AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15 and welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for brunch.

Biblioteca Manager to address Midday Rotary

Few individuals have had such an immediate impact on this city as Miguel Kegel. In his work with the Police Department, he has developed a Neighborhood Watch program, and initiated educational programs for youth in order to make them aware of the dangers of drug addiction and other anti-social behavior. Now the General Manager of the Biblioteca Pública, Miguel has been a pivotal force in bringing together nonprofit organizations and agencies of the Municipality in order to develop better coordination between all groups. All this from a young man who just turned 33!

In his talk to the Midday Rotary Club this Tuesday, November 13, Miguel focuses on one of our most recent projects—the Rural Library Project in Cruz del Palmar. Originally conceived by leaders of both Rotary and the Biblioteca Pública as a way of continuing the good work of Stirling Dickinson by bringing books, magazines, and library furniture to poor rural communities, this project has evolved into an extraordinary effort by different nonprofit organizations and government agencies to bring special services to an almost forgotten community.

The Midday Rotary Club of San Miguel meets every Tuesday at 12:30pm in the upstairs theater at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel (Aldama 53). Visiting Rotarians and all others are invited to attend. Lunch follows at 1:30pm. For more information, check out the website: www.rotarysma.org. 

Town Hall meeting with US Embassy officials

US Consul Ed Clancy wishes to advise the public that after the success of a recent Town Hall meeting, US Embassy officials will return to San Miguel for another Town Hall meeting on November 15 at 11am in the Sala Quetzal, Biblioteca Pública. They will make short a presentation about various topics, then entertain questions. All are welcome.

Come learn about Amigos de Animales

Amigos de Animales, a nonprofit group dedicated to easing the suffering of dogs and cats in San Miguel, invites all volunteers, past, present and future to join them Thursday, November 15, for a light comida at the Sylvor home, Piedras Chinas 17, Interior B. Amigos recent achievements and new plans will be discussed and plenty of time will be available to share ideas and mingle with fellow animal lovers. Please contact Lisa Wandler at lisa@amigos-sma.org or (044) 415-111-4723 for more information.

Bereavement groups to start with Hospice San Miguel

Hospice San Miguel is sponsoring two free bereavement support groups for area residents who have lost loved ones. The first one, lead by Dorie Beach who is a board member of Hospice San Miguel and an experienced bereavement counselor, will be for English speakers and have its first meeting on Saturday, November 17 from 1–2:30pm at Hospice San Miguel located at Manuel Rocha 35 in La Lejona. Please contact Dorie directly at 154-7605 or dorieb@hospicesma.org.

The second group is for Spanish speakers and will be lead by Leticia Gonzales, also a Hospice San Miguel volunteer and experienced psychotherapist. This group will meet on Saturdays from 3–4:30pm at Hospice San Miguel. Please contact Leticia directly at (044) 415-114-8331 or lego_2000_mx@yahoo.com.mx. 

The groups will be small, so reservations are necessary. Please call Dorie or Leticia for information and to reserve a place.

Classes & Workshops

Yoga for everyone

If we don’t know how to exercise properly, we tend to stretch from our more flexible areas and rely on our better developed muscles for strength. Iyengar yoga encourages weak parts to strengthen and stiff areas to stretch, thus awakening the whole body. As the body moves in a more balanced way, less muscular work is required and relaxation occurs naturally and lasts longer.

Yoga Nova director and certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor, Margaretta Sander offers two opportunities to experience the benefits of yoga. There will be a free class open to any age, any ability on Monday, November 12, 7–8:15pm. On Saturday, November 17, 9–11:15am there will be a workshop designed to help you deepen your practice. Bring questions about poses that challenge you, frustrate you, cause pain or are just, plain mysterious! Workshop pre-registration will ensure that your question gets “to the mat.” We will also talk about how to set up a home practice.

All classes held at Recreo 4, “El Recreo.” Call Margaretta for more information 120-0767 or email msander@ca.inter.net. 

Computer Obedience Training

The final session for 2007 of Roger Hind’s acclaimed computer classes for new users and for those who want to better learn the basics will be commencing soon. Roger is particularly well known for his ability to put at ease those suffering from “computerphobia”. If your computer’s behavior frustrates you or if you feel a little intimidated by your computer, this class is for you.

The classes will be in the computer training room at the rear of the Computer Center in the Biblioteca Pública and will cover a range of topics.

Classes will run from 10:30am until 1pm and will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays over 4 weeks, beginning on November 27. Pre-enrollment, including payment in full of the course fee of 350 pesos, is required. Places are limited to 10 people, who must have either temporary or full membership of the library. A temporary membership costs only 150 pesos, of which 100 pesos is refundable when you leave San Miguel.

To enroll please take your membership card and 350 pesos to the front desk and ask to sign up for the computer classes in English.

If you would like more information about course objectives and content you may contact Roger by phone on 154 6552 or by email at rogerhind@hotmail.com 



Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventurers

This weekend, the Adventurers are going to a lovely home studio, where Esthwan Wending works her charm as a painter, sculptor and artesania. Her table screens are beautiful accents to any table arrangement. Her painted wall murals add vibrant color to her small home. From here, we go out through the countryside to San Jose 2, formerly a vineyard, now raising only vegetables for export, specializing in lettuce. The delicate product would damaged by our frequent hailstorms, but someone has invented a machine that prevents the hailstones from damaging the crop. How does the machine do it? We hope to solve the mystery on this tour; join us Saturday to learn the secret. Better bring your camera and take photos, unless they’re classified top secret!

Botanical Garden Tour

Every Tuesday morning discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants as well as the history of El Charco with Mario Mendoza, Vice-Director of the garden or David Melville. The tour includes a visit to the nursery which contains many rare species and is not usually open to the public.

Entrance fee is 30 pesos (waived for members) and the tour is 50 pesos. All proceeds benefit the garden. The tour is in English and starts at the main entrance at 9:00am and lasts about 2 hours. Bring a hat and water. Space is limited, so reserve by calling 154-8838 or email charcodelingenio@gmail.com. 

Films & Videos

Eckhart Tolle film from Meditation Center

On November 15 at 5:30pm, The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents a filmed talk by Eckhart Tolle. The Renunciation of Thought is the first of six talks in a collection called Touching the Eternal:The India Retreat.

Through the centuries, countless people from around the world have been coming to India, thirsty in their search for truth. Considered by many to be the birthplace of spirituality, India has produced more great mystics and spiritual teachers than any other country. What more fitting place to speak of the eternal Now? As usual, Eckhart speaks with authenticity, wisdom, and humor on a wide range of subjects. Beneath the seeming variety, though, this beloved teacher is always guiding his listeners into a direct experience of the ever-flowing present moment.

The Meditation Center, located at Callejon Blanco 4 near Quebrada, is open to all forms of silent, still meditation. (See the Religious Meetings box for timings.) All meditation sittings and most presentations are offered freely to one and all in the Buddhist tradition of generosity. (A donation of 20 pesos is suggested for film presentations only, to defray purchase costs.) Please try to arrive early as seating is limited, and the presentation begins promptly at 5:30pm.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer Opportunities

Does your nonprofit need hands? Send your short requests to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org  with “Volunteer Opportunities” in the subject line.


Jazz Fest

The upcoming Festival de Jazz y Blues (November 21–25) needs your help. Antonio Lozoya and Doug Robinson have teamed up to build a world-class event, and have lined up a sparkling roster of acts. Some generous sanmiguelenses have already committed to ushering, selling souvenirs, and putting up posters. So we now need volunteers for a few specialized tasks: 

Drive to the Leon airport in your own car to pick up or drop off a featured performer. Contact Mike Hager at rendenzvous4music@yahoo.com . Persuade local restaurants to feed a few hungry musicians gratis. Contact Antonio Lozoya at sanmigueljazz@yahoo.com.mx.  Sell incredibly cost-effective ads in the Festival program to local businesses. Contact Antonio Lozoya at sanmigueljazz@yahoo.com.mx . House a well-behaved musician in your own home or casita for a few nights. Contact Doug Robinson at jazzooo@aol.com. We also need financial sponsors to underwrite talent. If you are willing to sponsor a musician or an act, contact Doug Robinson at jazzooo@aol.com  or Antonio Lozoya at sanmigueljazz@yahoo.com.mx.  



“Leading With English” needs volunteers to teach English in Jalpa

Forgotten Child International has had such a positive effect on school children of the Jalpa community, that we have been invited to be a part of the Elementary School curriculum. This program focuses on leadership skills through English language acquisition for 3rd through 6th grade children. “Leading with English” uses a unique combination of interdisciplinary, experiential and hands-on approaches to teach English which are reinforced by teams of English speaking volunteers. It’s rewarding, for the children and volunteers. We are looking for a 6-week commitment of volunteering on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:15 to 3:00pm starting October 2. This includes driving time out and back. We can help with transportation. Please get in touch: info@forgottenchild.org. Jalpa is a small community of about 1,500 people about a 30 minute drive along the “Road to Independence” (the old road to Queretaro) nestled in a beautiful valley full of wild flowers this time of year. We are a non-profit organization whose mission is to identify leadership amongst underprivileged, rural children living in central Mexico by working with community leaders to develop alternative paths toward economic, spiritual and educational wellbeing http://www.forgottenchild.org. 



Save A Mexican Mutt (SAMM) is a charitable organization that rescues, spays/neuters, provides veterinary care, socializes, and transports highly adoptable Mexican street dogs to the United States for adoption. We need volunteers to foster dogs for up to six weeks and to transport dogs to the United States. If you live here full or part-time and can provide a temporary loving home for one of the many dogs in line to be transported to their forever homes or are traveling to Texas, New Mexico or Colorado by car and can transport one or more dogs with you, please contact Kelly Karger at info@saveamexicanmutt.org and see our website at www.saveamexicanmutt.org. (Save A Mexican Mutt is a US 501c3 charitable organization. Donations to SAMM are tax deductible on your US federal tax return.)



Hosts needed for Jovenes Adelante fundraiser

Jovenes Adelante, a local non-profit providing university scholarships to low income students from the San Miguel area is sponsoring a “Get to Know San Miguel” trip for residents of the Ajijic-Lake Chapala area over the weekend of November 23–25. All proceeds will help fund additional university scholarships.

A bus leaves Ajijic on Friday morning, with a Jovenes Adelante member as host, arriving that afternoon in San Miguel, and the guests will return Sunday afternoon. This will be an event-packed weekend with entertainment, accommodations in local homes and meals included.

For more information about the trip, or if you are interested in being a host family and providing guest accommodations for Friday and Saturday night, and breakfasts Saturday and Sunday mornings, email jovenesadelante@gmail.com or write to Jovenes Adelante at La Conexión Box 49A, Aldama 3, San Miguel de Allende or call Nancy Dobbs at 152 7353 for more information. Tell your friends in the area that tickets will be available at the Lake Chapala Society ticket booth.



Field volunteers needed for Patronato Pro Ninos

PPN, one of the oldest and most vibrant charities in SMA, is looking for a selective group of volunteers who would be willing to dedicate two or more mornings per month to go out to the outlying areas of the municipality of San Miguel de Allende to visit schools, talk about the work that PPN is doing to assist children with medical and dental problems, and to invite those children who need medical attention to the office of PPN for evaluation and assistance at little or no cost to the family. The volunteers ideally would either be reasonably fluent in Spanish and/or have a car/truck/SUV which can withstand the back (mostly unpaved) roads of the municipality. If interested, please contact Steve Livingston at steve@stevelivingston.com  with your name and contact information. 



Feed the Hungry looking for screening volunteers

Feed the Hungry is looking for volunteers to help with the preventive medical screening of our school children. We are looking for persons with one or more of the following skills: Bilingual persons, drivers with access to vehicle with high ground clearance willing to drive out to the ranchos, computer data input persons. This medical work is being conducted in cooperation with Patronato Pro Niños for the children our organizations serve. For more information please contact us on 152-2402 or contact@feedthehungrysma.org. 




Volunteers needed to help organize San Miguel Walk 2008

The 5th Annual San Miguel Walk Against Domestic Violece takes place on January 24, 2008. The San Miguel Walk funds the Violence Prevention Program at CASA, Centro Para los Adolescentes de San Miguel de Allende, A.C., a local non-profit organization that has been serving the poor, particularly adolescents, rural women and their families, through health, social service, education, and environmental outreach programs since 1981. We are looking to form a team of dedicated volunteers to help out with advertising, publicity, fundraising and outreach. Please contact Shelley at shelleybull@gmail. com or 044 415 114 8648 for more information.



Pro Musica

Pro Musica de San Miguel A.C. puts on more than 30 classical music concerts throughout the year in the city. We are looking for volunteers to fulfill various roles. These include helping out as ushers at St Paul’s church and other venues during concerts, selling tickets prior to the House and Garden Tour at the Biblioteca on Sunday mornings, helping to organize suppers in private homes after concerts for our musicians and patrons, and assisting with publicity, marketing and fundraising. We are a fun group of people to work with and the music is fantastic! Contact Pro Musica’s President, Michael Pearl, at 152-2688 or email him at mpearl5493@aol.com.