LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
Remember I Dream of Jeannie? Barbara Eden would do that double eye "blink," and poofmagic would happen. That's the way the summer has felt to me this yearI blinked, and now it's almost gone. I'm grateful that it still feels magical to us, even in this busiest time of the year. Murray and I love seeing the streets bustling with August energy. After a recent visit to Rehoboth with his family, Murray's brother Mark confided to their parents that he wasn't sure who enjoyed the Boardwalk and Funland more, his children or Steve and Murray.
Summer magic comes from many sources these days, but I am most often touched by the incredible generosity of our communitythe willingness of so many people to jump in and give of their time, their talents and their financial resources. As this issue goes to press there are over 450 Sponsors, Supporters and Hosts signed up for Sundance 2001. Already, the army of volunteers it takes to make Sundance happen is being assembled, and auction items are coming in from all directions. The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project (CRCCP) Founder's Circle has already topped $210,000 in pledges and contributions in the first two months of its five year campaign. Talented people like Beth Fitton, who created the CRCCP Development Plan, Dan Goren who is serving pro bono as CRCCP Director, Natalie Moss, CAMP Rehoboth's long time Treasurer, and many others, help me to know that this project will be a great success. One of our goals for the near future is to develop a volunteer recognition program. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who has helped to create the magic we need to keep going. 2001 is the fourth year of our CAMPsafe program, geared to providing safe sex information to gay men in Sussex County. Over the years the program has, among other things, provided tens of thousands of free condoms to bars, restaurants and events in our area. This summer, CAMP Rehoboth's Kathy Weir and CAMPsafe director Sal Seeley have created a new volunteer sensation: the take home, do-it-yourself, condom stuffing kit. The CAMPsafe condoms, as you may or may not know, come in their own little folded and sealed packets, complete with a CAMPsafe message and a packet of lube. The trick is to get all those thousands of packages put together in time to keep up with demand. Thanks to the condom stuffing kits, volunteers can stop by the office, pick up a kit of 200, take them home and settle down in front of their favorite summer TV show to put them together. You'd be surprised to know how many lesbians are driving around with a box full of condoms in the trunk of their car! If you'd like to join the condom brigade, call Kathy or Sal and they'll be happy to set you up with a condom kit too. A few months ago, we announced a cover photo contest in letters. The winning photograph, on the cover of this issue, is 515 School Lane for their "Soul Train" photograph. For the most creative, most outrageous, and runners up, see page 10 of this issue. All the photos will be on display at Cloud 9 on Saturday, August 11 from 5-7 p.m. I started out this column writing about magic, which reminds me of what almost everyone must surely know by now, that the first Sundance was a tenth anniversary party for Murray and me. This year is the fourteenth Sundance and our twenty-third anniversary, and at the risk of sounding like a sentimental mush, it's all still magic to me. As Labor Day Weekend draws near, I hope that all of you will join us in celebrating love and life at Sundance 2001. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 11, August 10, 2001. |