LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Speak Out |
A few minutes must be spent to write and tell you about my experiences with Letters from CAMP Rehoboth and with Rehoboth Beach in general. I am a middle-aged (ain't that a hard one to write?) gay man who has been wondering for years where I'd like to "end up." I have traveled quite a bit and knew only one thing: that I did not want to spend the rest of my years and die here in my hometown (doing so would be redundant). But fate works in bizarre ways and almost a year ago I purchased a second home in Long Neck, Delaware. Actually, I purchased it with my lover/boyfriend/significant other/husband/other half/whatever of 21 years (and counting!). In the last ten months, we have put more miles on our cars than we ever dreamed we would by driving back and forth to Rehoboth/Long Neck. And we love it! What a strong sense of community! What a quiet, sensible way of living! And what an outstanding publication you have with Letters from CAMP Rehoboth! As I said, I have traveled extensively and have NEVER seen a local gay publication that matches yours. It is definitely a class act! Most of the small gay rags are geared strictly towards the "sex sells" attitude, with steamy photos and articles based solely on who was seen where and with whom. There is nothing wrong with that, but I think we've all come to realize just how much more there is to our lives. Usually these tabloids are on the most inexpensive stock and the photography is blurry and haphazard. The ads, if there are any, are mostly geared towards the gyms, bars and bath houses. Compare these statements to what your publication looks like and you'll understand why we love it. Cases in point: I have never met Fay Jacobs, but when I read her "CAMPOut Journal," I feel like I'm sitting down with an old friend for a chat. She makes me laugh, and I can almost smell the cappuccino we're talking over. I only wish I could have had her job, and describe our first months in Rehoboth as (future) locals. Kristen Minor is a young lady with an awfully grounded and mature outlook. She is insightful and honest and has a bright future ahead of her. Her parents should be proud of this young adult's attitude and outlook. CAMP Memories is much appreciated because it's giving me a lot of background about what I hope is my future home. The contributions by David Bianco and Michael Thomas Ford (one of my favorite authors) are welcome additions. Mubarak Dahir, while entertaining, his columns always make me pause and think (this is a good thing). His recent article on school teacher David Gaita and "recruiting" kids was one of the most intelligent things I've read in months. And even though I'm not into bodybuilding, Rick Moore's Fitness columns still entertain me (although I'm sure my eating habits would NOT entertain him!). Being an avid reader, I greatly appreciate Rebecca James' points of view. And also being an avid film buff, not enough good things can be said about the Independent Film Festival! But one of the biggest pluses is the fact that your magazine is not geared just towards the young, buff white gay male. It is happily for lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders andyesstraight folk! Do I sound like I'm pleased with both your publication and Rehoboth Beach? You betcha! All I have to do now is get the nerve to look for work in the area, downsize the accumulations that have filled every nook and cranny in our home, and make the final step towards "ending up" in Rehoboth. It's something I look forward to. After all, to paraphrase an old quote, Rehoboth Beach is "as far as you need to go, to get as far as you need to get, to get away from everything you want to get as far away from as you can get!" In the meantime, I just wanted to say thank you for being there! Robert Horn As some of you may know, I'm doing a 510 mile bike ride from Fairbanks to Anchorage, Alaska (85 miles per day, for six days) this August to help find a vaccine for AIDS. This dreadful disease no longer hits only a small segment of the world's population. It has no boundaries! I don't personally know anyone that has died from AIDS and you may not either, but eventually that will change if something is not done SOON. This ride is not a vacation. We will bike eight to nine hours per day, sleep in tents with 20 to 40 degree temperatures, wait in long lines for a port-a-potty, and, hopefully, a warm shower. I will personally spend over $2500 for fund raising, lodging, airfare and equipment. I will also have to close my business for 11 daysa lot of lost income. The good news is that the Alaskan locals (Grizzly bears) are looking forward to our arrival; they call it "Meals on Wheels." I have raised $1,500 but I need to raise a minimum of $3,900. Here are some staggering statistics. Approximately 450,000 people have died in the U.S. and 13 million people have died worldwide. It's estimated that 33 million people are currently infected. I read in a local newspaper that Delaware is 5th in the nation and most surrounding states are within the top 10 for known cases of infection. Many people make dumb mistakes or do not have honest partners, but they shouldn't have to die for it. People can also be infected by tainted blood or occupational hazard. Please contribute what you can, and thank you in advance for your generosity. Please call me at 302-645-1691 so I can keep track of donations. I am doing this because it's a very important cause and I feel it's time for me to give something back to humanity. I hope you will help me in my endeavor. Thanks again! Donations are tax-deductible and may be sent to: Alaska AIDS Vaccine Ride, 135 S. LaSalle, Dept. 3004, Chicago, IL 60674-3004. Please write "Bob Stock-Rider 1624" on the check, so I will get "credit" for the donation. Bob Stack As a member of the LOVE benefit committee since its founding, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark Aguirre for the tremendous amount of work he has put into chairing the LOVE dance benefits the last two years. This year's event, LOVE 2000, raised more than $40,000. It was the most successful ever and Mark is the one to thank. No one can do it alone, however. Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald and the folks at CAMPparticularly Kathy Weirdid their usual great job. Thanks to Maggie Ottato of The Women's Project of CAMP Rehoboth for organizing ticket sales and event volunteers, and to Tom Minnuto for selling tickets to nearly every one in the Beach Book. Another reason for the record success was Chris Riss' ability to garner higher than ever bids at the Bachelor Auction. We were able to raise twice as much as last year at that pre-LOVE event which is sponsored by the Blue Moon. Of course, practically no event in Rehoboth gets done without some form of help from the Blue Moon, and this year Joyce (bachelorette extraordinaire) Felton and Rob Dick and all the staff of the Moon outdid themselves. There is something about lists, and Rob's name seems to always get left off them. So to Rob, we love you and thank you for all the work you do. This was the first year I have missed being at the event and I heard it was the best ever. Thanks to DJ Darryl Strickland for the music and the good feelings you provided. Finally, thank you to all the sponsors and hosts of this event, and to the nearly 1200 people who bought tickets. What we hoped for has happened. LOVE has joined SUNDANCE as bookend events for the summer in Rehoboth Beach. Now to a great summer in between. Peter Rosenstein Few elected officials possess the qualities that allow them to represent the needs of all of their constituents. Luckily, our current Lieutenant Governor, Ruth Ann Minner, is an official who embodies our best political ideals while being able to work with all people to make Delaware a better place. Ruth Ann Minner is a strong, forceful representative, and she has a proven track record of tolerance and inclusion. She learned these qualities as a tenant farmer's daughter in Milford. When her first husband died, she worked two jobs to raise her three young boys. After completing college in the evenings and eventually remarrying, she started a successful business with her new husband. The sound business practices of treating each customer with respect and sincerity carried over to her career in public service. As a member of the Delaware House of Representatives, and later as Lt. Governor, she worked tirelessly to clean our beaches, preserve open space, and enact tough DUI laws. She also worked with Governor Carper to raise academic standards for our children and reduce class sizes in our public schools. Lt. Governor Minner is fiscally conservative while being socially moderate. She understands the process of government and of bringing all parties to the table so as to craft the best public policy. In short, she is a person who best serves the people and deserves to be elected the first female Governor of Delaware Steven E. Some On behalf of the Board of Directors of Rehoboth Beach Main Street, as well as the entire community of Rehoboth Beach, I would like to thank CAMP Rehoboth for your very generous donation of $1,000 to the Fireworks 2000 campaign in Rehoboth Beach. As you are aware, Sunday, July 2nd, was a perfect evening for the fireworks. The boardwalk and shoreline of Rehoboth Beach drew an enormous crowd for the event, and it was a wonderful display. Each year, Rehoboth Beach Main Street has been able to organize and present July 4th weekend fireworks entirely through the generosity of individuals and businesses from our community. Again, we thank you for your donation. CAMP Rehoboth has our deepest gratitude for your generositywe couldn't have made Fireworks 2000 such a success without you! Kathy McGuiness, Main Street Promotions Committee Chair Enclosed is a check for $400 that represents the donations made to the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project at our recent July 2nd fundraiser. We wish you great success in establishing and growing the Community Center. Arthur Dochterman and Keith Neale Comments may be sent to CAMP Rehoboth, 39 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, or fax: 302-227-5604, or e-mail: letters@camprehoboth.com. Include your name and phone number for verification. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 9, July 14, 2000. |