This issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth is the next to last issue of the summer season. Wow! I’m not sure what happened to the last two and half months. I don’t know why, but the summertime always seems especially fleeting—and there is something about its last few golden weeks that put me in a reflective mood. All the talk in the local news lately about noise, and pools, and group houses, has reminded me why we all came here in the first place. Some of the best memories of my life come from the days we shared a beach house with friends: first on Norfolk Street, then on Christian Street, and finally on Scarborough Avenue. In this issue, Jim Craney shares his group house wisdom in “Housemother Diaries: Reflections and Advice on Beach House Share Management.”
As a Rehoboth Beach election judge, I can’t take sides or talk about the candidates. I can report the results and say congratulations to newly elected Paul Kuhns and incumbent Patrick Gossett, and thank you to Bill Sargent and Rick Perry for their willingness to serve our community. Sure my feet get tired standing by a polling booth all day, but I love the chance to see everyone when they come out to vote.
As can be seen from the Sundance ads in this issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, the Sundance 2015 Sponsor, Supporter and Host list is finally complete, and we are deeply grateful to the more than 450 individuals who will make Sundance 2015 happen once again. That list is a long way from the tiny handful of hosts who signed on at the very first Sundance 28 years ago. There are many reasons for us to be excited about this year’s Sundance—and it truly will be a Super Magic Rainbow Glitter Ball—but it all starts with our generous Sponsors, Supporters, and Hosts. As always, Sundance 2015 will be a two night event at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. The first night of Sundance is the live and silent auction, with food by Plate Catering (my favorite: BBQ!). The second night is The Sundance—the dance that started it all—featuring DJ/Remixer Joe Gauthreaux, and lights by Paul Turner. And don’t forget, there’s an open bar both nights!
Of course, Sundance is not the only large event on the CAMP Rehoboth horizon, and in October we’re planning an amazing 25th Anniversary celebration that includes the Silver Gala on Friday, October 9, and a spectacular Baltimore Avenue Block Party on Sunday, October 11. CAMP Rehoboth members will be notified about advance ticket sales, and public ticket sales will begin in early September. For those interested in participating in the Block Party, vendor packages are now available at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.
We’ve been talking about CAMP Rehoboth’s 25th Anniversary throughout the year, and in the process of celebrating all those years, I’ve been reminded of what it took to reach this milestone in our organization’s history. None of us knew anything about running a non-profit organization when we founded CAMP Rehoboth 25 years. It was truly a grassroots endeavor, and each lesson along the way has been learned from experience. What stands out the most are the people who have stepped forward to help: all the many Board members who have served the organization since 1991; the committee members and leadership; our membership; the dedicated staff; the volunteers who give so freely of their time and energy; the donors who have generously given financial support to make sure that we succeed; the advertisers in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth who have helped to fund the organization from the start; and finally all the community members who come out to participate in our events, activities, and programs. This is a big deal for us! I hope everyone comes out for Sundance and for our 25th Anniversary Celebration. As a community we all need to celebrate our history!