CHAPALA - More than 100 concerned members of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) crowded into the back room of Ajijic’s Old Posada on Wednesday, October 29 and took the first steps to force the resignation or the recall of three members of the LCS board of directors.

Dean Burk led the meeting of more than 100 concerned Lake Chapala Society members on October 29.

Burk explained that the LCS by-laws have no provision to oust the entire board. But he said recalling just three members would leave a quorum of board members needed to carry out the business of the organization.

The current crisis at LCS began on October 3, when the board of directors, citing a financial short-fall, fired three salaried employees: librarian Ann Heath, treasurer Scott Casbeer and office manager Tee Falcon, without notice and recourse.

In a news release dated October 5, published in the Guadalajara Reporter on October 11, the board referred to a 231,500 peso-deficit, forcing the firing of these individuals and what amounts to a 25-percent hike in annual membership fees.

A general information meeting called by the board on October 15 brought no answer as to the reason for the deficit. Members were also unhappy about the lack of communication earlier in the year when the board members claim that they first knew about the dire financial situation.

The October 29 session produced the necessary number of signatures (50) and more on each petition to require the LCS board of directors to establish a date for a recall election for the three officers in question. The petitions will be presented to the board at their next regular meeting, scheduled for November 5. At press time, there was no word on the date of that election.

Dean Moss, one of those campaigning for the recall, said in a statement to the Reporter: “I hope that before those petitions for a recall can be presented during the upcoming LCS board meeting, the three board members in question will thank the members of LCS for the opportunity to have done their best for the organization and its membership and then resign with dignity.”