Now that Memorial Day Weekend is past, Summer 2016 is officially off and running, though we might not know it by looking at the weather forecast, which continues to be cooler and cloudier than usual. At least “miserable” May is finally over, and perhaps now the sun will finally come out and dry things off a bit. Weather aside, we’re looking forward to another amazing summer in Rehoboth Beach. As always there are new businesses to explore, and old familiar ones to revisit. I know it’s summer when the Back Porch and Aqua reopen for the season!
Summertime is a magical time of year, especially in beach communities. Murray has always referred to Rehoboth and other summer resorts as communities in the “crossroads,” places where people come from far distant places to spend a week, a month, the entire summer, or weekends all summer, or even all year, long. Our strength here at CAMP Rehoboth relies on the continual replenishment of our community, and weekend and summer visitors quite often turn into residents at some point in their lives—and become supporters and volunteers, for which we are always grateful. In this issue Murray writes about the role imagination plays in the creative process—and in building organizations like CAMP Rehoboth.
In may a group of young adults (age 18-30) met for an organizational meeting at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. Led by Arizona Prinkey (pridedelaware.com) the group seeks “to provide a safe space for thoughtful discussion and socialization.” Other CAMP Rehoboth groups currently meeting include Trans Talk, LGBT Bereavement Support Group, and an Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group—plus our regular men’s and women’s (Coffee Talk) discussion groups, as well as AA and NA weekly meetings. For information about CAMP Rehoboth support and social groups, contact our Health and Wellness Director Sal Seeley.
On May 24, the Sundance 2016 Host and Sponsor forms were mailed to the entire CAMP database. It’s a massive mailing that usually takes two days, but our amazing volunteers (under the direction of our mailing guru Sandra Skidmore), knocked it out in one day—actually by 2 p.m.! (Check out the volunteer photo in the In Brief section to see our production line.) Sundance Sponsor, Supporter, Host, and event tickets are now on sale to members, and will be available to the public on our website in early June. Sundance is made possible by the many Hosts, Supporters, and Sponsors who sign up to support the event, so please consider supporting Sundance this year. Sundance 2016 is a two-night event Labor Day weekend at the Rehoboth Mall. Saturday, September 3, from 7-10 p.m., is the silent and live auction (with auctioneer Lorne Crawford), a cocktail buffet, and an open bar. Sunday, September 4, from 8 p.m.-2 a.m., is the dance party with music by DJ/Remixer Joe Gauthreaux, lights by Paul Turner, and an open bar. Don’t miss it! It’s going to be a spectacular event!
As i was wrapping up this column, Tony Burns stopped by our office for Murray to download some photos for this issue of Letters, and it occurred to me, as it often does at this time of year, that we have an amazingly talented and generous group of volunteers, members, supporters, and donors in this community. Tony, who, by the way, falls into all of those categories, has photo documented the Rehoboth LGBT and arts community for decades, and his hard work is always on display in this magazine, as well as in the photo archives in the CAMP Rehoboth library. Tony covers just about everything that goes on in the Lewes and Rehoboth Beach area (it’s not unusual for him to attend six or seven or more events on a busy day in the summertime), and in his travels from one social event to another, he has acquired a vast knowledge base about everything Rehoboth. Thanks Tony, you are a gift to all of us!