Calendar of Events

The Austin Downtown Lions Club meets every Thursday at 12 noon at Wells Fargo Bank, 400 W. 15th Street, 3rd floor Auditorium.

(FREE covered parking - Enter from Guadalupe Street, choose a spot that is not reserved, and bring the parking ticket to the meeting to be validated no charge.)

of 400 W 15th St Austin, TX 78701-1600

April 3rd I LIVE HERE, I GIVE HERE introduced by: Lion Jon Wisser Michael Levy will speak to us about an initiative called I LIVE HERE, I GIVE HERE. In September 2007 a campaign under the direction of Patsy Martin was launched in response to a disturbing number: Austin ranks #48 out of 50 in the country in philanthropic giving. The idea is that each of us has a responsibility to give back to the community in which we live and that has been good to us. Prior to the campaign's launch, I LIVE HERE, I GIVE HERE organizers polled a significant sample and found that Central Texans highly value both the nonprofit sector and charitable giving, but then 2/3 told us they simply do not understand the critical issues facing us And 80% said if they understood the issues more fully, they would be significantly more willing to support, many at a higher financial level, the non-profit sector that is trying so hard to make a difference in the lives of many. I LIVE HERE, I GIVE HERE focuses each month on a community issue. For March it's literacy. April 10th Center for Public Policy Priorities introduced by: Lion Wil Flowers For more than twenty years, the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) has been a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization committed to improving public policies and private practices to better the economic and social conditions of low- and moderate-income Texans. The center pursues this mission through independent research, policy analysis and development, public education, advocacy, and technical assistance. The center neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office. It's focus is solely on evaluating public policy as it affects low- and moderate-income Texans. The center's work is divided into workforce and economic development; access to public benefits, including health care, food, and cash assistance; child protection; school finance; state and federal tax and budget analysis; and family economic security. CPPP is also the Texas home to KIDS COUNT, a state-by-state effort to track and promote the well-being of children. Scott McCown retired as a state district judge in 2002 to become director of the center. Called "the voice of the voiceless" and "the conscience" of Texas politics by Texas Monthly, he is responsible for the center's direction and administration. He is also an expert on school finance and child welfare. Before coming to the center, he presided over all of Texas' public school finance cases from 1990-2002 and thousands of child abuse cases. He is a member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and an elected member of the American Law Institute and the Philosophical Society of Texas. April 24th Travis County Sheriff introduced by: Lion Jon Wisser Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton will be our speaker.