Since early July we have been living in what is often referred to as
"the dog days of summer." Though several sources I googled
informed me that the dog days lasted from July 3-August 11, many of us, I
think (and Webster’s agrees) would extend that time period through early
September. The expression comes from the conjunction of the "dog
star" Sirius with the sun which occurs in late July. The ancient
Romans believed that Sirius added heat to the sun and was the cause of the
hot sultry weather. As far as I’m concerned, however, the dog days of
summer could best be summed up be the big Labrador I stepped over in front
of the Blue Moon last week. Lying on its side and panting rapidly, he
pretty much looked the way most of us felt at the time...hot, hot, and
hotter.
One sure thing for all of us here at CAMP Rehoboth is that when the
weather gets hot, you’ll find us getting ready for Sundance. Sundance
is, of course, our biggest event of the year, and one of the biggest in
the area. Extending over two nights at the Rehoboth Beach Convention
Center on Labor Day Weekend, Sundance has become the way that many of us
officially mark the end of the summer season. This year, Saturday,
September 3, is the Sundance Auction (where you can find almost anything
in almost every price range from among the over 500 items being sold), and
Sunday, September 4 is the Sundance (with music by Mark Thomas and lights
by Paul Turner). Both nights include an open bar. Tickets are $40 for one
event, or $70 for both, and are available on our Web site at
www.sundancebenefit.com, at CAMP Rehoboth, or at Lambda Rising in
Rehoboth. Proceeds will benefit Sussex County AIDS Council and CAMP
Rehoboth. Tickets for both nights go fast, but because we don’t sell as
many tickets to the Auction, it sells out first. For more about Sundance—past
and present—see Murray’s CAMPmatters column on page 6.
In a Sundance related matter, signed, limited edition prints of Murray
Archibald’s 2005 Sundance painting are now on sale at the CAMP Rehoboth
office or on the Sundance Web site. The prints are smaller versions of his
Sundance painting—this year titled Heart (In The Wings). Prints from
previous years are also available, though from what I understand we are
getting very close to closing out 1997 and 1998. As has always been the
case, 100% of the money raised from the prints and the painting (like all
of the items in the Sundance Auction) will be donated to Sundance.
This issue of Letters will hit the stands the evening before the 2005
Rehoboth Beach city elections, so by the time many of you are reading
these words that election will be over. For several years now, I’ve
worked the polls as an election volunteer—and this year have even been
appointed an election judge—and I always enjoy watching the process and
seeing the many people from all parts of our community as they come to
cast a ballot. There was a time, of course, not so many years ago, when
the thought of openly gay elected officials was inconceivable to many
people in the area—and it was exciting when first Mark Aguirre and then
Patrick Gossett was elected to the Board of Commissioners. In this
election, there are three openly gay candidates on the ballot and quite a
difference in some of their views and visions for the future of Rehoboth.
It is a sign of the changes that have come to Rehoboth over the years,
that whether a candidate is gay or straight no longer seems to be much of
an issue—which is just the way it should be.
As a quick reminder, we have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities
related to both Sundance and the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center available.
Give us a call—it’s a great way to make new friends and have a good
time.
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