Tthis is the last summer issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth for the 2011 season. Hard to believe, isn’t it? I always heard that time moves faster the older we get, but enough already! September will, at least, give us the chance to catch our breath a little, as we go back to publishing Letters once a month instead of every two weeks as we do throughout the summer. September is one of the best times of the year to be in Rehoboth: the frantic pace of the summer has eased a bit; the weather is usually gorgeous; all the restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries are still operating on a close-to-summer schedule; parking meters disappear (after the second Sunday following Labor Day); and Rehoboth residents collectively take a deep breath and relax a little.
Before we pronounce the end of the summer season, however, we come to one of the biggest celebrations of the year: Labor Day weekend. For many of us in Rehoboth Beach, Labor Day weekend means Sundance, and for weeks now, hundreds of sponsors, supporters, hosts, volunteers, and team captains have been working to make this year’s Sundance a “wonderful, glorious, and amazing” event to remember. Sundance is a two-night event—the first night is the gigantic Sundance Live and Silent Auction, and the second night is the spectacular Sundance itself (music by Mark Thomas, lights by Paul Turner)—with an open bar all night long for both events. Sundance is CAMP Rehoboth’s largest event and the money it raises makes it possible for us to continue to do our work in the community and to operate the Community Center. Tickets can be purchased on our website, in the Sundance Tent on Poodle Beach (weekends only), or at CAMP Rehoboth (302-227-5620). For more on Sundance, see CAMPmatters in this issue..
Labor Day weekend in Rehoboth is also known for the outrageously fabulous Drag Volleyball game that draws thousands of spectators to Poodle Beach. The game always takes place at 1 p.m. on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. I just went back and watched again the piece that Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb did for the Today show on July 28 that included a segment on Drag Volleyball, and it reminded me how easy it is for us to forget what a unique little town this is. Don’t miss Drag Volleyball this year: the boys will be serving up some more good old-fashioned, hometown fun—Rehoboth style!
In the recent Rehoboth election, Mayor Sam Cooper and commissioner Lorraine Zellers were re-elected, and local businessman Mark Hunker was elected to join them as our newest City Commissioner. Congratulations to all three on their election. Congratulations, as well, to Tom McGlone and to Rick Kirchhoff for their contribution to the very important discussions that took place during the election and that will help shape the future work of the Rehoboth Beach City Council. Running for public office is not an easy thing to do, and I, for one, am very grateful to all five candidates for being willing to step up and serve this community we all love.
Volunteers have always been an important part of the work we do here at CAMP Rehoboth, as they are in all organizations. CAMP Rehoboth volunteers can be found at every level of our organization, including some major staff level positions. Over the past year, the CAMP Rehoboth Volunteer Development Committee has been working on a volunteer training program, and recently launched its first Volunteer Orientation. The training team plans to offer these orientation sessions several times a year (perhaps even once a month), and I highly recommend participating in one of them—even those who have been volunteering for CAMP Rehoboth activities and events for a long time. My thanks to all the team members for their incredible work, and, oh yes, they are all volunteers themselves!