Making Connections
On Saturday, May 4, the City of Rehoboth Beach ensured the legacy of CAMP Rehoboth’s former executive director and co-founder would be permanently marked, by dedicating Steve Elkins Way.
The walkway establishes the connection between the city’s convention center and Baltimore Avenue, home to CAMP Rehoboth. It is especially appropriate given the innumerable connections that Steve, along with his husband and Interim Executive Director, Murray Archibald, worked so tirelessly to create here for over 30 years.
The timing of the dedication seems especially fitting now, as the search for a successor, CAMP Rehoboth’s next executive director (ED), was launched just three days earlier. Under the guidance of Stamm Consultancy, the Board of Directors and its Succession Team is confident we will identify a superb individual to help lead CAMP Rehoboth into its next chapter.
This column concludes the series highlighting the community members serving on our Search and Transition Committees, and features Jon Worthington and Beth Cohen.
As the former CEO of a large federal government organization, Jon served on a selection committee for the placement of high ranking officials. After retiring, he earned a Masters in Spiritual Psychology, honing his skills as a mentor, coach, and change agent to effectively support transformation within organizations, groups, and individuals.
From 2008 to 2011, Jon served as a member of the Tulsa Oklahoma Equality Center (OkEq), the 6th largest LGBTQ community center in the country, and was involved there with a founder transition to a new executive director. He has been actively involved with CAMP Rehoboth since the early 90s, and is a Founder’s Circle member. He hopes to see CAMP Rehoboth diversify by “tapping the voices of all ages of the LGBTQ community and building the next generation of leaders.”
Also serving on the Transition Committee is community member Rabbi Beth Cohen, who has lived in Lewes since 2002—full time since 2007. Beth served on the Board of CAMP Rehoboth for five years and recently retired as the rabbi of the Seaside Jewish Community in Rehoboth Beach. Being a rabbi is Beth's fourth career.
After securing a Master of Business degree, she worked in several nonprofit organizations as head of finance and later as executive director, and has worked in the areas of policy, program, and administration. The corporate world beckoned and she worked the next 12 years as a director of customer service for Verizon. Becoming a rabbi was a life-long dream, but the time was never right. So when she retired from the non-profit and corporate worlds, she made that dream a reality.
For the past 20 months, Beth has served as the leader of a new group, the CAMP Rehoboth Council of Advocates for LGBTQ youth and families. She is also serving as a member of the Cape Henlopen School District's LGBTQ Outreach Committee.
“I think CAMP Rehoboth is the only organization that has the ability to continue the work that its founders, Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald, started over 25 years ago.”
I wholeheartedly agree with you, Beth, and I look forward to working with you, Jon, and all members of the Search and Transition Committees to see this most important task through to a successful outcome. Sincere thanks to all of you for agreeing to serve.
Here’s to an awesome summer 2019!
Chris Beagle is President of the CAMP Rehoboth Board of Directors and is a realtor at Berkshire-Hathaway-Gallo Realty in Rehoboth Beach.