Scott Raley was installed president of the Patterson Lions Club for the coming year at a June 24 dinner meeting at the Westley Hotel.
“I’m really excited to be the president for the town’s Centennial year,” Raley said. “Years ago, when I moved to town, I never thought I’d be the president. And then, to be president in the Centennial year is quite an honor.”
Other Lions on the 2009-10 board are Art Trejo, first vice president; Mike McDougall, second vice president; Mark Sarasqueta, third vice president; Steven Perez and Don Hess, secretaries; Jerry Hoxie, treasurer; Bob Yamamoto, Lion tamer; and Rod Yamaichi, tail twister. Bruce Thompson, Jerry Goubert, Mike Lara and David Sarasqueta are directors. Jim Cox is membership chairman, and Richard Lawrence is past president.
Raley, a carpenter in the Bay Area, moved his family from Pleasanton to Patterson several years ago.
“I’m really glad I joined the club, because when I moved to town, I didn’t know a lot of people,” said Raley, a five-year member of the club.
He and his wife, Stephanie, have three daughters: Emmalee, 12, Jessica, 10, and Natalie, 5.
The Lions can be found cooking food almost any time Patterson has an event. Lions members join with Sacred Heart Catholic School parents for two Fish Fry Fridays during Lent. In May, the Lions cooked omelets for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and chicken for the Apricot Fiesta. Most recently, the Lions sold tri-tip boxed dinners at the downtown Patterson Centennial Fourth of July Celebration.
Money earned goes to local scholarships for graduating seniors, food banks, schools and Scout troops.
In between meals, the group keeps busy. During one meeting each summer, members of other community service organizations — such as local Soroptimists and Rotarians — join the Lions for a barbecue in the park. At the beginning of each school year, the group welcomes new teachers at a September meeting. A student speaker contest takes place each February, and winners have the chance to get more money and gain experience as they advance to higher levels of competition.
Lions members collect eyeglasses for the Lions Eye Health Program and Sight First for the blind and raise money for Camp Pacifica in Mariposa, a camp for blind and deaf children.
“We are sponsoring a cabin up there that our club maintains,” Raley said.
Because the Lions meet in the city’s North Park in the summer months, the club members — 80 in all — are working to fix up the “Welcome to Patterson” sign in the park.
Over the past few years, Lions have installed numerous new members and welcome more. They meet at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, in North Park from May to September and at a local restaurant from October to April.
• Contact Maddy Houk at 892-6187 or maddy@pattersonirrigator.com.
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