Austin Founder Lions Club upcoming events

The Austin Sound: A History of Live Music in Austin Part 2 (09/10/2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:45:00 GMT

The Austin Sound: A History of Live Music in Austin Part 2

WHEN: Thursday September 10, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Billy Brookshire
Introduced by Lion Regina Budet

What is the Austin Sound? It’s roughly a blend of country, folk, rock, gospel & blues. In 1991, Austin officially adopted the motto: ‘Live Music Capital of the World’. But the story goes back much further. Live music has always been in Austin’s roots. In the beginning, all music in Austin was live, a hearty blend of hymns, spirituals, beer-hall tunes, folk songs, cowboy ballads, tribal chant, and more. It drew its inspiration from diverse influences and many cultures. This presentation will explore the roots and evolution of the current Austin Music Scene. We’ll talk about the factors, personalities, venues, and events contributing to live music here in Austin that continue to foster live music in The Live Music Capital of the World.

This presentation will be Part 2 and will start in the 1960s.

About our Speaker:

Billy Brookshire is a training consultant, public speaker, and tour-guide in private practice. He has presented workshops throughout the US and Canada. He has served as President of the Intergovernmental Training Council, the Texas Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the International Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired; and he is a past Chair of the Governing Committee of the Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field. In addition, he narrates for the Talking Book Program & has served on the boards of All Blind Children of Texas and the Austin Tour Guide Association. As an Austin Tour Guide, he designs and conducts custom tours of beautiful Austin, TX. For more information on the Austin Tour Guide Association, check out: http://www.austintourguides.org/. He is also the award-winning author of 'Loving Me: A Guide to Creating and Presenting Workshops on Self-Esteem'.

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

Taking Pride in Bat City (09/17/2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:45:00 GMT

Taking Pride in Bat City

WHEN: Thursday September 17, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Skip Hobbie
Introduced by Lion Jean McArthur

For the past two years we have been working with non-profit partners like Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation and The Trail Conservancy on a project called Bat City, design to educate people about the beauty and ecological importance of bats by enhancing the visitor experience for bat watchers before, during, and after their visit to the Congress Avenue bridge in Austin. To Learn more or donate, visit BatCity.info

About our Speaker:

Skip Hobbie is an Emmy Award winning wildlife cinematographer based in Austin, Texas. Skip grew up in Texas flipping rocks and climbing trees, ever in pursuit of creepy crawlies and little critters. After receiving his BS in Radio/TV/Film from the University of Texas, he turned his passion for wildlife into a career that has taken him all over the world for National Geographic, the BBC, PBS, Netflix, as well an as independent features like Fin & Fur Films’ 2022 indie masterpiece about Texas, Deep in the Heart, narrated by Matthew McConaughey.

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

The Future of Journalism (09/24/2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:45:00 GMT

The Future of Journalism

WHEN: Thursday September 24, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Dr. David Ryfe
Introduced by Lion Mac Ragsdale

Journalism has experienced great disruption, so much so that some observers question whether the profession will survive. In this lecture, Dr. Ryfe will discuss how and why journalism has been disrupted, the current state of the profession, where it is headed and what it all means for journalism’s role in democratic life.

About our Speaker:

Dr. David Ryfe is a professor in and director of the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Texas, Austin. During his career, he has written dozens of articles in the fields of political communication, presidential communication, and the history and sociology of journalism. His three books explore the current state of American journalism, and his current project on the growth of online only news sites investigates its future.

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

Interfaith Austin (10/01/2026)

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:45:00 GMT

Interfaith Austin

WHEN: Thursday October 1, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Nahid Khataw
Introduced by Lion John Nyfeler

About our Speaker: more info coming soon

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

All Blind Children (10/08/2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:45:00 GMT

All Blind Children

WHEN: Thursday October 8, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Nancy Hefner
Introduced by Lion Patti Robinson

About our Speaker: more information coming soon

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

World of Honey Bees (10/15/2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:45:00 GMT

World of Honey Bees

WHEN: Thursday October 15, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Nona Evans, Co-founder & Beekeeper, Texas Sassy Bees
Introduced by Lion Regina Budet

In World of Honey Bees, we'll explore the fascinating lives of honey bees and discover why these tiny insects have such an enormous impact on our food supply. Together we'll meet the queen, workers, and drones, follow nectar's journey from flower to honey jar, and uncover the remarkable organization that keeps a colony thriving.

Whether you're curious about bees, interested in gardening, or simply love honey, you'll leave with a deeper appreciation for one of nature's most extraordinary communities.

About our Speaker:

After a 30-year career in the food world, Nona Evans co-founded Texas Sassy Bees. She is a passionate advocate for honey bees and pollinator education. Since becoming a beekeeper in 2019, she has enjoyed sharing the wonder of the hive with audiences of all ages. Through Texas Sassy Bees, Nona mentors school bee clubs and beginning beekeepers, offers classes, presentations, and hands-on experiences that help people discover how bees support our food supply, ecosystems, and everyday lives.

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

Civil War Chaos in Texas: The Tumultuous Tenure of Governor Pendleton Murrah (10/22/2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:45:00 GMT

Civil War Chaos in Texas: The Tumultuous Tenure of Governor Pendleton Murrah

WHEN: Thursday October 22, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Lori Duran
Introduced by Lion Carl Schock

The Civil War brought on multiple hardships and calamities for Texas. At the very end of the war, civil government and military leadership dissolved. The governor of Texas was dying of tuberculosis but he was concerned about getting tried for treason so he exiled himself to Mexico. That’s when battle-hardened and underpaid ex-soldiers robbed the Texas treasury in a violent and bloody shoot-out. It was a treacherous and tumultuous time in Texas history.

About our Speaker:

With an educational background in history Lori Duran investigates and writes about stories of past events and people. This has been her life-long passion. Duran has served on the board of directors at the Austin History Center Association for both the Oral Histories and Social Media committees. She is a dedicated alumna after getting her master’s degree from the University of Texas in 1986. In her spare time, she actively participates in local history focused organizations. Duran also writes free-lance magazine articles and books about Texas history such as, Austin’s Travis Heights Neighborhood and the University of Texas at Austin: The First One Hundred Years. Her latest book entitled “Civil War Chaos in Texas: The Tumultuous Tenure of Governor Pendleton Murrah” describes, from a variety of first person and secondary sources, the difficult Civil War experiences for Texans and its governor especially at the end of the war.

For more information or if you want to follow her you can at:

Web page = www.loriduran.com

Facebook: facebook.com/lori.duran.12

Instagram: Instagram.com/loriduran

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

No Meeting: Rose Day Fundraiser (10/29/2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:45:00 GMT

No Meeting: Rose Day Fundraiser

WHEN: Thursday October 29, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Judge Elisabeth Earle (11/12/2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 17:45:00 GMT

Judge Elisabeth Earle

WHEN: Thursday November 12, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Judge Elisabeth Earle
Introduced by Lion Jack Pierce

About our Speaker: more info coming soon

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest (11/19/2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 17:45:00 GMT

Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest

WHEN: Thursday November 19, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Lion Ann Teich

This presentation by Lion Ann Teich will highlight the Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest. The Peace Poster Contest is a yearly program to inspire young people to showcase their talent, and to have them share their visions of peace.

About our Speaker:

Ann Hardeman Teich has lived in Austin since 1963 and graduated from Lanier High School in 1970 and Southwestern University in 1974. She attended graduate school in curriculum and instruction at the University of Texas at Austin from 1974-1980. Ann was an Austin ISD middle school English Language Arts teacher for 27 years at Porter Middle School (now the site of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders) and subbed in Austin ISD for 7 years after retiring from full time teaching. She served two terms as an Austin ISD Trustee from 2012-2020, representing District 3 (the Lanier/Navarro Vertical Team) in North Central Austin and also served on the Austin Planning Commission as an ex officio member during that time. She was trained in community organizing by the Industrial Areas Foundation in the 1980s and has served as an officer with the North Austin Civic Association. Ann is currently a community advocate for the Rundberg area of North Central Austin and is a member of the Coalition of North Austin Neighborhoods and the Rundberg Alliance. Ann is married to Randy Teich, Reagan Class of 1971. They have a daughter Lilly, an occupational therapist (McCallum Class of 2003), who has two sons and a son Alex, a CPA (McCallum Class of 2005), who has two daughters, all of whom attend or will attend Austin ISD schools. She has been a member of the Austin Founder Lions Club since 2014.

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey, Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

No Meeting: Thanksgiving (11/26/2026)

Thu, 26 Nov 2026 17:45:00 GMT

No Meeting: Thanksgiving

WHEN: Thursday November 26, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

The Long Game: What Keeps Restaurants Alive and Well in Communities (12/03/2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 17:45:00 GMT

The Long Game: What Keeps Restaurants Alive & Well in Communities

WHEN: Thursday December 3, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Chef Jack Gilmour
Introduced by Lion Gaylord Armstrong

Austin's restaurant scene has one of the highest churn rates in the country, with new concepts opening and closing constantly. Jack Gilmore has managed to do the opposite. This year, Jack Allen's Kitchen celebrates 16 years and 6 locations, Salt Traders Coastal Cooking marks 10 years and 2 locations, and his newest concept, Day Maker Half Day Cafe, just passed year two - with Salt Traders and Day Maker both adding new locations in Cedar Park/Leander in mid-2027. Three concepts, three different formats, all still standing and still growing in one of the most competitive restaurant markets in the country.

In this presentation, Jack shares candid, operational lessons from nearly two decades in the business: staffing, real estate, menu economics, what he'd do differently, and what's non-negotiable. It's a practical look at what actually separates a restaurant that survives from one that doesn't. And what convinces an owner to keep building rather than sit still.

About our Speaker:

Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Chef Jack Gilmore is known for his bold, Gulf Coast-inspired cooking and a hospitality style that makes every guest feel like family. Since opening the first Jack Allen's Kitchen in 2009, he's grown the concept to six locations, released the cookbook Jack Allen's Kitchen: Celebrating the Taste of Texas, and cooked at the James Beard House in 2012. He later launched Salt Traders Coastal Cooking (2017, expanded 2019) and Day Maker Half Day Café, his newest concept. Since 2009, Jack and his restaurants have donated over $1 million to local causes, including the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, Coastal Conservation Association, and Central Texas Food Bank. Today, he leads nearly 600 employees across all three concepts - building not just restaurants, but a family rooted in hospitality and community.

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

LCIF: Lions Club International Foundation (12/10/2026)

Thu, 10 Dec 2026 17:45:00 GMT

Lions Club International Foundation

WHEN: Thursday December 10, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Tina Byram
Introduced by Lion Ann Ward

About our Speaker: more information coming soon

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!

Lions Club Holiday Party (12/17/2026)

Thu, 17 Dec 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Lions Club Holiday Party
Thursday December 17, 2026
11:30 am to 2:30 pm

Casa Chapala Mexican Restaurant
9041 Research Blvd, #100, Austin, 78759

Austin Founder Lions will gather at Casa Chapala Mexican Restaurant for the annual Holiday Party. Enjoy a delicious fajita and enchilada buffet. Vegetarian options will be available. Come join us for a festive time of food and fellowship. There will also be some new members inducted into the club so please come.

ITENERARY

11:30: Meet and Mingle, cash bar
12:00: Blue Santa (selfie opportunities)
12:10: New Member Induction
12:30: Buffet meal
1:15: Game #1 Two Truths and a Lie
1:45: Game #2 Member Profile
2:15. Happy Holidays, drive safely

Cost for the party is $25 per person.
Guests are welcome!
Please register before noon on Thursday Dec. 11.

Through Many Dangers: A True Tale of the 1905 Pistol-Packing Preacher (02/04/2027)

Thu, 04 Feb 2027 17:45:00 GMT

Through Many Dangers: A True Tale of the 1905 Pistol-Packing Preacher

WHEN: Thursday February 4, 2027 11:45 AM - 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Austin State Hospital

4110 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX

Building 626 [map]

Thomas Goodman
Introduced by Lion Henry Welles

Come revisit 1905 East Texas, where a young Methodist preacher arrives to lead a church—and finds himself drawn into a war for the soul of a town.

About our Speaker:

Thomas Goodman is a Spur Award–winning author of historical novels rooted in the grit and grace of turn-of-the-century Texas. He is a pastor with handgun training, though not yet a pistol-packing preacher. He married his high school sweetheart, Diane, and they have two adult sons. When time allows, he enjoys fly fishing, scuba diving, and puttering around his woodworking shop. Learn more about his books and sign up for his monthly newsletter at ThomasGoodmanWrites.com.

Lunch is available for $15.00 Please register so we know how much to order.

Assorted sandwiches: Turkey & Gruyere; Turkey & Provolone; Roast Beef and Swiss; Smoked Ham & Swiss; Curried Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad
Sandwich with Gluten Free Bread (Turkey & Provolone and/or Smoked Ham & Swiss).
Chef Salad with ham & turkey or Greek Salad (vegetarian)

All sandwiches come with lettuce and tomato. Mustard and mayo on the side.

Please register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday

We order meals based on your reservations and must pay for them even if you do not show up.
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

Drive slowly on Campus!