Hello summer 2018! This is the Memorial Day issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. Just speaking those words aloud stirs up memories of the first few summers Steve and I spent sharing a beach house with friends in Rehoboth Beach 40 years ago. We came then for the same reason people come today—the beach, the Boardwalk, good friends, good food, and good times. Over all those years, the town has changed and attitudes about LGBTQ people have changed—but the essence of Rehoboth is still the same. It may take a little—okay, a lot—longer to get here on Route 1, but it’s still worth it. Every morning when I walk the dog down Rehoboth Avenue, I am thankful to live in this gentle, lovely little town. So welcome all—visitors and residents—to another summer season. The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center is open seven days a week. Stop by to pick up a copy of Letters, to volunteer or become a member, with questions, comments, or just to say hello.▽

In early May, I was working at my desk when a package arrived from our U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester. Opening it, I was surprised to see a beautiful brass plaque with a copy of the page from the United States Congressional Record for April 10, 2018, that included a heartfelt and very moving Tribute to Steve Elkins. “Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of Steve Elkins, a civil rights pioneer, an advocate for our state’s LGBTQ community, and a decades-long fighter for hope and inclusivity for all Delaware families.” She went on to describe CAMP Rehoboth and the work the two of us did over the years. She ended her remarks with: “I will remember him for his loving and uplifting spirt and will do my part to ensure his legacy lives on.” And so will we!▽

The CAMP Rehoboth 2018 Membership Drive continues as we head into the summer season. Our membership provides amazing support for CAMP Rehoboth, so please take a look at Glen Pruitt’s article on page 30 of this issue. Glen reminds us all of the many ways that CAMP Rehoboth Health and Wellness Programs benefit the people of our community—and what a tremendous role our membership plays in making that possible. All membership levels are available on the CAMP Rehoboth website. Please renew or upgrade existing memberships, or sign-up to become a new member today!▽

Does it make me an “old folk” if I use the expression “back in the day.” I suspect it does. Oh well. Back in the day when we first started coming to Rehoboth, the season was clearly defined. We opened our beach houses on Memorial Day weekend, and turned the keys back in after our house closing party shortly after Labor Day weekend. Nowadays, the Rehoboth/Lewes area is busy all year long—and though CAMP Rehoboth too has events and activities all year long, summertime remains prime time for us. Look for details about all of our events and activities in these pages and at camprehoboth.com throughout the summer season, including: HeART on a String, the Gay Men’s Chorus Cabaret encore performance of It Takes Two, The Skivvies, the July 4th Pool Party, Bachelor Auction, Sundance Land and Sea Racing Festival, and Sundance 2018.▽

Sundance continues to be CAMP Rehoboth’s biggest event of the year, and will aways occupy a place in my heart. The first Sundance was a ten year anniversary party for Steve Elkins and me. This Labor Day weekend we will dance the Sundance for the 31st time. It would have been our 40th anniversary. This issue of Letters contains the first “teaser” ad for Sundance 2018, and we intend to make it a true celebration in memory of Steve—plus we are back home at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. The theme is: Sundance 2018: Rainbow XXXI—In the Name of Love. May it be a summer of love for all of us. Happy Memorial Day!▽