Bill O’Brien has been elected president of the South Whidbey Lions Club for the coming year, replacing Ralph Nakamura.

Nakamura is the Zone Chairman for this year (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009). He oversees five Whidbey Island Lions Clubs, one at Anacortes, one at San Juan Island, one at Lopez Island and one at Orcas Island.

Other newly elected South Whidbey officers are Robert Setlow, first vice president; Clayton Engebretsen, second vice president; Robert Davis, third vice president; Rosemary Martin, treasurer; Edward Bennett, assistant treasurer; Troy Nakamura, secretary; Kendra Setlow, membership director; Harry Hilton, chaplain; Robert Lowey, tail twister; Richard Smith, lion tamer; and Kent Renshaw and Roy Benson, directors.

The club also named Troy Nakamura “Lion of the Year” for outstanding service to the club, and presented Rosemary Martin with a “President’s Appreciation Award.”

The club has served the community for 60 years, and engage in several projects each year to benefit groups and individuals on South Whidbey.