Lake Chapala Society Newsletter – May 2026

LCS EDUCATION & CULTURE

Mexican Manners

Wednesday May 6^th.10am to 12 pm

Instructor: Victor Camarena

Members: $532.00 | General: $760.00

A one-session class to help you navigate cultural differences and feel at home in Mexico. Explore local customs, communication styles, and body language, while gaining insight into the mindset behind everyday interactions—so you can connect more easily with your new community.

Introduction to Spanish

Thursdays May 7^th, 14 and 21. 10am to 12 pm

Instructor: Inez Dayer

Members: $553.00 | General: $790.00

A three-session class designed for those with no prior Spanish experience. Learn pronunciation, essential vocabulary, and everyday social expressions—from greetings and basic questions to numbers—so you can begin communicating with confidence from day one.

Spanish Verbs

Tuesdays May 12^th, 19 and 26. 10am to 12 pm

Instructor: Gareth Collingwood

Members: $602.00 | General: $860.00

A clear, accessible introduction to Spanish verbs—the foundation of the language. Learn how verbs work, how they shape sentences, and how their patterns sound in real conversation, so you can build confidence and let the rest of your Spanish grow naturally.

Get your Jalisco Driver’s License without losing your mind

Wednesdays May 13^th and 20. 10am to 12 pm

Instructor: Victor Camarena

Members: $602.00 | General: $860.00          

A simple, two-session class designed to take the stress out of getting your Jalisco driver’s license. Learn everything you need—documents, processes, traffic rules, and test preparation, then complete your exams together at the Chapala licensing office.

Intuitive painting experience

Friday May 15^th.10am to 12 pm

Instructor: Leticia Terrazas

Members: $621.60 | General: $888.00

A refined, soul-nourishing workshop where art and mindfulness gently meet. Paint without pressure, move without expectation, and express without judgment in a space designed for stillness, presence, and inner connection. No experience needed—just a willingness to slow down and receive the moment. Materials included.

Meditation & Everyday Mindfulness

Take a moment to slow down and reconnect. Through simple meditation and mindfulness practices, participants are invited to cultivate calm, clarity, and presence in everyday life.

• Everyday Mindfulness

Every Monday, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, in the Ken Gosh Pavilion.

• Intermediate Hatha Yoga with Meditation

Every Tuesday, 2:00 – 3:30 pm, in the Gazebo.

• Raise Your Spiritual IQ – Spiritual discussion series

Free every Tuesday, 2:00 – 3:15 pm.

Call Andrea at 669 431 8484 for info.

Visit www.Eckankar.org for more resources.

May 5 – Learning from Spiritual Experiences, Signs, Vivid Dreams, Intuitions, Flashes of Insights, and more.

May 12 – Past Lives, Dreams, and Soul Travel Explorations

May 19 – Angels, Inner Guides, and Spiritual Masters – Hidden Help Working on our Behalf

May 26 – Signs, Waking Dreams, and Golden-tongued Wisdom. 

• Gentle Yoga & Body Awareness

Every Wednesday, 10:00 – 11:00 am, in the Blue Umbrella Patio.

• “NIA” Fitness / Joy of Movement

Every Friday, 10:00 – 11:00 am, in the Gazebo.

• Iyengar Yoga

Every Friday, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, in the Gazebo.

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Open Circle Ajijic – May 2026

Sundays, 10:15–11:30 a.m.

Lake Chapala Society Campus, Ajijic

Schedule subject to change. All are welcome; no cost to attend (donations welcome).

Sunday, May 3

The Secret of Learning a Language

Presenter: Lina Doyle

Why do some people pick up languages easily while others struggle for years? This talk explores a simple, practical approach: careful listening, imitation, and lots of real-world practice—rather than memorizing grammar rules.

Lina Doyle was born in Venezuela and has lived in Ajijic since 1970. She holds a BA in Education, taught bilingual primary school in Texas and Oregon, speaks English, Spanish, and Italian, and has directed Colegio de Axixic since 2009.

Sunday, May 10

Topic to Be Announced

Presenter: To be announced

Sunday, May 17

Roar of the Monarch Butterflies

Presenter: Bill Toone

The discovery of the monarch butterfly’s overwintering sites is one of the great natural history stories of the last century, involving decades of research and thousands of citizen scientists. Today, this extraordinary migration and the nearby communities face serious threats, and the race is on to protect both.

Bill Toone is an internationally recognized conservation biologist, author, and speaker whose work spans more than 30 countries. He is known for his pioneering role in the recovery of the California condor and now focuses on monarch overwintering habitats.

Sunday, May 24

Lago Alianza and Lakeside Charities: Giving That Counts

Presenter: Joan Machlis-Crasemann

Many of us give time or money to causes we care about, yet philanthropy can feel fragmented or frustrating—both for donors and nonprofits. Through the evolving story of Lago Alianza, this talk asks what it would look like to treat local nonprofits and philanthropy as a shared ecosystem rather than isolated efforts.

Joan explores real experiences at Lakeside, the pressures nonprofits face, and the questions donors quietly carry, offering practical insight and a more connected way to strengthen the community.

Sunday, May 31

Senderos (Trails) de México: What We’re Building and Why It Matters

Presenter: Matteo Volpi

If you have ever walked the trails above Ajijic and wondered who maintains and marks them, this presentation is for you. Senderos y Caminos de México is a Jalisco-based nonprofit that designs, signs, and maintains hiking trails with local communities and ejidos, including the Sierra de San Juan Cosalá.

Attendees will learn about the current trail network, plans for expansion, and a model that emphasizes safety, accessibility, and long-term community stewardship over mass tourism, plus concrete ways Lakeside residents can support this work.

Matteo Volpi is a geographer and member of Senderos y Caminos de México A.C. He holds a degree in Geography and Territorial Planning from the Universidad de Guadalajara.

Interested in Presenting?

Open Circle Ajijic welcomes new presenters year-round. To learn more or apply, visit the Lake Chapala Society website: www.lakechapalasociety.com