| ||
 |
| |
Welcome to our Club!
Grade 8 Student Awards, May 2026
Thirty years ago, Lynn Rotarian Joe Coombs shared a deeply personal idea with his fellow members—one shaped by his own middle school experience and the life-changing impact of a teacher who believed in him. He proposed recognizing eighth-grade students who face physical, emotional, or psychological challenges and still show up every day determined to succeed.
Since 1996, the Rotary Club of Lynn has carried forward Joe’s vision through its Eighth Grade Recognition Program, the Club’s signature event. To date, hundreds of students from Lynn’s middle schools have been honored for their resilience and perseverance.
The May 2026 program, coordinated by Rotarian Irene Cowdell, recognized one student from each of eight local schools. Students and their families gathered for a celebratory luncheon, generously sponsored by RiverWorks Credit Union—a meaningful reminder of the power of encouragement at just the right moment.
adapted from January2026 bulletin
Special Games 2026
On May 13, 2026, the Lynn Rotary again co-sponsored the Special Games for the special education students of the Lynn Public Schools. It was the 56th Anniversary of our co-sponsorship of this event.
Lynn Rotary has always tracked the volunteer hours donated by Rotarians to organizations within the city such as the Salvation Army, Greater Lynn Senior Services, and My Brothers Table. Those hours are reported to Rotary International for the purpose of identifying Rotary charitable work around the world. This tracking in Lynn has been done by hand in the past and only included the time spent at these places. We are now using a portion of Clubrunner to help us in this effort and are now trying to track members wider involvement in various committees, or all of our local charitable efforts.
At the end of this newsletter we have tried to identify the charitable efforts undertaken by members. Please review your involvement in any of the committees or efforts identified in 2025-2026. Involvement could mean planning, donating, volunteering, or just showing up to support people.
See your committees for 2025-2026, and year to date in 2026-2027, at the end of the newsletter sent to your email. If the committees don’t appear for some reason, you can see them by looking on the Clubrunner App, under My Commitments, or by logging into Clubrunner. Here is the committee list for 25-26, and year to date for 26-27.
Clubrunner App Training
When is the next Rotary Meeting?
When is the next service project?
What is the Club doing for service projects?
What is the email or phone number of a fellow Rotarian?
What events am I signed up for?
These are common questions that people have asked for regarding their Rotary service and activity. The answers to these and more are all in the Clubrunner App. See the details.
The September Book Club meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2026 at 5:30. We will be meeting in the small room at the Old Tyme Italian Restaurant, and dinner afterward is optional, from the menu. The book chosen to be discussed at this meeting is Daughter of Egypt, by Marie Benedict. The protagonists of the Marie Benedict’s books are usually strong and accomplished women and this book will offer the same. Additionally, while this book will not be as intensive technologically as in our August book choice, Project Hail Mary, the book will provide exciting historical fiction story centered around the world of archeology and Egyptian history. Registration is already open for the meeting so if you plan to attend, please register now by clicking the registration button below. Here is what Amazon has to say about the book:
Camp Rotary Luncheon
A great turnout at Camp Rotary in Boxford this week as 20 Lynn Rotary members attended a luncheon there to spend time with campers and see them in action during various camp activities. The members enjoyed several hours seeing the grounds, talking with staff and camp counselors, and hanging out with campers in their beautiful element.
Lynn Rotary sponsored 50 campers this summer but the camp services well over 1000 campers that come from all over the North Shore, Metro Boston area and even visitors from outside the country. See some pictures from the day:
Lynn Rotary Partners with Lynn Police and GLSS to distribute food
The Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) monthly Brown Bag/Mobile Market Program continues to be a wonderful example of what can happen when community organizations work together.
For several years, members of the Rotary Club of Lynn have joined the Lynn Police Department’s CBD Bike Patrol Team and GLSS staff to help distribute fresh food and groceries to local seniors and community members. The program has become an important part of our ongoing commitment to addressing food insecurity in Lynn, and an opportunity for Rotarians to work side by side with some terrific community partners.
We would especially like to recognize Officer Tom Morley, who has been a dedicated part of this partnership and a familiar face at our GLSS distributions. As Officer Morley prepares for retirement, the Rotary Club of Lynn wishes him all the best in this next chapter.
Of course, retirement from the Lynn Police Department doesn’t have to mean retirement from mornings at GLSS! We hope we will continue to see Tom at future distributions, perhaps just without the uniform. And Tom, there is always a seat waiting for you at the Rotary Club of Lynn!
Pictured: Rotarian Ann McCarthy and GLSS Nutrition Coordinator Kathie Ho; Officers Michael McEachern, Chris Kelly and Tom Morley; Rotarian Steve Upton; Mackie Bastarache; Ray Bastarache; John McCarthy; Cindy McCarthy; and GLSS Chief Executive Officer and Lynn Rotarian Kathryn C. Burns.
See more pictures here:
For the past 10 years, the North Shore Juneteenth Association has brought our community together to celebrate liberation, faith, culture and community, and the Rotary Club of Lynn is proud to recognize our own Rotarian Nicole McClain for her extraordinary leadership as founder of the organization. What began with a commitment to educate and unite has grown into an annual Lynn tradition filled with music, dance, spoken word, local vendors, food and fellowship; all offered freely to the community. This year's celebration at Lynn Common once again demonstrated the power of bringing people together.
Behind a decade of successful celebrations is a dedicated team of volunteers and supporters. We also pause to remember Nicole's mother, Larnell Lane, one of the Association's steadfast supporters who generously gave her time, encouragement and helping hands throughout the years. Her quiet service helped strengthen the organization, and her legacy of resilience, generosity and love continues through the work she helped make possible.
Congratulations to Nicole, the North Shore Juneteenth Association team, and the many performers, volunteers, vendors, faith leaders and community partners who have contributed to 10 remarkable years. Nicole's leadership and commitment to service embody the Rotary spirit, and we are proud to have her as a member of the Rotary Club of Lynn. Here's to continuing the work of educating, celebrating and uniting our Lynn community for many years to come.
At our most recent Lynn Rotary meeting, we were proud to celebrate our newest Rotarians with the presentation of their membership certificates and a Lynn Rotary ball cap as a small token of welcome and appreciation. We are excited to have these dedicated individuals join our Rotary family and become part of our commitment to service, fellowship, and community impact.
As we begin a new Rotary year in July, we look forward to building upon this momentum by increasing member engagement, strengthening relationships, and welcoming even more new members into our club. Together, we will continue to grow our ability to serve the Lynn community and live Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self."
"Thank you, Allie," for sharing the inspiring work of The Salem Pantry and its innovative approach to addressing food insecurity in our communities. We appreciate your dedication to ensuring that fresh, healthy food is accessible to all, regardless of income or circumstance. The Lynn Rotary Club encourages our members to learn more about The Salem Pantry's mission and consider volunteering, donating, or partnering with this remarkable organization as we continue our shared commitment to service and helping our neighbors in need.
We were honored to welcome the Lynn Superintendent to our recent Rotary meeting, where she shared meaningful insights into the current state of our school system. She spoke candidly about the challenges facing our students and families, while also highlighting the resilience and progress being made across the district. It was inspiring to hear about the innovative steps being taken to support academic growth, student well-being, and family engagement. Her dedication to creating opportunities and strengthening outcomes for all students is evident in the work being done every day. We are grateful for her leadership and commitment to the Lynn community. Thank you for taking the time to join us and for your continued partnership."Walking with the other athletes at the Olympic games in the Opening Ceremonies was awesome!"
As we step into a new Rotary year, our focus remains clear: to deepen member engagement, expand our fundraising efforts, and do meaningful good in our community. Each of you brings a unique gift, and it is my goal to listen, learn, and help you use your talents to make a lasting impact. Together, we'll strengthen our projects, support new initiatives, and invite others to share in the Rotary journey. Let’s uplift one another, stay connected, and continue leading with purpose and heart.
Guided by this year’s Rotary International theme—“Unite for Good”—we’ll ensure our collective efforts continue to create real change.
Lynn, MA 01905
United States of America