This is the first issue in the 18th volume of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth,
so Happy New Year to all. In the two months since the final issue of last
season there has been a lot of activity here on the CAMP Rehoboth
Community Center CAMPus. First, and most significantly, our appearance
before the Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment went very well and we
quickly received the building variance we were seeking. Not long after
that, the Building Permit arrived and the long anticipated construction of
the new wing of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center finally got underway.
Though the unpredictable winter weather often slows down the process, the
demolition phase (with the exception of part of the CAMP courtyard) is
complete and many of the footers are in place. For more “dirt on the
construction site” and some financial information see Murray’s
CAMPmatters’ column on page 6.
While I’m on the
subject of finance, sometimes I feel like all we do is fundraise, but
that, I suppose, is simply a fact of life for all non-profit
organizations. The gifts of our supporters are what make our work
possible. A great many generous donors have gotten us to this point and
allowed us to purchase the properties that make up our CAMPus, as well as
renovate the space that now houses our offices, gallery and small meeting
rooms. Thanks to all our donors (and PNC bank, of course) we’re moving
full-speed ahead with the new and very much needed construction, but we
still need a little bit more money in order to complete the project. To
that end, we are creating a new Development Board of Advisors to help us
with both our short-term and long-term financial goals. In the meantime
please take a look at our financial campaigns on pages
8 and 9. If you are considering underwriting something on the Wish
List please talk to us as soon as possible. We hate the thought of having
a beautiful new building but not being able to afford the furnishings to
go with it. Though this is a tough time to be asking for money, if
everyone who’s ever donated to CAMP Rehoboth gave a little extra we
could easily meet our new goals.
CAMP Rehoboth’s long
partnership with the Rehoboth Beach Film Society continues on February
15-16 with our popular bi-annual series Another Take, featuring gay and
lesbian-themed films. The three films will all be screened in the upstairs
screening room at Movies at Midway: A Four Letter Word, Friday, February
15 at 7 p.m.; The Life of Reilly, Saturday, February 16 at 2 p.m.; Kiss
the Bride, Sunday, February 17 at 2 p.m. See page 14 for more info. Call
the RBFS for reservations at 302-645-9095.
The Rehoboth Beach Film
Society is also joining the line-up for the 2008 CAMP Rehoboth Women’s
Weekend, and will be screening the multi-award winning and Academy Award
nominated film Freehold as a part of the Women’s Conference activities.
In addition to the Women’s Conference this year’s Women’s Weekend
will feature performances by comedian Michele Balan (one of the four
finalists on NBC’s 2006 Last Comic Standing) and Lisa Koch. For
information about the 2008 CAMP Rehoboth Women’s Weekend call the CAMP
Rehoboth office or contact Women’s Weekend co-chairs Sharon Messina or
Kit Ryan.
With
all the excitement about the new Community Center construction, Murray and
I often find ourselves reminiscing with friends about the history and
the people who have been a been a part of the organization over the
years. Riche Griffin, one of the owners of the restaurant Dish! on
Baltimore Avenue, sold ads for this magazine in the very first year of
existence 18 years ago. He was, by the way, at the time not much older
than that either! Riche is still a supporter of CAMP Rehoboth and along
with his partner at Dish!, Ginger Breneman, will give 15% of all proceeds
from the first annual Dish! Drag Brunch to benefit the CAMP Rehoboth
Community Center. The Drag Brunch is Sunday, February 17 from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m.
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