Saturday, March 23, 2019 – THE MAUI NEWS By SARAH RUPPENTHAL
 
 
Not sure what to do with that rusty old lawn mower or the broken TV that’s been collecting dust in your garage? Go ahead and mark Saturday, April 20 on your calendar. That’s when the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset and Malama Maui Nui will be collecting electronic waste (colloquially referred to as e-waste) in the Lahaina Cannery Mall parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon.
 
In 2015, the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset joined forces with Malama Maui Nui (a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that empowers residents to work together to keep Maui County clean, safe and healthy) to organize the monthly “Go Green Recycle Third Saturday” event at the Lahaina Cannery Mall. Among the volunteers who gather in the mall’s parking lot bright and early to help residents responsibly dispose of e-waste is Nancy Montoya of KW Island Living. Every month, Montoya and her fellow Rotarians collect all types of e-waste — everything from air-conditioners to Realtor helps keep West Maui clean and green The Voice of Real Estate on Maui ■ Do you know a Realtors Association of Maui member who should be recognized for their contributions to the community? If so, send your story idea to Sarah Ruppenthal at missruppenthal@gmail.com. computers to water heaters — on a first-come, first-served basis and at no charge (there are no redemption fees for any items). Supported by the County of Maui and 5A RentA-Space, the free e-cycling event has been well-received by the community and has curbed illegal dumping in the area. “We collect an average of 12 tons a month, 144 tons a year and we just passed 500 tons overall,” Montoya said. “We are happy to report we are one of the cleanest towns in the county.” Montoya has been a Rotarian for nearly two decades and joined the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset five years ago. “I wanted to give back to the community and attended a club meeting,” she said. “I immediately liked the people and the Rotary Four-Way Test, which reads: ‘Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? And … is it fun?’ The time worked best for me, and the founding leaders, Jim Fahnestock and Liz May, are awesome people.” Other Realtors Association of Maui members on the club’s roster include Heidi Dollinger of Island Sotheby’s International Realty, who currently serves as the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset’s 2018-19 president; Katie Zimmerman of KW Island Living; and Kyoko Wills of Old Republic Title. The club’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in West Maui and beyond by engaging in meaningful, achievable projects within Rotary International’s five avenues of service: club service, community service, international service, vocational service and youth service. “We do good work with good friends while having RAM member Nancy Montoya is also a member of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, which will host its monthly “Go Green Recycle Third Saturday” e-cycling event at the Lahaina Cannery Mall parking lot on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. good fun,” Montoya said. The Go Green Recycle Third Saturday event is one of several community service projects sponsored by the club. Among other things, its members have collected school supplies for Hana High & Elementary School students, raised money for academic scholarships, and recently took part in the installation of rescue tube (cylindrical flotation devices used to stabilize distressed swimmers) stations on West Maui beaches. “Rotary is a service organization made up of business people looking to help improve our community,” Montoya explained. “We are open to ideas of improvement from our local community.” The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset meets at the Royal Lahaina Resort’s Royal Ocean Terrace Restaurant & Lounge on the first, third and fifth Tuesday of every month. Social hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by a meeting (usually headlined by a guest speaker) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Montoya says guests are always welcome to attend. For more information about the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset or to inquire about upcoming meetings or membership opportunities, email Info@RotaryClubofLahaina Sunset.org. To learn more about the Go Green Recycle Third Saturday event or for a list of accepted (and unaccepted) items, call Malama Maui Nui at 877- 2524 or 5A Rent-A-Space at 669-5200.