AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Anne Lewis, a part-time San Miguel resident, addresses the issue of “What Will Be Left Behind of American Public Education” following the disastrous policies of Washington in the past seven years at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday, November 25.

Lewis is an education policy writer with extensive experience in analyzing national trends and in narrative documentation of education reform. A former president of the Education Writers Association, she has authored numerous articles and reports for organizations such as the Public Education Network, the Center for Law and Education, and the US Congress.

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.


“The Art of Peace” Comes to the Midday Rotary Club

Called the Art of Peace by its founder, Aikido, a defensive martial art, originated in the mid-twentieth century. The intention of Aikido is unique. Aikido techniques can subdue an aggressor without causing injury.

Ken Rowland is a black belt in Aikido and has been practicing since 1985. He will discuss and demonstrate Aikido.

He co-founded Aikido San Miguel in 2006 after retiring from a career in education.

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 those wishing to stay. For more information, go to www.rotarysma.org. 



Classes & Workshops

Eva Hunter’s writing workshops

Award-winning author, editor and writing teacher Eva Hunter presents a six session writing workshop entitled, “Beginnings, Endings, and Everything Between” from November 27 through December 14, Tuesdays and Fridays, 9am to noon. The workshop will be held at Orizaba 38, and is for both fiction and nonficton, beginning and intermediate writers.

According to Hunter, the biggest issue for writers is knowing how to put the story together. In this workshop, Hunter works with each writer to determine the best way to tell his or her story, whether it is a novel, a nonfiction treatment, a travel article, a personal essay or a memoir.

The cost for the workshop is US$210 or peso equivalent. Pre-registration is required through Box 401A, La Conexión, Aldama 3. For more information, call 152-6634 or email evamhunter@gmail.com.

San Miguel writers’ conference events

Enter the first 30 pages of your manuscript for a chance to meet and receive written critique from New York literary agent, Theresa Park, owner of The Park Literary Group LLC, a New York-based literary agency founded in 2003.

During the Writers’ Conference you will also have the opportunity to meet with and receive written critique from Jamie Raab, executive vice president and publisher of Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books). Jamie Raab oversees the publication of approximately 300 titles per year on Grand Central Publishing’s hardcover, mass market and trade paperback lists. She will meet with 8 participants only, taken on a first-come, first-served basis.



Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventurers

The Adventurers will travel on a flying carpet this Saturday, November 24, to Ramiro’s Weaver’s where we will see his colorful rugs flying off of the looms. Ramiro will show us the raw wool as received from the sheep’s back. You can watch as it is washed, then carded, spun into wool strands, strung on the loom with the “woof” and the talented hands weave the magic into the rugs. Ramiro will show us rugs of all sizes, designs and colors, at factory prices. Also 100 percent wool bedspreads, all in colors and designs you can’t resist. Now, off to “Las Palmas” of Michel Connor’s home of adobe, with a palm-thatched roof—sounds pretty primitive, right? Not so, once inside it is all open with a kitchen at one end and a loft bedroom at the other. We will wind up in the kiosko, beside the elongated pool, for cookies and refreshments, courtesy of the Centro de Crecimiento.

This Tour leaves from inside the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am.


Xuichil 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 xuichil 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 xuichil 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 xuichil 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.


Trip with Lions Club to Guadalajara

The International Lions Club of San Miguel is sponsoring another three day sightseeing and holiday shopping excursion to Guadalajara, leaving on Tuesday December 12. Sightseeing suggestions include the Cathedral, Presidencia Municipal, Plaza de Armas, Palacia de Gobierno, Rotonda de Los Hombres Ilustres, Museo Regional de Guadalajara, Palacio de Justicia, a trip to the zoo, and a day trip to Tonala and Tlaquepaque.

The cost is 1800 pesos each, double occupancy, and 2600 pesos single, which includes occupancy at a historic five star hotel within walking distance of most of the city’s main attractions, breakfasts, first class bus, all tips and a donation to the Lions Club which dispenses glasses to the needy and does free diabetes testing on Thursday mornings at Correo 63. Reservations and payment must be received by November 28. For information, call Jean Schickel at 152-0934.



Performances & Events

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

Learning about Zen meditation

On November 29 at 5:30pm, The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents a filmed talk by Cheri Huber, The Secret is There Are No Secrets: An Introduction to Zen Meditation

Meditation shows us that nothing is hidden. Sitting down, being still, and paying attention reveals much that seemed unknowable and inaccessible. This introductory program teaches what Zen meditation is, how to do it, how to establish a meditation practice, and where that practice might take the dedicated student.

Cheri Huber has been a Zen student and teacher for over 30 years. She leads workshops and retreats at the Zen Monastery Peace Center in Murphys, California, and is the author of 20 books.

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. Contact Meredith Moraine, 152-2854, meditationsma@gmail.com. 



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.)



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. 
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