The Rotary Club of Lynn launched its Satellite Club over two years ago and the results have been impressive. Lynn’s membership has nearly doubled, the average age of its members has dropped significantly while the club’s diversity has increased to better reflect the urban community of Lynn. In addition, more members looking to volunteer has compelled leadership to greatly expand its menu of volunteer opportunities. One challenge that President Steve Upton, Vice-President Brenda Rondo-Ortiz and Satellite Chairman Dick Ruth faced was providing opportunities for the longtime luncheon members to socialize with the newer Satellite Rotarians at an evening event. That changed Tuesday when members from both clubs gathered at Old Tyme Italian Cuisine to hear fellow Rotarian and candidate for State Senate, Brendan Crighton, speak.Crighton, who presently serves in the House of Representatives, is hoping to fill the vacant seat of former Senator Thomas McGee, who was sworn in as Lynn’s Mayor last week. Crighton stated his priorities: Education, K-12, with better access to Pre-kindergarten programs and affordability to community college. He also talked about potential development in the downtown, vacant General Electric property and desperately needed affordable housing for the citizens of Lynn. He did echo a sentiment stated many times by McGee when he said North Shore residents commuting into Boston get shortchanged.
From L to R: Lynn Rotarian and State Senate candidate Brendan Crighton, Rotary Satellite Chairman Dick Ruth, Vice-President Brenda Rondon-Ortiz, President Stephen Upton.