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 8, 20248

A Ticket to the Grand Show: Journeys Across Cultural Boundaries

A glimpse at the submerged cultural icebergs we may discover when we travel and a look at the richness of culture woven into the multi-hued fabric of our lives. The variety found across the globe is exciting and each culture has its own truths that have the capacity to expand and inform our own.

Neil McKinnon was raised in Saskatchewan. He served in the RCN and has been a businessman, archaeologist, university lecturer, and freelance writer. He has worked in China, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. and holds a BSc in math and BA and MA in archaeology. He and Judy live in Mexico & Vancouver and have been married for 59 years. They have produced 2 daughters and have 2 grandchildren.

December 15, 2024
Challenges in Mexican Education, and Tisu's Casa Tatic

Matilde Cervantes

December 22, 2024
Mariachi School Concert

Daniel Medeles

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

Peter Jeschofnig and Jeanette Monosoff

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

Why Our Stories Matter

There's power in documenting life through visual images and the written word. Interweaving photographs and stories, Alicia Knox will offer a multimedia presentation of Guatemala, the Project Somos Children’s Learning Village, and beyond. She will talk about the importance of documenting our lives and why it is key to get your stories written down and your photographs printed, particularly in this digital age. Her presentation will remind and reignite the importance of gathering and safeguarding precious stories of your precious life.

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.”

 

A Ticket to the Grand Show: Journeys Across Cultural Boundaries
Neil McKinnon - December 8, 2024

A glimpse at the submerged cultural icebergs we may discover when we travel and a look at the richness of culture woven into the multi-hued fabric of our lives. The variety found across the globe is exciting and each culture has its own truths that have the capacity to expand and inform our own.

Neil McKinnon was raised in Saskatchewan. He served in the RCN and has been a businessman, archaeologist, university lecturer, and freelance writer. He has worked in China, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. and holds a BSc in math and BA and MA in archaeology. He and Judy live in Mexico & Vancouver and have been married for 59 years. They have produced 2 daughters and have 2 grandchildren.

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Challenges in Mexican Public Education
Matilde Cervantes - December 15, 2024
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. Learn about Guadalajara’s Casa Tatic, founded in 2015 to alleviate some of these deficiencies by offering remedial education to kids from public elementary schools.
This is an inspiring story of one woman (as well as the team she recruited and trained) making a huge difference.
Matilde Cervantes (Tisu), earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Educational Management, both from ITESO (Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara), and has worked for 35 years as a psychologist, teacher and teacher-trainer.
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Pedro Rey Children's Mariachi School LIVE PERFORMANCE
Daniel Medeles - December 22, 2024

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.
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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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