour follows the service at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A. For more information, visit the web page www.uuflc.org.
Unitarian Universalists search for truth along many paths. They gather around common moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of every person. They are a caring, liberal, open-minded community that encourages others to seek their own spiritual path wherever it leads.
San Andrés English
Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., notes, “We join all the people of the world in worshipping the infant King of the Jews,” the message of his homily at the English Mass at 9 a.m. on Sunday, January 4, at San Andrés Parish Church in Ajijic.
On the first Sunday of each month the English-speaking congregation donate non-perishable food items such as rice, beans, pastas, oatmeal, cereals, diapers, dry milk, baby formula (NAN2), cleaning supplies and personal care items to help support the 30 orphans at Villa Infantil.
Christ Church
Christ Church Lakeside will observe the 11th day of Christmas during the 9:30 a.m. celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Sunday, January 4 in the Little Chapel by the Lake near the entrance of Chula Vista. Fr. Danny Borkowski will preside; his message about The Magi is based on Matthew 2:1-12.
The congregations of Christ Church Lakeside and the Little Chapel by the Lake share a common coffee fellowship time from 10:35 until 11:10 a.m.
The Bible Study led by Deacon Rob Wells will resume on Tuesday, January 6, 10 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Sessions and lively discussion last about an hour.
The Little Chapel
The message planned by Rev. Gene Raymer for the 11:15 a.m. worship service of the Little Chapel by the Lake on Sunday, January 4 has been titled “All Things New.” The interdenominational congregation meets for refreshments at 10:30 a.m. with the members of Christ Church Lakeside. A potluck lunch in the fellowship hall follows the morning worship service.
Members bring beans and rice on the first Sunday of each month to support Love in Action, a local children’s organization. The mid-week movie on Wednesday, January 7, 4:30 p.m. will be “The Nativity Story,” the tale of Joseph and Mary. Admission and refreshments are free.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is located on the Carretera just east of the Chula Vista golf club.
Buddhist Community
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meets at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for meditation and dharma teachings. The dharma talk on Wednesday, January 7 will be “Five Hindrances.” The group meets at Paseo de los Velaros 60 in lower La Floresta.
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 in Heart of Awareness is open to those with Zen, Tibetan or Shambhala backgrounds, as well as people with no previous meditation experience. For further information, call Karin Miles at (376) 766-0020.
Open Circle
At the Open Circle meeting on Sunday, January 4, Dr. David Truly will discuss general trends in retirement migration in Mexico with a focus on the future of senior housing at Lake Chapala. Truly conducted a 1997 dissertation study on foreign retirement migration to lakeside and has arranged numerous studies on retirement-related issues throughout Mexico.
Truly was an associate professor and director of the tourism and hospitality program at Central Connecticut State University until he moved to lakeside in 2010. He currently teaches at the Autonoma University in Guadalajara and has taught in local schools. He heads a consultancy firm that focuses on tourism and retirement education and destination issues. He is also a member of the TallBoys Band.
Prior to the talk, Open Circle attendees gather at 10 a.m. for refreshments and a social time.