Austin Morning Lions Club

04/17/2026

What a jam-packed and exciting morning for the Austin Morning Lions!

We were proud to welcome three new members into our Lions family—Amanda Draeger, Juan Hernandez, and Carissa Gabrielson—who were officially inducted by President Mark P. Please join us in giving them a warm Lions welcome! 🦁

We also had the pleasure of hearing from guest speaker Monica Lillis, who shared insights about Project Graduation. Since 1989, this incredible parent-led initiative has provided a safe, fun, and memorable celebration for graduates, running from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM after graduation night.

Thank you to everyone who made this morning so meaningful—our club continues to grow and make a difference in the community!

04/02/2026

Great meeting this morning and so interesting to learn about all the fantastic things Austin has to offer!

04/02/2026

Great start to the morning with the Austin Morning Lions! ☀️

We were joined by Nick Novotny from Impact Austin, who shared how their organization is working to improve quality of life right here in Austin, MN. As part of the Development Corporation of Austin, Impact Austin serves as placemakers, connectors, and catalysts for positive change in our community.

Nick also highlighted the Comprehensive Plan 2045 — a joint effort between the City of Austin and Mower County. This long-term plan focuses on shaping the future of our community through engagement, collaboration, and strategic growth. Impact Austin is playing a key role by supporting community engagement, city and county staff, and consultant efforts throughout the project.

It’s exciting to see the vision and planning happening to make Austin an even better place to live, work, and visit!

Thank you, Nick, for sharing your time and insights with us!

04/01/2026

🚨 PARADE ALERT: Austin Morning Lions unveil “high-speed” go-kart unit 🚨

After months of “intense engineering” (and at least one trip to Fleet Farm), the Austin Morning Lions are proud to introduce this year’s go-kart parade fleet… now officially upgraded to reach speeds of up to 12 mph downhill with a tailwind 🏎️💨

New features include:
✔️ Precision steering (mostly)
✔️ Custom horn system (beep… beep-beep… BEEP)
✔️ Cup holders rated for parade-grade coffee ☕

Spectators are advised to:
👀 Keep an eye out
😂 Try not to laugh too hard
🏁 And remember—this is what peak performance looks like

Rumor has it we’re already in talks with NASCAR… or at least the county fair committee.

Happy April Fools’ Day from the Austin Morning Lions! See you at the parade! 🦁🎉

03/19/2026

Great morning at our Austin Morning Lions meeting! ☀️🦁

Today we welcomed Andy Sorenson, Assistant City Engineer for the City of Austin, who shared updates on the upcoming 2026 street projects. It’s always valuable to stay informed about what’s ahead so we can plan accordingly as a community.

Thank you to Andy and the City of Austin for all the hard work to keep our streets and infrastructure in great shape—we appreciate it! 👏


City of Austin, Minnesota

03/18/2026

Great night at the District 5M-1 Zone 4 Meeting here in Austin! 👏

A big thank you to the Austin Noon Lions for hosting a fantastic event at the Historic Hormel Home. The Austin Morning Lions showed up in force—great turnout and great job, group! 💪

It was also great to hear updates from the other clubs in attendance and learn about all the amazing work happening across our area. The collaboration and shared ideas are what make Lions so impactful! 🤝

One of the highlights of the evening was a presentation from Taggert Medgaarden and Mark Petrik on an exciting LCIF Hunger Grant proposal. This project is focused on supporting the Salvation Army by bringing a mobile food truck to our area—helping expand food access, support rural communities, and increase food rescue efforts across greater Mower County. 🍎🚚

This is a powerful opportunity for Lions clubs to come together and make a lasting impact locally. We’re grateful for the energy, partnership, and commitment to service from everyone involved!

03/14/2026

03/11/2026

ATTENTION:

Did you know? 👀

The Austin Morning Lions meet at 7:00 AM on the 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month, and we’re always excited to welcome new faces!

If you’ve been thinking about joining a service club that gives back to the community, we’d love for you to consider the Austin Morning Lions.

You may have seen us around town — we’re the group that drives the Go-Karts in local parades, hosts the Fly-In Pancake Breakfast at the Austin Airport, and supports many other community projects throughout the year. 🥞✈️🏁

Membership is $80 per quarter, and it’s a great way to serve, connect, and make a difference in Austin.

Interested in learning more about becoming a Lion? Reach out to one of our members or comment below!

🐯 Morning Lions members — please share this post so your friends have someone they know to ask questions about joining!

03/05/2026

🇺🇸 This morning at our regular Austin Morning Lions meeting, we were joined by Mark and Taylor Bliese from the Austin Enhancement Group to talk about the upcoming Freedom Festival around the 4th of July!

This year’s celebration will be extra special as it coincides with our nation’s 250th birthday, and the group has some exciting plans in the works. One highlight will be a drone show on the evening of July 3rd that you won’t want to miss!

The Austin Enhancement Group does so much for our community, including organizing Freedom Festival and Hometown Christmas, helping create events that bring people together throughout the year.

A huge thank you to Mark, Taylor, and the entire Austin Enhancement Group for everything you do. Organizing events like these is no small task, and we truly appreciate the time, effort, and dedication you put into making Austin a great place to live.

Learn more and stay updated at FreedomFestAustin.com

Thank you again for all you do for our community! 👏

🇺🇸
Freedomfest

02/19/2026

🌟 Austin Morning Lions Meeting Recap 🌟

This morning at our regularly scheduled meeting, we were honored to welcome Watsana Thiravong and her daughter, Ailani, from the Stars Mentoring Program.

They shared inspiring insights about the incredible work their program is doing to mentor and empower young people in our community. It was especially meaningful to hear firsthand how mentorship can make a lasting impact on both students and families.

Thank you, Watsana and Ailani, for spending your morning with us and for the important work you’re doing to help our future leaders shine bright! ✨

02/05/2026

🌅 Great turnout at Austin Morning Lions today! 🦁

We had a big crowd at this morning’s meeting and were pleased to welcome Jason Sehon, Director of Austin Parks & Recreation, as our guest speaker.

Jason covered a wide range of Parks & Rec topics, including:
🌳 Ash trees and new tree planting
🌱 Boulevard Tree Adoption Program
⛸️ Outdoor ice
🏊‍♂️ The city pool
…and much more!

He wrapped up his presentation by sharing updates and insights about Lions Park, which was especially meaningful to our group.

Thank you, Jason, for taking the time to speak with us and for all you do for our parks and community!

01/22/2026

🌟 Everyday Hero Spotlight 🌟

This past weekend at the Lions Mid-Winter Convention in Rochester, the Austin Morning Lions Club was proud to nominate our very own Mike Biedermann for the Everyday Hero Award! 🏅

Mike does so much for our club. From supporting events and projects throughout the year to always stepping up wherever help is needed, he truly represents what it means to be a Lion. One of the many things he’s known for is helping lead our $35 Club event each fall, which continues to be a meaningful tradition for our group and our community.

We’re also grateful for Mike’s wife, Ruth, who—together with Mike—is such a valued part of our Lions family. 💙💛

Please join us in celebrating Mike and congratulating him on this well-deserved nomination! 👏👏👏