First on the "event horizon" so to speak, is the CAMP Rehoboth Women’s Weekend, April 14-16. Now in its sixth year, the weekend has grown to include the Women’s Conference, concerts, a golf outing, Sunday brunch and more. Of particular note to the whole community—including men—are the evening concerts. On Friday, April 14, comedian Vickie Shaw brings her special sense of humor to the RB Convention Center. As did the comedians in previous years, Suzanne Westenhoefer and Kate Clinton, Vickie will undoubtedly provide another laugh-out-loud-knee-slapping-good-time for both women and men, young and old alike. On Saturday night, also at the Convention Center, legendary singer/songwriter Holly Near will inspire old fans and make new ones.

One of the most unique and exciting events of the last five years has been the annual HeART of the Community art project and its subsequent auction at the Black and White Beach Ball. This year’s HeART art will feature original work created around the theme HeART5: The Power of Love. In the past the work was limited in size and shape, but this year the guidelines say simply "any size or shape divisible by 5"—which should provide quite an interesting and varied body of work. HeART5 will be on display at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center in the week preceding the B&W Ball, with an opening reception on Saturday, May 27 from 4-6 p.m.

Speaking of the Black and White Beach Ball, due to limited space and an ever growing list of Founders’ Circle members, this year tickets to the popular event will only be available to Founders’ Circle Members. It is, however, not too late to become a member of the Founders’ Circle, and our Development Director Beth Fitton will be delighted to make that possible. For information about the Founders’ Circle or the Black and White Beach Ball, see her CAMP connectin this issue.

Since 1992 CAMP Rehoboth has worked with the Rehoboth Beach police to conduct sensitivity training for the summer police force and this year is no exception. I’ve often commented about the differences in those early training sessions and the ones we currently do. Back then the training was much more confrontational and more suspicion seemed to exist between the participants—on both sides, I think. Today, it seems as if our conversations are more of a partnership—a way for us all to work together to continue to make this a unique place for both residents and visitors. On a somewhat related issue, I was recently asked to talk about CAMP Rehoboth at a conference for local and state police on domestic violence in the GLBT community. The conference, sponsored by the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence featured Sgt. Brett Parson of the Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU) of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and gave us the chance to share our work with those from around the state.