AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Spiritual counselor Joseph Dispenza addresses the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship this Sunday with a message entitled Divine Adult: the Spiritual Path of Maturity.

Joseph is a co-founder of LifePath in San Miguel, and the author of a dozen books about living a higher quality of life. His most recent book is God On Your Own: Finding a Spiritual Path Outside Religion. He entered the Order of Holy Cross early in life and lived as a monk for eight years, the first year of which he spent in total silence. Later, he left the monastery to pursue a more active life, working for social change with a number of humanitarian organizations. He holds a B.A. in the Humanities and M.A. in Communication, and was for several years the Director of Education Programs for the American Film Institute in Washington, D.C.

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.

Mac User’s Group discusses iPhoto

The San Miguel Macintosh Users Group meets Monday, September 17, at 3 pm in the Biblioteca’s Sala Quetzal. At this month’s meeting Jon Sievert shows you how to make your own book, calendar, or greeting cards using your own with photos with iPhoto.

Creating a photo book in iPhoto is as easy as choosing an Apple-designed theme, dropping in your photos, and adding text. You can choose from a range of styles and sizes, including hardcover, softcover, and wire-bound.

The San Miguel Mac Users Group meets monthly in a comfortable learning environment to expand skills, build confidence, and explore the creative possibilities of Mac computers.

For more information, contact Nonni Markeset (nonniem@mac.com ) or Jon Sievert (jon@humblepress.com).

Mexican Independence on Rotary agenda

Perhaps the largest celebration in this month of Mexican national festivities is the celebration of the War of Independence of 1810. 

On Tuesday, September 18, The Midday Rotary Club is proud to present a program on this momentous time in Mexican history. Our guest speaker on this important subject is Gerald Baker of San Miguel de Allende.

Gerald was born and educated in Mexico City, and attended university in the UK. He holds a B.A. in Latin American studies and a post-graduate Certificate in Education. He has been teaching and developing Spanish and English courses since 1980, has directed research on language usage at the UNAM and is the founder and director of LanguagePoint.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel, Aldama 53. Check-in time is 12:00–(N)12:25 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

The inaugural meeting of the Stirling Dickinson Orchid Society

The first regular meeting of the Stirling Dickinson Orchid Society of San Miguel de Allende is on Wednesday, September 19 at 12noon. Sandro Cusi, the owner of the orchid nursery at Temascaltepec near Valle de Bravo speaks. He and his father, the founder of Rio Verde Orchids, will bring many orchids from their collection to be sold.
This new club came about after a wonderful talk by Kelly Van Diver at the Garden Club of San Miguel. In June, he discussed and demonstrated how to make orchids re-bloom. In August, he talked at the inaugural meeting of the new Orchid Society explaining how orchids could grow in Mexico and the various types that can be cultivated successfully.

If you are interested in receiving more information, please call Ken Stanton at 154-9050.

Classes & Workshops

The Art of Living workshop with Alejandro Negrete

The introductory lecture is on Friday September 14 at 7pm at Life Path Center, Recreo 80, charge is 50 pesos. The first part of the workshop covers the module of teachings. In this workshop, we will study the fundamental truths of esoteric spirituality. We also learn a variety of meditative practices, which have the power to expand our consciousness.

The second part is pneuma breathwork. Through breathing intensely while being accompanied by inspiring music, we connect with our inner self in order to have a transpersonal experience of truth and love. Bring comfortable clothing, a pillow, and a blanket.

1st Day: Sat. Sep. 15, 11am–(N)3pm at Life Path Retreat Center, Recreo 80

2nd Day: Sun. Sep. 16, 11am–(N)3pm: En Forma Aerobics Studio, Mesones 14

Price: 800 pesos

To register call 152-7854 or write to aleanimas@yahoo.com 

Theater workshop at the Biblioteca

Teatro Santa Ana will soon raise the curtain for the second edition of “The Pleasure of Acting”, an improvisation workshop open to everyone who wants to have the experience of acting, while feeling safe from fear and frustration.

This unique workshop will be taught by Ana María Muñoz, who has taught in professional acting schools for twenty-one years, both in Chile and Mexico. She learned the Actors Studio’s Method in Santiago from Luis Wigdorsky, who had studied with Lee Strassberg. This workshop is September 18, 11am–(N)2pm, in Teatro Santa Ana.

Tours & Excursions

Audobon Society heads to Montecillo de Nieto

0n September 16, the third Sunday of the month, Sociedad Audubon once more offers a bird walk for enthusiastic birders. If weather permits and enough transportation is available, we will go to the excellent birding site at the bridge of Montecillo de Nieto, where we have not been for many months. After all the rain there should be plenty of wildflowers as well as a grand variety of birds.

This event is open to members of Audubon and non-members alike. It is offered gratis to members of Audubon de Mexico, and a donation of 100 pesos or US$10 is asked of non-members.

People wanting to participate should be in front of the Instituto Allende by 8am, as the expedition leaves at 8:15am. Bring drinking water and a hat, as well as binoculars if they are available. And it is likely to be muddy, so don’t wear new shoes. Anyone willing to contribute a car will be much appreciated. Anyone with questions may call Fen at 044 415 153 5438.

El Charco del Ingenio 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. 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.

In addition, Richard Cretcher, author of the book, Flores Silvestres–(N)a pocket guide to the wildflowers of San Miguel, will be offering walks in the botanical garden and Parque Landeta using this book to identify the multitude of gorgeous flowers blooming at this time of year. The dates are September 5 and 19. They start at 9:30am and last about 2 hours. Cost is 70 pesos for members and 100 for non-members of El Charco. All proceeds go to the botanical garden.


This is a popular event so please reserve a space by emailing nzerriffi@yahoo.com  specifying the day you would like to attend.

Performances & Events

Local author signs book

Carl Selph signs copies of his Collected Poems 1950-2002 from 3–(N)5 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at La Conexion, Aldama 3. The book was published in July. Selph has lived in San Miguel since 1990 where he has been an editor of San Miguel Writer and has read his work publicly on many occasions as well as on radio and television in the United States. The most recent reading was of his long poem “Adam Freeman” in the Sala Quetzal of the Biblioteca in 2002.

The great CASA garage sale for Autumn

The Autumn garage sale is planned for Saturday, October 20 on the patios of CASA, 9am–(N)3pm, Santa Julia 15, Colonia Santa Julia. Help your casa and San Miguel’s CASA, A.C.!

CASA is San Miguel’s local community health NGO and midwifery school. So clean out those bulging closets and garages and your house will feel so much the better for it.

To donate your used items in good condition, please call 154-6060 or 152-2813, Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. Ask for Ana Pena or Juan Jose, they will gladly pick up from your home. Or feel free to drop it all off at their house, Calvario 2 and they will make sure it gets to CASA. 

Films & Videos

Film series at Meditation Center

On Thursday, September 20, the Meditation Center of San Miguel begins its annual fall film series with a 5:30pm showing of Short Cut to Nirvana. This award-winning documentary is about the Kumbh Mela spiritual festival that takes place near Allahabad, India every 12 years. The Kumbh Mela also happens to be the biggest human gathering in history, attracting 70 million pilgrims, holy men and beggars, not to mention tourists and news people from around the world. From this incredible event comes a powerful and uplifting message of harmony, unity, and peace for all humanity.

The film series runs every other Thursday through December 13 (September 20, October 4 and 18, November 1, 15, and 29, and December 13).
Upcoming films include—(M) Adyashanti, The Journey After Awakening; Cheri Huber, The Secret Is There Are No Secrets: An Introduction to Zen Meditation; Pema Chödrön and Jack Kornfield, Wisdom & Compassion; Adyashanti, Be Still And Know; El Buda, a feature-length film from Argentina, in Spanish with English subtitles; and Eckhart Tolle, Touching the Eternal—(M)India Retreat.

The Meditation Center is Buddhist-oriented and open to all forms of silent, still meditation. See the Religious Meetings box in Atenciòn for times. It is located at Callejon Blanco 4, near Quebrada. A donation of 20 pesos is suggested for all film presentations. Please try to arrive early as seating is limited, and arrivals after 5:30pm would be disturbing to others.




Volunteer Opportunities

Biblioteca English class opportunities

The Biblioteca English program for children has an urgent need for one or two volunteers to work with ten adolescents who have been studying English at the Biblioteca for two years. These students have completed Book 1 of the adult English series Side by Side. They need to review what they have already covered and begin work on Book 2.


These are highly motivated students who have demonstrated their desire to learn English by remaining in the program for two years. Their teacher for the past two years has other commitments this year and is unable to continue with the class but is willing to orient a new volunteer.

No teaching experience is required, as the materials are very thorough, though some previous work with adolescents is desirable. A minimum commitment of three months is essential. If more than one candidate volunteers, we will staff the class with two co-teachers. The class will meet at the Biblioteca two afternoons a week (to be arranged to fit the teacher’s schedule) from 3:30–(N)4:45pm.

For more information or to arrange for an interview, contact Gerald Camp, phone 120-0951 or email smacasamilagro@yahoo.com. 

“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. Leading with English uses a unique combination of interdisciplinary, experiential and hands-on approaches, which are reinforced by teams of English speaking volunteers. We are looking for a 6-week commitment of volunteering on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:15 to 3pm 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 Querètaro). We are a non-profit organization whose mission is to identify leadership among underprivileged, rural children living in central Mexico by working with community leaders to develop alternative paths toward economic, spiritual and educational well-being, www.forgottenchild.org.

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–(N)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.

Volunteering at the Biblioteca
If you would like to volunteer to assist in any of the following departments, please see Elia in the Sala Infantil, Monday-Friday, 4–(N)5pm, or send an email to volunteers@bibliotecasma.com and Judy Boston will get back to you. The departments with the most need are La Tienda, the English Book Committee (which needs shelf readers at the moment), English classes and conversation with students, the computer room, the Sala Infantil with literacy programs and painting, administration, the Café, the Sunday House and Garden Tour and Atención. A minimum commitment of three months is requested for most of these positions.


Atenciòn seeks volunteer proofreaders

Always had a knack for catching grammatical errors? Would you love to help out with your favorite community newspaper, Atenciòn San Miguel? Consider signing on as a volunteer proofreader. Atenciòn would not make it to press each week without the countless hours invested by our beloved volunteer proofreaders. If you’re interested, send an inquiry to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org to set up a time to meet with the editorial staff. This requires a regular commitment by a full or part time resident.


See you in the funny papers

Mark Saunders, creator of Atención’s “Más o Menos” cartoon, invites suggestions from readers for funny material about living in San Miguel that would lend itself to a cartoon. Selected ideas will be drawn by the cartoonist, and authors will be given credit as well as a signed copy of their cartoon. Please send your “expat” cartoon ideas to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org.