This is the next-to-last issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth in the 2019 summer season. I can’t believe how fast the summer is passing! On the bright side, the best is still to come. August, September, and October are my favorite months. This is also the Dog Days issue of Letters. Quite fittingly so, considering we’ve just survived the worst heat wave of the summer. Though dog days was originally used to describe the rising of Sirius in the night sky, nowadays it refers to the hottest, most uncomfortable part to the summer season—and we’ve certainly had that! Still, if asked to choose, I’d pick hot and sultry over cool and rainy any day. I don’t mind the occasional summer thunderstorm—especially now that my dog Pete is too deaf to be upset by it. So find a cool place to rest, a refreshing drink, and sit back and enjoy the dog days according to Letters from CAMP Rehoboth.
A big word of thanks to everyone who signed up to be a Host, Supporter, or Sponsor of Sundance 2019. The event would not happen without your support. Please check out the Sundance Host and Sponsor list in this issue of Letters. As this issue goes to press, all Host/Sponsor levels—including the Supporter level with Sponsor Lounge access at the dance—are still available. All tickets and ticket packages are available on the CAMP Rehoboth website. Of special note to Sundance Auction goers and as a means of crowd control, we are cutting back on the number of tickets sold for the auction this year, so don’t put off purchasing them. They will sell out fast. And don’t forget, the auction party starts at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. as it has in the past. Studio 54 legend DJ Robbie Leslie kicks off the dance night with a Disco Day-Glo set from 7-10 p.m., and from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., it’s Ultraviolet with DJ superstar Joe Gauthreaux. Pure fun! Don’t miss it!▽
We are very proud of the work the CAMP Rehoboth Council of Advocates is doing to support youth and families in Sussex County. Out of the two information sessions conducted by the group, 30 people have signed up to be participants in the program. Many of them will be trained as mentors, and we are very happy about that additional level of support CAMP Rehoboth will now provide to the community. I especially want to thank Beth Cohen for her leadership, as well as team leaders Linda Gregory (Family Support), Mark Purpura (Policy Advocacy), Batya Hyman (Mentors), and Sal Seeley (Speakers). All of them have expressed gratitude for the skills that our community members are willing to share with those in need.▽
Congratulations to Wesley Combs and Linda Gregory on their election to the Board of Directors of CAMP Rehoboth. Both of them have played important roles in the Search and Transition Committee work done in the past year, and both are long-time supporters and members of our CAMP Rehoboth community. Thank you, and welcome. Thank you, as well, to all the Board and Committee members who have worked especially hard this year to make sure that our leadership transition is a smooth one.▽
In late July, the CAMP Rehoboth Volunteer Committee held another Volunteer Training Session—this one focused on Sundance. Sundance employs over 250 volunteers in a wide variety of roles. We depend on our volunteers to make Sundance function. Heading up all these volunteers, the Sundance Team Captains work all year to make sure that Sundance is a success. I’ve had the great pleasure of working with this team for many years. Come to think of it, I created it myself, a long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away?—no, but it feels that way). I’ve led the Sundance team for 32 years. I couldn’t do it without volunteers—and especially my Team Captains. Oh Captains, my Captains! Thank you!▽