This is the holiday issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, and the last one of the 2011 season. Just out of curiosity, I went back and took a quick glance at all of my 2011 The Way I See It columns on the CAMP Rehoboth website. I thought it might be interesting to list some of the things I wrote about during the year. Here is a partial list: As the year began, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell had just been repealed, and on the state level, Equality Delaware was formed to work on the Civil Union Act. There followed references to: Another Take; Women’s FEST; the Equality Delaware Town Hall Meeting at CAMP Rehoboth; Volunteers on Vacation and the Volunteer Appreciation Party; the passage of SB 30 (the Civil Union Act); the launch of the e-commerce section of the CAMP Rehoboth website; U.S. Senator Coons at CAMP Rehoboth; the Summer CAMP Beach House Challenge; Bachelor Auction; Red Love, Blue Love, and Lady Love; City Elections and Candidate Forum; the 6 Futcher, Challenge winning, Studio 54th of July Pool Party; the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus; the CAMP Rehoboth Golf Classic; Eddie Sarfaty, Two Comics-One Voice; Bruce Pfeufer’s D.C. Cowboys benefit for CAMP Rehoboth; Beefcake/Cheesecake and other CAMP art exhibits organized by Sal Seeley; the Sundance Auction, Dance, and 5k; Delaware Pride; hiring Mitch Melton as the new CAMP Rehoboth administrator; the Letters’ LGBT Guide to the Film Festival; World AIDS Day; the CAMP Rehoboth Christmas Parade Float; and Starburst Gayla. Whew! That would make me tired if it wasn’t so exciting. Thank you to everyone who helped make this a great year for CAMP Rehoboth!
As we prepare for 2012, the conversations keep coming back to what Civil Unions will mean for each of us. While some couples will rush to be in the first batch to officially “tie the knot,” others are choosing a more leisurely pace, most of them, it seems, because they want their civil union ceremony to align with the anniversary they’ve been celebrating throughout their relationship. “I can’t remember more than one date,” I’ve heard said on several occasions. Whatever your plans, don’t forget that the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center has a beautiful space for a ceremony or party—or both! The room’s not expensive, but reserve soon, or all the weekends will be gone.
Over the past few months, the CAMP Rehoboth Board of Directors has been working on restructuring some of its committees, especially in the Development area. As a result, the three year old Development Advisory Board (DAB) has officially ended. In its place a new Development Leadership Team and Development Committee will oversee several subcommittees focused on: Membership, Sponsors, Events, and other planned giving (grants, estate planning, memorial gifts, etc.). Anyone with skills in these areas and interested in getting involved should contact the new Development chair, Chris Beagle. Chris Beagle takes over from longtime DAB chair Beth Cohen. Thanks Beth for helping to steer us through a building project in the middle of a recession.
As the year comes to a close, we look forward to the last event on the 2011 CAMP Rehoboth calendar—Starburst Gayla. Though officially a women’s dance, all are welcome to join the fun at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on New Year’s Eve. Dinner and Dance tickets are $95 and require advance reservations; dance only tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. All tickets are available at CAMP Rehoboth or on our website. With dinner by Nourish, music by DJ Peggy Castle, dinner music and a midnight performance by Viki Dee, an open bar all night, door prizes, and more, it’s a night not to be missed.
Looking ahead to spring, the 2012 CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST has an amazing lineup in store for participants. Women’s FEST is April 12-15 and will feature four fantastic days with a new format and events. Look for Suzanne Westenhoefer, Tret Fure, Poppy Champlin, and Col. Grethe Cammermeyer. Save the date!