LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
Even though the cold wet weather put a damper on Memorial Day Weekend, it was still good to see so many old friends returning to the beach for another seasonand to make new ones, just discovering it for the first time. Murray and I commented to one another about the continuity that comes from seeing people we've met over the last twenty years of our Rehoboth experience. As I've said many times, we too started out sharing a house with a group of friendsand those friendships continue to play an important part in our lives. Of course, in those early days we didn't have The Beach Book to make keeping up with our new friends a little easier. Produced, published and printed by Tom Minnuto, Chris Riss, Greg Albright, and CAMP Rehoboth, The Beach Book is the summer 2000 guide to who's sleeping where. (I said where, not with whom!) To be included in this year's beach book you must fill out a new formeven if nothing has changed in your house. We will be accepting forms throughout the weekend of June 2-4. If you have not encountered Tom or a member of his crew, The Beach Book forms can be picked up at the CAMP Rehoboth office. If all goes according to plan The Beach Book will be available on Saturday, June 17. Don't miss your chance to be included. One of the most interesting projects that CAMP Rehoboth and I have been involved with over the past nine years is the annual Sensitivity Training Workshop for the Rehoboth summer police. With the guidance and commitment of Rehoboth Beach Police Chief Creig Doyle and assistance from our new CAMPsafe director Sal Seeley and Jim Dickinson, I was once again excited to be a part of this ongoing effort to make Rehoboth a safe place for us all. During the course of this year's training, which took place on the Monday of Memorial Day Weekend, it was interesting to me that a question from one of the young officers was, "What do we do when we encounter anti-police bias in the gay and lesbian community?" He went on to describe how two women had made disparaging comments to him and had implied that his job was easy. "It was 4:00 a.m. in the morning," he said. I was cold and wet and ready to come to their assistance if it had been needed." I reminded him that there are rude people in all walks of life, but it got me to thinking about the respect we give to one another as human beings. That's really what sensitivity is all abouton all sides of the issuerespect to one another for who we are. It also made me think about the line that is crossed when rudeness becomes threatening. The police are here to help us. If you have problems let me know, but keep in mind that if you are breaking the law there is nothing I can do about it. Sensitivity goes both wayslets work together on it. i know it has to do with the cyclical nature of our summer seasonactually of our lives, now that I think about itbut sometimes it feels like I say the same things over and over again. In fact, I know I do, but some things are important and just need to be said again. If you have owned, rented or leased property within the city limits of Rehoboth Beach since the first of February, you are eligible to vote in the August election of city commissioners. But you must be registered by the close of business on June 9. And the key point to remember is that even though you may be registered to vote in national and state elections, that does not mean that you are registered to vote in Rehoboth. What you must do is stop by the Rehoboth Municipal Buildingyou know the one where we go to SUNDANCE (Labor Day Weekend) and LOVE (July 4th Weekend) and hear the Washington Gay Men's Chorus (June 24)with a deed or a driver's license that shows your Rehoboth Beach address. The gay and lesbian community is an important part of our town, so make sure your voice will be heard. Please register and vote! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 6, June 2, 2000. |