In recognition of CAMP Rehoboth’s 20th anniversary, we’re continuing this Volunteer Spotlight to honor many of our behind-the-scenes heroes that we’re so fortunate to have in our CAMP family.
The Spotlight will be an ongoing column in Letters and will feature recipients who’ve been selected by the volunteers themselves and you, our readers.
If you know someone whose efforts are worthy of consideration, please make a nomination. We’ll be maintaining a database that’ll be used to help determine future recipients. Email us at info@camprehoboth.com.
And because there’s always something to do, come join us. We always need new volunteers and would love to hear from you.
Catching Up With Cathin Bishop and Laura Simon
Both retired school teachers, Cathin currently works as a gallery associate and custom framer at Peninsula Gallery in Lewes, while Laura is a health and physical education curriculum consultant to the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. Cathin and Laura have two orange tabby cats, Diesel and Taz, as well as a Papillion, named Chance.
How long have you been Volunteering for CAMP and what prompted you to get involved?
We used to come to our condo in Ocean City, unload the car, and head to Rehoboth to pick up Letters. Then about 12 years ago, we read about Sal Seeley’s “Condom Stuffing” parties. Since it was a program (CAMPsafe) we believed in (Laura wrote the original HIV health lessons for FCPS), we came to help. The guys were a little surprised when two women walked in, but they welcomed us warmly. Since then we’ve volunteered for several other things, particularly Love and Sundance.
Best memory helping CAMP?
We’ve loved working on Sundance and being on the Starburst Gayla committee, as well as performing in Follies as members of the first all women’s group, “The Power Surges” (winning the golden Barbie didn’t hurt!). We’ve met so many wonderful people volunteering for CAMP.
If you had an extra hour in the day, what would you do?
We’d finish some of the things on our never-ending “to do” list, or so we say.
If you could spend a full day with one person, who would it be? Why?
It may sound corny, but we’d spend it with each other. However, if the other one of us was busy, Cathin would spend the day with Carol Burnett, because she’s brilliant at comedy, and Laura would spend it with Whoopi Goldberg, because she’s intelligent and witty.
“Wouldn’t you like to be a CAMPer too?” How would you help encourage someone to get involved with CAMP?
Volunteering has to be the best way to get involved in the community and to meet very special people. There are so many ways to volunteer (you don’t necessarily have to spend a week climbing ladders at the convention center to determine the tensile strength of spandex).
SHHHH! Tell us a little known fact about you…until now, that is.
Laura loves mysteries and is a crossword puzzle addict. Cathin could spend hours doing Sudoku, and believes breakfast is a meal and therefore deserves dessert!
One favorite thing about Rehoboth…
There is something here for everyone.
If you have any, what is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
There’s such a thing as spare time? If there is, we would spend it traveling. We’ve crossed Alaska off of our “A-list,” but still have Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and many places in America to visit.
Having devoted your careers to education, it’s not surprising to hear you mention “A-lists.” And since we’re on the subject, may you both know that you’re on the top of ours here at CAMP. Our sincerest thanks for all you’ve done, and continue to do, for us
To vote for a volunteer for the Spotlight, send the name to info@camprehoboth.com with “volunteer vote” in the message line.