LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMPsafe Summer 2000 |
by Sal Seeley |
Hello everyone, Lifeguard Sal reporting in for duty! Okay, so by now you have drooled over the hot guys on the cover of this edition of Letters. Since I was not photographed for the cover of this week's issue (what's up with that anyway?), I thought I would put my own snapshot of "Lifeguard Sal" on my own page. Okay, so maybe I am not as muscular or cute as the guys on the cover, but I can have as much fun as they can! (And I'm available for parties.) And the time for great beach parties is almost here: Memorial Day weekend! After being cooped up all winter we are gonna let it all hang out and begin the summer with a bang! Right?! We're all going to party, get a sore neck from looking at all the cute guys and maybe meet the man/men of our dreams. And if we do... well... you know. Sounds like your perfect summer right? And we are gonna have the best summer of our lives and have absolutely no regrets when it is all over right? Right. So, come on men and women of Rehoboth. Let's get it over with. Raise your right hand and say it with me... We will not get a third degree sunburn and/or melanoma because we will make sure we wear sunscreen. We will get enough sleep to make sure that the shade of our umbrella does not slowly creep away from us as we snore. We will not wake up the next morning wondering if we have the same dark circles, blood-shot eyes, and pounding head of the guy or gal next to us because we will drink only enough... and not too much. We will not be shy about asking Sal for information about safer sex, if we need it. We will not be someone else's summer regret because we will watch out for our communityemotionally and physically whenever possible. We will take every reasonable precaution so that we do not remember our incredible vacation with a new infection of gonorrhea, hepatitis B or C, HIV, genital warts, and/or syphilis! There. That wasn't hard. And just in case you didn't see the last issue of Letters, I'll say it again: our gorgeous poster-boys will appear on a series of postcards (Pokemon, watch out!). You can get them at the bars, restaurants and guesthouses around town. Besides being a collector's item (see you at the Antiques Road Show in 50 years?) and a hot commodity on e-bay, each card shows our lifeguards and some information about how you can get through the summer without regrets. (We probably will not be able to help you avoid that regrettable bathing suit. You know., the one all your friends tell you looks great.) CAMPsafe knows that you know you can have fun while being safe and responsible to each other at the same time! But sometimes we all need a reminder. Seriously, though. We have all been preached to about safer sex. Still, we need to take a moment out and ask ourselves; when we heard the words, did we get the message? Many of us are still taking risks. Many of us are still getting infectedand not just with HIV (see above). Sex, when had with care for one another, is wonderful and fun. Sex is something that can be done well or poorly (and who hasn't had that date), responsibly or irresponsibly, callously or with care. Responsibility comes with each of us making safe and informed choices. A summer without regrets comes the same way. To help out with it all, CAMPsafe makes condoms and lube available (free stuff!) at many of the bars, restaurants and guesthouses at the beach. If you cannot locate a condom and need them quick (and who hasn't had that date, too), please feel free to pick them up at the Camp Rehoboth office in the CAMP courtyard at 39 Baltimore Avenue. The condom carrier also has useful information inside, including tips on how to use them. Okay, enough said. Now, suppose you already have all this down and you're just looking for someone to hang with. Well, maybe we can help with that too! In the last issue I mentioned the Tea Dances. Well... the first one will be happening on Sunday June 11th from 5-8 p.m. at Cloud 9 at 234 Rehoboth Avenue. There will be pulsing music, door prizes, and of course, great guys who know how to "Campsafe". It's a great way to start the season! Hopefully, we will all come out Memorial Day weekend with memories of wild music, wild times, and no regrets. See you at the party! If anyone has safer sex questions or would like to volunteer for any of our Campsafe activities this summer, (I am still in need of lifeguards!) you can reach me at SalvatoreSeeley@aol.com. In future articles, I will be answering the questions and concerns that you send me as well as exploring some of the issues threatening the health of our community. I want to hear from you! Some topics coming up: Why are we still taking risks? & What have safer sex campaigns taught us so far? Look for announcements of upcoming Tea Dances and other events here! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 5, May 19, 2000. |