Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

jennifer rose

Mar 7, 2003, 2:46 PM

Post #1 of 7 (1058 views)

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Clubs and Organizations in Ajijic/Lake Chapala

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Looking over the community calendar, I'm struck by an activity schedule which would rival a cruise ship's offerings any day of the week. Do you folks ever stay at home? <g>

Seriously, my question is: Are these clubs and organizations populated solely by extranjeros, or do Mexicans participate as well? What clubs, classes and organizations have the most Mexican participation, and which have the least?

(This post was edited by jennifer rose on Mar 7, 2003, 2:46 PM)

Uncle Donnie

Mar 7, 2003, 5:16 PM

Post #2 of 7 (781 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Clubs and Organizations in Ajijic/Lake Chapala

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Uncle Jack, where are you? Here comes some controversy!

Hi jj,

Things too calm on this forum are they? You all know that Uncle Donnie's not much of a team player so I can only speak for a few here at Lakeside.

The American Legion allows all sorts of folks in. Those who don't qualify for regular membership are accepted as Associate Members and many of them are Canadian as well as Mexican. They can serve on committees, and even chair them, but cannot hold elective office. For some reason I pay dues through another post but don't participate. It may be that that's the only option they gave me.

Wait! I remember now, the area around the post reeks of rancid boiling goat fat from one of the area businesses and I don't like smelling it.

The LCS is another matter altogether. Several of their members have offered to take me by my fuzzy little paw and get me signed up but after two unsuccessful tries on my own I've given up. They ARE an amusing lot though. And BTW, I don't know any of the details of the recent brawl on the grounds but I DO know that the gentleman who was injured while trying to calm things down is someone who is a credit to this community. I know of several instances where he used his professional skills to assist folks in need.

The Amigos del Lago accepts all races, creeds, colors, and mental capacities (they allowed me in, but again, I don't do meetings) but I believe they retain the right to limit the upper elective positions to Mexicans, which I think is a good move.

There ARE a number of groups which are set up to do pure charity work with the poor and underprivileged such as the orphans and abandoned babies, the desperately poor of San Juan Cosala, the quilting/sewing group out that same way (I think), and a few others. Membership in these groups is usually quite small since there's very little chance of getting your name or picture in the paper. Before any of you take umbrage, this is verifiable.

I think the Lakeside Little Theatre also has a few Mexican participants.

And unless the policy has recently changed the Chapala Yacht Club restricts membership to Mexicans only.

"I wouldn't belong to any club that would accept me as a member."
Groucho Marx

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Uncle Jack

Mar 8, 2003, 7:44 AM

Post #3 of 7 (723 views)

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Don, thanks for the invitation.........

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..........but if I were to express my true feelings about most clubs and organizations, David and jennifer would crash head-on in a race to hit the delete button.

UJ

DavidMcL

Mar 8, 2003, 10:21 AM

Post #4 of 7 (676 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Don, thanks for the invitation.........

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Best giggle of the day!
Thanks!

D
David McL
WebJefe

Uncle Donnie

Mar 8, 2003, 11:08 AM

Post #5 of 7 (669 views)

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Re: [DavidMcL] David, don't...

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encourage Jack. You know how out of control things can get when we both start up.

Actually since I sobered up somewhat I realized there are several worthwhile groups here who provide non-intrusive or reduced interference assistance to the community, both gringo and Mexican (and animal) and do so with little or no fanfare.

And the others, the magnets for the publicity seeking and power hungry, at least serve to keep some off the streets. It's just like back where we came from, ain't it?

Gotta go shave the goat.

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Jerry@Ajijic

Mar 8, 2003, 10:08 PM

Post #6 of 7 (613 views)

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Re: [Uncle Donnie] David, don't...

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In my opinion almost of the local non profit organizations do some good for the local communities. NPOs have opened a school for the deaf, continue to support the old people's home, teach better agriculture, etc. I am not much on garden clubs but they have done a good job on the Ajijic Plaza. I am not artist but the artists have recently opened up and improved the old RR station in Chapala. The LCS sponsors the only Group health plan (that I know of) in Mexico as well as providing low cost optical assistance,medical advice, hearing aid services, Library of Congress talking books for people with hearing problems, videos and have about 25,000 English books and support the Ed Wilks Center which contains a Spanish language library and offers many programs for the local population.
There is no doubt in my mind that Lakeside is a better place for foreigners and the LOCAL people because of the efforts of the local NPOs.
Jerry

Uncle Donnie

Mar 9, 2003, 9:44 AM

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Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] David, don't...

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I agree with your appraisal of the good most NPOs do. It's just that I recently returned from an area where I had to take Pirata to a "Doggie Park" to let him run loose for exercise, the local governing authorities voted a ban on smoking in all bars and restaurants (I'm a non-smoker BTW), and had to deal with a number of other restrictions of choice. I see over-regulation rapidly coming to Lakeside.

You've been here for quite awhile and I'm sure you've seen a lot of changes of this type. But again, there really IS no free lunch, so satisfaction or dissatifaction with a particular area might depend upon the individual's level of tolerance.

I would disagree on one point, though. I drive by what I believe to be the old RR station in Chapala (close to Christiana Park) and it's been several months since any work has been done there. That's one of my favorite buildings in the area and I hope that any problems the restoration group has encountered will soon be overcome and the work will resume.

At one time I heard (and read) that they were going to use the building as a museum and that the mastodon skeleton was to be the centerpiece. Do you know any more about that?

Good thoughtful post Jerry.

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