Fundraiser recycling efforts part of the charity

ENCINITAS — One of the premiere local fundraisers of the year went “green” for the second year in a row while setting new standards for excellence among a group known for service. More than 800 people attended the eighth annual Encinitas Rotary Wine Festival at San Diego Botanic Garden June 4.
The attendees enjoyed delicacies from area restaurants and first-class wine while listening to local musicians in the Hamilton Children’s Garden.
The event is one of two major fundraisers for the local Rotary club that supports 18 nonprofits with the proceeds. The Rotary Club of Encinitas supports diverse projects such as assisting the Lost Boys of the Sudan and other refugees who are adjusting to life in the United States through Refugee Network, building Homes in Mexico with Project Mercy and purchasing wheelchairs for people in Malawi.
At the same time, club members are actively involved in the local community through their personal support of such organizations as Casa De Amparo, the Jonathon Tarr Foundation and the Encinitas Educational Foundation. The organization also supports the community by honoring a Teacher of the Month, Peace Officer of the Year and a Local Peace Maker of the Year.
The Encinitas Rotary Club was organized in 1939 as one of 32,000 clubs worldwide that has branches in 168 countries. Rotary has more than one million business and professional members. It is the largest international service organization in the world.
Rotarians follow the motto, “Service Above Self,” with service projects in their local communities and abroad, addressing such critical issues as peace, poverty, hunger, illiteracy, water, disease and preserving the environment.
In an effort to contribute zero waste to the landfill, event organizers worked to source reusable and compostable materials in everything from silverware to serving dishes. Solana Center for Recycling, one of the beneficiaries of the festival, assisted in greening the effort. Some of the food waste will be composted on-site to use as nutrients for the thousands of plants at the garden.
“I think it’s fantastic that you can have a party this big and know that you aren’t generating a lot of trash,” Beverly Preston said. The Del Mar resident even brought a wine glass to take home and reuse.
The garden’s Executive Director Julian Duval was enthusiastic about the turnout and the venue.
“This is the first year we’ve held it in the children’s garden,” he said. “So far I haven’t heard any complaints.”
But the goodwill generated during the fundraiser doesn’t end with the last wine glass washed. Rotarians throughout the world practice the following “Four Way Test” to assure high ethical standards in all of their business and professional activities.
When considering the things people think, say or do, Rotarians ask themselves: “Is it true? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? And will it be beneficial to all concerned?”