Among the 2004 honorees will be Peter Rosenstein, a long-time Rehoboth homeowner and tireless activist for human rights.

Peter’s resume reads like a primer for community involvement, and his achievements have been many. And while the Washington Gay Men’s Chorus is citing Peter for his work in that city, much of his political and community service activism travels freely between the big city and the beach.

A native New Yorker, Peter went to city schools and graduated with a Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College. Melding his career choice and political instincts, he started out as a teacher in Harlem and then went to work for Congresswoman Bella Abzug.

Peter first moved to Washington to work with the White House Conference for the Handicapped and then went to work for the Carter Administration in 1978.

From there, he went on to a career in non-profits, and began giving back to his community.

Twenty years ago, Peter started visiting Rehoboth and he’s been a fixture ever since. In fact, he’s been active in CAMP Rehoboth since its inception.

"The changes I’ve seen are amazing," says Peter, recalling a time many years ago, when he and Rob Dick, who was bartending at the Blue Moon, could play a completely uninterrupted game of Trivial Pursuit at the bar. "There was nobody around," says Peter.

Actually, the first time he came to town, in 1984, he rented a condo with eight friends, had heard about the Blue Moon and was anxious to have his first cocktail at the bar there.

"I walked in, and the bartender took one look at me and said "Welcome to Rehoboth, white wine, right?" He was somebody who’d tended bar at Rascals in Washington.

That connection between Washington and Rehoboth still exists for Peter. He’s looking forward to working for several more years in the city and then retiring here to Rehoboth. He has a townhouse at Eagles Landing, and in the meantime, he spends as much time here as he can.

"I am so pleased with our community and the way that CAMP has allowed the gay and lesbian community to grow in Rehoboth and become fully integrated into the larger Rehoboth Community. It’s been an amazing two decades."

And just as Peter has been involved in Rehoboth activities like Sundance, CAMP Rehoboth, and all manner of political activity here, he has volunteered his time generously in the Washington, DC area.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington is honoring him for his quarter of a century of accomplishments. Peter has served as Chair of the Host Committee for Food and Friends’ Chef’s Best dinner, and he was the Co-Founder and Organizer of the PEN Association Network, DC’s GLBT professional association. In addition, Peter has been a member of the Development Committee for Whitman-Walker Clinic, Chair of the Issues Committee for Washington Mayor Williams’ election campaigns, and a Senior Advisor to the Mayor.

Peter has put his background in education to use as Vice-Chair of the Board of the University of the District of Columbia, and is a Founding Board Member of Washington Gaymes, Inc., the organization preparing a bid to bring the Gay Games to DC in 2010.

The Gay Chorus itself utilized Peter’s skills by placing him on their Governance Committee.

"All without having to sing a note," Peter says, noting that the Chorus should be happy for that!

One of Peter’s favorite volunteer efforts was the founding and his presidency of ARTS in ACTION, which raises funds for HIV/AIDS service and education organizations. Modeled after Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in New York, the group invites the casts of Broadway shows visiting the DC area to perform a benefit on the show’s dark nights. He’s helped arrange for the casts of Les Miz, Hello Dolly, Rent and Miss Saigon to perform for the community and raised over $75,000 through the program.

"It’s been a lot of fun and a wonderful way to raise money," he says, recalling some fabulous nights of entertainment.

So what does Peter think of the direction that CAMP Rehoboth is taking these days?

"I think that the community center project is just a natural progression of the work that CAMP has done. I think that the growth of our gay community here has not only served us well, but has done tremendous things for the town in general. It’s so rewarding that I’m going to be able to retire here to a wonderfully exciting community."