Come to our presentations at LCS Gardens

Open Circle provides a supportive environment to gather for social interaction and to improve our understanding of ourselves, our community and our world.

Upcoming Presentation, June 22, 2025

A 60th Anniversary Celebration of The Sound of Music
Do you remember this most beloved movie musical? Come experience this look at “The Sound of Music,” told from the point of view of The Baroness Elsa Schraeder. (She’s the fancy lady Captain Von Trapp was engaged to in the beginning of the movie). The Baroness will be portrayed in costume by local actress Catherine B Caldera, from research for her original show, “Dumped for the Nanny.” We will examine themes from the show still relevant today, such as loyalty to our “homeland.” Everyone’s invited to wear tiaras, Baroness-style. Special surprise guests!
 
Catherine B Caldera:
Catherine was raised by a music teacher Mother, who taught her to sing along with the movie. Catherine has appeared in more than 80 theatrical productions in California and Puerto Vallarta. She has lived lakeside for more than a year. A highlight was playing The Baroness in a stage production in California, some 25 years ago.

Upcoming Programs

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Past Presentations

Ajijic
May 25, 2025  Michael Paul McManmon The Challenges of Aging with the Superpowers of Neurodiversity-[Copy #4897]
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Open Circle
Ajijic
May 25, 2025  Michael Paul McManmon The Challenges of Aging with the Superpowers of Neurodiversity
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Open Circle
Ajijic
May 18, 2025  Addressing Marginalized Community Needs: Ojo del Agua
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Open Circle
Ajijic
May 11, 2025  Patricia Villanueva Symbols of the Mexhica Culture Aztec Calendar
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Open Circle
Ajijic
May 4, 2025  Ed Tasca-Living in a bi-cultural community
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Open Circle
Ajijic
April 27, 2025  What if You Should Die Before You Were Ever Borne?
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Open Circle

About Open Circle

For nearly 30 years, the Lake Chapala area has been honored to host Mexico’s longest-standing weekly English language lecture series. Begun in 1995 by volunteers under the title of “New Dimensions” and initially focused on various aspects of spirituality, in 2001 the program became “Open Circle” and was hosted in homes and restaurants. The Lake Chapala Society became Open Circle Ajijic’s permanent home in the early 2000’s and (since 20021) has become an official Lake Chapala Society program.

 

Mission Statement: 

“Open Circle Ajijic provides a supportive environment to gather for social interaction and to improve our understanding of ourselves, our community, and our world. Presentations span a wide range of intellectual, cultural, physical, and spiritual topics. We do not necessarily agree with the ideas and philosophies of our presenters. We encourage you to listen with an open mind and form your own opinions.”

 

Presenter Guidelines
Summer Events at the Ajijic Cultural Center

The Ajijic Cultural Center is home to an array of engaging programs throughout the year. The Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary in August and there are multiple ways to participate and celebrate this important milestone. Come to Open Circle and learn about a host of programs, especially those tied to local children and youth development. Community artists, including Neill James Legacy Artists will be participating in the August festivities and exhibitions.

Description of Claudia Miramontes Moranchell:
Current director of the Ajijic Cultural Center, Claudia was born in Guadalajara and has a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy with studies related to history, traditional culture, and museum education. She is responsible for promoting and disseminating the artistic, cultural, and historical legacy of Master Sculptor Miguel Miramontes Carmona, her father. She is also the creator of the “A Day in the Museum” initiative, about museums and cultural spaces as an essential and alternative resource to formal education for low-income children with low academic performance

Did Improvisation Save America? Benajmin Franklin’s Mission to France

In her 2006 book A Great Improvisation, author Stacy Schiff draws from little-known sources to illuminate the least-explored part of Franklin’s life. When Franklin stepped onto French soil in December of 1776, he was embarking on the greatest gamble of his career. By virtue of fame, charisma, and ingenuity, Franklin used unconventional means to outmaneuvered British spies, French informers, and hostile colleagues. The eight-year French mission stands not only as Franklin’s most vital service to his country but as the most revealing of the man.
Presenter:
Lillie Henley is a retired Unitarian minister with a passion for reading recent and revisionist biographies. On this Independence Day weekend, Lillie will recount how Franklin emerges as a clever, determined, and fully engaged leader.

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PANEL PRESENTATION “To Whom I May Concern: Living with Memory Changes”

Join us (and bring your friends) as trained facilitator Elly Contreras guides a group of Lakeside seniors in sharing their experiences with aging and memory loss. The first such performance of this work (in Mexico) was held last April and the cast is reprising their presentation for Open Circle. Companion presenter Alicia Knox generates a real-time creative recounting of these experiences and shares with the Open Circle audience how the onset of memory loss is witnessed by those experiencing this challenge.
Presenters:
Elly Contreras is a full time resident of Lakeside and founder of Lakeside DayBreak Dementia Support, striving to make Lakeside a dementia-friendly and inclusive community. Elly studied several aspects of Dementia with the Wicking University of Tasmania and is creating Dementia related programs Lakeside. The scribe for this program is Alicia Knox, a photographer, digital storyteller, and guided autobiography instructor.

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