Lake Chapala Society 2020 budget projection showing  a project loss of over $221,000 pesos.  The actual deficit was over $300,000 pesos.

Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic.  “We almost closed,”  LCS Board President Stephen Balfour told the LCS Annual General Meeting Tuesday, reporting to the members gathered online  that “during June and September we were at a high risk of closing – we were looking at being $1.3 million pesos below budget at the end of the year.  We were exploring selling the Wilkes Center, laying off our staff, and even closing and selling the campus  – we faced the possibility of closing for good.”

But the members and donors of LCS came through with a jaw dropping $2.3 million pesos in donations–  fr more than its projected donations budget – which not only staved off the end of LCS, but to enabled it to emerge stronger and ready to raise funds  to  move ahead with is  new LCS 2.0 growth plan.

“We have emerged from 2020 stronger – we are prepared not only to do things right, but to do the right things,” new Executive Director Luis Pacheco told the Zoom audience of over  150 people.

Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting was Pacheco’s first Annual General Meeting (AGM ) and it was a trial by fire for the new ED, as he took over the reins after the worst year in the organization’s history.  In 2020 LCS lost over 1000 members, had to close the campus to meet Covid guidelines, postponed all of its expansion programs, lost its important trip and program revenue, and ended the year with an deficit of  over $300,000MX.  But LCS survived and Pacheco is  determined that it will  grow and prosper – with continuing help from members and donors.

“What we can do now is live within our hope,” LCS’s first Mexican ED told the members, as he laid out plans for improving and modernizing LCS, and expanding its engagement and collaboration with the Lakeside Mexican community. 

Members received a report from Treasurer Timothy Boardman showing the pace of  donations and the deficit from last year, a report from Education Director Alfredo Perez describing new Spanish language classes and Personal Enrichment classes including an upcoming program on how government works in Mexico, LCS’s support for 40 Mexican students, and LCS volunteer work with local schools .  Development Director Diana Ayala explained the LCS emails about the pandemic, the upcoming 2021 Directory, and the project to improve the LCS computer system with help from the Instituto Technologico Superior de Chapala.

The staff and board laid out the highlights of LCS 2.0, its 10-yer plan for growth and development, previously approved by the Board but put on hold. LCS 2.0 has 42 goals in 5 categories and is led by the twin drives to improve and grow the organization’s programs and resources for members and dramatically increase engagement and cooperation with the Mexican community of Lakeside.  Part of the plan is a capital campaign that seeks donors of any amount, but especially those who can give $40,000  pesos during the campaign, and an effort to rebuild membership, including its nascent Lapsed Member Program that calls  former members to encourage them to rejoin even if they are not in Lakeside at present.

The AGM, usually a somewhat routine program that draws mostly highly dedicated members, was stocked with surprises, vital information, and new initiatives.  Among the new announcements was the incorporation of Open Circle – formally a separate organization – into LCS with live meetings in July, the announcement of a new Master Marketing Council,  the re-election of the Treasurer and five at-large Board members, information about  the Concerts in the Park program with a hint of plans for music into September, the establishment of a Mexican Advisory Council, and a small increase in membership fees.