The Experience
On Saturday, September 5, at 6 p.m., the Sundance Experience will be on Facebook Live. Up until now, organizers have been teasingly calling it The Experience, because in 2020, “nimble” is the new “concrete.” It wasn’t clear as the year unfolded how things would be this Labor Day, and there is a ton to learn, new players, and a whole new format to navigate. Dial up your closest friends and plan to have the party #atyourhome.
The Experience has been designed to entertain, honor, and educate. There will be lots of cameos, and hellos, and information about all of the good work that CAMP Rehoboth has done in 2020. Plus a few surprises! It’s a fundraiser so expect an appeal for the many ways that you can support the organization we all love!
But in reality, the whole week is the Experience with plenty of activity choices. You don’t have to do it all, but we hope that you’ll find something to love. Make some old or new connections in whatever format feels fun and at your level of comfort and safety.
Tune in and have fun.
How to Register as a Bidder
1) Visit the online auction site via the link at camprehoboth.com
2) Click the START BIDDING button at the top right corner of the page
3) Click the green CREATE ACCOUNT button on the left side of the page
4) Enter and confirm your email, click the “I am not a robot” box, then confirm
5) You will receive an email at the provided address; follow the instructions to complete registration
Important: credit card information entered will only be used when bidding and purchasing items online.
Having trouble? Special help desk available from 12-8 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Need someone to place a proxy bid for you? We can do that. Call 202-588-8421.
Sundance Is Virtually Everywhere
If you are in Rehoboth during the week of August 30-September 5, plenty of opportunities to dine-to-donate and participate to raise additional money are happening with Sundance At-Large activities, including the newly branded Battle of the Bachelors at Aqua (limited seats!) and Virtual 5K (no crowds!). Join in at your comfort level—and rest assured that the current state guidelines for COVID-19 are being followed throughout. Enjoy meals onsite (or at your home) and share the love two ways: by supporting the restaurant or venue, and also with CAMP Rehoboth (share of profits varies by venue). The full event schedule is on page 5 and each Sundance At-Large event is detailed on the website. These added fundraisers help make up for lost individual ticket revenue that would usually come from the dance and auction.
If you are NOT in Rehoboth Beach, you can still have fun participating in the Virtual 5K, dropping by the Sundance Lounge Zoom Room, tuning in to the Facebook Live feeds, going Facebook Live with your #athome party (however you define that), or starting your own Watch Party to invite your friends and amplify our message: United in Love. This year, more than ever, the message of Unity needs to be the focus of summer.
While all things seem different, one part stays the same—our business donors continue to play an important role in the success of Sundance. Thanks to all the businesses that have partnered or donated during a time when everyone is feeling the pinch. With the continuing economic crunch of a muted summer, organizers looked for new ways to turn the tables and share generously with the businesses that support our community. One is the Sundance At-Large events; another is the Business Tribute Booklet (included with t-shirts and available online) that recognizes the hundreds of businesses and individuals who make Sundance a unique community event.
Traditionally, over half of the Sundance fundraising happens through generous bidding at the auction, and this year, with a careful eye to what makes sense today, there are still plenty of auction items. In the interest of sharing, CAMP Rehoboth will be peeling off a small amount from the auction to support three local nonprofits (Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice, PFLAG-Rehoboth Beach, and Immanuel Shelter) whose work closely aligns with CAMP Rehoboth’s mission and values.
By the time this publication hits the stands, the Sundance Auction will be previewing online. Information on all of these items and a link for anyone to bid is on camprehoboth.com.
Home and Hearth
Some tangible additions to home and life include a deluxe Wine Cooler refrigerator that can be freestanding or built-in and holds 31 bottles of champagne or wine (donated by Natalie Moss), an elegant Marcel Charcoal Shagreen Lamp (donated from Ocean Furniture), a Beatriz Ball Anchor bowl with coordinating Silver Lacquer napkin box and weight (donated from Mod Cottage), a Char-Broil Commercial Stainless Steel 3-Burner Liquid Propane and Natural Gas Infrared Gas Grill (donated by Allen Jarmon), a delightful cocktail ring (donated by Holland Jewelers), and four stunning coral fish print pillows (donated by the Design Center of Rehoboth).
Travel and Adventure
For those with future travel on the mind, Oliva Travel has donated a Superior Room for Two at The L Word Generation Q Caribbean Resort Vacation May 1-8, 2021 (transferrable to a later date if necessary). An eye-catching Vera Bradley luggage set (donated by Maggie Ottato) and deluxe Coach Academy Backpack set (donated by Robert Wright and Jack Lim) will have you ready to pack up and go.
Health and Wellness
Five lucky winners will each become a member of the Love Wine Club with one bottle of exceptional wine selected each month (September, October, and November) and donated by Loves Liquors. Gift cards around town include Lori’s Oy Vey Café, One Spirit Massage, Coho’s Market, and the Sussex Family YMCA.
Unique Experiences
For those interested in an experience, how about a Virtual Tour of the NBC4 Studios with anchor Eun Yang? (donated by Wes Combs and Greg Albright), or have your house be a Stop on the Pie Ladies 2021 Tour! (Pie included! donated by Grant Oines and the Pie Ladies). Or what about Queen for a Day?! Your chance to be powdered and fitted and fluffed and strut onstage with Mona Lotts & Kristina Kelly of The Pines for your own drag brunch cameo plus four tickets for your friends to cheer you on (donated by “parties involved” and The Pines).
Art “From the Artist Studio”
Spruce up those four walls and hang more art in your Zoom room! A special section curated by CAMP Rehoboth Arts Committee Chair (and board VP) Leslie Sinclair, Health and Wellness Director Salvatore Seeley, and Sundance Co-Chair Sondra Arkin showcases a number of the artists popular at Rehoboth and DC galleries including Rod Cook, Yvonne Frankis, Caroline Huff, Gary Fisher, Donna Deely, Susan Finsen, Ellyn Weiss, and Ellen Sinel, among others.
More featured original artwork includes highly desirable works from Bill Snow, Ward Ellinger, Murray Archibald, Joan Erbe (“The Grand Duchess of Baltimore Painters”), and a rare Howard Schroeder oil painting from around 1970, done at the Rehoboth Art League and called Makeshift Table in My Studio.
Memorabilia
The online auction format gives a great platform to showcase some excellent memorabilia including an autographed Billie Jean King tennis ball, Gary Beach signed La Cage Program, a SBXXXIII autographed seat cushion by halftime star Gloria Estefan, and an authentic headdress from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (with stand) worn during the 2012 Broadway production.
The lack of events at the convention center is a super 2020 bummer but keeping everyone safe is the main priority. CAMP Rehoboth works hard every day as an advocate for LGBTQ community members, delivering additional services during this difficult time. Your support of Sundance 2020 keeps that ability intact. Please bid generously. To quote Bob Ramsey, the second-tier auctioneer, “it’s a fundraiser folks!”##