Rotary Community Heroes of Hope
Introducing "Rotary Community Heroes of Hope" - a podcast dedicated to showcasing the profound impact of Rotary in District 5330 and beyond. Join us as we explore the remarkable stories of rotary heroes and initiatives that are transforming communities and creating hope around the world.
Episodes
77 episodes
How A Rotary Fellowship Shaped A Global Leader
What if a single year abroad could reset your life’s trajectory? We sit down with David to trace a remarkable arc: from a Rotary fellowship that placed him in apartheid-era Johannesburg to a career guiding CEOs and boards on strategy, talent, a...
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28:15
How A Mountain Rotary Club Turns Simple Ideas Into Community Change
What if the most powerful community work wasn’t a gala or a grant, but a cake mix, a can of Sprite, and a room full of volunteers with sleeves rolled up? We shine a light on the Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead and the way Jeri Simpson and Teri Os...
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25:15
Local Roots, Global Impact
What if your next neighborhood project could ripple across oceans? We sit down with Rotarian leader Patrick Dunn to trace a direct line from Reno’s river cleanups and community gardens to international efforts in Italy and Kenya, showing how lo...
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24:12
How Rotary Exchanges Shaped A Lifesaving Purpose
What if the exchange trip you took as a teenager ended up saving your life years later? We sit down with Kamal Kenny from Malaysia to trace a journey that starts in Interact, winds through Rotary’s Group Study Exchange in California, and collid...
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18:36
Lighting The Path: Rotary Training That Works
Want a Rotary education plan that actually moves the needle? We sit down with past District Governor Marilyn Sanderson to unpack a practical, people-first roadmap for training that grows leaders, keeps members, and lifts club impact across Dist...
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17:40
Behind The Petals: How Rotary Builds A Winning Rose Parade Float
Seven miles, a sea of roses, and a television audience in the tens of millions—this is where Rotary turns service into spectacle. We sit down with Ray and Dan to reveal how a 45-foot float goes from sketch to spotlight, why every visible inch m...
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30:51
From Student Abroad To District Leader: How Youth Exchange Builds Peace
What if a single year abroad could rewire how a teenager sees the world—and how a community sees its purpose? We sit down with a former Rotary exchange student who now leads District 5330’s Youth Exchange, tracing a full-circle journey from nor...
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25:27
Shelter And Hope, Delivered
What does it take to give a family a safe night’s sleep after an earthquake, flood, or conflict? We sit down with ShelterBox ambassador and Rotarian Carol Pipotone to unpack the playbook behind rapid, credible disaster relief: durable tents, es...
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20:45
Desert's Hidden Powers
What if the barren desert landscape you see is actually hiding a vibrant ecosystem more effective at carbon capture than rainforests? In this eye-opening conversation with Karen Jaffe from Friends of the Desert Mountains, we explore the surpris...
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31:05
The Economics of Service: From Rotaract to Cadre Leadership
When persistence meets pizza, amazing things happen. At least that's how Frances Vegas discovered Rotary - after declining three invitations to join a Rotaract club as a busy graduate student, she finally agreed when offered dinner in exchange ...
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26:46
Forged by Fire: How Trauma Shapes Purpose
Transformation often begins when we feel safe enough to be real. In this powerful conversation with U.S. Marine and motivational speaker Max Dutton, we explore how creating environments where young people can drop their masks leads to profound ...
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19:33
Breaking Borders: How Rotary's VTT Program Builds Global Families
Genuine connection transcends language, borders, and cultural differences. This beautiful truth shines through in our conversation with Carissa and Pedro Camargo, whose story exemplifies how Rotary's Vocational Training Team (VTT) program creat...
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18:13
Finding Your Rotary Moment
A heartfelt conversation with Des reveals how a single moment transformed her entire Rotary journey. After spending three years as a casual member seeking business connections, everything changed when she witnessed a video of disabled people cr...
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19:45
Finding Your Voice: How a Mountain Leadership Weekend Changed Everything
What happens when a shy high schooler steps outside their comfort zone and discovers a world of leadership, service, and lifelong friendships? Eddie's remarkable journey from reluctant ROTC student to passionate Rotarian exemplifies the transfo...
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24:28
Empowering Youth Through Words: The Four-Way Test Speech Contest
"Take a chance on yourself and go for it!" These powerful words from past winner Jason Davalos capture the transformative spirit of Rotary District 5330's Four-Way Test Speech Contest. This youth-focused program has become a launching pad for c...
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26:29
Green Schools, Clean Water: Rotary's Impact in Cozumel
A chance vacation encounter transformed into a life-changing initiative for thousands of students in Cozumel, Mexico. When Matt McElroy, President-Elect of Indio Sunrise Rotary, attended a Rotary meeting during his family vacation, he witnessed...
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27:43
Mock Interviews: Preparing Students for Real-World Success
What happens when high school students face their first real job interview without ever having practiced? For thousands of young people, walking into that first interview means stumbling through an experience they've never been prepared for. Th...
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24:57
Beyond the Club: The Power of the Rotary Institute
The true power of Rotary extends far beyond our local clubs and districts — it's found in the connections we forge with each other across wider regions and the collaborative energy that creates. In this illuminating episode, we're joined by Zon...
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30:04
Transforming Healthcare in the Dominican Republic: Rotary's Mission with Somos Amigos
What if you could be part of a mission that truly transforms lives? Join us on Community Heroes of Hope as we welcome the inspiring Douglas McClellan, who is leading a humanitarian expedition to the heart of the Dominican Republic, and Frank, t...
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25:39
Journey to Leadership: Nyron McLean's Inspiring Rotary Impact and Mentorship
Have you ever wondered how a career in humanitarian aid could lead to a prominent leadership role in a global organization? Welcome to an inspiring conversation with Nyron McLean, Rotary District Governor-Elect, whose impactful journey from lea...
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23:32
Parading Hope: Rotary's Artistic Collaboration at the Iconic Rose Parade
Join us on the Rotary Heroes of Hope podcast as we unlock the secrets behind the Rotary Rose Parade Float with none other than Gene Hernandez, the President of the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee. Prepare to be enchanted by the meticulous ar...
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21:26