All too often we must say farewell to friends in the pages of Letters. This week is an especially difficult one for all of us at CAMP Rehoboth because of the passing of Bob Hoffer. Bob was a member of the Board of Directors and an office volunteer. He will be greatly missed by all of us. See the We Remember page in this issue for details about the service.
In response to recent accusations of anti-LGBT bias at Cape Henlopen High School, CAMP Rehoboth, Equality Delaware, ACLU of Delaware, and others have invited students, teachers, parents, and community members to join us for a Community Conversation about Diversity in our Schools, on Monday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center
We are continuing our close watch on SB65, the bill that would ban the use of conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth in Delaware. As I said in the previous issue of Letters, the bill has passed the Delaware Senate, and has now been released from the Delaware House Health and Human Development Committee for a vote on the House floor—which makes us optimistic about its passage.
CAMP Rehoboth has always encouraged partnerships with community organizations, and that tradition continues with Delaware Technical Community College (Del Tech). The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center will now be the location for some of their continuing education classes. First up, and beginning in the fall of this year, our own Fay Jacobs will conduct a variety of writing courses. The Del Tech catalogue will be available soon, so watch for details about this and other classes coming to the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.
Our connection with Del Tech continues in other ways, as well, and we are happy to announce that it will now be a Letters from CAMP Rehoboth distribution site. Other sites recently added for Letters pickup include: Milton Theatre, all five of the Sussex County Cheer Centers, and the State Service Center in Laurel.
CAMPsafe, our longtime, state funded hiv and sti testing and education program continues to expand under the expert direction of our Health and Wellness Director Sal Seeley. Beginning in June we will offer additional weekend and evening hours for testing at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. Sal and his staff now also operate an HIV testing site in Laurel, Delaware, three days a week (Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Thursday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.). Testing in Laurel is walk-in or by appointment. All HIV and STI tests are free.
As is usual for us at this time of year, plans for sundance 2017 on Labor Day weekend are beginning in earnest. Believe it or not, this is the 30th Sundance, which does point out, as Murray likes to say, “Who throws a party for 30 years?” The one thing we can promise is that it will be spectacular. Sundance couldn’t happen without the tremendous support it receives from Sponsors, Supporters, Hosts, auction donors, and volunteers, so please sign-up today to help us make this 30th Anniversary Sundance 2017—Rainbow XXX: Solar NRG one to remember. Sign-up at camprehoboth.com and take care of it all online.
Looking ahead, CAMP Rehoboth is again co-sponsoring the Homeowners Association Candidate Forum at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center on July 28. For a while it looked like we wouldn’t have a mayoral election this year, but at the last minute, Paul Kuhns challenged Rehoboth Mayor Sam Cooper for the position. Three candidates will vie for two City Commissioner seats including incumbent Kathy McGuiness, and newcomers Susan Gay and Lisa Schlosser. You have until July 13 to register to vote.