The Shoulders of Giants
The quote by Isaac Newton, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” is one that I think about often as it relates to the giants of CAMP Rehoboth—founders, donors, staff, volunteers, and advocates. I know that today our team is only able to do what we do because of those who came before us.
Today’s CAMP Rehoboth team is acutely aware that we are standing on shoulders that invited acts of love, inclusion, and belonging. Together these shoulders created a culture in our town and surrounding communities where people can feel safe to be fully themselves. Today’s CAMP Rehoboth team must attend to our own shoulders to ensure that those who come after us are able to express similar sentiments.
Creating shoulders upon which others can stand means we must lend a hand up, teach, include others, and develop humility as a strength. The ability to listen, demonstrate empathy, and readily accept responsibility for successes and failures is crucial to the future of CAMP Rehoboth.
Recognizing that you don’t know or don’t have the answer is an admirable trait. My dad often reminded me of humility when he would say to me, “Kim, be kind and fair to those you meet on the way up because they will be there to meet you on your way down.” He was always one to point out the possibilities of reality.
When I met with Murray Archibald before assuming my responsibilities as Executive Director, he said to me, “CAMP Rehoboth is like creating a piece of art, there must be a design before you start executing. Failure to design will cause problems.” Murray is absolutely right and I appreciate his analogy.
In the coming weeks the staff team at CAMP Rehoboth will begin working on “operationalizing” the 2024-2028 strategic plan. In other words, we’ll be planning to execute the plan. This plan will help us build our shoulders for those who will stand on them.
I know that as we build our collective shoulders, we will be in community together—learning and growing both as individuals and as an organization. We aren’t and won’t be perfect. We will, however, be lending a hand up and making the shoulders we stand upon glad that we have increased their impact and reach into southern Delaware and beyond. ▼
Kim Leisey, PhD, is Executive Director of CAMP Rehoboth.