Bridging the Invisible Barrier: Rotary, Rotaract, and the Future We’re Building Together

Connecting Legacy, Ambition and Impact across District 7020

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2516244/fan_mail/new] A new Rotary year. A new season. A new opportunity to shape the future. As Voices of District 7020 returns, host Rotarian Nerissa Persaud welcomes District Governor Lindsey Cancino, District Conference Chair Karen Pinder, and Assistant Governor Christian Knowles for an inspiring conversation about the vision that will guide Rotary District 7020 throughout 2026–2027. Together, they explore what Create Lasting Impact truly means—not as a slogan, but as a challenge to every Rotarian. In this episode you'll discover: * Why the Caribbean Resilience Initiative could redefine service across the region. * How Rotary clubs can move beyond "keeping busy" to creating measurable, lasting change. * The unprecedented opportunity presented by record District Designated Funds and global grants. * The power of the upcoming District Conference and Legacy Gala to inspire collaboration, innovation and long-term thinking. * Why healthy competition, stronger relationships and bold leadership are essential to Rotary's future. Whether you're a lifelong Rotarian, a new member, a Rotaractor, or simply passionate about community impact, this conversation offers practical insights and a compelling vision for what becomes possible when people unite around purpose. Because lasting impact isn't created by one leader. It's created by thousands of people choosing to move in the same direction. Listen now and join the conversation as District 7020 begins another remarkable journey of Service Above Self.

Se préparer à diriger : les fondations d’une année rotarienne porteuse de sens

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2516244/fan_mail/new] French Episode: Cet épisode de podcast présente une discussion entre l’animatrice Vanessa Abdel Razak et l’ancien gouverneur de district Robert Léger sur la préparation essentielle requise pour mener à bien un mandat présidentiel au Rotary. La conversation met en évidence que le leadership efficace commence bien avant la date officielle de prise de fonction, grâce à une planification stratégique, une sélection rigoureuse des candidats et une collaboration avec les dirigeants sortants afin d’assurer la continuité. Léger souligne l’importance d’utiliser les outils établis du Rotary ainsi que les critères du district pour gérer de manière professionnelle les tâches administratives et les objectifs opérationnels. Au-delà des aspects logistiques, les intervenants insistent sur le fait que le maintien de relations humaines solides et d’une atmosphère positive au sein du club est essentiel pour motiver les bénévoles et prévenir l’épuisement des dirigeants. En définitive, cette intervention sert de guide aux futurs dirigeants pour passer d’une simple gestion des activités à la création d’une organisation de service communautaire à fort impact, portée par une vision claire. Preparing to Lead: The Foundation of a Meaningful Rotary Year This podcast episode features a discussion between host Vanessa Abdel Razak and former District Governor Robert Léger regarding the essential preparation required for a successful Rotary presidential term. The conversation emphasizes that effective leadership begins long before the official start date through strategic planning, objective candidate selection, and collaboration with outgoing officers to ensure continuity. Léger highlights the importance of using established Rotary tools and district criteria to manage administrative duties and operational goals professionally. Beyond logistics, the speakers stress that maintaining strong human connections and a positive club atmosphere is vital for motivating volunteers and preventing leadership burnout. Ultimately, the source serves as a guide for incoming leaders to transition from simply managing activities to cultivating an impactful, vision-driven community service organization.

Rotary in Crisis: Leading with Humanity After Hurricane Melissa

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2516244/fan_mail/new] Three months after Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, the adrenaline has faded — but the real work has only just begun. In this deeply human conversation, host Rotarian Nerissa sits down with Lemar James, President of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay, to reflect on what leadership looks like after the storm. When the cameras leave. When the systems strain. When communities are left to rebuild — not just infrastructure, but trust, dignity, and hope. This episode goes beyond disaster response. Together, they explore: * The unseen emotional toll of leadership in crisis * Survivor’s guilt, vulnerability, and the weight leaders quietly carry * Why leaving the disaster zone can sometimes be the most responsible act * The difference between having a circle — and having a network * How equanimity becomes a leadership practice, not a philosophy From dark, unlit roads to silent bus rides back from devastated farming communities, this conversation captures the moments that don’t make official reports — but define the kind of leaders we become. This is a conversation about steadiness, humanity, and the kind of leadership that holds when certainty is gone. If you lead people, serve communities, or believe leadership is more than titles and plans — this episode is for you.

Bridging the Invisible Barrier: Rotary, Rotaract, and the Future We’re Building Together

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2516244/fan_mail/new] Welcome to Season Three of Voices of D7020 — a season dedicated to deeper conversations, bolder questions, and the future of Rotary across our district and beyond. In this opening episode, host Nerissa J. Persaud is joined by District Rotaract Representative Mikhail Raymore and District Rotaract Chair Selwyn Dawson for a powerful and timely dialogue about the invisible barriers that still shape the Rotary–Rotaract journey. Together, Nerissa, Mikhail, and Selwyn explore what it means to move from hierarchy to partnership, from dependency to empowerment, and from two separate paths into one shared movement of service. One Rotary. They speak candidly about identity, leadership, autonomy, culture, and what it will take to ensure Rotary remains relevant, vibrant, and impactful for generations to come. This episode is both a reflection and a call to action — inviting Rotarians and Rotaractors across District 7020 to step into a new way of being: one rooted in respect, collaboration, and a shared commitment to building a Rotary that lasts. 🎧 Press play and join the conversation that is shaping the next chapter of Rotary.

Leadership as Oxygen: A Conversation with PDG Dominique Bazin

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2516244/fan_mail/new] Podcast Description: In this soul-stirring episode of Voices of District 7020, host Rotarian Nerissa sits down with Past District Governor Dominique Bazin—a woman whose leadership has redefined what it means to lead with courage and compassion. From leading through crisis to weaving peace across islands, Dominique shares the lessons that shaped her year as District Governor and the truths that will echo far beyond it. With grace and humility, she reveals why leadership isn’t about power—it’s about presence, compassion, and the courage to build bridges even when the world feels divided. Listeners will be inspired by her reflections on peace-building in Haiti, mentoring the next generation of Rotarians, and the unshakeable belief that unity does not mean uniformity—it means solidarity. This episode is a heartfelt journey through resilience, service, and the human spirit of Rotary. Whether you’re a leader, a dreamer, or someone searching for hope, Dominique’s story will remind you that peace isn’t the absence of struggle—it’s the strength to rise together. 🎧 Tune in to hear: * The untold lessons of leadership beyond authority * How peace became the living heartbeat of her Rotary year * Why “together we are stronger” is more than a motto—it’s a movement * What it means to lead with both fire and tenderness 💫 “Be the bridge. Start where you are. Extend your hand where there is division.” — PDG Dominique Bazin