Lynn Rotary Club honors member Reverend William Simpson for Service Above Self
The Rotary Club of Lynn recently honored one of their own members, Reverend William Simpson, for his contributions to the community and for his support for Rotary causes over many years. Reverend Simpson was an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Edinburgh, Scotland in 1952-53, and joined the Lynn Rotary Club in 1983. Over his 30+ years of membership, Reverend Simpson was known as a true Rotarian who lived the principal of “Service Above Self”. He has been Program Committee Chairman for many years and has participated in many Rotary activities over the years. He has been a strong supporter of Camp Rotary and has been helpful each year in helping to identify local youths as camp participants in need of scholarship help. Besides his involvement in Rotary, Reverend Bill has been a pastor in the Lynn area and is well known throughout the city.
At a dinner recently held at the Porthole Restaurant, a large crowd came together to honor Reverend Bill and to present him with an award for community service, a plaque for his service to Rotary, and a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives which congratulated him on his years of extraordinary service to the City of Lynn.
True to form, during the meeting, Reverend Bill spoke more about the continued amount of service needed, rather than speak about his prior involvement. The crowd appreciated this, and near the end of the dinner, after listening to wonderful bagpipe music, they toasted Reverend Simpson to show their support and love for him. The assembled crowd included District Governor Peter Simonsen, Assistant Governor Joan Arsenault, current and past Lynn Rotarians, members of Camp Rotary’s board, and community representatives. It was a great day to celebrate the true meaning of “Service Above Self”
The Lynn Rotary Club sponsored a team to support the Lynn Relay for Life, which was held recently at Red Rock Park. Rotarians raised funds for cancer research by donating money, seeking sponsors, and by helping to sell food at the event. Team Rotary served chowder donated by the Porthole Restaurant, and hotdogs, hamburgers, and soda donated by Eastern Bank. The team was supported by a group of students from the Lynn Boys and Girls Club, as well as a variety of Lynn Rotarians and friends who helped or visited to show their support. President Elect Ray Bastarache was the principal cook for the day but it was the work of all the supporting members and friends who helped make the day a huge success. In attendance were Lynn members Ray Bastarache, Steve Upton, Art Horgan, Reverend Bill Simpson, Jim Harris, Bob Dugas, Maria Cacciola, Jan Reardon, Swampscott member Dan Cahill, and new Lynn satellite members Harvey Rowe, Jeff Weeden, and Drew Russo.
The Rotary Club of Lynn recently honored one of their own members, Reverend William Simpson, for his contributions to the community and for his support for Rotary causes over many years. Reverend Simpson was an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Edinburgh, Scotland in 1952-53, and joined the Lynn Rotary Club in 1983. Over his 30+ years of membership, Reverend Simpson was known as a true Rotarian who lived the principal of “Service Above Self”. He has been Program Committee Chairman for many years and has participated in many Rotary activities over the years. He has been a strong supporter of Camp Rotary and has been helpful each year in helping to identify local youths as camp participants in need of scholarship help. Besides his involvement in Rotary, Reverend Bill has been a pastor in the Lynn area and is well known throughout the city.
