LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
The publication date for this issue of Letters was the last day of July; another month come and gone, and the summer already speeding toward Labor Day weekend. Hard to believe, isn't it? This has been an especially busy and exciting summer for us as we adjust to operating and managing our new (and much larger) facility here at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. Over the last few weeks, we've hosted the Delmarva Piano Festival, a Beebe Medical Center Health Day, Jack Herholdt's cabaret show Falling in Love and Other Ridiculous Ideas, the signing of SB 121, the RB Homeowners Association's annual Candidate Forum, the CAMP Volunteers-on-Vacation day with the kids and staff from the West Side New Beginnings Community Center, and many other support groups, discussion groups, meetings, retreats, and volunteer activities. No wonder the summer is passing so swiftly. Like many organizations these days, instead of hiring new staff, we are depending on volunteers to do much of our work. Here at CAMP Rehoboth, volunteers fill in at many different levels (including staff) and for a wide variety of activities, events, projects, programsand fill positions on our Board of Directors or on the numerous committees that keep our organization operating. In truth, volunteers are the arms and legs of CAMP Rehoboth, and we would be paralyzed without them. I've been especially pleased this summer with the Volunteers-on-Vacation program I mentioned above. Developed by Claire Ippoliti, the program takes CAMP volunteers out into our local community to help wherever they are needed. This summer, Claire and the VOV have developed a special partnership with the West Side New Beginnings Community Center, and we're looking forward to seeing that relationship grow. Claire, I'm also glad to say, has agreed to continue her excellent volunteer service to CAMP Rehoboth by taking an open seat on our Board of Directors. She joins another long-time volunteer Glen Pruitt, elected to the Board earlier this year. Glen is currently serving as chair of our new CAMP Rehoboth Program Committee. Recently, I met with representatives from both the Delaware community Foundation and the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (two organizations that provide support for area non-profit groups). In the course of my conversations, I talked about our CAMP philosophy, and the fact that we are not here to compete for funding but to find ways of working with and supporting all the community service organizations that make life better for our local communities. I also had a call last week from someone who asked about support for CAMP Rehoboth. He explained that he and his wife had been giving to large national causes, but had decided to support, instead, the grassroots work that went on in their local community. We are all still saddened by the recent loss of SCAC, but it reminds us that we need to be vigilant in our support of work being done in our local communitiesbe it financial or as volunteers. If we don't do it, who will? August 8 is Election Day in Rehoboth Beach, and our annual Letters from CAMP Rehoboth Candidate Forum appears on page 14 of this issue. Registered residents and property owners are eligible to vote. Though it's too late to register to vote in this year's election, you can register for the next city election by stopping by the Rehoboth Convention Center on election day. The polls are open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. August is a busy month at CAMP Rehoboth, and we're excited about the Bruce Vilanch performance on August 15, and the 22nd Sundance on Labor Day weekend. One benefit of becoming a member of CAMP Rehoboth at the higher Rainbow Levels (green and above), is the discount that comes on all sponsorship and ticket purchases. Indigo Level members, for example get a 20% discount on all CAMP Rehoboth events. For information about CAMP Rehoboth membership see page 16and watch for details this fall about the launch of our new business membership levels for 2010. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 19, No. 10 July 31, 2009 |