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

This week presentation

Los Niños Zapateadores de Jalisco

Every region in México has its own heritage and it is interesting to see the difference in music, costumes, movement and heel work.
The performance has dances from the states of Jalisco, Veracruz, Nayarit and Guerrero featuring children from San Juan Cosalá.

September 22, 2024
International Day of Peace at Lakeside

Mia Ruiz

September 29, 2024
Meet your LCS Leadership Team

Lake Chapala Society

October 6, 2024
What the Hell Is It With Families?

Lillie Henley

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

Picked out of the trash heap

I hope to present of my experiences volunteering at San Quentin State Penitentiary in Marin County, California. I interacted with inmates over three-day retreats. An unexpected takeaway; there are many decent people, some admirable, that are serving sentences from two years to life. I had an interaction with one particular inmate that was life changing for both of us.

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.”

 

Los Niños Zapateadores de Jalisco
Luis Guzman - September 15, 2024

Every region in México has its own heritage and it is interesting to see the difference in music, costumes, movement and heel work.
The performance has dances from the states of Jalisco, Veracruz, Nayarit and Guerrero featuring children from San Juan Cosalá.

Luis Guzman is from San Juan Cosalá and former dancer with the Ballet Folclórico of the University of Guadalajara. He founded Ballet Folclórico Son de México 19 years ago inspired by traditional folk dances. Son de México has created a unique art style, showcasing out local talent and boosting the pride of this community.

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International Day of Peace at Lakeside
Mia Ruiz - September 22, 2024

In commemoration of the United Nations Day of Peace, Open Circle will host a moderated panel, focused on creating harmony in our multi-cultural community. Speakers will present broad perspectives on lakeside’s intercultural legacy and our daily interactions across cultural lines. The focus will be on enhancing multi-cultural relations and identifying some of the challenges we face at Lakeside.
There will be audience participation and a question and answer opportunity. The ultimate goal is to make at Lakeside a “beacon of harmony, tolerance and peace.”

This panel will consist of:

Mia Ruiz, Moderator, an educator for forty years and an eight year resident Lakeside.

Yolanda Martinez, current President of the Lake Chapala Society and former Director of the Red Cross. She has participated in many various community organizations.

Dr. Oscar Ibarra, Jr., President of Sunrise Rotary Club, Director of Chapala Renal Clinic and Chapala Diabetes Clinic

Moises Ochoa, Coordinator of Economics, Municipality of Chapala. He was born in Chapala, raised in the USA, where he served as a Dallas police officer and now has retired to our community.

Domingo Márquez, Director, bilingual ‘Laguna News’, he was born in Ajijic, he attended private school, studied media and serves as Director of Day of the Dead and James Legacy Art Group.

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Meet your LCS Leadership Team
Lake Chapala Society - September 29, 2024

Following up on the August board elections, here’s a chance to hear from new Board President Yolanda Martinez, Executive Director Steve Balfour, the LCS Board and Senior Staff leadership vision and Fall/Winter initiatives.

Yolanda Martinez is a community leader and the first ever Mexican-born President of the Lake Chapala Society.

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What the Hell Is It With Families?
Lillie Henley - October 6, 2024

A provocative, challenging real tale of family function and dysfunction. Grounded in the Murray Bowen Family Systems Theory of familial and social relationships. You’ll be challenged to seek within yourself the emotions which govern your lives. What do you really know about yourself and how you became who you are within your growing up life. The talk is R-rated, so if you’re offended by strong language?

Lillie Mae Henley, speaker, is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister, who has been in Ajijic for almost 6 years. She has written a self-help book on healing from abuse. Her education is in communications, family systems theory, world religions, and of course parish ministry.
Her Master of Divinity is from Meadville Lombard Theological School and her family systems theory study is from University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.

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