Sunday Morning Presentations, 10:30 - 11:30

Featured Presentations Scheduled for Your Enjoyment in the LCS Gardens

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Open Circle Ajijic April 2, 2023 Presentation by David Ellison: Herstories YouTube link: Coming Soon! Dave's teachers had convinced him that he hated history. Once he got out of their clutches, though, he learned that he actually loved it, and ended up teaching it for 36 years. He did not instruct the way they did. Rather than focus on a boring litany of names, battles, and dates, he explored enduring, compex human issues that all societies of any epoch must face; and equally complex but fascinating biographies of individuals who faced difficult moral choices in their quest to lead authentic lives and make a difference. As Dave continued his learning (the best way to learn it is to teach!), he discovered more and more fascinating and incredibly inspiring women who'd never made the textbooks. (Duh! The books had been written by men! Dave felt cheated, and vowed not to similarly let his students down.) In his engaging and memorable talk (He's a raconteur!), Dave will share his favorite women heroes. If you attend, they'll become yours, too. David Ellison is an Ohio native (but he escaped!), Dave was a San Francisco Bay Area educator (teacher, mentor teacher, administrator) and wrote an education column for the local newspaper. He retired lakeside 3 years ago and enjoys reading, writing, hiking, kayaking, acting...and telling great stories. HIs book, Mexican Streets: Tales of Tragedy and Triumph, will be published this month.	Open Circle Ajijic April 9, 2023 Presentation by Dr. Kelly Randolph Bennett: The heart of the Matter YouTube link: Coming Soon! Easter is a celebration of unrestricted Life. Intuition challenges us to consider the endless continuity and creative power of Life energy, much greater than our experience. Life may not be as truncated as it seems. Will unlimited life come to the planet? The heart is the place for Truth and timing. Non-truths that we hold to be true assault the heart, filtering and limiting essential life energy to the body. The intuition speaks from the heart. Health of the body depends on the authority given the heart’s message of Truth and Timing! How eager are you to fast-track your evolution? How strongly is your intent focused on your wholeness and personal transformation? The authority and health of the heart depend on health of the mind! Do you devote more energy to talking or listening? How difficult are the pauses? Are there things you know that you would rather not hear? Health of mind depends on openness, alert listening, awareness, choice!	Open Circle Ajijic April 16, 2023 Presentation by Noris Binet: Where Opposites Meet: Pre-Hispanic & Contemporary Mexico YouTube link: Coming Soon! Recently I completed a 57-day re- immersion road journey from Ajijic to Belize. This was my husband’s first taste of the 11 Mexican states we traversed which I travelled through 40 years ago. My purpose was to reconnect with the energy left behind in the ancient cultures, temple sites and multiplicity of archeological artifacts, all of which demonstrated the sophistication of these cultures and the profound interconnection that they have with nature and the world of the spirit. What especially was revealed on this journey was the legacy these people left for today’s individual and society evolution, which I will explore in this presentation. The old towns built by the Spanish conquistadors with the overwhelming stamp of their churches and European heritage permeates the contemporary world of Mexico. Yet where these two cultures meet one finds a unique space wherein lies vibrant aspects of the indigenous ancient cultures and customs. The meeting of opposites has wrought richness, diversity and inclusion, which offers unforgettable impressions: wonderful mix of art, music and culture that truly inspires the soul. Noris Binet is from the Dominican Republic, has resided in Ajijic for five years, and previously lived in Mexico from 1976 to 1989. She is a visual artist, poet, author, spiritual teacher, and sociologist completing her studies at the University of Guadalajara. She has studied with several indigenous communities including the Tarasco, Mayas, and Huichols Indians. She has spent decades working with individuals and diverse communities to build bridges and to promote the reclamation in indigenous and immigrant communities of their own sacred roots in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and other countries. Binet offers monthly Satsangs (a gathering in association with truth) wherein she facilitates meditation and self-inquiry for the exploration of one’s true nature and touching one’s own inner peace.	Open Circle Ajijic April 23, 2023 Presentation by Ted shaw: The magic of Wonder YouTube link: Coming Soon! Get ready to be inspired by the insights of one of the leading experts in personal achievement, Ted Shaw “Ted is the expert other professionals come to study with and learn advanced methods of personal achievement.” ~ Steve Consalvez, CEO at Success Formulae, UK Through Ted's inspiring talk, you will learn how to change your mindset and gain new confidence to achieve the life you desire. Ted Shaw is a Master Firewalking Instructor and one of the co-authors of the training manual used at the Firewalking Institute of Research and Education to teach and certify Personal Developement Coaches who use Firewalking in their events. This is the same school where Tony Robbins, Edwene Gains, & T Harv Eker learned Firewalking. Join us and be prepared to be amazed by Ted's insights. He currently lives on Lake Chapala with his family and spends his time writing, making art, facilitating lifechanging events for corporations, groups, and individuals, personal coaching, and traveling.
Open Circle Ajijic April 30, 2023 Presentation by Lydia Bodin: Volunteering at Lakeside YouTube link: Coming Soon! There are charities who work around the Lake Chapala area who have incredible impact on the local community. They can only do their work when individuals who live here step-up and volunteer to help. We are not just talking about writing a check - which is always welcome - there is a need to do real work that can be transformative for the local community. This will be a unique opportunity to hear about the actual need of local charities who are engaged in the work of performing human services around Lake Chapala. A number of charities will be present and will briefly speak to their need for committed and talented volunteers. Following these presentations, there will be a chance to speak directly to represented charities and to be enrolled in the life saving work and human services provided by these different groups. The satisfaction that this type of work confers will not only transform the community - it will also transform the giver. We invite you to this very different Open Circle. Lydia Bodin is the President of Ninos Incapacitados, a local charity that provides medical care for children. She has been a Lakeside full-time resident for almost five years. In her former life, she was a prosecutor working in the area of crimes against women and children.

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

Open Circle Ajijic March 26, 2023 Presentation by Loretta Downs: Old Age Ain’t No Place for Sissies YouTube link: Coming Soon! The older I get the more I see how right Bette Davis was when she said that. Living in a community of elder and aged individuals, like me, we are constantly faced with the conditions that normal aging creates for ourselves and all the friends we make in Lakeside. How do we prepare ourselves for the changes we can expect and those we can’t? Can we change our minds from fear and denial to acceptance, preparation, and even celebration? What are the skills we can master to adapt to the changes? How do we develop the capacity to be present for those we love as they experience aging and changing and dying before us? Loretta Downs is a gerontologist who has been working with aging and dying for over 35 years. She is an inspiring and uplifting speaker who is passionate about improving the end-of-life experience. She has published numerous articles, been quoted in articles and books, and interviewed for radio shows and podcasts. Loretta gives advance care planning workshops at LCS, speaks where invited, and offers her services as a death doula. This is her 11th Open Circle presentation.	Open Circle Ajijic March 19, 2023 Presentation by Dale Palfrey: Tales of an Accidental Expat YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/fyVg7dREfHk" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] On a balmy afternoon in March 1973 Dale Hoyt and her spunky 83-year-old grandmother stepped down from a second class bus for a weekend visit to Lake Chapala. Now 50 years later, Dale is still here. She will speak at Open Circle on March 19 to share the story of why she ended up as an accidental expat, observations on how the lakeside area has changed over time and anecdotes about the people, historical events and experiences that have enriched her life. She will delve into her perspective on language hurdles, attitude adjustments and involvement in community activities that are crucial to overcoming the challenges of adapting to life as a foreign settler in this unparalleled spot on Mexico’s map. Dale Hoyt Palfrey unexpectedly found her calling as a bilingual journalist within a few years of putting down roots on Lake Chapala’s shores. In addition to contributing articles on Mexican history and culture to MexConnect.com and various print publications, she has made a mark over a quarter of a century as lakeside’s veteran news correspondent for the Guadalajara Reporter.	Open Circle Ajijic March 12, 2023 Presentation by Alfredo, Diana, Domitzu & Sandra: What LCS Means to Me YouTube link: Coming Soon! Everyone has a different point of view, and that diversity of opinions is something that enriches us as a community. We invite you this March 12 to hear the vision of Alfredo Perez, Director of Education; Diana Ayala, Development Director; Domitzu Medrano, Communication Coordinator; and Sandra Gutiérrez, Spanish teacher. Please join us and learn a little more about each of us, and how LCS has impacted our lives.	Open Circle Ajijic March 5, 2023 Presentation by Nayaswami Premdas & Susanne Sims: Paramhansa Yogananda: An Indian Mystic in Lake Chapala YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/IcJSyiT9K-c" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] Paramhansa Yogananda is the author of “Autobiography of a Yogi,” one of the best-selling spiritual biographies of all time. In 1929, Paramhansa Yogananda came to Mexico. He met with then president Emilio Portes Gil and visited Lake Chapala. While in Chapala, Yogananda wrote a poem dedicated to the lake. During this time an iconic photo of him aboard a sailboat was taken. This photo has circulated across the world and is internationally known and loved. Many expats here in Lake Chapala and local Mexican residents are aware of Yogananda's visit to Lake Chapala and there is a natural curiosity as to why he came here. Yogananda's time spent in Lake Chapala happened during a critical turning point in his life. Nayaswami Premdas, our guest speaker from Ananda Village in Northern California, will share his insights and reflections as to who Yogananda was, and why his presence in the West is so important. This Open Circle presentation is the first in a series of events slated for “Yogananda Week in Ajijic,” March 5-10, 2023. Nayaswami Premdas serves in various roles with Ananda Sangha Worldwide, a successful intentional community of 55 years founded by Swami Kriyananda and dedicated to sharing the teachings of the Indian Yogi, Paramhansa Yogananda. Through Ananda's Path of Kriya Yoga, he guides, counsels, teaches, assists and initiates seekers, devotees and disciples practicing Yogananda's prescriptions of “Simple Living & High Thinking.” He has been a credentialed instructor of meditation and yoga for 30 years.
Open Circle Ajijic February 26, 2023 Presentation by Dr. Marco Antonio Cortés Guardado and Dr. Cecilia Soraya Shibya Soto: Communities of Expats in the Ajijic and Puerto Vallarta Areas YouTube link: Coming Soon! This conversation will deal with some of the results of the “Comparative Study of the International Communities in the areas of Ajijic and Puerto Vallarta” carried out by professors of the University of Guadalajara. Particularly the data obtained from the Survey applied to expats in these areas, during the years 2020 to 2021. Among the main findings is the verification that expats do not form an aggregate group because they share or keep a certain similarity in their sociodemographic features. We consider the existence of structural differences, which are reflected, for example, in their party and ideological preferences, among others. We also consider the time period in which they have immigrated and the places where they reside, issues that have already been studied. This also implies diverse patterns of behavior, in their form and scope of inclusion in the local communities and could become prototypes. Dr. Marco Antonio Cortés is Professor-Researcher and Director of the IIIG of the University of Guadalajara, from his latest publications, "Social and political innovation in Jalisco Cases that inspire, transcend and innovate", "Parties without partisans", "The values of the people of Jalisco. Former general rector of the UdG and CUCSH, CUCOSTA. Dra. Cecilia Soraya Shibya Soto is Professor-Researcher in the Department of Socio-urban Studies at the University of Guadalajara.	Open Circle Ajijic February 19, 2023 Presentation by Luis Pacheco & Steve Balfour: LCS AGM & Future Planning YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/KbugnD3bR24" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] As two of the leaders of LCS, we would like to offer you some insights of the upcoming Annual General Meeting and solicit your thoughts. The focus will be on where we are heading. This is your opportunity to offer your thoughts on anything Lake Chapala Society. People may not be aware that over 1,000 people per week visit LCS, and there are approximately 100 activities that take place in and around LCS. Few could name them all. Steve is in his last year as President of the Board and this marks the 2 year anniversary since Luis started as the Executive Director. At last year’s AGM Steve charged the Board of Directors and Senior Management with 5 priority goals. We knew at the time this would be a two year plan as there was a lot of ground work to be done. As we strive to remain accessible, transparent, and accountable, we are providing this update regarding our vital work and accomplishments. But more so, we are looking for your thoughts and recommendations on how we move forward on these 5 priorities: Customer Service Focus Upgraded Technology Community Collaborations Community Visibility Taking Care of What We Have The related Committees of the Board will have special presentations that will be part of this years' March 14 Annual General Meeting. In preparation for this AGM, we would like to solicit your input and involvement, and share where we are now and hear first-hand from our constituents on your thoughts for moving forward.	Open Circle Ajijic February 12, 2023 Presentation by Sandy Britton: Letting Mexico Mellow You Out YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/pplc2AGByDI" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] When you travel to, do business with, or move to another country, the culture clash can puzzle and even frustrate you – or it can expand your mind and change the way you see things. Sandy will share how the concept of "cultural intelligence" helped her understand her adopted country better, but even more important, how her time in Mexico has altered her view of life. Sandy Britton is from northern California. Her background is in software development and dog training, but she combines her love of cultural sociology and public speaking to bring you this presentation.	Open Circle Ajijic February 5, 2023 Presentation by Richard Diehl: Win as Much as You Can YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/4SrdGuMuCWo" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] Today you will be playing a game with a team of about 5 people, trying to solve a puzzle of sorts. The instructions will be intentionally ambiguous (a bit vague) although at the end all will be revealed. It will require some standing up and small group discussion of your team’s strategy in order to solve this. No personal information will be discussed or revealed during the game but you might end up discovering some new things about yourself at the end. Please bring glasses if you need them (so you can read the instructions), and a pen or pencil. If you wish to attend and observe, but not participate please consider sitting in the Gazebo. Take a risk and have fun. Richard Diehl Ph.D. M.Ed. L.Ac. has been faculty at State University of NY. He has taught Neurolinguistic Programming in 9 countries on 5 continents. He also had a successful practice as a Traditional Naturopath and Acupuncturist until he retired about 6 years ago. This is the third winter he and his partner Gayla have spent in Ajijic.

Our Presentation Archives:

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