Wow! is it really September already? i can’t believe how fast another summer has flown by. I say that every year, don’t I? Oh well, the fall season is my favorite (I say that every year, too!). I don’t know if it’s because of the many festivals on the horizon, or just because we finally have time to enjoy life a little more, but autumn in RB is “simply the best.” Part of being able to relax a little more comes from the fact that Letters from CAMP Rehoboth is now on its once-a-month publishing schedule.
Another reason for celebrating the end of the summer is the success of this year’s 25th Anniversary Sundance. Our heartfelt thanks to all the Sponsors, Supporters, Hosts, Auction Donors, Team Captains, Volunteers, and attendees who helped us to clear more than $130,000 to support the work of CAMP Rehoboth. Please take a look at the names listed on pages 8-10 of this issue. The support that comes from this community is extraordinary, and Sundance could not happen without the tremendous participation that comes from it. Thank you to everyone whose efforts made this year’s anniversary celebration a very special occasion.
Politics in our area took an ugly turn last week, when a homophobic robo call went out targeting many of the candidates supporting marriage equality—both democrats and republicans. In spite of these hateful calls, most of the candidates prevailed. Congratulations to Andy Staton, Ernie Lopez, and Marie Mayor for winning their primaries. Now on to the general election!
Beginning this month, the CAMP Rehoboth program committee along with the Delaware Humanities Forum will present a Fall Lecture Series at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. On Sunday, September 23, at 4 p.m., Evelyn Swenssen will present Famous Women—Maria von Trapp. On Tuesday, October 23, at 7 p.m., Sandra Denney will bring van Gogh alive with The Life and Legacy of Vincent van Gogh. The November lecture (Thursday, November 15, 7 p.m.), with Rehoboth’s own Lenore Mussoff will be They Make Us Laugh: Humor in Literature. All three lectures are free and don’t require reservations. The doors open 30 minutes prior to the lecture.
This month the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus begins rehearsing for their new season under the direction of new Music Director Doug Yetter. Doug is, of course, a well-known figure in our community. He is Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Clear Space Theatre Company, organist at Epworth United Methodist Church, and the author of CAMParts in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. Popular performer David Zipse returns to the Chorus this year as accompanist. The theme for this year’s Chorus is Broadway Our Way and will feature songs from some of the most beloved musicals of all time, including Sound of Music and South Pacific. It’s not too late to join the Chorus, and all singers are welcome—gay and straight. Auditions are not required. For information about becoming a member of the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus contact Bob Hoffer or simply go to the CAMP Chorus page on our website.
As I mentioned earlier, the fall is an amazing time in the Rehoboth Beach area. One of our favorite fall events is the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, November 7-11. From the beginning, CAMP Rehoboth has been a supporter of the festival because it fits so well into our mission of “creating a more positive environment” and “promoting artistic expressions.” CAMP Rehoboth is proud to again be a Corporate Sponsor of this year’s Film Festival. The Festival features a number of films that are of special interest to the LGBT community, and we’ll have our annual preview of those films in the October issue of Letters. The complete program for the 2012 Film Festival will be available on the Rehoboth Beach Film Society website in early October.