LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMPing Safely with Sal Seeley |
by Fay Jacobs |
The new director of CAMP Rehoboth's CAMPsafe Program, Sal Seeley is getting to know Rehoboth and planning all kinds of innovative things for this summer's CAMPsafe Program. His move here from his long-time habitat of Connecticutclose to the art and metropolitan life of the Big Apple to the rural wilds of Georgetown, Delaware has been a bit of a culture shock but in a good way, he assures us. Sal gave up a familiar job working as a case manager for families and individuals with AIDS to follow the lure of life at the beach, working full-time to help gay and bisexual men understand the importance of safer sex. Sal was first introduced to Rehoboth when he visited friends here. "I just fell in love with the place," he saysa sentiment familiar to most of us who've leapt at the chance to relocate here. And while Sal has only been in town eight weeks, getting to know his job and the people he'll be working with, he's also plunged right in to several other new experiences. "Our next door neighbors in George-town have horses," says Sal, "and I've been learning to ride. In fact, tonight we're going to ride some of the trails in the peaceful forests in Sussex County. I love cantering along the paths. I laugh like a little kid." While it's easy to picture Seeley, athletic-looking and lanky, cantering around the county, he's also taken time recently to pursue another of his passions: Opera. Along with his day job back in Connecticut, Seeley spent almost three years as a member of the Connecticut Grand Operaand he has some great stories to tell about back stage intrigue and show biz egos. Sal loved his days in the opera chorus. "It's so rewarding to be on stage in a well done, professional production," he says. "I was just happy being in the chorus." But, like so many artists, musicians and performers, making a living in the arts is elusive. "I so admire artists and musicians who can make a living in the arts," he says, "but it's so hard." Enter the choice to move to Rehoboth for the job with Campsafe. "It just seemed the right thing to do," says Sal. But not before he fulfilled a promise he made to his voice teacher, and, just two months ago, auditioned in New York for the Metropolitan Opera. "I knew I was coming here to take this job, and I was not planning to stay in New York, but I auditioned anyway for the experience," he says. And, according to Sal, it was quite some experience at that. "I stood in line from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. with 400 other people, just waiting to sing. It was the most nerve-wracking experience." Imagine waiting that long and singing for just 16 bars of music before being cut off. It happened to many of the folks auditioning. But the Met staff must have liked what they heard from Sal, since they allowed him to finish both of his audition pieces. "They had no opening for tenors, so there was no chance I'd be selected," he says, but he's glad he made the effort. Sal is also making the effort to get used to the rural nature of Georgetown, where he resides with his two companions plus two cats and a dog. "It's incredibly quiet at night. I think the biggest difference is that the store isn't five minutes away. Now when I shop, I do it for the whole week. You run out for a gallon of milk and it's 25 minutes." But of course, the cosmopolitan lure of Rehoboth is only a half hour away as well. And this summer, Sal is planning some great tea dances and workshops as part of the Campsafe program. In the meantime, he's getting involved with the Rehoboth Film Society as a film previewer, checking out his musical options with Delaware choral societies, and spending a lot of time getting to know folks in town. "The people here are friendly and this community is so supportive. It makes me feel very proud to be a part of Campsafe," he says. We look forward to Sal's successful stewardship of the programand who knows, along with his good work for Campsafe, you never know when he might find the opportunity to use his musical talent here in town and lend us a tenor. Welcome Sal! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 6, June 2, 2000. |