RATIONALE FOR THE BUILDING PROGRAM : As with anything new and different, there are bound to be all sorts of opinions and controversy. This plan is no exception. Let me pass on to you the board's position on these plans. And this is a quote. LCS needs to start a building program if we are to continue to be the focus of the expatriate community and the centerpiece of services to the Mexican community. We have been working with architect Rodolfo Rodriguez to develop a concept. Sr. Rodriguez has very generously donated his time to help with this effort, with the cooperation of Archtect Roberto Millan. We then had his concept made into renderings to give the LCS membership an idea of what the LCS of the future would look like. LCS has done well with the Neill James and Ed Wilkes legacies. We have added buildings and adapted what was there to our needs. However we have reached the saturation point in accommodating services and activities and, since these buildings were built to domestic standards serious deterioration cannot be far off, requiring major revision or replacement. If we continue growing at an anverge yearly rate of six percent, we will double in membership in 12 years. In the last 12 years, since 1995, we have increased from 1600 to 3700 members, or 125%. We jave reached overload in accommodating administrative and management offices. The business office is seriously overcrowded and most of the board members do not even have their own desks. The sala is frequently filled to overflowing and, with the current capacity, we cannot even consider having more ambitious presentations such as music recitals or high quality presentations such as The History of Mexico, Mesoamerican Art and Culture, Traveling in Mexico, etc. We need at least one more classroom at the Wilkes Education Center to meet the demands for more Engish classes. This means we cannot offer our members and the local community additional valuable services and, unless we can continue to expand our offerings, LCS will start to decline. It is especially important that we move toward the future with the growth in the expatriate population at Lakeside, the increased expectations, and the need to do more for the Mexican community. The quote closes here.
I do not wish to start any sort of "war" in this column. I simply wish to pass along the official word, invite you to view the display in the Research Library at LCS and then, if you wish, discuss your opinions and ideas with a board member. There's almost always one on the grounds. Incidentally, you can see a review of the plans on the LCS website, www.lakechapalasociety.org , from the comfort of your own home, here or up north.
WASHROOM NEWS . Bet you didn't expect that one! Two of the five washrooms on thr LCS grounds have been adapted to be handicapped friendly. This is not to say a wheelchair can get inside but the commodes have been raised and grab bars make the whole process much simpler, more comfrtable. Maybe Librarian Ann Heath should break a toe more often. No, no, just kiding but this was the catalyst for the action.
LIBRARY NEWS . Powells, our majot source for purchasing new books for the library, has started charging postage for the books sent to Mexico. This means the books will cost almost double the actual book cost. For example, a recent order of $138 USD had a shipping cost of $68 and duty will be about 350 pesos. As Ann says, we needless to say will not be able to order as much as in the past. What she's done, smart cookie that she is, is to place a purple pig in the library just in case some of you avid readers might wish to donate something towards the new book purchase fund, and ONLY that fund and thanks!
Remember books can be renewed on line at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
See you at LCS!
