LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Have a CAMPsafe Season! |
Summer Teas to Autumn Retreat: You're Invited to Join the Fun |
Its going to be an exciting season in Rehoboth Beach, and Project CAMPsafe will be doing its part to make the final months of the 1900s action-packed and healthy ones for you. In addition to our three summer SAFE-Tea Dances, we hope you will make plans now to attend our first-ever mens weekend retreat in the early fall. Following are a few highlights of this years CAMPsafe campaign. Mens Weekend RetreatCome for the Homework Although autumn may seem far away right now, youll want to register early for the CAMPsafe Mens Weekend Retreat, October 2-3, at the Renegade Resort. For the first time, presenters from Washingtons Whitman-Walker Clinic will be coming to Delaware to share their expertise in dating, relationships and safe-sex skill building. We are not talking about boring lectures here. Gay and bisexual men in Washington have been signing up months in advance to get an opportunity to participate in the two workshops we will offer. They include "The Dating Game" and "The Anatomy of Pleasure." As the folks at Whitman-Walker put it, "Youll want to come just for the homework." "The Anatomy of Pleasure" (Saturday afternoon, October 2) will help men explore the body and learn more about the web of nerve endings that bundle up into the bodys pleasure centers. The workshop presents the opportunity to discover creative options for safely satisfying your partner and yourself. "The Dating Game, a Workshop in Success" (Sunday, October 3) will consider creative strategies for finding and keeping a man. Who are you looking for and where are you looking for him? How can you approach and woo a guy from the first move to a second date to stages beyond? The facilitators are two of Whitman-Walkers most respected leaders. Tom Plummer is the Prevention and Education Coordinator of the clinics G-Net program, which promotes mens wellness. G-Net offers a network of comprehensive services to enhance our health and well being by building community and by embracing and celebrating gay sexuality, relationships and culture. Tom also writes a regular column on these subjects for The Washington Blade. Larry Villegas, a trained nurse and educator, has provided technical assistance on HIV prevention and education in minority communities at the national, state and local levels. He is acting director of Latino Services at Whitman-Walker and chairperson of the Needs Assessment Committee for the HIV Community Planning Committee in the District of Columbia. Larry is involved with DC Men Against Rape, which educates men on non-violence and gender equality. To make your weekend even more pleasurable, the Renegades motel is generously offering participants a reduced-rate room package for those who want to stay Friday and/or Saturday nights. The package includes complimentary passes to that Saturday nights dance and use of all the resorts facilities. We are working with the staff of The Renegade to fill that evenings dance with special CAMPsafe surprises. Although it is not necessary to book a room to take part in the workshops, why not make a weekend of it? Between events, you can check out all the great bargains at the annual fall Sidewalk Sale that Friday through Sunday. Because each workshop is limited in size, it is important to register as far in advance as possible. There is no charge to participate, and you may sign up for one or both groups. To register, send your name, address and telephone number to CAMPsafe Mens Retreat, CAMP Rehoboth, 39 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. You may also e-mail your information to campsafe@camprehoboth.com. Please tell us whether you plan to be a part of one or both groups. We will send you a confirmation and more detailed information. To register for rooms, please call the Renegade Resort direct at 302-227-4713. Be sure to specify that you will be attending the CAMPsafe Retreat. All gay and bisexual men of ages 18 and up are welcome to attend the retreat, and we particularly encourage residents of southern Delaware to share in this first-ever opportunity to experience Whitman-Walkers wonderful expertise. Men of minority races should find the insights of Larry Villegas to be particularly enlightening. Plus, theres the opportunity for all that homework. Sundays to Sparkle with SAFE-Tea Dances Wind up your summer weekends at our series of Sunday SAFE-Tea Dances on the deck and in the disco of Cloud 9. The first monthly dance is set for Sunday, June 20, with guest DJ Keana, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. There is no cover charge, and CAMPsafe will be distributing lots of fun door prizes (including our custom-designed Lifeguard tank tops) as well as complimentary condoms and LifeSavers mint candies. Mark your calendars now for the SAFE-Tea on June 20, plus the SAFE-Tea dances on July 25 with DJ Robbie Leslie, and August 15 with DJ Brian Norwood. Members of your CAMPsafe Lifeguards brigade will be making guest appearances at the dances as well. These handsome and helpful guys are devoted to your safety, not only in the surf, but also in the sack. Have the Lifeguards Brigade Youll be seeing our hunky Lifeguards all over town this summerat bars, in shops and even in guesthouses. You can pick up the guard (or at least their handsome images) through our series of complimentary CAMPsafe postcards. Various participating businesses are offering you different cards, so youll want to make the rounds to take home all the guys. The cards are suitable for mailing to friends, as well as collecting. (Be sure to check out their backsides for helpful tips and resources on playing it safe.) While youre at it, grab a supply of our free CAMPsafe condoms, in their information-filled wrappers. Theyre available at most area bars. Also featured in the postcard campaign is our spokesmodel Gladys Kravitz, who this summer has moved her weekly Karaoke night at the Renegade to Saturdays. Be sure to stop by the Renegade and sing along with Gladys, who never fails to encourage us to: Have fun! Play smart! CAMPsafe! CAMPsafe, an HIV/AIDS prevention and outreach program targeted toward gay and bi-sexual men, is funded in part by a grant from the Delaware Department of Public Health. The CAMPsafe Lifeguards and spokesmodel Gladys Kravitz have volunteered their time to help with this program. If you would like more information on CAMPsafe, call CAMP Rehoboth at 302-227-5620 or e-mail campsafe@camprehoboth.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 5, May 21, 1999 |