CAMP Matters

Over the last few years CAMP Rehoboth has grown at a steady pace, and to all of us involved with the organization it has become apparent that we need to do some strategic as well as identity planning. As we move through this winter, our goal is to do some of each, and to continue to build on a vision for the Community Center begun several years ago with the Project Advisory Committee. That vision is to be "the heart of the community" in Sussex County, serving not only the gay and lesbian population but also acting as a bridge to the greater community around it.

As a part of this process, we have reorganized all of the programs and projects of CAMP Rehoboth to fall under four categories:

1) Health and Wellness Programs support the work of both Men’s and Women’s health programs, projects, and issues.

2) Support, Education, and Outreach Programs include support groups, youth group, art programs, and community meeting space as well as outreach to the larger community, including sensitivity training seminars and printed materials to promote positive images of the GLBT community.

3) Networking and Information Resources include publishing a magazine, functioning as an alternative tourist bureau and information center, partnering with other organizations, and promoting political awareness to build safe and inclusive community through voter information, education, and registration in addition to analysis of issues and candidates.

4) Fundraising for CAMP Rehoboth and for other organizations such as AIDS service organizations, GLBT organizations, recycling programs, environmental projects, and more.

As we reexamine and study the work of our programs and projects, I think we’ll find that they all fit within these categories, and that we will now have a good system to both organize and communicate what we do.

Already there have been changes in our approach, beginning with the Women’s Project for example. Several weeks ago, we met with the Women’s Project Committee to discuss the future of the project. It was the Committee’s feelings that the Project had served its purpose of creating new programs for women in our community, and that it was now time to expand those programs by merging the Project back into the total work of CAMP Rehoboth and the Community Center. "Somehow," one of the members stated, "we were being perceived as something separate from CAMP Rehoboth, with our own agenda."

Maggie Shaw, a Project leader and organizer, was one of the key proponents for the new approach. "I think this will make programs for women in our community more available and will involve more women in the volunteer and planning stages—not just the same committee members." This new approach will make it possible for each event and program to have its own organizers and committee instead of all being lumped under one program.

One of the most successful events to come out of the Women’s Project over the last few years was the Women’s Conference, and all of us at CAMP Rehoboth are committed to seeing it continue to grow and serve the community. Anyone interested in working on the planning for this year’s event or who has suggestions for workshops should contact the CAMP office.

The biggest goal of CAMP Rehoboth has always been to serve the community in whatever way is needed. Sometimes we are able to do that better than others. Sometimes that means we take the lead on an issue or project, sometimes someone else is doing a fine job and simply needs our support and communication skills. We frequently sell tickets to all sorts of events because "one stop shopping" makes it easier on everyone. My personal hope for the future is that we are able to continue to find ways of partnering with other organizations throughout the state and the region.

To live up to our new vision of being the heart of the community means providing a safe place where everyone feels welcome. It means that we must be open to new ideas, new people, and to the autonomy of groups that use the Community Center or the services available through CAMP Rehoboth. Sometimes it means letting go. Sometimes it means embracing people and ideas very different from our own.

A long time ago, Steve and I realized that CAMP Rehoboth would never be able to make everyone happy, but we do our best to keep things in balance. Sometimes we fail miserably and sometime the success comes in ways we could never have imagined.

Sometimes we are able to live up to our vision. Most of the time we simply work to do the best we can. Through it all, it is the contributions of individuals in this community that make everything possible. My thanks to all who have worked to make this year a success.

Murray Archibald is President of the CAMP Rehoboth Board of Directors.