July 11, 2008 - CAMP Matters

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth

CAMP Matters

As I typed the title of this article I realized that it conjured up images of being stretched out on a rumpled bed smoking a cigarette, but, honestly, nothing could be further from the truth. Aside from the fact that I don't smoke, the love of which I speak is, of course, the big Love event at the Rehoboth Convention Center over the July 4th weekend.

Anyone who has ever attended one of our big dance events is aware of the extensive work that goes into creating the elaborate transformation of the Convention Center into a pulsing, flashing dance club. There are light crews and sound crews and tech crews and decoration teams and bar teams and security and door crews. Some we have to pay for; many are volunteers. The ones most on my mind today, fall under the volunteer category and are the ones who do the actual physical work of setting up and breaking down the event.

I know (because I'm one of them) that they are all sore and probably somewhat bruised this morning, but I hope still basking in the light of Love and the satisfaction of a job well done. As the on- site manager and designer for our events, these are the people I work with and depend upon and really appreciate because I know how demanding the work can be.

Steve and I have been producing events even longer than the 18 years that we've worked to make CAMP Rehoboth a success. Our biggest event, Sundance, is actually older than CAMP Rehoboth and will be celebrating 21 years this Labor Day weekend. Over all those years, a great many people have, at one time or another, been a part of our production team in some form or another. A few have been involved in almost all of the events over the years, but generally the team operates at a slow rate of evolution as people ebb and flow through both our organization and this little resort community we call home.

CAMP Rehoboth depends on volunteers for many thingsas do most non-profit organizationsand they come to us for many reasons and with many talents. The most exciting thing for anyone who depends on volunteers is finding someone who will take ownership of one particular task, be it as the chair or member of a committee; someone in a maintenance of office position; or, as in this case, a member of my dcor or set-up team.

This year, several people who have been with us for a number of years are retiring. Though already, others are stepping up to take their places, the load is always lighter when we have a full sized crew, so on this day after Love I thought I would try to list and describe the places where, heading into Sundance, we could use some extra help.

Event Dcor Team

Members of the event dcor team are responsible for working on the event site to prepare materials and execute designs. Tasks include: Hanging fabric and other dcor pieces, working with light tools, sewing and cutting fabric and other materials. A good eye for design and no fear of heights is a plus. Members of the Event Dcor Team quite often also help with the Event Breakdown Team which includes packing up and storing all dcor and event related materials.

Auction Floor Set-up Team Captains

The Sundance Auction set-up depends on two or three Auction Team Captains who supervise the process. The Team Captains need to have a good sense of layout and design and be good with managing volunteers and working under pressure. Team Captains need to be available for several pre-event planning meetings as well as the several days leading up to Sundance.

Graphic Artists

The Graphics Team prepares the more than 500 foam core displays and signs for the Sundance Auction. Come armed and ready to do battle with a #11 x-acto blade and a hot glue gun.

Last year, close to 180 people worked to make Sundance happen. Some, during the event and others in preparation for, or cleaning up afterwards. Some of them were Team Captains and others "worker bees." All of them, I think, had fun, and the satisfaction of being a part of a successful venture with a good cause. There are many other Sundance and event volunteer positions available besides the ones I just listed, but these are the ones that are on-site, down-and-get-your-hands-dirty workand, from my point of view, the most fun.

While I'm talking about this particular breed of volunteer, I'd like to say a very heartfelt thanks to this year's Love set-up and break-down team: Laura Simon, Cathin Bishop, Adam Linder, Larry Zeigler, John Klomp, Joe Brannen, Bob Ramsey, and Allen Robertson. For a complete list of Love volunteers see the Love Thank-You Ad on page 15.

To join this, or any other Sundance team, contact me at CAMP Rehoboth

Thank you to all the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Volunteers for the period of July 10-July 24.

Ellice Bock Tony Burns Terry Colli Coca de Silviera Paul Fessler Chuck Flanagan Joe Garitta Tony Ghigi Milton Gordon Bill Hromnak Steve Janosik Kevin Kehan Paul Kimelman Diana Layfield Charlie Lee Jim McWilliams Michael Muller Bob Nagy Jerry Oshinski Steve Proctor Barb Ralph Ken Reilly Chris Sampson Rich Snell Kim Schoenle Melissa Schoenle Guillermo Silveira Martin Thaler Karl Zoric

Rainbow Thumb Club (CAMP Courtyard Maintenance)

Matt Carey Ward Ellinger Rob Freeman Tony Ghigi Steve Hoult Anne Mundel 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. 09 July11, 2008