Well, once again we’ve come to the end of another season of CAMP Rehoboth and of publishing this magazine. Looking back over this first tumultuous year in the age of Trump, I am even more thankful than ever for the amazing and constant support of our staff, volunteers, Board of Directors, members, donors, and sponsors. Throughout 2017, our membership committee has featured various CAMP Rehoboth members accompanied by a short statement and holding a sign. Back in the Spring, Rose Schmidt and Carolyn Horn’s simple statement about why they joined CAMP Rehoboth seems even more true today than it did then: “…because the work is not done!”
As can be seen from the photo on the In Brief page of this issue, this winter the original structure that houses the CAMP Rehoboth offices is undergoing a little facelift of sorts. The construction involves the careful removal, disposal, and replacement of the exterior asbestos siding on the old building, as well as new windows on the same building. We are grateful to The Longwood Foundation, Festival of Cheer, and Delaware Community Foundation, for the grants that made the project possible. CAMP Rehoboth will remain open throughout the winter with the exception of a few days around Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. During the winter months, the CAMP office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; and closed on Sundays.
The observance of World AIDS Day on December first has been a Rehoboth tradition since the early 1990s, and includes the annual Rehoboth Beach World AIDS Day Candlelight Walk and Service of Remembrance and Hope. The Candlelight Walk begins at the Rehoboth Bandstand at 6:30 p.m. and the Service follows at All Saints’ Episcopal Church on Olive Avenue. To have names added to the list of names to be read at the service email me. To volunteer or read names at the service contact Monica Parr at CAMP Rehoboth. From 3-6 p.m. that day, the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery will feature AIDS in the City and at Home and a short documentary film, A Place in the City—Three Stories about HIV, will be available for viewing.
Though 2017 may be coming to a close, the CAMP Rehoboth financials, audits, and reports for last year are now complete, and the CAMP Report for 2016 provides some highlights and insights into the work done at CAMP Rehoboth for that year. Check out The CAMP Report in this issue of Letters. For more details, the CAMP Rehoboth 2016 990 and audited financials are available on the CAMP website.
In the coming months, we have much to look forward to as the new year gets underway. The amazing CAMP Rehoboth Chorus is hard at work on their 2018 concert (Can’t Stop the Beat!) opening February 9-11 at Epworth United Methodist Church. The equally amazing and tireless Women’s FEST Committee has also been hard at work ever since last year’s Women’s FEST ended, and has now almost completed plans for the 18th CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST, April 12-15, 2018. Though it doesn’t take place until 2019, the CAMP Rehoboth African Safari trip has almost sold out, and has room for only six more people. For information, join Accent on Travel’s Annette Stellhorn at CAMP Rehoboth on Thursday, November 30 at 5 p.m.
The holiday season is a special time for family and friends, and Murray and I are especially thankful this year to live in a community as loving and supportive as this one. As my chemo treatments continue throughout the winter season, the embrace of our extended Rehoboth family keeps us going. Thank you for your constant love, support, and prayers. Happy Holidays from both of us.