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GarryM

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    Art, digital painting, and writing books about condominiums in Jalisco

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  1. If you're an LCS member, we urge you to read this Open Letter. A group of long-term members, who are actively involved as volunteers at LCS, are very concerned about the LCS Board and the AGM on Tuesday March 19. This is a longer, more detailed letter than the short (space-restricted) letter that was published in this week's Guadalajara Reporter (and has gained more signatures). It outlines all of our concerns, and contains backup information. Please read it for yourself, and make up your own mind. If you prefer a PDF document, you can download it here: bit.ly/LCSMembersLetter ====================================================================== This is a follow-up to our Letter to the Editor that appeared in the March 16 edition of the Guadalajara Reporter. That letter had to be severely shortened because of space constraints in the newspaper. This is the full story of our concerns, including our backup information. The signers are all involved with the Lake Chapala Society (LCS), and fully support LCS. However, with the LCS AGM approaching on Tuesday, March 19, we feel we must call attention to what we believe might be serious constitutional abuses and irregularities. We believe that the basis for success for any legitimate non-profit is its adherence to its constitution – including its mission, vision, and values. Further, as a membership organisation, the members are owed transparency, clear communications, and respect. In our opinion, the membership deserves answers. Here are our questions and concerns: A. No External Audit or Financial Oversight One key item was dropped from the AGM Agenda after it was initially posted: "9. 2023 External Audit Report and ratification of external auditors." The LCS Constitution (By-Laws) requires the audit report to be an AGM item, and so it must be on the Agenda. Why was this removed? When we asked this question, the President's response was that there is no audit report, and there is no external auditor. He refused to explain why this item was dropped from the AGM Agenda – it is required to be there, even if only to say that there is no report, to explain why, and to communicate to the membership the plan to resolve this situation immediately. He went on to say that LCS: “have had extreme troubles finding an auditor ... Our last auditors ... dumped us because we were to[sic] small of an account for them. Others seem to think the same.” He also said they've been searching for a new auditor, but no firms would accept LCS. He stated this was a key concern for the Board, and that “it is discussed at every board meeting.” We were not able to find any discussion in the 2023 board minutes about the auditor, other than in December when the Treasurer reported that they got a quote from the previous auditor, and he recommends they find another auditor. This appears to contradict statements that this was discussed at every board meeting, that the previous auditor dumped LCS, and that other auditors refused to take them on. One of our group claims to have had a conversation with the former auditor, and reports that they have a very different story. Apparently, the auditors claim that they tried to contact LCS multiple times, and their calls were ignored. The auditors are reported as saying they did send a proposal, and admitted that the price had increased significantly (they have reasons for this). However, they also reportedly claim that they did not drop LCS, and that no one at LCS had the courtesy to respond to their proposal or try to negotiate the fee. More importantly, in the minutes of the last AGM in March 2023, there was a motion approved by the members instructing the Board to select a new Auditor for 2023. This task is the responsibility of an LCS Standing Committee – the Audit Committee. Among other things, its mandate is to select, appoint, and monitor an external auditor. This committee should have been searching for a new auditor starting a year ago. There is no report from this committee about their progress in any of the 2023 board minutes, or any report from them after April 2022. After digging, we discovered that the Committee Chair left, the Board did not replace him, the Committee has not been active since 2022, but they have not disbanded the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is one of the cornerstones of LCS financial governance and oversight. Without this committee or an auditor, there is no oversight over the LCS finances or governance. We are concerned that there has been no apparent effort to resolve this issue, and there don't appear to be concrete plans to find an Auditor. The LCS Constitution requires an annual auditor's report, and we believe that by not producing one the Board has failed to execute its duties. Deleting this item from the AGM Agenda might also render the AGM unconstitutional and invalid. B. No Election for President The Nominating Committee appears to be failing to uphold the transparency called for in the LCS Constitution, because no slate of new board candidates has been shared with the membership. Further, it appears that there will be no election for President at this AGM (as required by the Constitution). The current President was elected to his first term in 2020, and was re-elected for his second (and final term) in 2022. Here is the situation, according to a member of the Nominating Committee: because the AGM at which our President was first elected was delayed until August 2020 because of COVID, he was shorted by six months in his first term; to correct this, his current term must be extended by six months; and an Extraordinary Meeting will be held in August to elect a new President as his successor. Although other board members were also elected at this AGM in 2020, according to this member of the Nominating Committee, they will not be granted a similar extension. To solve the problem of having to hold an expensive Extraordinary Meeting every two years starting from this August to vote only for the President, the term for the new President succeeding the current one will be shortened by six months to put the elections back in synch. This results in the same shortened term for the new President, but this isn't seen as a problem that needs correcting. Their rationale appears to be that the shortened first term for the current President in 2020 was not acceptable and must be corrected, but this doesn't apply to the other board members who were elected at the same time, nor to his successor who will be elected this August (and have an identically shortened term). This does not appear to have been a Board decision! There is no discussion or motion to carry out any of this in the posted board minutes of 2023 and 2024 (up to January). That said, even if there had been a Board motion, the Board does not have the authority to override the LCS Constitution: "The terms of office of the newly elected Board members take effect at the end of the AGM." We believe that when our President was re-elected at the AGM in March 2022, his first term from 2020 expired, and his current term will expire at this AGM. There is nothing in the Constitution that says that a shorter than normal term must be "corrected." Why not simply elect a new President now, eliminate the obvious unfairness of this entire process, and save the expense and time of an Extraordinary meeting in August? C. Newly-Created Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Position The current President has been given the additional title of “Chief Executive Officer (CEO),” and has been serving in this capacity since November 14, 2023, at the same time as being President. After the AGM, he will continue serving in this capacity. No significant details have been communicated about this new position, such as: term, duties, reporting structure, responsibilities and obligations, who provides oversight, etc. The membership has no idea what the ramifications or potential conflicts of this might be. In addition, there was no discussion or resolution about this in any board minutes – it appears to have materialised out of thin air. This position is not provided for in the LCS Constitution, but we can deduce from the Vice-President's “Message from the Board of Directors” in the February 2024 edition of Conecciones magazine that this is an unsalaried, volunteer role: “we have asked our current board President, Steve Balfour to also serve in this new capacity, and he has graciously volunteered to do so...” She goes on to say, “...Steve will directly oversee the efforts around fund development and marketing…”. Both of these tasks are currently being done by two LCS Standing Committees: the Fund Development and the Community committees. Fund development is also being handled by a staff member: the LCS Development Director. Have these standing committees been dissolved and replaced by the CEO? Has the CEO also replaced the Development Director? If not, what is the relationship between the CEO, these committees, and the Development Director? Where can the membership see these details? The Vice-President also says that the CEO will “...manage all staff including LCS’ current Executive Director.” We believe this is a major problem because the LCS Constitution currently requires that the Board hires, fires, and oversees the Executive Director. In our opinion, to change this constitutional relationship, as well as to create and define the role, duties, term, reporting, oversight, and responsibilities of a position with this much authority, requires a constitutional amendment, and this must be voted on at an Extraordinary Meeting. Therefore, we believe that this CEO position is invalid until this happens. D. Summary While there could be a plausible explanation for the lack of financial oversight, along with an apparent desire to keep it this way, there has been no transparency or communication with the members, and this Board has gone so far as to alter the Agenda so that this AGM is in contravention of the LCS By-Laws (Constitution) – “Section 7.02 Responsibilities of AGM: 4) To ratify the appointment of an independent (external or internal) financial auditor.”. In our opinion, this should be concerning for the members. This AGM might be invalid because this missing Agenda item is required by the LCS Constitution. There is no logical reason for the extension of the current President's term. In our opinion, it is unjustifiable and unfair. We believe that an election for President should be held at this AGM. The office of CEO is likely invalid until a change is made to the Constitution, and, in our opinion, should be rescinded until such time as the details are shared with the membership, and it is legally formalised by a change to the LCS Constitution at an Extraordinary Meeting. If you care about the financial oversight of LCS and the integrity of the administration, please attend the AGM on Tuesday in-person, and please speak up and ask hard questions. Also, if you do attend (in-person or by Zoom), consider voting “NO” to any motions that you do not agree with (do not abstain – while you might feel this would be a protest, it actually has no effect whatsoever!). If you want to do some of your own research, you can find out more about the Audit Committee, the Community Committee, and the Fund Development Committee, as well as read the LCS Constitution, here: LakeChapalaSociety.com/public/governance.php. You can also read LCS board minutes and past AGM minutes here: LakeChapalaSociety.com/public/lcs-minutes.php. While it may not be in your nature to make waves or rock the boat, your quiet enjoyment of the beautiful LCS gardens, along with the many great activities and programs offered, might be at risk if the LCS Constitution takes a back seat to personalities and egos. Respectfully signed: Garry Musgrave (LCS Webmaster, LCS Art Show Co-Organiser, former LCS board member, 14-year member of LCS) Terry Vidal (former LCS Executive Director, LCS Life Member) Marianne O'Halloran (LCS Post Life, LCS Archivist, LCS Life Member) Dra. Luz Maria Zepeda (LCS Optometry Clinic, CPA, 28-year LCS member) Danielle Pagé (Manager LCS Children's Art Program, LCS Art Show Co-Organiser, 14-year member of LCS) Karen Schirack (LCS Activities Co-ordinator, Long-Serving LCS Volunteer) Sarana Donaldson (Assistant LCS Librarian, 7-year member of LCS) Deena Hafker (LCS Volunteer, 20-year member of LCS) Lynn Carretta (LCS Volunteer, 7-year member of LCS) Cony Brewitz (LCS Amigo, 5-year member of LCS) Tara McElwain (LCS Volunteer, 3-year member of LCS) Becky Barker (LCS Volunteer, 18-month member of LCS) Chuck Arons (LCS Volunteer, 18-month member of LCS)
  2. Our two-day LCS Art Fair is the last (and largest) art show of this high season. This annual event will be held in the gardens of the Lake Chapala Society (16 de septiembre #16A in Ajijic) on Friday and Saturday, March 8 & 9 from 10am to 3pm. Our Art Shows for the next high season will resume in October 2024. There will be over 70 artists and artisans. Admission is free, and you'll find ample parking on the lake front. Any profit from the participation fee paid by the artists will benefit our community outreach programs. Our LCS art shows feature local art and handicrafts, and are not restricted to members of any specific art groups. We provide a much-needed sales venue for Mexican artisans and artists who do not normally have access to such opportunities. In addition, these shows provide a sales platform for the LCS Children’s Art Program to sell original art plus their famous art cards featuring the kid's artwork. This is an important revenue source for the youngsters and their families. Come on out and support children's art, local art, and handicrafts while enjoying a delightful day in our gardens and grounds. You can also take a break in our café for a snack, cold drink, or a meal, and we have an on-site ATM for your convenience. Don't miss this final garden art event!
  3. A beautifully framed and matted original watercolour by Ricardo Sánchez Corona has been donated by the artist as a raffle prize to benefit the LCS Children's Art Program. This work is titled, “La Vuelta del Jefe (sobre ejidos de Anenecuilco).” It is framed in a modern black art frame with a white mat, and the size of the painting (including frame) is 67x85cm (26" x 33"). This masterpiece is valued at $30,000 pesos! The proceeds from this raffle will help fund the annual LCS Children's Art Program Summer Art Camp where each year about 120 local children attend five days of workshops in various art mediums – the classes and all materials are provided to the children free of charge. You can see a reproduction of this painting on display at LCS near where the raffle tickets are being sold . Raffle tickets are on sale at LCS inside the main entrance. They are being sold Monday to Saturday (except holidays) from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. They will be on sale from Monday February 12 until Friday April 5. Tickets cost $100 pesos each, or 10 for $900 pesos. The winner need not be present! This is really a win-win! By buying one or more raffle tickets, you can help fund the Children's Art Annual Art Camp this summer, and have the opportunity to win a gorgeous watercolour painting to proudly grace your home. For more details on the raffle plus a bio of the artist, visit this web page: LakeChapalaSociety.com/public/CAP_Raffle.php
  4. A special Valentine's Day edition of the LCS Art in the Garden shows will be held in the gardens of the Lake Chapala Society on Saturday, February 10 from 10am to 3pm (16 de septiembre #16A in Ajijic). Admission is free, and you'll find ample parking on the lake front. Any profit from the participation fee paid by the artists will benefit our community outreach programs. This will be the last one-day art show of this high season. Our show will cover the entire LCS grounds front and back – the back part is even larger than the front part. Please explore, or you might miss half of the exhibition! If you're looking for a perfect Valentine gift that will show that special someone how much you love them, look no further! There will be about 70 craftspeople showing a variety of fine art and handicrafts – there's something for every taste and budget! Also, the LCS Children’s Art Program will be selling original art, plus their art cards featuring the kids' work (including Valentine's Day cards!). This provides important income for these young artists and their families. Please come to our show and support local handicrafts and art, as well as children's art, during a pleasant day in the LCS gardens. You can refresh yourself in our café for a snack, a cold drink, or lunch. We also have an ATM machine for your convenience when buying that special item. Don't miss out!
  5. One-Day Art in the Garden Show The next one-day Art in the Garden show of this season will be held on Saturday, January 13 from 10am to 3pm in the gardens of the Lake Chapala Society, 16 de septiembre #16A in Ajijic. These are the original garden art shows in Ajijic. There's free admission and ample parking on the lake front. Profits from the artist participation fees will benefit the LCS community outreach programs. Our show will cover the entire LCS grounds front and back – the back part is even larger than the front part. Please explore, or you might miss half of the exhibition! There will be about 70 craftspeople showing a variety of fine art and handicrafts – there's something for every taste and budget! Also, the LCS Children’s Art Program will be selling original art, plus their art cards featuring the kids' work (including their famous Christmas cards!). This provides important income for these young artists and their families, as well as giving them a lesson about the "business of art." Please come to the show and support local handicrafts and art, as well as children's art, during a pleasant day in the LCS gardens. You can refresh yourself in our café for a snack, a cold drink, or lunch. We also have an ATM machine for your convenience when buying that special item. Don't miss out!
  6. This is a two-day event being held on Friday December 8 and Saturday December 9 from Noon to 5pm each day at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) located at 16 de septiembre #16A in Ajijic. Looking for that perfect Christmas gift? Look no further... the annual LCS Christmas Fair is the largest holiday fair for handicrafts and art held in our region. There are about 100 artisans and artists displaying a huge variety of gifts – big and small. You'll even find hand-made decorations. There's something for every taste, and something for every budget. To get you in the festive spirit, LCS will be decorated for Christmas. We'll also have European-style food featuring German bratwurst or pork steaks on a bun, plus muffins and cupcakes. We will also have a cash bar with wine and soft drinks. In addition, our "Casa Linda in the Garden" restaurant will be open until 3pm each day. This massive Christmas Fair covers the entire LCS grounds – front and back. Make sure you go all the way to the back, and all the way to the front, or you could miss half the Fair! The entry fee is still only $50 pesos... children under 12 are admitted free of charge... see you there!
  7. The original garden art shows are back for another season! The first of these one-day art exhibitions will be held on Saturday, November 4 from 10am to 3pm at LCS (the Lake Chapala Society, 16 de septiembre #16 in Ajijic). Admission is free. This huge exhibition with more than 60 artists and artisans will cover the entire grounds of LCS. Please explore both the front and back of LCS or you might miss half the show! The LCS Children's Art Program will also be there selling the kid's art cards as well a their famous Christmas cards. There will be several new Mexican artists. Please come out and support local handicrafts, artists, and children's art in a beautiful garden setting.
  8. Garden Art shows have returned to LCS for the next high-season (October through March)! The start of the high season art shows at LCS kicks off with a huge two-day LCS Art Fair to be held on Friday and Saturday, October 13/14 from 10am to 3pm each day. The theme of this show will be "Day of the Dead." This show will be in the gardens of the Lake Chapala Society, 16 de septiembre #16A in Ajijic, and will cover the entire LCS grounds front and back – so please explore, or you might miss part of the exhibition! There's free admission and ample parking on the lake front. Profits from the artist participation fees will benefit our LCS community outreach programs. Our regular one-day Art in the Garden Shows will resume on November 4, 2023 – the theme of this show will be "Día de la Revolución." The following shows will be on: January 13, 2024 (theme: "A Brand New Year"), and February 10, 2024 (theme: "Valentine's Day"). A final two-day Art Fair will wrap up the season on March 9/10, 2024. Because of LCS' commitment to local community support, these shows highlight handicrafts and art from the Chapala and Ajijic area. Our shows are not restricted to members of local art groups, but exhibit art from all artists, and give a needed location for local Mexican artisans and artists who do not typically have opportunities to sell their art. There will be over 70 artisans and artists at these art events. Also, the LCS Children’s Art Program will be selling original art, plus their art cards featuring the kids' work – this provides important income for the young artists and their families. Please come to the show and support local handicrafts and art, as well as children's art, during a pleasant day in the LCS gardens. You can refresh yourself in our newly renovated café for a snack, a cold drink, or lunch. There's also an on-site ATM for your convenience. Don't miss out!
  9. Only a few days away – "An Evening of Art and Music" Date: Saturday, August 12, 2PM - 9PM Location: Auditorio de la Ribera Cost: Free Admission to art exhibition – $300 pesos for the concert! The Lake Chapala Fine Artists Guild and the Festival del Lago are joining forces to bring you an “Evening of Art and Music” on Saturday, August 12 at the Auditorio de la Ribera in Ajijic (Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec #168 in La Floresta – the building with the large brick facade on the lake side of the highway). From 2pm until 8pm, you can enjoy an exhibition of fine art in a variety of mediums from some of the best-known Lakeside artists, plus three talented young artists from the LCS Children’s Art Program (the Guild supports this important program). The Guild’s art exhibitions feature only established, professional artists. Membership is purposely kept small, is by invitation only, and new artists who want to join are vetted for the quality of their work. A special “Meet the Artists Event” will be held from 5pm until 7pm featuring guest artist Enrique Velazqez and live music – meet and talk to the artists! A raffle for some art will be held during this event. Admission to the art exhibition is free. At 8pm, the Festival del Lago presents a “Rising Stars Concert” where the talented students of Festival del Lago take centre stage. Witness their exceptional skills and passion as they showcase their musical prowess, leaving you mesmerised by their talent. Tickets for the concert can be purchased online at www.FestivalDelLago.com. A preview exhibition of art only will be held on Friday, August 11 from 2pm to 6pm. Admission is free. You can subscribe online to receive updates about the Lake Chapala Fine Artists Guild exhibitions and events here: tinyurl.com/Subscribe-FineArtChpala. Mark your calendars! You don't want to miss this exciting evening of culture in Ajijic.
  10. This is a sale of some of the kids' work from our 9th annual Art Camp being held from August 7 through 11. Our Art Camp takes place over five days, and features workshops in watercolour, acrylics, corn husk flowers, drawing, abstract art, pottery, sketching, mosaics, aluminum art, painting, embroidery, and projects for kids under 6. Come out and support the children of Ajijic! Our kids get a large portion of the proceeds from this sale, and the rest buys more art for the LCS Children's Art Program.
  11. I'm not clear why this was moved from the Ajijic/Chapala/Guadalajara category. We are NOT a charity. This is an event of interest to all at Lakeside, especially newcomers and those deciding whether to move here (it shows the diversity of the attractions Lakeside). There are other events listed in this category. There are no obvious posting rules that prohibit this. The number of views this post got shows that there is interest in this category. Can the moderator's please explain this to me for future reference? Thank you.
  12. Sorry, but the exact make-up of the exhibition is evolving up to the show date. That said, if you visit the Guild's website at FineArtChapala.com you can see profiles on some of our members, as well as samples of their work in our gallery. I hope this helps.
  13. Come out and see three young artists from the LCS Children's Art Program at an art exhibition on Friday and Saturday April 21/22. The three artists are: Ramón Carranza, Carlos Antonio Blas, and Samantha Sánchez Gárcia. This is an exhibition by the Lake Chapala Fine artists Guild, who support the Children's Art Program. The Guild has been asked to return to the new Ajijic auditorium for another fine art collective exhibition. The fist day of the show is Friday, April 21 from 2pm to 6pm. There is a "Meet the Artists" event from 3pm to 5pm that day – come and watch our young artists at work! The second day is Saturday, April 22 from 10am to 4pm. The event is being held at the Centro para la Cultura y las Artes de la Ribera, Carretera #168, Ajijic. This was previously known simply as the "auditorio," and is on the south side (lake side) of the street, and has a huge red brick facade. Admission is free, and there's ample parking along the lateral (service road) in front of the auditorio, as well as in the lateral on the opposite side of the carretera.
  14. The Lake Chapala Fine Artists Guild (a re-boot of the Lake Chapala Painting Guild started in 2011) is very proud that we have been asked to return to the Ajijic auditorium for a second fine art exhibition. The show starts on Friday, April 21 from 2pm to 6pm. There's a special "Meet the Artists" event from 3pm to 5pm that same day. The second exhibition day is Saturday, April 22, and the hours are from 10am to 4pm. This exhibition is being held at the newly opened Centro para la Cultura y las Artes de la Ribera, located in Ajijic at Carretera #168. In the past, this was simply known as the "auditorio," and it is the building with the huge brick front on the south side (lake side) of the carretera. The Guild's exhibitions feature only fine art by established, professional artists. This group is purposely kept small, membership is by invitation only, and new artists who want to join are vetted for the quality of their work. If you're looking for high-quality art for your business or home, please visit to this exhibition and see what the Guild is all about – you won't be disappointed! Admission is always free, and there's ample parking along the service road in front of the auditorio, as well as on the opposite side of the street. For more information, please visit our website at FineArtChapala.com. Don't forget the "Meet the Artists" event on Friday, April 21 from 3pm to 5pm.
  15. The Lake Chapala Fine Artists Guild is proud to announce that we will be returning to the new auditorium in Ajijic with another fine art collective exhibition. The fist day of the show will be on Friday, April 21 from 2pm to 6pm, with a special "Meet the Artists" event from 3pm to 5pm. The hours on the second day (Saturday, April 22) are from 10am to 4pm. The event is being held at the Centro para la Cultura y las Artes de la Ribera, Carretera #168, Ajijic. This was previously known simply as the "auditorio," is on the south side (lake side) of the street, and has a huge red brick facade. At the Guild's exhibitions you'll see only fine art by established, professional artists. Our art group is purposely kept small, our membership is by invitation only, and new artists who want to join us are vetted for the quality of their work. If you're looking for high-quality art for your home or business, please come to our exhibition and see what we're all about – you will not be disappointed! Admission is free, and there's ample parking along the lateral (service road) in front of the auditorio, as well as in the lateral on the opposite side of the carretera. You can also visit our website at FineArtChapala.com or our FaceBook page @FineArtChapala. Don't forget our "Meet the Artists" event on Friday, April 21 from 3pm to 5pm.
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