AROUND TOWN


Meetings & Lectures

Weekly Weight Watchers meetings

We’ve now been operating in SMA for over six months, as the very first English- speaking chapter of Weight Watchers in Mexico. As you may know, Weight Watchers is dedicated to helping individuals reach and maintain a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle using the 4-Way approach...Eat Wisely, Think First, Move More and Attend Weekly Meetings.

So, if you’ve been thinking about becoming happier, healthier and more fit and have been putting it off, there’s no better time than now to join us. We meet every Saturday morning from 10:30–11:30am in the Bridge Studio at the Real de Minas Hotel. So come, get new information....share your ideas...get support from your fellow sanmiguelenses...and have fun. There is no obligation to join. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Curra at susancurra@hotmail.com or Corinne Leachman at corrine@smabridge.com. New members please come 15 minutes early to register and learn about the program. If you are a regularly attending member of an authorized Weight Watchers group in the US, bring your book and there will be no registration fees.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Nancy Dobbs will discuss an exceptional school in Bali she has worked with since 2003 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday, November 18.

Started in 1997 by an Indonesian foundation, Yayasan Bali Hati was designed to serve poor children in a rice-growing area near Ubad. There were no entrance exams or tuition, and all children were welcome. Starting with only a kindergarten, the school grew a new class each year. The first sixth-grade class graduated last year and finished first in the national examination required of all students. In only seven years, it became the best elementary school in Bali, including the expensive schools for expatriates in Denspasar. Come and hear how the children of illiterate rice farmers achieved such scholastic excellence. Nancy and her husband, Ted, are long-time San Miguel homeowners who spend half of the year in San Miguel and the other half in Bali.

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.

Midday Rotary to discuss ways to reduce stress

On Tuesday, November 20, our guest speaker is Dr. James Bourque Starr; professional speaker, author, healer and teacher. Dr. Starr is dedicated to opening the hearts and minds of his students and audiences with his fresh and innovative methods that lead toward a path of fulfillment in life, business and health.

Dr. Starr will explore 10 simple ways that you can improve the way you deal with stress in your life from the inside/out. These secrets are neither esoteric nor difficult. They are action steps that most people are aware of, but have forgotten or placed at a low priority in their life. To live a life of “inspiration” versus a life of¨ “quiet desperation” requires only for each of us to listen to our inner voice or calling. We all have been blessed with some talent and gifts to offer to others. The challenge for many is to take that next step and follow your dreams and share them with the world. It matters not what age or condition one is in. It is never too late to make a difference in your life and the life of others.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at the Villa Jacaranda, Aldama 53, in Centro. Check-in time is 12–12:25pm and the meeting starts promptly at 12:30pm. Visiting Rotarians, those interested in Rotary, and all members of the general community are invited to attend this meeting. Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Lunch follows at 1:30pm in the hotel dining room. For more information, please go to the Rotary Club website: www.rotarysma.org.
 


Classes & Workshops

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.

Classes will run from 10:30am until 1pm, on Tuesdays and Thursdays over four weeks, beginning on November 27. Pre-enrollment is required, including payment in full of the course fee of 350 pesos. Places are limited to 10 people, who must have either temporary or full membership in 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 at 154 6552 or by email at rogerhind@hotmail.com. 



Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventurers

On Saturday, November 17, the Adventurers will visit a true colonial town home which has been restored, with modern bathrooms and an updated kitchen. A pool replaces the central patio, which the colonial owners would be aghast to see. The original arched door to the dining room faces the central patio (now pool). Cantera is used throughout, in columns and carved fireplaces. The entryway is noteworthy for the decorative use of old objects. Now a long drive through colorful scenery to Patsy Dubois’s Rancho las Hadas Madrinas, where surely a fairy godmother waved her magic wand to convert this arid land into the verdant oasis we see today. Her home, a veritable museum of folk art, is a joy to visit. Her large kitchen is a cook’s dream, for Patsy is not only a well-known caterer, but also teaches Mexican cooking. Probably we will be given a sample of her talent. You will put cameras to use on this tour! Tour leaves the Jardín at 10:30am across from the Parroquia.


November Audubon birdwalk

The birdwalk for November is scheduled for November 18, the third Sunday of the month. Transportation permitting, the plan is to go to the bridge at Montecillo de Nieto, where a good variety of birds can always be seen. At this time of year it is more than likely we will see Blue Grosbeaks enjoying the sorghum planted there. The black-headed Grosbeak also frequents that area, as do many other colorful birds.

The Audubon birdwalk is a monthly event open to members and nonmembers alike. Members of Audubon de Mexico are welcomed gratis. Nonmembers are also welcomed, but asked to contribute 100 pesos, or US$10 to the ecological projects in which Audubon is involved.

Participants will meet in front of the Instituto Allende at 8am, as the trip will leave promptly at 8:15am. Please bring hat and drinking water. Binoculars and bird books make bird sightings more interesting, but they are not necessary since a scope will be among the birders. Anyone willing to contribute transportation will be greatly appreciated. The expedition is usually over by noon.

People with questions may call Bob at 154-9856 or Fen at 044 415 153-5438.


Suchil demonstration at El Charco

In the Plaza of Four Winds, next to the stone cross, there is a vertical structure adorned with plants. It is known in San Miguel as suchil and is the principal offering in local religious festivals year-round. The structure is woven with a small shiny, ivory-colored plant extracted from the stalk of the cucharilla (Dasylirion Acotriche), a native plant similar to an agave. The suchil is put together by a group of people working together all night so that it may be mounted the following day during the ceremony. It is a pame otomi tradition that goes back to the time of the conquest in the sixteenth century. According to several historical studies, the suchil represents the stretcher or cot, covered in flowers, on which they transported the indigenous warriors killed in combat. There will be a demonstration Sunday, November 24 at 10am, by local indigenous people of how ofrendas of a smaller size are assembled. Reserve at nzerriffi@yahoo.com —70 pesos for members; 100 pesos for nonmembers



Performances & Events

Finding the madam in all of us

The site of a former House of Ill Repute, a bordello of yesteryear, is the perfect location for The Madam’s Party on Saturday, November 17 from 6 to 9pm. Now operating as a charming guest house, the Bordello Galería at Organos 19 hosts a fun-filled evening with proceeds benefiting Hospice San Miguel. Seven local designers will present their fashions and jewelry for sale: Alegria Scully, Bonnie Griffith, Darla Nordstrom, Dianne Shields, Karen Wight, Margarita Burbidge and Paloma. Some of San Miguel’s loveliest will model the creations.

Simultaneous chess exhibition

Local chess master Francisco de Santiago will play 10–15 games simultaneously

against all comers on Monday, November 26, from 5 to 6:30pm, in the patio of the Biblioteca Pública. Players at all skill levels are invited to try their luck against the guru. Participation is free and spectators are welcome. Players should bring chess sets if they have them. Following the event, Teatro Santa Ana offers a free showing of The Luzhin Defense, a 112-minute movie about a grandmaster driven mad by chess. The 2001 release is based on The Defense, a 1930 novel by Vladimir Nabokov. Free chess workshops begin the following Monday, December 3. Children 8 to 12 years old will meet 4–5pm in the Sala Infantil, and adults at 5–6:30pm in the patio of the Biblioteca Pública. 





Films & Videos

The Last of the Marranos is a fascinating documentary about how a people’s tremendous faith and remote location enabled them to escape the Inquisition up to the present day. In Belmonte, a small mountain-top village in northern Portugal, lives a unique community who existed for almost 500 years as “underground” Jews. They were forced to convert to Catholicism and yet faithfully observed their own reinvented form of Judaism. Watching them devotedly practice their religion, without outside intervention, is both moving and fascinating. Our presenter, Rosalee Schwartz, taught in the New York City school system for 30 years. In her spare time, she has studied and visited “marginalized” Jewish communities around the world. Her visit to Belmonte will be the subject of a lively discussion following the film on Monday, November 19, 5pm, at the Hotel Quinta Loreto TV Salon. All are welcome and refreshments will be served. A donation of 50 pesos to ShalomSMA will be appreciated.

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.  



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 AC 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.