AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Founder Jim Hallock discusses the mission of Tierra y Cal, an organization dedicated to the promotion and construction of sustainable housing using compressed earth blocks (CEB) at this week’s meeting.

Beginning with the 1994 founding of Earth Block, Inc. in Colorado, Hallock has built dozens of CEB homes and helped create the New Mexico code, the first in the US. Since the founding of Tierra y Cal in Mexico, he has expanded his efforts on an international scale, consulting on both high-end developments and affordable housing projects and pioneering the use of lime as a stabilizer in CEB construction. The organization also conducts three-day workshops for those who want to learn how to produce and stabilize earth blocks on their own.

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for coffee hour.

Midday Rotary Club

On Tuesday, October 20, the focus is on Rotary Vocational Services Month, with a presentation by club member Enrique Orvanaños. Vocational Services highlights: adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations; recognition of the value of all useful occupations, not just those pursued by Rotarians; the contribution of vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.

Enrique Orvanaños was selected to make this presentation because he exemplifies the ideals of Rotary Vocational Service. His business, Soluciones Solares, is focused on using the region’s most abundant resource—sunlight—to provide economical, non-polluting energy for home and industrial use.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets Tuesdays at Hotel Real de Minas, intersection of calles Ancha de San Antonio and Stirling Dickinson. Check-in time is 12–12:15pm and the meeting starts promptly at 12:30. The meeting is followed by a luncheon and visitors are invited to stay for lunch and fellowship. Visit www.rotarysma.org  for  more information.

Lions Club International

The Lions Club meets Thursday, October 15, at Sappos Restaurant at calle Nueva 10. 
Check in time is 12:30pm and the meeting begins at 1pm, on the first and third Thursdays of each month. You may order lunch from the special menu and one-hour validated parking is available next door. For additional information, contact Mick Maguire 152-7523.



Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventure Tours

This Saturday, October 17, a marvelous tour starts with a “factory” where everything is made by hand. You will find so many articles that look like silver, but not at silver prices. The owner and workers will demonstrate how each piece is lovingly made by hand. This factory is rightly called Hecho en México. It’s not too early to think of Christmas gifts, and this is the place to pick up beautiful baubles at factory prices.

Next we stop at Rancho Ojo de Agua, an elegant estate with a gorgeous home, pool, stables of Andalusians and a small bull-ring. We have been promised a dressage show so the striking horses can show off their gaits. From here we are invited to the cleverly decorated home in sophisticated country style. The kitchen ceiling is hung with all styles of woven baskets.

We’ll visit the pool-house for refreshments courtesy of the Centro de Crecimiento. Other interesting design aspects, such as the iron chair arms, made to simulate leather straps with buckles, are found here. Please bring your camera!

These tours benefit the Centro de Crecimiento school for disabled adults and children and leave the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am on Saturdays.

Bird Walks

This month’s third Sunday Audubon bird walk is on October 18, when Norman Besman and Signe Hammer will take aficionados de aves on a walk at El Charco del Ingenio. Recent sightings there have included blue grosbeaks, black-crowned night herons and a northern bobwhite. Recent rains may have brought more water birds.

To catch a glimpse of some spectacular birds and join this month’s Audubon walk, meet Norman, Signe at the entrance to the Instituto Allende on the Ancha San Antonio at 7:45am on Sunday. You’ll be happier if you’ve brought a hat and water; if you have binoculars to bring, they too would be helpful. If you come in a car that can be shared, it will be very much welcomed, and it’s an easy drive to the starting point.

The walk is free for Audubon members and 100 pesos for others. People with questions may call Linda Whynman at 152-2139. By the way, Audubon is always looking for guest birders to lead walks, too. Visit our website at www.audubonmex.org  for more information.



Performances & Events

Art Exhibition

Thanks to the generosity of Galería San Miguel owner, Sylvia Samuelson, a wonderful exhibition of the paintings of Pauline Pasilis starts at 6pm this Friday, October 16, at Plaza Principal 14. All proceeds from the sale of Pauline’s work will be donated to Hospice San Miguel.



Films & Videos

Meditation Center

The Meditation Center of San Miguel has acquired four new Eckhart Tolle videos. The first, The Deepest Truth of Human Existence, will be presented on Thursday, October 22, at 5:30pm at Callejon Blanco 4.

In this inspired talk by the holy Ganga River in Rishikesh, Eckhart dynamically summarizes the essence of his teaching. Speaking earnestly and directly to the heart, Eckhart inspires us to know ourselves at the deepest level. Eckhardt takes us step by step, from the ego position of the mind to surrender to the Now.

Presentations of center are free; donations are gratefully accepted.



Volunteer Opportunities

Does your nonprofit need some extra help, perhaps for an upcoming event? Send new, short requests for volunteers to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org  with “Volunteer Opportunities” in the subject line. Listings run for four issues.



Proofreaders needed for Atención

Sharp-eyed people needed to proofread newspaper copy weekly. You could join a crew reading galleys on Tuesday, or if you have copy-editor inclinations, you could read manuscripts Thursday or Friday afternoons. Background in editing or technical writing preferred. Contact Suzanne, Jesús or Micha at the Atención office on the second-floor terrace of the Biblioteca, or email edit@atencionsanmiguel.org.  



Bilingual translators for the Biblioteca

The Biblioteca Pública needs translators to convert articles and documents for our website and newsletter from English to Spanish, and Spanish to English. The documents and articles will range from 50 to 200 words.

All work can be done via email and by the individual article and/or document. The time commitment for this volunteer opportunity will vary by the individual.

If you require more information or if this volunteer opportunity appeals to you, contact General Manager Michel Amanton at the library, email michel@bibliotecasma.com  or call (415) 154-6000.



Pro Musica

Pro Musica is San Miguel’s leading promoter of classical music, staging over 20 concerts every year at St. Paul’s Church. We hold wine and botanas receptions, champagne parties and dinners after many of the concerts. We are looking for a part-time volunteer to help us organize and oversee these functions between September and March each season. This is a fun role and an opportunity to meet a wide range of people on a social basis. Contact Pro Musica President Michael Pearl at 152-2688 or 044 (415) 100-1458, or email mpearl5493@aol.com.