LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Rehoboth Annual Report - 2001 |
Ten Years of CAMP
To those of us involved in the creation and evolution of CAMP Rehoboth, it's hard to believe we are starting our second decade. With this annual report we wanted to take a look, not only at what is happening to CAMP Rehoboth in the present, but where we've been the last ten years. A decade ago, Rehoboth's "gay renaissance" was in full swing. The gay beach, bars, a growing restaurant scene, nightclubs, and a location close to Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia was attracting not only a growing summer population, but a year round one as well. It was an exciting time, but not without its growing pains. CAMP Rehoboth grew out of those growing pains. It grew out of the need to provide a focus for the gay and lesbian community, and to create a positive environment with room for all of the many diverse people who wanted to enjoy the unique qualities of Rehoboth. In fact, the name CAMP is more than just a take on the roots of Rehoboth as a Methodist Church campground or its "summer camp" atmosphere. CAMP is an acronym for Create A More Positive Rehoboth. CAMP Rehoboth was created to work with and build communityfor gays and lesbians and for all. Ten years ago, there was no organization for the gay community in the area. CAMP Rehoboth was created to be a non-profit, community service organization that would not only serve the gay and lesbian community in the area, but also act as a bridge to the greater community around it. One of the first projects of the newly founded organization was the creation of a newsletter called Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. The first issue of that newsletter was only four pages. Today it averages 88 pages with the largest one being 120 pages. Advertising revenue from Letters has made it possible for CAMP Rehoboth to grow into the organization it is today. It has also provided us with an excellent source of communication that allows us to live up to the ideals of our mission and vision. While Letters from CAMP Rehoboth has been the most visible program of CAMP Rehoboth over the years, the organization has continued to grow and evolve. On the following pages of this report, its many programs and projects can be seenfrom support groups and fundraising events for other organizations to CAMPsafe and the Women's Project. CAMP Rehoboth is now an integral part of the community, joining in with new arts organizations such as the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival and Henlopen Theater Project, supporting the work of Beebe Hospital and the Public Library, working with Main Street, and providing sensitivity training for the Rehoboth summer police. Over the last two years, the creation of the CAMP Rehoboth Project Advisory Committee a group open to anyone wishing to participate in the work of CAMP Rehobothhas set in motion our most ambitious project to date. From the beginning there was hope that CAMP Rehoboth would become a full service community center, and now, through the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project, that dream is in the process of becoming a reality. With a five year plan for the growth and development of the Center in the works, the Community Center Project will kick-off its new Capital Building Fund Campaign at a gala event in June of 2001. In the early summer of 2000, a vision and mission was created for the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project. The vision is simpleto be "the heart of the community." That vision, though perhaps not put into words, has always been a part of the dream of CAMP Rehoboth. It's hard sometimes to keep our ideals alive once we get caught up in the fast paced world of deadlines, hectic schedules, and the unpredictable ups and downs of our lives. Visions and ideals cannot be stuffed in a closet somewhere, it's vital that we keep them flying out in front for us all to seeto remind us who we are and who we want to be. CAMP Rehoboth can never meet all the needs of our growing and diverse community. We will never be able to make all people happyno organization can do that. What we can do, is strive to live up to the needs we see around us, to listen to the community, to seek always equality and fair human rights, to be a voiceto truly be the heart of the community. CAMP Rehoboth would be nothing without the hard work and support of its staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, contributors, friends and the community around us. To all who have worked so hard, thank you for your support and faiththank you for your inspiration. As we look to the future in this eleventh year in the life of CAMP Rehoboth, it is all of you who are the life blood of the organization. It is all of you who make it possible for us to truly create a more positive world for all of us. Programs & Projects At the end of its first decade, CAMP Rehoboth is a well established part of the Rehoboth Beach communityits many programs and projects reflecting the diversity that makes this a colorful place to live and vacation. As the organization moves into the new millennium, it does so with a determination to continue existing programs and at the same time develop new ones designed to meet the needs of a growing community. Letters from CAMP Rehoboth Letters from CAMP Rehoboth is the most visible program of CAMP Rehoboth. Published 15 times a year, the magazine is a major funding source for the organization. Letters provides a focus and a voice for CAMP Rehoboth, and supports its mission to create a more positive environment of cooperation and understanding among all people. In its efforts to live up to the mission of CAMP Rehoboth, Letters provides support for other organizations, networks resources and information, promotes Rehoboth as a tourist destination, promotes artistic expression and creative thinking and provides a powerful tool for educating the community around it. The Women's Project of CAMP Rehoboth The Women's Project of CAMP Rehoboth provides education, health, and support services and a social environment which assures that the needs of the women's community are met. The Women's Project held its first annual Women's Health, Legal, and Financial Conference in Rehoboth Beach on March 24, 2001, with more than 70 participants. In an effort to embrace the spirit of all women in our community, the conference featured presentations by local professionals on health, financial and legal topics of specific importance to women. CAMPsafe CAMPsafe, an HIV/AIDS program providing education and outreach to gay and bisexual men in Sussex County, Delaware, is funded through a contract with the Delaware Department of Public Health. CAMPsafe takes advantage of the existing social structure and behaviors of the gay male and bisexual community in southern Delaware, reaching out to the targeted group in its places of recreationbars, restaurants, nightclubs, guest houses, shops, beaches, and beach houses. The message, "Have fun, play smart, CAMPsafe," has accompanied the distribution of tens of thousands of condoms and other items since the program began. The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project has been developed to expand CAMP Rehoboth into a full service community center in downtown Rehoboth Beach within the next five years. The Community Center will allow the expansion of existing programs as well as the development of new ones including: an information and referral center; a meeting place for social and support groups; permanent space for existing programs like The Women's Project and CAMPsafe; the establishment of a gay and lesbian youth group; health, education and wellness programs for men and women, a GLBT lending library/resource center; and expanded offices for CAMP Rehoboth and Letters. Summer 2001 will mark the kick-off of the new CRCCP Founder's Club and Capital Building Fund Campaign. SUNDANCE Sundance Benefit has been in existence longer than the organization of CAMP Rehoboth. The extremely successful Labor Day Weekend benefit raises money for organizations in the Rehoboth area, including Sussex County AIDS Committee and CAMP Rehoboth. The year 2001 will be the 14th Sundance and will bring the net amount raised to date to more than $1,000,000. SUPPORT GROUPS CAMP Rehoboth sponsors weekly support groups for gay men and women. The groups offer participants a place where they can openly discuss issues of importance to them, and where they can share ideas on relationships, coming out, healthincluding HIV/AIDS, socialization and feelings of isolation. COMMUNITY RELATIONS CAMP Rehoboth actively supports area arts programs, such as The Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, the Henlopen Theater Project, and the Rehoboth Art League. We work closely with Beebe Medical Center, the Rehoboth Beach Public Library and Rehoboth Beach Main Street. And we work with the Rehoboth Beach Police Chief to provide sensitivity training for the summer police officers. BEACH BOOK The Beach Book, published annually by CAMP Rehoboth and BeachHouseNetwork.com, is a directory with addresses and phone numbers of summer residents of the Rehoboth Beach area and their frequent visitors. CAMP Financials for 2000 Treasurer's Report On behalf of the Board of Directors of CAMP Rehoboth I would like to share with you CAMP's current financial statements for the period ending December 31, 2000. When CAMP Rehoboth began some ten years ago, the only program was Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. Today CAMP Rehoboth can boast that it has successfully created and planned many new programs. We thank you for supporting our growth with your donations of time and money. These new and planned programs are for youthe communityto provide community services. Donations and funds raised for these programs are restricted for use in developing and implementing the programs. Administrative costs, such as salaries, rent, utilities, etc. are not paid for out of designated program funds. Eighty percent (80%) of all of the management and general expenses for all of the CAMP programs are paid for by the advertising revenue from Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. Fifteen percent (15%) is paid from CAMP memberships, subscriptions and donations. Five percent (5%) is paid by the CAMPsafe contract with the State of Delaware. We are planning, with your help, to keep growing and serving our community in Rehoboth Beach. Sincerely, Natalie B. Moss, CPA CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. Statement of Income & Expenses for the year ending December 31, 2000 Revenues Memberships 2,889 Donations 5,629 Contracts 38,000 Magazine Advertising 158,996 Fundraising Events 218,484 Merchandise Sales 900 Interest 73 Total Revenues 424,971 Expenses Fundraising 25,297 Grants to other organizations 107,000 Program services: CAMP Rehoboth 23,769 Letters production 207,738 CAMPsafe 45,172 Community Center Project 1,519 Women's Project 1,600 Total Expenses 412,095 Increase for the year 12,876 Fund balance beginning of year 39,687 Fund balance end of year restricted 27,784 Fund balance end of year unrestricted 24,779 Year end fund balance 52,563 A Decade of Information In Letters from CAMP Rehoboth - In 1991, our first year, we published 10 issues of Letters with a total of 78 pages - In 2000, our tenth year, we published 15 issues of Letters totaling 1,272 pages - From 1991 to 2000, a total 5,574 pages of Letters has been printed - Each issue of Letters (since 1997) is on the Internet at www.camprehoboth.com - Last year, we donated over 110 pages of advertising space (at a retail value of $43,450) in support of non-profit groups STAFF CAMP Rehoboth relies on the help of paid and volunteer staff to accomplish its many programs and projects. SALARIED STAFF STEVE ELKINS has played a part in both the foundation and evolution of CAMP Rehoboth. Since 1993 he has served as the full time Executive Director of CAMP Rehoboth and Editor of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. He is also co-founder of the Sundance Benefit. KATHY WEIR was a long time volunteer for CAMP Rehoboth before becoming Administrative Coordinator in 1999. She also coordinates volunteer activities for the many CAMP Rehoboth projects. TRICIA MASSELLA is the Advertising Sales Manager for Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. Tricia assumed the position in 1997 and has been responsible for the tremendous growth in advertising revenue. SALVATORE SEELEY is Program Director of CAMPsafe, the CAMP Rehoboth AIDS prevention program. CAMPsafe is funded by a contract with the Delaware Department of Public Health. VOLUNTEER STAFF NATALIE MOSS appeared in the CAMP Rehoboth office as a volunteer in 1991 and quickly became indispensable. Since that time she has served as Treasurer for CAMP Rehoboth and The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project. Natalie is also Auction Co-Chair of the annual Sundance Benefit. MURRAY ARCHIBALD is one of the founders of CAMP Rehoboth, serving the organization in many ways since its creation in 1991. Since 1993 he has been President of the Board of Directors of CAMP Rehoboth. He is co-founder and producer of Sundance and co-chair of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 4, May 4, 2001. |