Though it is being published a week later than usual because of all the CAMP Rehoboth 25th Anniversary events earlier this month, this is the October issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. Our feature this month, as is our custom at this time of year, is the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival—with a focus on films that are of special interest to the LGBT community. This year the Film Festival includes more days than ever, and runs from November 7-15, with screenings at three different venues: Cape Henlopen High School, MCC Rehoboth, and the Baycenter in Dewey Beach. For complete information on the 2015 RB Film Festival or to order tickets visit their website at rehobothfilm.com.
Here at CAMP Rehoboth we are still celebrating the success of our 25th Anniversary Silver Gala and Baltimore Avenue Block Party. Both events only happened because of the hard work of our 25th Anniversary Committee, our Sponsors, and our many volunteers. Certainly, we could not have had a more beautiful day for the Block Party, but both events will be remembered for a long time to come as highlights in the history of CAMP Rehoboth. As Murray said when speaking at the Gala, “We have been blessed” by an amazing community and it was wonderful to be able to celebrate the gifts of our Board of Directors, our staff, our volunteers, and our members. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the CAMP Rehoboth experience for the last 25 years.
Everybody loves a costume party, and this year CAMP Rehoboth and MCC Rehoboth are joining forces to host a Halloween Costume Party at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center on Saturday, October 31 from 8-12 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door, and the evening includes a DJ, a costume contest, and a cash bar.
It doesn’t happen very often (only once before that I remember), but this year World AIDS Day (which is always December 1) falls on the same day as the Rehoboth Beach Christmas Parade. As we did the last time, our plan is for the Candlelight Walk to be a part of the Christmas Parade. One of the goals of World AIDS Day has always been to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS, and walking as a part of the parade is actually a great way to do that. Toward the end of the parade, the Candlelight Walkers will turn off the main parade route and continue on to All Saints’ Episcopal Church for the usual Service of Remembrance and Hope. We would love to see a large group take part in the parade, so please plan to wear red and walk with us on December 1.
In our Booked Solid book review in this issue, Terri Schlichenmeyer writes about a novel by an author who plays a big role in the behind-the-scenes life of CAMP Rehoboth—among other things, he is the creator of the CAMP Rehoboth database. As we reported last year, And West is West by Ron Childress won the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. Not only did the prestigious award come with a large cash prize, but it included the publishing of the book, and this fall, the book was published by Algonquin Books. Barbara Kingsolver calls it “a crackerjack story,” and the book is receiving excellent reviews. On Sunday, November 1, from 2-4 p.m., Ron will be the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center to talk about the book and to sign copies. Browseabout Books is providing the books offered at the signing, and is generously donating 25% of the purchase price to CAMP Rehoboth.
The official CAMP Rehoboth chorus rehearsal season is now underway, and the Chorus is busy preparing for its winter concert Sassy, Brassy, and Classy: Songs with Attitude, February 12-14 at Epworth United Methodist Church. With almost 90 members, the Chorus is bigger than ever! Congratulations to artistic director Doug Yetter and all the Chorus members on their new season!