Rotary raises money with wine and food

By Jolene Perron
A group in Windsor is showing how a simple glass of wine, fine dining and good company can impact the city.
Wines of the World took place Nov. 1 at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts with an overwhelming response from the public.
Ann Hetherington, chair of the Wines of the World committee, said 13 wineries, 16 restaurants and 360 guests attended the 18^th annual event.
“This is the best value for an evening out,” said Hetherington.  “At $75 a ticket you can eat and sample wines the entire evening. Folks start at six o’clock in the evening and they go right through until 10 o’clock at night sampling the food that our restaurants have brought and sampling the wine as well, so it’s a full four hours of dining, culinary experiences that you just can’t beat.”
The money brought in from the event will go to Roseland Rotary in Windsor. From there the organization distributes the money throughout their many subsidiary affiliates.
Rotary is a worldwide organization that “provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards and helps build a goodwill and peace in the world,” according to their website. There are more than 32,000 clubs around the world in 200 countries. These organizations all work together supporting one another as well as additional organizations throughout the community.
“The proceeds come to us but we end up, we support local charities, local initiatives,” said Pat Soulliere, president of the Windsor Roseland Rotary Club. “Some of the money will go to six initiatives that we support internationally that we support through the rotary international.”
All of the organizations were at the event as volunteers. Those who ran the event were also volunteers through the Rotary Club. Sherri Dulcamaro volunteers through the Rotary Club each year and says it is a “really important event for our community.”
“Just some amazing work done by Roseland Rotary and I’m proud to be involved in it and contribute in any way that I can,” said Dulcamaro. “This is one of our signature events.”
Since the event has been in the community for so many years, some attendees have been going to the event annually. Pam and Bill Seney have been attending Wines of the World for five years and have “enjoyed it all the time.”
“We love to support the Rotary club of Windsor,” said Seney. “It’s a great organization giving to a lot of great things and it’s a great way to sample our local restaurants and wineries.”
Hetherington said guests typically purchase a table of 10 and attend the event with friends and family.