A CAMPus Play in Two Acts
ACT ONE
SCENE: The Membership Table at an outdoor CAMP Rehoboth event. Early afternoon. The table is covered with a bright blue cloth, extending on all sides to the ground. The front panel is emblazoned with the words “CAMP Rehoboth” and the familiar logo of a heart inside the outline of a house. The top of the table is crowded with brochures, mugs with the same logo, and copies of the most recent issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. Behind the table sits HAPPY CAMPer, a volunteer who wears an easy smile and a Sundance 2020 t-shirt.
Enter (from Stage Left) A VISITOR with a good heart, a social conscience, and a question or two in their eyes.
HAPPY: Hi there! Are you enjoying yourself today?
VISITOR: Yes, I am! I always have fun at these events. But I was wondering why there is a Membership Table here. Isn’t today all about having a little fun in a socially distant way?
HAPPY: Well, yes, we do like to bring people together to have fun. It’s one way CAMP Rehoboth helps to build a sense of community. We have done that throughout our 30-year history. But even our fun events have a serious side. Did you know the very first Sundance events were actually fundraisers for HIV charities?
VISITOR: I didn’t know that. I know CAMP Rehoboth does a lot to promote health and wellness in our community. Just the other day I got a flu shot at an outdoor clinic being hosted by Beebe Healthcare and CAMP Rehoboth. Sal Seeley and Barbara Antlitz were working at the registration table. They were so nice! I could tell they were smiling, even with their facemasks on.
HAPPY: Our flu shot clinics are one of many ways CAMP Rehoboth collaborates with other organizations. We partner with others for art exhibits and educational programs, to do advocacy work and solve problems. Our “What We Do” brochure will give you a better idea of the many things CAMP Rehoboth does throughout the year. (hands a brochure to VISITOR) We just mailed a copy of this brochure to many of our current supporters so they can see the impact CAMP Rehoboth has on our community. We also have the brochure available in our office at 37 Baltimore Avenue.
VISITOR: Thanks. (opening the brochure) WOW! I didn’t know CAMP Rehoboth does so many different kinds of things. You know, I support CAMP Rehoboth by participating in events like Sundance (pointing at HAPPY’s t-shirt). I was a Sundance Host this year! Doesn’t that automatically make me a member?
HAPPY: Thank you for supporting Sundance! We really appreciate it, especially considering the challenges COVID-19 caused all of us. But participating in a fundraiser is not the same as becoming a member. Membership means something more. A robust membership roster is great witness to the world for the broad community support of CAMP Rehoboth. It means there are many of us who want a more inclusive and respectful world. On a practical level, membership dues provide financial support to sustain the organization every month of the year, not just during Fundraising Season.
VISITOR: I get it. CAMP Rehoboth benefits from having many members. Are there any benefits for members?
HAPPY: Definitely! Members get advance ticket sales to our events. For some of our smaller events, members may even be the ONLY ones who get to attend, because they buy up the tickets as soon as the sale starts! The benefits keep evolving, too. CAMP Rehoboth just set up a Virtual Shop on the website, and members are given a code that saves them 20% at checkout. The most important benefit for members, however, comes from knowing they are part of making a difference in our world and our community.
VISITOR: I might be interested in joining at one of the higher levels, but I am not sure how my checkbook would feel about that! (laughing)
HAPPY: No worries! You can spread your membership dues out over the entire year, with a smaller amount coming out of your account each month.
ACT TWO
Even though it contains no dialogue, this Act is by far the most important one in the play. This is where YOU ACT by making a commitment to CAMP Rehoboth and its future. If you’re already a member, consider renewing your membership early…and perhaps even upgrading to a higher level. If you are not currently a member, please consider ACTING NOW and join. It’s easy to do at camprehoboth.com/camp-membership.
CURTAIN CALL
Standing ovation for Members and Volunteers
Glen Pruitt is a CAMP Rehoboth Board member, and currently does quality assurance work for non-profit organizations and government agencies.