Don’t you hate losing an hour of sleep when the time changes every
spring? While worrying about the sleep I was going to miss this year, the
thought occurred to me that instead of changing the time at 2 a.m. on
Saturday night, we should do it at noon on Friday. That way everyone would
have a shorter workday and still get every single precious hour of sleep.
(Of course, in the fall, Saturday night would still work just fine!) Oh
well, how about a nap instead?
Rest is definitely not one of the items on the CAMP calendar in the
months ahead. As we get geared up for the busy season of summer 2004, life
in CAMP (and all of Rehoboth, for that matter) becomes even more energized
as we work to accommodate the enormous increase in both activities and
people. This month starts it all off with the Fourth Annual CAMP Rehoboth
Women’s Conference weekend. From great concerts to the many informative
workshops being offered, it’s a weekend not to be missed. In CAMPmatters
on page 6, Murray writes, among other things, about being an
"honorary lesbian," and how much we have enjoyed getting to know
the growing women’s community in our area—and being a part of the
Women’s Conference weekend.
Also on the CAMP Rehoboth horizon, is the 2004 black and white Beach
Ball on June 5, and its accompanying HeART of the Community art project
and auction. The Black and White Ball honors all those who have given to
the Founders’ Circle for the new CAMP Rehoboth Community Center
building. The HeART of the Community features the work of a number of
artists who have produced a piece of art especially for this year’s
project. All the paintings will be previewed on Memorial Day weekend at a
reception at CAMP Rehoboth. The paintings will be auctioned at the Black
and White Beach Ball. For a full schedule of the major CAMP Rehoboth
events planned for 2004, call or come by the CAMP Rehoboth office.
On the first Saturday in April, a large group of community members
gathered at the Atlantic Sands for a breakfast meeting and discussion on
the future of CAMP Rehoboth. It was the community session that is a part
of our 2004 Strategic Planning. Representatives from many different parts
of our community—both straight and gay—came together to share ideas
and observations. The amazing turnout reminded me of the enormous talent
available in our area. Our thanks to all who participated. The final
report for our strategic plan should be available in late May.
I referred to the last issue of Letters as "the marriage
issue," because so many of our writers addressed the subject in their
articles, but I think that a more likely phrase for 2004 will be "the
year of the gay marriage debate." Certainly the subject will be with
us throughout the already overheated presidential election process. Though
President Bush has, I’m sure, delighted the ultra-conservative religious
right, his decision to endorse the plan for a constitutional amendment
banning gay marriage is not embraced by all Republicans. In the first of a
series of at least five House Judiciary subcommittee hearings on the
constitutional amendment, former Congressman Bob Barr rejected tampering
with the Constitution. "If we begin to tamper with the Constitution
as our personal sandbox, in which to build and destroy castles as we
please," he said, " we risk diluting the grandeur of having a
Constitution in the first place." Barr, of course is also the man who
penned the Defense of Marriage Act, and is not someone I find myself
agreeing with very often. Obviously, gay issues will be receiving more
attention in the press this summer than usual. If ever there was a time to
get involved in politics, this is it. Write letters. Register to vote if
you aren’t already. Change will come, I do believe, but a constitutional
amendment could certainly slow it down.
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