The Lake Chapala Society is a non-profit organization chartered under Mexican Law as an Asociacion Civil. We currently have over 3,700 members from more than 24 nations.
For over fifty years we have been helping non-Mexicans living at Lakeside, newcomers and old-timers, both full-time and part-time residents, to have a more enjoyable and worry-free life here. The Society also assists the local Mexican community through classes in Computer Technology, English, Art, and other remedial academic programs, as well as an ongoing student aid program. The Wilkes Education Center at #18 Galeana, donated by Ed Wilkes, serves as the facility for these classes. It also houses a comprehensive Spanish-language "Biblioteca" available to all. Almost one-third of our annual budget assists the local Mexican community.
Please explore this website further to learn more about us. If you're in the Ajijic area, we cordially invite you to visit us in person. That’s the very best way for you to get to know us. The Lake Chapala Society is situated on one and a half beautifully landscaped acres (.6 hectare) at #16 Calle 16 de Septiembre in Ajijic. Neill James, a noted traveler, writer and benefactress, who spent the last 50 years of her life here, bequested this property to the LCS. Stroll the tropical grounds, enjoy the koi ponds, peruse the community bulletin board, or stop for a coffee or tea at a shady table. You can even purchase tickets for upcoming benefit events at Tickets etc!
Membership
offers a number of benefits, including information on legal, medical, safety and
other topics; discounts at a number of local businesses; a place to socialize
and make new friends, and a home away from home for expatriates.
Joining the LCS is an excellent
way to ease your transition to Mexico, or if you are vacationing and living
here temporarily.
We offer a wide variety of recreational and learning opportunities for members. Check the Activities Schedule posted outside the LCS office for activities and locations. You can also view the daily activities on this website under Daily Schedule.
The
LCS Library has over 20,000
volumes available, computerized for ease of retrieval and checkout. The Magazine Room is also very popular, featuring current issues for reading on site. The Video
Library has almost 4,000 titles, which can be rented for only ten pesos
per day to members. The
Talking Books
Library offers many novels on cassette. A large selection of audio tapes is also provided
by the United States Library of Congress. The LCS is the only organization
outside the US to be so honored.
Members have the opportunity to attend the LCS Lectures, where minds are stimulated! Highly qualified speakers, many of them retired college professors, present series on topics ranging from the history and archeology of Mexico to the art and culture of India. There is also a weekly discussion group, addressing topics both light and serious, and a weekly seminar discussing such subjects as Twentieth Century History and Famous People.
You can enjoy scrabble and cribbage several days a week, and we are planning to expand recreational activities on the grounds. Weekly line dancing is gentle exercise and a lot of fun.
Meditation groups offer a chance to clear your mind and relax. These are usually held on our tranquil Back Lawn area.
A selection of medical services are available, at 
reduced
charge. Free blood pressure checks are available every Monday and Friday,
skin cancer screening the second and fourth Wednesday of every month,
eye exams every Thursday, and other tests as shown in our Daily
Schedule. There are also
lectures and meetings on health care topics.
Special events are held on our grounds, such as musical entertainment and dancing. Our annual Fiesta, traditionally featuring a student art show, silent auction, arts and crafts
sale, entertainment,and many food booths, raises Educational Funds for Mexican students. And more fun events are in the planning stages for the balance of this year!
The LCS Directory contains the names, addresses, phone numbers
and e-mail contact for our members, in addition to color display ads and an extensive community businesses Yellow Pages, for easy reference. The "Blue Pages" summarize useful information such
as emergency phone numbers and conversion tables. This annual Directory, published in the spring, is provided free to members as a benefit of membership.
The LCS Mail Courier service allows you to send mail 
with
members heading to the US and have it posted there. We usually have one
or two volunteers heading north each week. There is no charge for this
service. You have to put on the correct postage, and we only accept regular
letter-size mail. This is much faster than sending letters through the
Mexican mail system and saves over 20 pesos per letter over commercial
mail forwarding.
Annual membership in LCS is detailed on under How to Join. For those who are visiting briefly we offer an Associate status for 200 pesos for three months, which allows access to most services and activities but does not provide a copy of the LCS Directory, a Directory listing, or allow voting or the holding of elected office.
A Board of Directors and over 170 volunteers, all unpaid, operate the LCS. We welcome new volunteers--if interested in volunteering, please pick up an application at the Registration Desk.