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The Austin Noon Lions celebration of 80 years on Tuesday night was deemed a success by members and guests before the night even ended.

Held inside the Purple Ribbon Plaza at the Mower County Fairgounds and kicked off with a ribbon cutting by the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, the night was quite literally a Hootenanny. As people ate, Brian Christianson, his family and band provided the blue grass backdrop to a meal and fellowship.

“For us it’s community,” said Noon Lions President Kristy Rooney. “It’s the community we have here when we meet. Also, it’s really getting to know what is going on  in the community. Serving is a component of what we do.”

Over 250 tickets were sold for the event, marking it as a sellout for a club that has been serving Austin for eight decades.

For members, it was buoying to see so many come out to recognize those efforts.

“It makes you feel good knowing you’re doing it right,” said long time member Harlan Nelson, who has been with the club for 35 years going back to when it was a Sertoma Club. “People respect your club.”

“For us to pull something like this off speaks well of our members and the people who support us,” he later added.

The effort to bring the party into fruition began just a couple months ago and coincided with an effort to create a lasting fundraiser. For years the Noon Lions held a pancake feed, but had to shut the effort down when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.

The timing with the 80th anniversary of the club just happened to be at the right time. 

“My vision for the club was wanting an annual fundraiser that was unique,” Rooney said. “I wanted to create something that would stick. I’m hoping this grows.”

The success of Tuesday night was also an indicator of a return to form in at least some small way. Service clubs of all types have been working hard to try and stay viable with some battling dwindling numbers.

The Noon Lions has had its challenges, but the fact that so many came out for Tuesday’s Hootenanny is one of those indications.

Another is that the Noon Lions are seeing an increase in member support.

“When we sold out, it was exciting knowing people are still supporting this,” Rooney said of the club. “It’s a very good time, there’s a good energy and membership is growing.”

Nelson agreed.

“Our club is getting new members and that’s a good thing,” he said.

Rooney said that she and other members hope to continue that trend through days like Visitor Day that allows people to visit the club and find out more about what it does. The next one is Nov. 7.

With the hope of adding to the around 60 members currently a part of the group, Rooney said that joining the Noon Lions is another opportunity to become a part of the community.

“I have a vision for a bigger impact,” Rooney said. “It’s a great day for people to come in.”