Leadership
Leadership
The Head Octopi (HO) are the leaders of the Octopus Club. They serve in teams of two for one 2-year term. There are two teams of two serving overlapping two year terms, so that at any given time there are four Head Octopi, two in their first year and two in their second year. A Head Octopus is a volunteer like you who steps forward to lead our effort for a period of time. That is it. There is no Board of Directors, no paid staff, no office, no nothing except a resolve to raise as much money as we can to offer emergency assistance to our neighbors living with HIV and AIDS. AND to keep doing so as the need persists.
Lew Aldridge, The Founder.
Lew Aldridge, founded The Octopus Club in the late 80’s while volunteering at AIDS Services of Austin. At that time, persons with AIDS got sick and died quickly. Often, there was no work or family support for these individuals. Lew recognized this and created the organization that addressed emergency service. As founder of The Octopus Club and supporter of many other non-profits, Lew has changed the landscape of fundraising in Austin, Texas.
Michael Hulse
I was introduced to the Octopus Club in 2008 when I attended my first ArtErotica event! From then on I was hooked. I joined the planning committee for OctoTea & have been volunteering since. After volunteering for another AIDS organization in Dallas this is the perfect fit! Where else can you have fun & raise money for our neighbors living with AIDS & HIV? I’m honored to serve as a Head Octopi. I hope to educate more people on how they can become involved in the Octopus Club & how the Paul Kirby Fund helps our community.
Kimmi Selinger
I remember being at an Austin bar in 2009 when all of the sudden the bar was filled with people wearing “OctoTea” t-shirts. I asked someone there what OctoTea was. After an explanation I knew this was something I wanted to join. The next day I emailed Lew Aldridge and the rest is history! What I love about the Octopus Club is every member’s true and sincere desire to help make the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS better. I am proud to be part of this amazing fun-rasing organization that has helped thousands of folks in central Texas and honored to be an Octopus Club HO.
Past Leadership
| Craig Ainsworth |
| Greg Aker |
| Dale Atkinson |
| Scott Ballew |
| Marty Bender |
| Jay Billig |
| Mary Black |
| Layne Box |
| Paul Bradshaw |
| Billy Brown |
| Brian Carlson |
| Roosevelt Cevallos |
| Tamara Chauncey |
| Daniel Collins |
| Mark Erwin |
| Mark Fisette |
| Frank Garrahan |
| Susan Ghertner |
| Elton Goddard |
| Debbie Groom |
| Mark Guerrero |
| Hunter Hagemann |
| Greg Hand |
| Michael Hulse |
| Arthur Landin |
| Keno Ledano |
| Stan May |
| Linda McCarley |
| Summer McKee |
| Michael Mitchell |
| Snow Montemayor |
| Mary Morrison |
| Tricia Murphy |
| Allie Ochoa |
| Dylan Paschal |
| Michelle Patterson |
| Robert Perez |
| Rory Reich |
| Humberto Rey |
| Kirk Rice |
| Sandy Rice |
| Neely Rogers |
| Bruce Salzer |
| Marcus Sanchez |
| Rich Segal |
| Kimmi Selinger |
| Flint Sparks |
| Stephen Walls |
| Tim Young |
| KD |
