Is it really mid-August already? Somehow this is the next to last summer issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. I’m always shocked when we get to this point in the year, primarily because I know that Sundance is coming up faster than I want to think about—which is why our cover image is titled “Balls to the Wall.” This is our first sports themed issue of Letters and the real reason we have balls on the cover, but there’s no doubt in my mind that we are all working full out—balls to the wall—in order to get through the last weeks of the summer. I always like to know where an expression comes from, and was surprised to learn that this one originated with aviators pushing the ball handle of the throttle all the way to the wall of their plane. One more thing about the cover: our interpretation of sports was somewhat loose, and I confess that sports imagery got a lot more interesting to me once we added a disco ball into the mix. And the watermelon? In these hot and sultry dog days of summer, a watermelon seed spitting contest sounds about as sporty as I can manage—or would be if watermelons still had seeds. ▽
Our little State of Delaware has come through on LGBTQ rights once again, and on Monday, July 23 Governor John Carney signed SB 65, the Conversion Therapy Ban, into law. The bill bans mental health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on minors. Conversion therapy attempts to change a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation, and is discouraged by the American Psychiatric Association. Delaware is the 15th state to ban conversion therapy and its new law also means that the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and their Families cannot recommend the therapy. Our thanks to all who worked to make this happen! ▽
We talk about Sundance a lot as we count down the days until Labor Day Weekend—and for a reason. Sundance is CAMP Rehoboth’s largest single fundraising event of the year, and an important piece of its financial support structure. Along with membership, Letters’ income, grants, donations, rental income, and other events, it helps provide a diverse and healthy stream of revenue for the organization. We could not do the work of CAMP Rehoboth without the generous support we receive from our extended Rehoboth community—including Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and places all up and down the mid-Atlantic region. The 2017 CAMP Rehoboth Audited Financials PDF is now available on the CAMP Rehoboth website. Look for it in the dropdown menu on the About Us button in the black bar at the top of every page. ▽
Sundance is two years older than CAMP Rehoboth and over the past 30 years has become a Labor Day weekend tradition for many. In this issue we unveil our final Sundance Host, Supporter, and Sponsor list on page 25. These are the over 450 folks who make the event possible, and I am grateful to all of them for helping us to carry on this important CAMP Rehoboth event. On page 22 we highlight our dance—something we’re very excited about this year because of the addition of the Sundance Disco Twilight Tea with Studio 54/Saint DJ Robbie Leslie. Don’t forget, the doors open this year at 7 p.m. with Robbie, and dancing continues into the night with the amazing sounds of DJ/Remixer Joe Gauthreaux. Then on the following page, Sondra Arkin writes about the ongoing and decades-long Sundance game of Disco Lottery. Read about it and join the fun! Don’t wait, all Sundance tickets and Host/Sponsor level ticket packages are on sale now on the CAMP Rehoboth website. ▽
Looking ahead, don’t miss the CAMP Rehoboth Bachelor Auction at Aqua on August 12 and the Sundance Racing Festival on August 26 (see CAMP News in this issue for more). Newly announced for September 21, the Women’s FEST Reunion Tour Concert is already selling fast, and save October 14 for the CAMP Rehoboth Baltimore Avenue Block Party. ▼