LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Connect |
| by Beth Fitton |
| Between the Happenings of Their Lives
I think the first person to create a pin or bumper strip that says, "I survived another resort town summer!" will have a huge clientele among the shop-owners, service industry workers and, quite possibly, home owners. It is a strange dichotomy! We all love the energy, the excitement and, business owners, the disposable dollars that come with the tourists. But, we fuss about the traffic, the waiting for service in shops and restaurants and the crowds at the beach. The Delaware Tourism Office has long promoted the idea of the "shoulder season." I know that their goal is repeat business. I am just looking at the great difference it would make if we could spread out the number of visitors over more weeks. No surprise! The gay community has figured this out. If you are not tied to a school schedule, either for your own children or your employment, you can enjoy sensational weather for far longer than mid-June to Labor Day. (I personally recommend September.) To everyone who joined in the excitement and lent their energy to this summer season in Rehoboth Beach, thank you. To all of you who supported the CAMP Rehoboth Golf Tournament, Love, Follies, and Sundance, thank you so very much. Let's face it, if you didn't come, we wouldn't produce the events. Your financial support of the summer events allows us to continue our work in the community long after the last snowflake of winter has fallen. We appreciate each ticket purchase, sponsor and host as you make the work of CAMP Rehoboth possible. I would also like to offer a sincere "Hooray!" for the volunteers who help CAMP Rehoboth in a myriad of ways, spring, summer, fall and winter. Over many years, volunteers have come to us between the happenings of their lives. They come in saying that they are between jobs or between medical treatments. Others may be between stages of their lives, from careers to retirement or from married life to accepting their new-found sexual orientation. They offer their help and find a new place to feel at home. Many of these loving, giving people have come back to CAMP Rehoboth year after year, to help with Love or Sundance and to feel that greater connection to community. A long-time friend of mine who absolutely loves California, from Palm Springs to the Russian River, tells me that the reason he doesn't move there is because it wouldn't be fun any more if he did. For years I thought his reasoning was seriously flawed. After having lived in Rehoboth Beach for nearly nine years, I do see some of his reasoning. It is true that you do not get that "vacation rush" in your home town no matter how excellent the place is. However, in Rehoboth Beach, you do get year-round acceptance, a caring community, great restaurants and quite extraordinary entertainment, thanks to a growing number of events and entertainment venues. For me that is more than enough. I'll still take a few weeks a year away for the "rush" and return to Rehoboth Beach reassured that home is best.Beth Fitton is Development Director of CAMP Rehoboth. She may be reached at beth@camprehoboth.com or by calling 302-227-5620. |
|
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 18, No. 13 September 12, 2008 |