This is issue nine of the 17th volume of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, which
means (if anyone’s counting) that we’ve already passed the midpoint of
both the year and the number of issues we produce in the year. We’ve
been so busy getting to this stage in the season that we’re just now
beginning to focus on a couple of very important events coming up in the
near future. First, on August 18, at 5 p.m. there will be a groundbreaking
ceremony for Phase Two of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center in the CAMP
Rehoboth Courtyard. Everyone is invited to join the Board of Directors and
staff of CAMP Rehoboth, and all the members of the Founders’ Circle for
a champagne toast to celebrate the start of this amazing project. The
ceremony has been scheduled for August—even though the demolition and
construction can’t begin until after the summer season—because we
wanted it to take place at the time of year when the most number of people
are in town. This is an important step, not just for CAMP Rehoboth but for
our entire community. In early August the plans will again be on display
at CAMP Rehoboth and will also be available online.
The second important event I mentioned has to do with our biggest
fundraiser of the year—Sundance 2007. Sundance, of course, is always
important to us but this year is especially so because it’s the 20th
anniversary of the event. In celebration of this momentous occasion, we
hope to make it our biggest Sundance ever. Just think about what we could
do if everyone who worked on Sundance over the last 20 years came together
to help. Just imagine the outcome if everyone added an extra $20 donation
to everything they purchased for the event—Host and Sponsor levels,
tickets, auction items, and even prints. In fact, let’s challenge our
whole community to find creative ways of making this year’s Sundance
2007 live up to it’s theme—The Fantastic Voyage of the Starship
Rainbow. Sounds like quite a ride, doesn’t it?
Long before we get to Sundance, of course, we encounter a little thing
called "The Follies." This year’s production has a bit of
everything—returning troupes, new ones, a little improv, the fabulous
Christopher Peterson, and a whole bunch of that Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney
let’s-put-on-a-show attitude. Whether it’s good, bad, or something in
between, I promise it won’t be boring. Tickets are available at the CAMP
office. General Admission is $25. Premier seating is available for $100,
$75, and $50. in CAMP Matters in this issue Murray writes a little about
the Follies—and even includes a seating chart to make ticket selection
easier.
Speaking of Christopher Peterson, this much loved performer returned to
the Atlantic Sands this month for what is reported to be a "final
season." You can catch Christopher as the host of the CAMP Rehoboth
Follies, of course, but if you’ve never seen his Eyecons Show, you’ve
missed a major Rehoboth experience. After watching a little of ABC’s
somewhat painful summer show, The Next Best Thing all I can say is send in
Christopher Peterson. For tickets to Eyecons, call 302-227-2511 (ext.
660).
As I mentioned in the last issue of Letters, the non-discrimination
bill was this year again not allowed out of committee for a full vote on
the floor of the Senate. The fight for that bill, along with several
others of special interest to the GLBT community (SB57 Protection from
Abuse Orders, SB10 Domestic Partner Benefits for State Government
Employees, and HB167 Hospital Visitation) will be renewed when the
Delaware General Assembly convenes in 2008. Anyone wishing to become
active in State politics should contact one or several of the
organizations who make up the Equal Rights Coalition for All—ACLU of
Delaware, LGBT Civil Rights Project; AIDS Delaware; CAMP Rehoboth;
Delaware LGBT State Employees; Delaware Liberty Fund; Delaware Stonewall
Democrats; Human Rights Campaign; Just for Youth; and the University of
Delaware GLBT Employee’s Caucus.
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