We’re Getting Closer and Closer….
It’s always bittersweet. With all of the anticipation leading up to Memorial Day weekend, in nearly the blink of an eye, the 4th of July has passed, and we’re suddenly on the second-half slide to another summer season coming to a close.
Here at CAMP Rehoboth, we have been busy preparing for our 32nd Sundance. Under the direction of Interim Executive Director, Murray Archibald, the annual Labor Day weekend event is our largest fundraiser of the year.
The weeks have flown by for the Succession Team, too. As you may have read in recent issues, we continue to undertake a thorough search and transition process for the next Executive Director (ED), a process that began last summer with the board’s selection of consultants and development of a strategic framework for moving forward.
We initially collected data from the community and used it to inform CAMP Rehoboth’s strategic priorities. Based on those efforts, the Search Committee (composed of three board members and three community members) worked alongside a consultant with expertise in implementing searches for executive directors at nonprofits like ours.
With input from Murray, staff, and other key stakeholders, a comprehensive staffing analysis, and a revised and board-approved job description were created to align the ED’s role with the organization’s goals.
We developed a list of sources and sites for posting the ED job announcement, and posted it the first week of May. Over the next month, the consultant received applications from more than 40 people. There was great diversity among the impressive pool of candidates, and many had skills and experience that could benefit CAMP Rehoboth.
The Search Committee established clearly-defined standards for the qualifications we were seeking in the applicants and, in keeping with the job description, developed a screening rubric to determine “gold” and “silver” standards for hiring criteria. Of paramount importance were experience in executive leadership, nonprofit management, and passion for the CAMP Rehoboth mission.
The consultant then vetted resumes and completed preliminary screenings with 14 candidates. After extensive discussion and consideration, the Committee conducted face-to-face interviews with 10 of those individuals and has since identified the top three candidates.
By the time this issue is printed, those final candidates will have met with key stakeholders, including Murray, staff, community members, and the full board. Thorough reference checks will also be completed before the Search Committee makes a final recommendation to the Board of Directors.
Of course, the board aims to ensure that the legacy of our former co-founder and long-time Executive Director, the late Steve Elkins, along with that of co-founder, Past President, and current Interim Executive Director, Murray Archibald, will be nurtured and strengthened to serve the changing needs of the LGBTQ community in our region.
We believe each of the final candidates could ensure CAMP Rehoboth remains a viable, financially stable, and very relevant organization as it continues to evolve, and each will bring a unique perspective and ideas on what changes might help the organization achieve its goals.
We are working hard to select the best possible candidate and look forward to naming our new ED in the coming weeks. We are also grateful for the community’s support during this transition. ▼
Chris Beagle is President of the CAMP Rehoboth Board of Directors and is a realtor at Berkshire-Hathaway-Gallo Realty in Rehoboth Beach.