LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
Wow! Another summer come and gone. I don't know how they go by so fast, but it's autumn already. The best part about living at the beach is being able to enjoy it this time of year. Beautiful weather, perfect temperatures and lower stress levels always make it my favorite season. Plus there's the Autumn Jazz Festival, Sea Witch, Halloween, and the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival still to come. In those busy last weeks of the summer, while we were all working to make SUNDANCE 2000 a reality, Murray and I were constantly amazed by the incredible work of all the volunteers who helped to make it a success. Just because the summer is over, however, doesn't mean that there's not work that still needs to be done. CAMP Rehoboth's Kathy Weir spent hours organizing and calling volunteers this summer, and is now helping us organize some teams to help put the new and improved Rehoboth Beach Library back together again. If you would like to help us re-shelve a few of the 28.000 books, or participate in any of the other projects of CAMP Rehoboth, give Kathy a call at the CAMP office. While I am talking about the projects of CAMP Rehoboth, let me remind you that the next full meeting of the CAMP Rehoboth Project Advisory Committeewhich includes everyone working on the Community Center Project and The Women's Project of CAMP Rehobothis Saturday, November 4 from 9:00 a.m. until noon at Epworth United Methodist Church, 20 Baltimore Avenue. This meeting, and all CAMP Project meetings, is open to anyone wishing to participate. We're especially interested in having representatives from area organizations join us as we discuss plans for the Center. The community center has been the focus of many conversations this summer. It reminds me of the first years of CAMP Rehoboth when people throughout the community were still wondering what CAMP was all about. We have said this frequently, but I think it's worth repeating againthe CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project is a natural outgrowth of the work of CAMP Rehoboth. It is an expansion of CAMP Rehoboth. I'm not talking about the magazine, Letters. This publication is one program of CAMP Rehoboth, as is CAMPsafe, The Women's Project, and the proposed Youth Program. CAMP Rehoboth is the Community Center and the Community Center Project is the means by which we are growing into the next phase of our existence. As we begin a five year plan for the Project, CAMP Rehoboth will continue to serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in our area, as well as the greater community around us. That is, and always has been, the focus of CAMP Rehoboth. The support this summer has been amazing. The Center is for all of us. I hope you will get involved in one aspect or another. Even with torrential rains, Sundance was sold out both nights. And, thanks to the generosity of more than 450 sponsors, supporters and hosts, and the businesses who donated the 422 items in the auction, it was our most successful. The event cleared $148,000 for the Sussex County AIDS Committee, CAMP Rehoboth and the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project. Just as important, it seems to me, is the wonderful spirit involved in this whole project. On page 6, Murray writes about that spirit and "the miracle" we call SUNDANCE. I said earlier that we were amazed by the incredible support and the impressive and tireless work of our volunteers and staff. In fact, dazzled is more like it, and I wish I could come close to finding the words to say a proper thank you to everyone who worked to make it happen. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 13, Sept. 22, 2000. |