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 December 22, 2024

Mariachi School Concert

2024 has been a year of growth for the children of Ajijic’s Pedro Rey Mariachi School program, including participation in the most important Mariachi competitions in Jalisco (winning awards for the first time) and a performance at the prestigious Tecalitlán Mariachi Festival. The kids want to close the year performing at Open Circle as part of a grand Christmas celebration.

Presenter: Daniel Medeles and the Pedro Rey Mariachi School of Axixic
Daniel Medeles is a professional musician of renown and comes from a musical family.  He is a supervisor for Jalisco State’s Mariachi Program, the director of the Escuela de Mariachi Pedro Rey, and musical director and performer for the Mariachi Real Axixic.

December 29, 2024
Rotary International and its impact on local communities

Peter Jeschofnig and Jeanette Monosoff

January 05, 2025
How Writing Makes Your Life Better

Lindsay Redifer

January 12, 2025
A multicultural, bilingual celebration of the 130th anniversary of the birth of LCS benefactor Ms. Neill James

If You Missed an In-person Presentation, You Can Still Enjoy It Online

Matilde Cervantes Challenges in Mexican Education

public education in Mexico is facing serious problems: high teacher/student ratio, frequent class suspensions, low level of commitment from families and school personnel, etc.

Ms. Cervantes (Tisu) created Guadalajara's Casa Tatic in 2015 to alleviate some of these deficiencies by offering remedial education to kids from public elementary school

Past Presentations

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.”

 

Rotary International and its impact on local communities
Peter Jeschofnig - December 29, 2024

Rotary International is a global network of 1.4 million business and professional leaders dedicated to creating lasting change.Rotary addresses critical issues such as clean water, maternal and child health, disease prevention, and economic development.

In Mexico alone, there are approximately 500 Rotary clubs, including those in Jocotepec, Ajijic, and Chapala. These clubs are renowned for their commitment to the principle of “service above self.”

In this team presentation, local and international Rotarians will showcase some of the projects that have positively impacted local communities.

Peter Jeschofnig, PhD, a retired college professor and his wife, Linda have lived all over the world, including 15 years in various African countries. Peter has been a Rotarian for over 30 years and has worked on projects in Africa, India, Navajo Nation (USA), and Lake Chapala area.

Jeanette Monosoff, PhD, a licensed psychotherapist who spent many years in India working with village women to teach sewing and develop a Coop for marketing their products. Jeanette is a fairly new Rotarian and a member of the Ajijic Rotary Club.

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How Writing Makes Your Life Better
Lindsay Redifer - January 5, 2025

The art of writing is something available to everyone, but it demands we slow down and create space for our creative side. This gets harder to do as the world speeds up exponentially, yet if we pause and craft stories, we become not just published authors but happier humans.

Academics and scientists have discovered a plethora of benefits to creative writing, including:
– Better memory and sharper cognitive function
– Reduced stress and higher motivation
– Clearer communication between the writer and everyone around her
– A happier, more fulfilling life

Despite all the evidence, so many of us feel we can’t write; we don’t have time, we have nothing to say, and isn’t it true that no one reads anymore? Now with AI Language Learning Models writing books in a matter of seconds, this art is in danger of being lost forever.

But we can redeem this incredible, important form of expression by getting back to the roots of writing.

My presentation will walk the audience through the myths of writing, why telling stories is essential to our social and mental health, and how to get started. I’ll also give the audience a free mini notebook and explain how to use it to start a daily writing habit.

I’m a book coach and ghostwriter. I work with authors who want to write books but struggle with the process and need help in meeting their goals. I live in Guadalajara with my wife and son and run my business from home. I’m 43 years old and I’ve lived in Mexico for nine years.

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A multicultural, bilingual celebration of the 130th anniversary of the birth of LCS benefactor Ms. Neill James
January 12, 2025

The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) will celebrate the legacy of its main Patron with activities planned throughout 2025.

LCS will kick-off the year with a Sunday, January 12 remembrance event to be held at LCS campus in Ajijic. This free, multicultural, bilingual event (10:00a-4:00p) is designed to involve the entire Lakeside community, and especially those whose life was touched by Ms. James and the programs she launched over her 50 years residing Lakeside. The event is open to people of all ages and there will be special participatory activities for children.

Organizers are planning a full day of activities. The program will start with a commemorative Open Circle Ajijic roundtable discussion. Community members with personal recollections about Ms. James, will share testimonials and memories from her life, including her expat friends, Mexican neighbors, employees, and the Ajijic Legacy Artists who were participants in the James’-created “Children’s Art Program”. Other activities being planned include live music and dance performances, village food vendors, bar service, audio-visual memorials, display of historic artifacts, and a piñata/birthday cake finale.

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