The Rotary Club of Lynn launched its Satellite Club more than two years ago, and some say the results have been impressive.
Lynn’s membership has more than doubled from 18 to 43, the average age of its members has dropped to about 40 from 60, and the club’s diversity better reflects Lynn.
“It used to be a white club of mostly men,” said Ray Bastarache, a retired educator and past president of the Lynn Rotary. “Today, we have more women and minorities. About 25 percent of our members are people of color, and some of our new members are in their 30s, are raising a family in Lynn.”
In addition, more members looking to volunteer has compelled leadership to expand its volunteer opportunities, he said.
One challenge President Stephen 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 evening events. That changed Tuesday when members from both clubs gathered at Old Tyme Italian Cuisine to hear fellow Rotarian and candidate for state Senate, Rep. Brendan Crighton, speak. The Lynn Democrat, who serves in the House of Representatives, is running unopposed to fill the seat of former Sen. Thomas McGee, who was recently sworn in as Lynn’s mayor.
Crighton echoed McGee’s sentiments when he said North Shore residents commuting to Boston get shortchanged.
“Tom has always said if you live on the North Shore, you are required to pay tolls on the bridge and in the tunnel to get to Boston,” Bastarache said. “And the Blue Line stops in Revere.”
Crighton said his priorities include schools, pre-kindergarten programs, and making community college affordable.
He also talked about potential development in the downtown, the vacant General Electric Co. property and desperately needed affordable housing.
