LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Connect |
by Beth Fitton |
Connect Only a few of you know thisEmeril Lagasse and I share a hometown. It's true! We both grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts. That city boasts so many ethnic neighborhoods that back when I was in high school in the 60s, the high school's language department offered multiple years of Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, German, Polish, Italian, Russian and Portuguese. Those neighborhoods also offered some remarkable ethnic foods. While my parents were die-hard Yankees, we grew up with my mother cooking some outstanding ethnic foods. Portuguese chourico and linguica sausages appeared in scrambled eggs, on sandwiches and pizza with peppers and onions, in New England clam boils and in holiday stuffing. If there is one thing I miss about my hometown, it would be the food. Well, I got a fantastic ethnic food fix last month. Mary and I went to the 23rd Annual Women's Week in Provincetown, Massachusetts. We rented a place for the week and had friends join us which made the experience even better. It took me back to childhood as we sat eating chourico and cheese croissants and malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts). The food wasn't the only thing that "took me back." Among the performers at Women's Week were women that I hadn't heard in twenty years like Lucie Blue Tremblay and Tret Fure. They have only improved with age! A feature of the concerts that I found most heartwarming was the respect evidenced between the early founders of woman's music and the up-and-comers. When they shared the stage together, the audience truly benefited. Veteran, Holly Near, was in concert with a great duo that I had not heard in the past. Emma's Revolution is an award-winning pair of activist songwriters and musicians. Their music was wonderful and they said something that has really stuck with me. They spoke of how people will tell you to stop "preaching to the choir." They maintain that the choir needs to keep hearing the message if they are going to spread the word. I think that is so true whether you are talking the politics of the upcoming elections or support for CAMP Rehoboth's future. Many of us know the issues and what is at stake if we do not support what we believe in. Only some of us will make it a point to engage family and friends in conversation about our future as it relates to equal rights. Fewer still will offer financial support to individuals and organizations with a track record of supporting GLBT issues. I strongly encourage you to be a very vocal member of the choir. And, as clich as it may sound, you need to "put your money where your mouth is." CAMP Rehoboth offers opportunities for you to support your community and to provide for its future. CLICK HERE to find out more. Whether you choose to fund an item on the Wish List or join the GEM Club, you are making history. We live in a unique community that did not develop by accident. It took strong committed people willing to work within the greater community. Not yet a member? Please, join the "choir." You can make a difference in our future. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 17, No. 15 November 21, 2007 |