In what has become an annual effort to assist people in the rural parts of Guatemala, member Obed Matul has certainly created a service project that has proven extremely beneficial to those people. Obed and member Dr. Pete Meaney have been able to bring dental care to them in recent years. They were fortunate enough to provide fillings, cleanings, and extractions as necessary. This of course, was to assist those citizens in improving their dental health and their general health. It’s vitally important for Rotarians to support this kind of effort to help those that do not have the resources that we are privileged to have here in the USA.
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.
A large group of Rotarians attended the games which provided great fun for these students at Manning Field that day. Over 400 students were treated to a wide variety of games including: Bounce houses, Slides, throwing games, bowling games, games of skill, and other fun activities. Students from many schools helped to man the many different game stations available to the special education students. The festivities started off with the arrival of the runners from the Lynn Police who ran from their police station to Manning Field and who formed a lane of honor along with members of the Rotary and other dignitaries in attendance. The students, many of whom carried the banner of their school marched in procession prior to the start of the games, smiling and welcoming the applause for them. It was a thrill to see the happiness on the faces of the students while they marched and later on during the games. Sponsorship of T-shirts and student awards was generously underwritten by Lynn Rotary, Reading Cooperative Bank, McGrath Properties, King Movers, and Cultura Latina Dance Academy.
Mayor Jared Nicholson, Superintendent of Schools Molly Cohen and other system-wide administrators were in attendance and were pleased that the Rotary had again helped fund part of the day’s festivities. The day was also co-sponsored by the City of Lynn Parks and Recreation Program and the Lynn Public Schools.
Each and every Rotarian agreed that this was a great morning for the student and for themselves. The smiles on the faces of these students were, in itself, worth it.
Members Karen Pilecki and Nancy Souza recently returned from a four country trip through Europe. Starting in Amsterdam, they continued on through Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium, it was a bit of a whirlwind trip, staying in six hotels over 10 nights. They got the chance to see how clogs and cheese were made in Amsterdam and experienced fabulous architecture throughout Germany. The tour ended in Brussels Belgium, with a wonderful day trip to Bruges.
After saying farewell to all the tour mates as they flew off home, Karen stayed on for another 10 days to visit with her son in Brussels. Another trip is planned with her son this fall with side trips to Germany, Poland, and Austria.
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.
Note: For the meeting schedule, please look at the upcoming events listing/calendar on this site. Satellite meetings are at Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, 61 Munroe St. Lynn
For Club information, or for Zoom links, email: lynn.rotary@gmail.com
The entertainer and philanthropist Dolly Parton died 25 August 2026. This Q&A was originally published in the March 2010 issue of The Rotarian (now Rotary) magazine. Later that year, she spoke at the Rotary International Convention in Montreal, Canada.
