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February 06, 2009 - The Way I See It

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth

The Way I See It
by Steve Elkins, Editor
This is the first issue of the season of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth and the 19th year for both the magazine and the CAMP Rehoboth organization. This winter has been one of great change for CAMP Rehoboth, for our country, and for the world. No matter one's politics, Barack Obama's inauguration has inspired an enormous amount of hope, even as continuing financial woes keep most of us in a heightened state of worry. Here at CAMP Rehoboth, like other organizations, we've "tightened our belts" in an effort to deal with the struggling economy. At the same time, we're thrilled that the construction of the new wing of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center is complete and about what that means for us and for our wonderful Rehoboth Beach community.

Though our publication schedule didn't give us much advance time to talk about it, there will be an Open House at the new Community Center on Saturday, February 7 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. The official Dedication and Grand Opening Ceremony will take place May 30, but in the meantime, we have begun scheduling for the new spaces. We now have five rooms (including the new multi-purpose room) that are available for use by the public. Call the CAMP office for info on scheduling and usage.

Almost twenty years ago when CAMP Rehoboth was first conceived, the idea was to be a membership organization. Finally, that idea has come to fruition with the development of the CAMP Rehoboth Annual Membership package. A basic membership package which includes an email hot list, a membership listing, and a house and heart sticker, is $45 a year. Various Rainbow Membership Levels are also available for those wishing to support the work of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center at a higher level. The Rainbow Membership levels come with various premiums including, for some, discounts on all CAMP Rehoboth event and sponsorship tickets. For more information on the CAMP Rehoboth Annual Membership package see page 16.

Political changes reached deep into home territory in the recent state election. I was a State Chair on our new Governor Jack Markell's election committee and look forward to working with him and his new administration on equal rights issues in the State. Here in Rehoboth Beach we're also delighted that our very own District 14 State Representative Pete Schwartzkopf is now Majority Leader of the Delaware House of Representatives. Pete has already introduced a new version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, now known as HB5.

On February 13-15 the Rehoboth Beach Film Society and CAMP Rehoboth once again team up to present our bi-annual, gay and lesbian mini-film festival called Another Take. All three screenings of this year's Another Take will be in the new CAMP Rehoboth Community Center space on Baltimore Avenue. Ciao will be shown on Friday night at 7 p.m., Changing Spots on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., and Mulligans on Sunday at 2 p.m. For details about the films and information about ticket purchases, see page 8. Seating is limited and advance ticket purchases are recommended. For tickets call RBFS at 302-645-9095.

In the holiday issue of Letters we celebrated that Bruce Pfeufer's Halloween party had raised over $9,000 for CAMP Rehoboth. All through the Holidays, however, Bruce's generosity and matching fundslike the energizer bunnyjust kept on giving, and his totals have now reached over $14,000. Bruce's continued support and enthusiasm set a great example for what individuals can do to make a difference in their community. In these difficult economic times, we all must make choices about which organizations and causes we are able to support. Here at CAMP Rehoboth we are very thankful for the work that Bruce and others like him continue to provide for our organization and for our community.

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 19, No. 01 February 06, 2009
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