LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
I can't believe that this is the last issue of the summer season. In the blink of an eye, the summer seems to have vanished in a haze of events, deadlines, and hot weather. What keeps me going is that fall is just around the cornermy favorite time of the year. On page 28, Fay Jacobs gives us a little preview of things to come, including the Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival and the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival.
I don't want to rush things too much, however, because we've still got Labor Day weekend to go, and the summer is not over yet. Labor Day means only one thing to all of us involved in the work of CAMP RehobothSundance! Sundance is, as most of you surely know by now, a two-night event and our biggest benefit of the year. Saturday, August 31, is the Sundance auction, and Sunday, September 1, is the dance. Tickets go fast, so don't wait too late. They can be purchased at CAMP Rehoboth, Lambda Rising, or on the Sundance Web site at www.sundancebenefit.com. On page 8, Murray reminds us that this is the 15th Sundance and takes a moment to remember how it all got started. On August 10, voters in Rehoboth Beach went to the polls to vote for two city commissioner seats and for mayor. The mayor's race was uncontested and Sam Cooper was reelected. In the more exciting city commissioner race, incumbent Betty Ann Kane and Mark Aguirre were elected. I spent the day working the pollsyou know, the person who ushers you into the booth and makes sure you remember what to doand enjoyed myself so much, I volunteered to do it again next year. The thing that made it exciting for me was watching everyone's enthusiasm as they passed through the polling place. In just a few weeks, we'll be observing the first anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon. Thinking about that makes me remember last year's Labor Day and Sundance as though they belonged in a different lifetime. Even though we are doing the same things we've been doing summer after summer, I feel differentI think all of us feel different. The world seems less confident, less innocent, a little more dangerous. There have been times this summer when I felt as if my center of balance had shifted. I still can't look at the skyline of New York City without feeling a deep grief. On September 11, 2002, many of the churches in our area will be joining together to create a Day of Remembrance. The Day begins at 8:30 a.m. with an interfaith service in Stango Park, Lewes, and continues with remembrance events at Groome United Methodist in Lewes (10 a.m.); the Metropolitan Community Church (noon); the Seaside Jewish Community (2 p.m.); and Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church (4 p.m.). The day ends with an interfaith service and candlelight vigil at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand at 7 p.m. that's sure to be a powerful moment no matter what your spiritual beliefs may be. The best part about living in a small town is getting to be a part of a communitya whole community. One of the most important goals of the people working on the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project, is the need to make it an inclusive space that works for the good of the whole community. I hope we never lose that dream. My favorite thing about this town is being able to participate in so many different things that have nothing to do with being gay or straight. From monitoring a polling booth, to singing in a church choir, and dancing at Sundance, I can be the same person. Many gay and lesbian people do not live in a place where they feel like they can do that. My thanks to all of you who have worked hard to make this a good place to live. Thanks for another great summer. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 12, August 23, 2002 |