The Way I See It

Somehow we have arrived at the end of another summer season and so come, once again, to the Labor Day issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. This year has been an exciting one for all of us involved with the organization and I can only marvel at the incredible amount of time, money, and energy that this community has given, not just to CAMP Rehoboth, but to all the organizations that make up our diverse family. As I think back over the many Rehoboth summers since CAMP Rehoboth was founded, they do all run together a bit and yet each one retains a special character—a flavor all its own. I suspect that one day we will look back at this summer as a time when we made some important decisions for our organization. From property expansion to our soon to be released strategic plan, 2004 has been a memorable year thus far, and I look forward with great enthusiasm to seeing all the plans come to fruition.

It has been our tradition for many years now to put Murray Archibald’s 2004 Sundance painting on the cover of the Labor Day issue of Letters—and this year is no exception. This year’s painting is called childsplay (act of love), and will be auctioned at the Sundance Auction on Saturday, September 4 at the Rehoboth Convention Center. Murray tells me that it is about creativity and the way that love changes all that we do. Prints of childsplay are now available at CAMP Rehoboth for $50—as well as prints from previous years. Sunday, September 5 is the Sundance, with music by Mark Thomas and lights by Paul Turner. Tickets go fast for both nights—especially the auction as there are fewer tickets available—so don’t wait. Tickets may be purchased at CAMP Rehoboth, Lambda Rising, or on the Web at www.sundancebenefit.com. 

On August 14, voters in Rehoboth re-elected Rich Sargent and elected Patrick Gossett for the first time. Patrick is the second openly gay Rehoboth Beach Commissioner. With six years as a member of the Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission under his belt, Patrick is in a great position to represent the many diverse elements that make up the Rehoboth community. Rich has already served three terms and promises to continue to work hard to balance development and preservation in our rapidly growing area.

In the early 90s, a terrible gay bashing on the Boardwalk galvanized many of us to call for the need to add sexual orientation to the existing Delaware hate crime legislation. Several years later, then Governor Tom Carper stood on the lawn of the Rehoboth Beach City Hall to sign the bill that did just that. The recent confrontation that was reported in the last issue of Letters between three straight men and three gay men has once again opened discussion of hate crimes and how they are defined and reported. On page 6 Bridin Reynolds-Hughes continues her report about the incident and its on-going investigation.

Over the years Rehoboth Beach has become far more than just a summer resort, and the shoulder seasons are now full of events that make this a great place to spend spring and fall weekends. For me, the Rehoboth autumn has long been a favorite—the busy pace of the summer eases a bit, the weather is usually beautiful, and there’s still a lot to do. So make plans now to be here this Fall for the Delaware Pride Festival, September 18; the Jazz Festival, October 14-17; and the 2004 Film Festival, November 10-14.