CAMP Profile

Howard Menaker had a busy day last Thursday. He spent time on the phone and in meetings discussing two big topics: Iraq and Rehoboth.

Howard, who splits his time between his home on Dover Street in the Pines area of Rehoboth and a house in Lanham, Maryland is the newest CAMP Rehoboth Board Member. Seen here on the right with partner, Patrick Gossett.

For his "day job," Howard is Senior Public Affairs Officer for Bechtel Infrastructure, the company which was recently awarded a contract to work with the U.S. government to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure.

And while he’s hugely busy at work right now (no kidding!) Howard took time out to talk to Letters about his love for Rehoboth Beach and his pleasure at joining the Board of CAMP Rehoboth.

"CAMP Rehoboth is what holds us all together here. It’s a caring, giving organization. I love it for the sense of community it provides the Gay and Lesbian population, and what it provides to others who want to be part of this community. I love it as well for what the organization does for Rehoboth Beach as a city."

Howard, and Patrick Gossett, his partner of 24 years, have been enjoying Rehoboth together since 1979. Just as many of us did, they weekended at first, then became seasonal renters. They bought their Dover Street home in 1996, and it’s a home with an interesting history.

"In the early part of the 20th century it was on the ocean block of Rehoboth Avenue," says Howard. "It was moved to the corner of Kent and Dover in 1946, and when we bought it, nothing had been done to upgrade it since the forties."

With the couple’s desire to keep the original character of the home (Patrick is on the Rehoboth Planning Commission), they plunged into a major renovation to add insulation, redo the plumbing and electric and give the house a complete overhaul. "We restored the front half of the house and re-built the back half." Howard says.

The resulting renovation led to the home being featured on the Art League’s Cottage Tour four years ago and a Rehoboth Town and Cottage Award in 1997.

"We really love the neighborhood," says Howard, who describes a close-knit, diverse community, with many of the neighbors celebrating Thanksgiving and other holidays together.

That community interaction led both Howard and Patrick to become involved in the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association, Rehoboth Art League activities and much more. In Washington, Howard was a founding member of the National Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the group that works to elect openly gay officials around the country.

"I served on the board of the Victory Fund for seven years, and it makes me very proud to see how successful both the organization and many gay candidates have been."

"Here at the beach, we’ve always supported CAMP Rehoboth events, and been donors for the fundraising, but I’m pleased and honored to be named to the Board—especially at this exciting time. With the Community Center Project we’ll be able to build on what we’ve already accomplished to reach out to more people—and involve more volunteers."

CAMP Rehoboth started raising funds for a community center two years ago, and since then, the group has purchased the 39 Baltimore Avenue property and has plans to add two stories and a basement to the building which now houses the CAMP Rehoboth office. "It will be a wonderful space for meetings, receptions and events—so CAMP Rehoboth can continue to involve more and more of the community."

So, like many CAMP Rehoboth volunteers, when will Howard and Patrick call the moving trucks and flee to Rehoboth full-time? "We’re on an A.S.A.P. schedule," Howard says. "We’re working on it."

In the meantime, Howard spends his workdays up to his ears in media affairs and as liaison between his employer and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). He spends his time talking with the media, and the contractors in Iraq—and figuring out how best to interact with the Iraqi people.

Bechtel has 140 people in Iraq, working on dredging the country’s one deep-water port so they can bring in humanitarian supplies. The contractor is also working on rebuilding the highways and airport and restoring electric power.

"The thing I’ve learned is that most of what we’re restoring is not just a result of the conflict in Iraq," he says, "but from decades of neglect. Thirty or forty years of neglect. We’re trying to restore clean water and railroads and, although it sounds corny, improve the quality of life for the people."

Another thing Howard learned from the close working relationship with the Iraqi people is their high degree of technical education. "And they have a great willingness to work with us to get these jobs done. I hope we will be subcontracting much of the work and using as many Iraqi citizens as possible."

In the meantime, Howard’s involvement with the aftermath of the Iraqi conflict and the tension caused by our country’s terrorism fears leaves him, like many Americans, seeking some small measure of comfort.