LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Matters |
by Murray Archibald |
New Dirt on the Construction Site Since our last issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, construction on the new wing of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center has finally begun. The goal is to have the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard completed in April, and the main building by early summer. The variance hitch (see Steve's The Way I See It column), slowed us down a bit but our construction site manager John Kyritsis is determined to keep us on schedule. Construction progress this winter has been an up and down experienceliterally. First the site was cleared, the back part of the building torn down, and the lot dug up to build the foundation. When the dirt went back in, however, it refused to compact to required specifications and had to be replaced with new dirt97 tons of new dirt to be precise. There is absolutely no truth, by the way, to the rumor that I just didn't like the color of the existing dirt! The real dirt, however, is a more sobering reality and one not so easily remedied in our current recession worried economy. The fact is that while we have raised a great deal of money in our capital campaign over the years, we still need to raise another $300,000 in order to get us through the final stages of our building project. I know from my own experience that every organizationlocal and nationalis asking for money these days. The world is full of "good" causes and all of us are required to make hard choices as to how much and to whom we are able to give support. I believe passionately in the work of CAMP Rehoboth and that the new building will make a tremendous difference in our ability to carry out and expand that work in our community. CAMP Rehoboth has received amazing financial support over the years, and I'm asking everyone to not only continue their support but to increase it in the coming monthshard as that may be. There are many ways to help. Here are a few: 1. Underwrite the cost of an item(s) on the Wish List. (see page 9) 2. Underwrite the cost of a space in the new building (see page 9) 3. Join the GEM Club (see page 8) 4. Make a donation in any amount to the CAMPus Fund 5. Organize a small party and collect donations (contact Beth Fitton for details) 6. Save all your change and add to Kathy Weir's "Make Change" box at the Community Center 7. Talk to your employer to find out if they will give matching funds for your charitable donations. One other thing we can all do is to find our friends and neighbors who may not as yet have contributed to any of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center capital campaigns or who are new to the area. To that end please take note of the accompanying sidebar that answers the question "What is CAMP Rehoboth?" I've discovered over the years that while many people are aware of some of the parts of CAMP Rehoboth, very few have an understanding of all that we do. The truth about non-profit organizations is that we will always be raising money. We can't survive without community support and without constant campaigns to insure financial security. Churches do it very welland I grew up the son of a Methodist minister. Recently I found myself remembering that as a young teenager I developed a fundraising campaign called Pennies for Poverty. Heavybut it worked! I suppose we need more than pennies now, but every little bit helps. Be it a church, a community center, a hospital, or an arts organization, the support of its local community makes all the difference to its success. Thank you to all the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Volunteers for the period of November 25-February 7. Cathin Bishop Janice Brierly Sue Brown Tony Burns Jim Byrnes Joanne Ciconte Robert Delanoce Wendi Dennis Ruth Dickerson Ward Ellinger Lynn Finaldi Mary Ford Tony Ghigi Carolyn Horn Spencer Kingswell Myra Kramer Charlie Lee Barry Morrison Michael Muller Sandra Pace Barbara Passikoff Anthony Perkins Barb Ralph Ken Reilly Chris Sampson Rose Schmidt Guillermo Silveira Laura Simon Dave Stabile Christy Steer Jill Stokes Alleane Taylor John Zinmeister Holiday Elves Cathin Bishop Ward Ellinger Lynn Finaldi Beth Fitton Tony Ghigi Myra Kramer Sharon Messina Anthony Perkins Ken Reilly Sal Seeley Kathy Weir Rainbow Thumb Club Matt Carey Ward Ellinger Rob Freeman Tony Ghigi Steve Hoult Bud Palmer Ken Reilly Tom White Murray Archibald, Founder and President of the Board of Directors of CAMP Rehoboth, is an artist in Rehoboth Beach. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 18, No. 01 February 08, 2008 |