With this issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth we return to our summer publishing schedule, so look for a new Letters every two weeks from now until Labor Day weekend. To keep up with what’s happening around town, check out CAMPdates; for a look at current art, theater, and performance news, see Doug Yetter’s CAMP Arts column.
The most exciting Delaware news, of course, is the passage of SB 30, the civil union bill. The legislation will give same sex couples in Delaware the same rights, protections, and obligations that exist for married couples. Governor Jack Markell will sign the bill on March 11 at The Queen Theater on Market Street in Wilmingon. If interested in attending the signing, please RSVP on the Equality Delaware Facebook page. We are all thankful for the many people who have worked to make civil unions legal in Delaware, especially the board and volunteers of Equality Delaware, and our faithful allies in both the State Senate and House of Representatives. After the Governor signs the bill, it will not become law until January 1, 2012. Here at CAMP Rehoboth we’ve got a great facility for civil union ceremonies. Our new slogan is CU@CAMP!
Within a few days of the publication of this issue of Letters, the new ecommerce section of our web site will be made available to the public. We’re very excited to finally get the store section of our site up and running. Everything we sell—tickets and sponsorships for events, all our membership levels, merchandise, and much more—can now be bought and paid for right online.
One of the first items available in our new CAMP store will be tickets and sponsorships for Love 2011, our huge, July 4th weekend dance event at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. This year’s Love will be the biggest dance weekend of the summer with two mega-dance parties! Saturday, July 2, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. is Red Love, with DJ/Remixer Joe Gauthreaux. Sunday, July 3, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. is Blue Love with DJ Mike Reimer. Sunday, July 3, from 4-8 p.m. will also feature our all new Ladies 2000—Lady Love Tea Dance with DJ Steve Singer. Events like this only happen because of the financial support of our many Hosts, Supporters, and Sponsors. Please consider becoming a part of the Love Team this year—you can sign up right online!
There have been many horrible disasters in the news lately. Murray is from Alabama, and we had family in Tuscaloosa when that monster storm did so much damage to the city. Closer to home, our Rehoboth community was deeply saddened by the fire that destroyed the home of long-time CAMP supporter and friend Joan Glass and her partner Joyce. Though neither one was injured, their three dogs perished in the fire. I know there has been a huge outpouring of sympathy and support for Joan and Joyce in the community. Anyone interested in helping should contact Fay Jacobs.
The recent CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST was a great success thanks to the incredible support of its many volunteers, sponsors, and dedicated FEST Committee members—all of whom are listed on page 15 of this magazine. I would like to say a very special thank you to Women’s FEST co-chairs Fay Jacobs and Jenn Harpel and their whole committee for all the amazing work done to make the event happen. This year there were Women’s FEST events all over town, and I especially enjoyed seeing the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center turned into a theater for the weekend—and seeing the great crowd that gathered in the CAMP Courtyard for the Broadwalk on the Boardwalk in support of the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. It was a great weekend!