On Nov. 4, Lisa Anderson, president of the San Juan Public Schools Foundation, joined the Friday Harbor Leo Club in its morning meeting at the high school. Her purpose was to formally receive the Leo Club’s donation of $500 to be put toward October’s Phone-a-Thon total.

As Anderson noted to the group, a matching gift from King’s Market meant that the full total would be $1,000: A lion-sized achievement for a small group.

Although slotted in between classes and punctuated by sleepy faces, the overall mood of meeting was sober and respectful. Conducted under the golden lion of the Leo flag, this group of young of people seemed serious about their role as Leos.

The club is a public service organization and, like its adult model the Lions, are an international community. They hold only one fund-raiser a year, a nine-hole golf course scramble and auction. It was a large portion of this single shot of income that went to the donation.

Started in 2006, the club has since been dedicated to volunteering their services wherever needed. As the acronym that forms their name suggests (Leadership, Experience and Opportunity), the youth that form the club are willing and ready to help.

Before the meeting adjourned, President William King swore in a new batch of Leo members. As each swore to embody the characteristics of the club, “Cheerfulness, serviceness and loyalty,” it was clear the Leos will continue to be of value to the community for some time to come.