Inspired by the hopeful words of primary speaker and End Polio Now leader Mike McGovern at the World Peace and Understanding Dinner on February 12, Marblehead Harbor Rotarians Francie King and Lesley Tracy were among the newest members to join the Polio Plus Society. Pledging at least $100 per year to Rotary’s efforts to end polio, Francie and Lesley will bring their enthusiasm and the latest statistics on polio eradication back to their club members to encourage and further motivate the club’s support of Rotary’s efforts to permanently eradicate polio from the two remaining countries where it is endemic. Congratulations, Francie and Lesley!

The Rotary Club of Peabody will host its 22nd Annual Taste of the North Shore fundraiser at a new location in Peabody in March 2026. The annual event that typically draws over 300 guests, will feature menu selections from a variety of the North Shore’s most popular restaurants! The event, featuring tasting stations, entertainment, raffles and more, culminates with a special $10,000 Grand Prize Raffle!! 

The 2026 Taste of the North Shore will take place at the Holy Ghost Society, 20 Howley Street in Peabody on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 6 PM.
"We are pleased to host this event for the 22nd consecutive year" said Rotary Club of Peabody President Kerry Armstrong. "The Taste of the North Shore is one of the best-attended annual events in the area, offering a lively and fun-filled evening for attendees and providing tangible benefits to the local community.”

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, nearly 1,000 students from Lynn’s middle schools have been honored for their resilience and perseverance.

This year’s program, coordinated by Rotarian and Lynn School Committee member Tristan Smith, 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.

Danvers Rotary Club presented gift cards to local grocery stores for the Danvers People to People Food Pantry. The Pantry distributed the gift cards to families and individuals struggling during the holidays. Total number of Grocery Gift Cards 72, equaling $1800. A great project with great success, feeding our neighbors. Thank you to our Rotarians, Philip and Jane Wilson, for organizing the drive.

Pictured here are Richard Vincent, Rotarian, Amy Werner, Rotarian, John Somes, Rotary Co-President, Maureen Gillis, Community Council and Med Anderson, Community Council.

On January 7th, 38 members (52%) of the Lynn Rotary club took the time to volunteer to participate in our 18th annual "Dictionary Distribution project "sponsored by Reading Cooperative Bank and McGrath Enterprises.

I do not know of any other Rotary Club where the Mayor, the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, the School Superintendent, State Representative, School Committee Members, and several elected Counselors work beside Rotarians on such a special project to demonstrate to young students that literacy is important and the cornerstone to life's success. This project fits in with public officials' goals of making our community strong by instilling knowledge into the hands of a new generation.

 

Save The Date & Join Us
Lynnfield Rotary’s Fifth Annual Build A Bed
Saturday, May 9, 2026, 9:00 AM, Market Street, Lynnfield, MA

Build A Bed is returning to Market Street—and we’d love for you to be part of it!

Since 2022, Lynnfield Rotary has gathered volunteers to build beds for children across Massachusetts who otherwise would not have one. What started with just 10 beds has grown each year and in 2026, we’re excited to reach a major milestone: more than 100 beds built.

Each bed costs $350 and includes a mattress. Once completed, every bed is delivered directly to a child’s home. All materials, tools, and step-by-step guidance are provided, and volunteers work in small teams of up to four. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult, making this a meaningful and hands-on family service opportunity.

This is a service project, not a fundraiser—every dollar contributed goes directly toward building beds.

 

The District Environmental Committee has not met since October due to the holidays but has some exciting updates to share, more details after our next meeting on Jan 29th at 7 pm.

If you would like to be a part of this exciting committee or are just curious what we are up to, please feel free to join the meeting.  Here is the link to join.

The Manchester-Essex Interact Club had a fun plunge for Polio welcoming in the new year for the second year in a row as a foundational initiative toward re-establishing their Club at the Manchester-Essex Regional High School. About 25 Rotarians and Interacters participated.

 

Interact raised over $1,500 from the plunge including a matching donation by the M-E Club, which becomes more than $4,500 with the 2:1 Gates Foundation match. Shown in the photo are Interact Co-Presidents Charlie Athanas and Ellie Virden with several of their Board, and Club facilitator Jen Doane with several Club Rotarians and friends and family.

100% of the funds being raised will go to Rotary International and the Polio Plus initiative which will then be doubled by the Gates Foundation.