Media Release
Chicago, Nov 19: A Mangalurean whose name is given to one street in Forest Park, a suburb of Chicago has been endorsed by past district governors of District 1A – mother district of Lionism at their PDG Club meeting held recently.
Dr Austin was district governor and vice council chair for 2 terms in Illinois. He was the trustee for Lions of Illinois Foundation and served as its secretary for 4 years. He was also the diversity commissioner for the Village of Forest Park and its secretary for 3 years. Since 2000, he has been the editor of MD1 State e-Magazine and the editor of district governor’s e-Newsletter for 18 years.
Dr Austin’s lionistic work started back in Mangaluru, India when he joined Mangalore Padil Lions Club 49 years ago. He continued his lions’ membership once he landed in Chicago. He has received numerous awards from lions and also from the Indian community in Chicago for his leadership achievements. He is a life member of Lions International and a Progressive Melwin Jones Fellow with 71 Diamond Pin for his credit; only one to reach to this height in the state of Illinois. He is well known in the district, state and at international level for his lionistic work. Dr Austin’s wife Terry also served as district 1A governor in 2014-15.
There will be only 6 elected from the US at the forthcoming international convention to be held in Boston, Massachusetts in the month of June 2023. If all goes well, he will be the first Mangalurean origin Lions International Director from Chicago and from the US.
Now he has 2 elections to face first, one in his district and then from the Multiple District, State of Illinois.