The expression goes, "it’s not over until the fat lady sings," and though I’ve never thought of Sundance as a "fat lady," it is our biggest event of the year and the "last dance" of the summer season. Sundance is important, not only because it raises vital funds for Sussex County AIDS Council and CAMP Rehoboth, but because of the way it brings us all together in one great big final celebration of summer. Sundance is important to me on a personal level because it started as an anniversary party for Murray and me back in 1988. It is also important to me because it started as our way of fighting back against the horrible impotence we felt in the face of the AIDS epidemic and what it was doing to the people we loved. We started Sundance several years before we founded CAMP Rehoboth, and it remains something about which we are passionate. Sundance takes the support of hundreds of people—Sponsors, Supporters, Hosts, volunteers, auction donors, team captains, and more—to make it happen. It is our Labor Day finale. It is a labor of love for many, many people. It really is, I guess you could say, our "fat lady," and the summer is not over until it sings…or dances, as the case may be. For more about Sundance 2006—especially about all the exciting things we have to offer in the auction—see pages 8-9 of this issue. For more information or to purchase tickets (which always go fast) call CAMP Rehoboth or visit the Sundance Web site at sundancebenefit.com.

Labor Day weekend is also the last chance to become a member of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Founders’ Circle. Though we are in the beginning stages of developing a sustaining Foundation for the Community Center, this is it for our original Capital Campaign. In order to be a part of the Founders’ Circle, or to upgrade a pledge, it must be done by Labor Day. Because of the Founders’ Circle we have been able to purchase 39 Baltimore Avenue; 37 Baltimore Avenue; renovate the front of 37 Baltimore; and expand the courtyard capabilities of both properties. We are also working to finalize the plans for the construction of the next phase of the project (large multi-purpose room, kitchen, additional restrooms, consultation room, exterior information kiosk and courtyard renovation), so the Center will be better able to serve our community. As I said in the last issue of Letters we are planning a Founders’ Circle members workshop in the late Fall.

The recent Rehoboth Beach City Commissioner election illustrates the importance of every single individual vote. While incumbent Commissioner Kathy McGuiness, with 605 votes, was easily reelected to another term, the difference between the remaining candidates was only three votes—Paul Kuhns 542, Pat Coluzzi 539. With numbers that close, both candidates obviously have ideas that sound good to a lot of people so congratulations are in order to all the candidates—winners or not.