Community Events: Lunch, Learn and Have Fun!

"Wild Women for Good" - Stories of Conservation in Texas

by Jennifer L. Bristol

Thursday, September 3, 2026

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Come join Austin Woman's Club at Chateau Bellevue to learn about Jennifer L. Bristol’s latest book, Wild Women for Good: Stories of Conservation in Texas, which chronicles the remarkable women who have shaped the Texas landscape over the last 150 years. Through more than 60 compelling profiles, Bristol highlights their tireless efforts to protect wildlife, preserve natural landscapes, influence environmental policy, and safeguard the state’s natural heritage for future generations.

During her presentation, Bristol will focus on foundational figures who were instrumental in preserving Central Texas. Among them is Mamie Powell, an Austin resident who played a pivotal role in establishing the Texas state park system in the 1920s.

The Wild Basin Connection

Few groups demonstrated more tenacity—or had more fun—than the seven women who fought to protect the 300-acre Wild Basin Preserve. In 1975, the Committee for Wild Basin Wilderness, famously known as "the seven little old ladies in tennis shoes," (see center picture in photo collage) launched a grassroots fundraising campaign ranging from community garage sales to fashion show benefits.

Their dedication paid off. Over the following three years, they raised $284,000 in cash and secured more than $370,000 in donated land for Travis County. These efforts were bolstered by $654,000 in federal matching funds to complete the purchase. Today, Wild Basin Preserve stands as a premier example of urban wilderness and a testament to their legacy.

Bio

In addition to Wild Women for Good, Jennifer Bristol is the author of Parking Lot Birding: A Fun Guide to Discovering Birds in Texas and Cemetery Birding: An Unexpected Guide to Discovering Birds in Texas.

A dedicated advocate for the Texas landscape and its future stewards, Jennifer serves on the City of Austin Environmental Commission. She also directs the Victor Emanuel Nature Scholarship Fund, which provides underserved youth with life-changing opportunities for outdoor immersion.

$30 - AWC Members

$45 - Non Members

Chateau Bellevue

708 San Antonio (free surface parking at 8th and Nueces)

office@chateauatx.com

512-472-1336

Make a Reservation

All You Want to Know About Sports Officiating But Were Afraid to Ask!

by Bill Padgett

Thursday, August 20, 2026

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Come join Austin Woman's Club favorite spouse, Bill Padgett, at Chateau Bellevue to hear lots of great humorous stories about his experiences with both college baseball and football, as well as Texas high school and youth league level, plus a couple of years with youth soccer. There will be 2 interesting & short videos, plus lots of Q&A.

Bill coached at Manchaca Optimist youth baseball from 1972 until his youngest child reached Pony League age in 1988. At that time the league lost its umpire group to a change in Austin youth league administration and the father of a child in the league, who was nationally known as a sports official, helped train a group of former coaches to work "kid ball" games locally. After 2 years, by default he inherited the task of training & scheduling for several leagues in the southwest Austin area and also joined SBUA (Southwest Baseball Umpires Association) for high school and college baseball in Texas. Several new friends also were football officials, and he was "recruited" a couple later to join SFOA (Southwest Football Officials Association), beginning 15 years of officiating at the high school level. He observed a very interesting evolution of the profession during those years, which he will share with you.

$30 - AWC Members

$45 - Non Members

Chateau Bellevue

708 San Antonio (free surface parking at 8th and Nueces)

office@chateauatx.com

512-472-1336

Make a Reservation

Then...

Now...

The "Melody Maids" of Beaumont — Morals, Manners, Music!

by Jerry Conn

Thursday, August 13, 2026

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Come join Austin Woman's Club at Chateau Bellevue for a lunch and learn about The "Melody Maids" with Jerry Conn. A remarkable singing group of high school and college women from Beaumont, Texas, who performed at U.S. military bases around the world from 1942 to 1972. The group was founded and directed for thirty years by Eloise Milam, an equally remarkable junior high school music teacher whose vision and dedication shaped the ensemble from its earliest days.

Spanning three decades of American conflict — from World War II and Korea through Vietnam — over 1500 Melody Maids brought music, morale, and a touch of home to U.S. servicemen and women stationed far from their families. Their repertoire drew from Broadway, Hollywood, and the popular songs of the era, and many performances closed on a note of warmth and blessing with the beloved hymn "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You."

One of Jerry Conn’s closest friends growing up in Beaumont was Bucky, the son of Eloise Milam — a friendship that began when the two were just seven years old. In 1953, the boys joined the Melody Maids on tour to U.S. military bases across California and Hawaii. Two years later, in the summer of 1955, they accompanied the group on an ambitious circuit through Newfoundland, Iceland, Greenland, Baffin Island, and Labrador.

Jerry earned his BS in Journalism and Master's in Communication from the University of Texas. His professional career spans the full breadth of the field — from the trenches of local newspapers and the Associated Press to Texas political public relations and advertising, where he worked with candidates across the aisle. He also served as a journalism instructor at UT Austin and a speech instructor at Austin Community College.

Today, Jerry brings together his academic background and a lifelong love of cinema, developing and presenting courses on movie musicals for UT audiences “of a certain age.”

$30 - AWC Members

$45 - Non Members

Chateau Bellevue

708 San Antonio (free surface parking at 8th and Nueces)

office@chateauatx.com

512-472-1336

Make a Reservation

Autoimmunity & The Good Girls

by Sara Hirsh Bordo

Thursday, August 6, 2026

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Book Signing from 11:00 – 11:30 and after the Program
Copies of this Bestseller will be available to purchase through Bookpeople.

You are cordially invited to an Austin Woman's Club Lunch and Learn featuring the inspirational, deeply researched wellness journey by the best-selling author, award-winning filmmaker, and founder of Women Rising®, Sara Hirsh Bordo, shining a light on how too many girls are trained to self-silence and serve others—and how we can heal. For generations, women have been told to be “good” - to put others first, to silence their own voices, to neglect their own needs. But a new groundswell of evidence reveals the cost: when our lives are compromised, so are our immune systems.

$30 - AWC Members

$45 - Non Members

708 San Antonio (free surface parking at 8th and Nueces)

office@chateauatx.com

512-472-1336

Make a Reservation

Tango at the Chateau!

Mondays, July 6, 2026 - August 10, 2026

Connect. Move. Dance. A six-week Tango lesson series will be offered at Chateau Bellevue this summer on Monday evenings! Mix and mingle, then learn to Tango! Beginner and Intermediate classes available. No partner needed!

Students, Military and Senior Discounts available. Dancers should wear shoes with thin soles that slide easily for proper movement on the dance floor.

708 San Antonio (free surface parking at 8th and Nueces)

office@chateauatx.com

Make a Reservation

Celebrate 250 Years - the Chateau Way

You are cordially invited to join the ladies of the Austin Woman's Club for an evening of spirited celebration featuring:

An Old Fashioned Welcome Cocktail
An All-American Supper
A Star-Spangle Birthday Cake
BYOB

Come for the celebration. Stay for the company.

Friday, June 12, 2026

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

708 San Antonio

(Free surface parking available behind the Chateau on Nueces and 8th.)

AWC Members and Guests $60

Non-Members $75

Your Family Tree 101 Workshop

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Chateau Bellevue

8th and Nueces (free surface parking)

Come join us at the Chateau for a Genealogy Workshop! Want to learn where your great, great grandmother was from? Who were you descended from? Was there a famous person or a black sheep in your family? Professional genealogist, Lisa McKenzie, will be there to help you get started building out you family tree.

$25 per person.

A Salute to the Stars and Stripes!

Celebrate America 250!

YOU ARE INVITED!

Celebrate America 250!

A Salute to the Stars and Stripes

Thursday, June 4, 2026

11:00 a.m. - Registration

11:30 a.m. - Luncheon/Speaker

Featuring John Knox

Patrick Henry, Sons of the American Revolution Chapter

The first flag was authorized by Congress on June 14, 1777 (now celebrated as "Flag Day"). The design has evolved from 13 stars to 50, reflecting the nation's growth - often referred to as the "Stars and Stripes."

Austin Woman's Club/Chateau Bellevue

708 San Antonio Street

Austin, Texas 78701

Free Parking in our surface lot at 8th and Nueces

AWC Member and Guests - $30 per person

Non AWC Members - $45 per person

Austin Woman's Club Membership Drive and Luncheon

You are cordially invited to join the ladies of the Austin Woman's Club for a luncheon at the historic Chateau Bellevue in Downtown Austin on:

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Check In: 11:00 a.m.

Luncheon: 11:30 - 1:00

708 San Antonio

(Free surface parking available behind the Chateau on Nueces and 8th.)

Luncheon Program:

Grace Jones of Salado

A Biography by
Mary Margaret Quadlander

Grace-Jones-of-Salado....say it like it was all one word. Her improbable rise to success is story enough; a country girl reared in the rural community of Smithville, Texas, leaves her home to join the legendary WASP to fly and deliver fighter planes during World War II; next, Grace takes an inconceivable step by becoming a famous runway fashion model in New York; then marries well known ace fighter pilot, Lt. Col. Curran "Jack" Jones; is the first American woman allowed to perform the highly regarded "Japanese Tea Ceremony" in public; and finally begins the second half of her well spent life by bringing the world of haute couture to the front doors of her famous namesake store, "Grace Jones of Salado". Her customers included Loretta Young, Liz Carpenter, Mrs. Lyndon Johnson, Gene Tierney, Jane Sibley, Mrs. Kissinger, Joan Brashear, Erma Bombeck, and Carolyn Farb. Many of these women had the pleasure to work with such top designers as Geoffrey Beene, Jean Louis, Count Sarmi, Pauline Trigere, Adolfo, Vollbracht, and St. Laurent. With barely a flick of her gold bangled-wrist, Grace seemed to fluidly move from one success story after another.