A Note about Women’s FEST
by Fay Jacobs
Well...this was supposed to be the Women’s FEST issue of Letters, leading up to our 20th anniversary event. Women plan, and the universe gives us COVID-19. The 2020 Women’s FEST may just turn out to be the most successful FEST that never happened.
Here’s the irony. The concerts have been sold out for six weeks now, tickets for most events were going fast, and CAMP Rehoboth was on target to make the most FEST income, and have the best-attended FEST, in two decades.
Since life is what happens when you have other plans, we’re rolling with the punches. We’re working on ticket refunds, talking with entertainers about future bookings, and trying to clean up in the midst of this terrible time.
In the face of this global health and employment crisis, our FEST worries seem small. But to a non-profit organization like CAMP Rehoboth, finances do matter. Luckily, we have been able to stem some of our expenses (the t-shirt company took back the unprinted shirts, yay!) and keep some of the revenue through generous contributions from some of our sponsors. Some FEST Pass holders have let us know they do not want refunds and other ticket holders have said the same—not to suggest anything negative about those women wanting refunds. We know this is a dire personal financial crisis for many.
The day-to-day work of unraveling contracts and cutting losses has fallen to FEST co-chairs Dottie Cirelli and Nancy Hewish, with the help of Monica Parr and others in the office. Thanks for the hard work.
Importantly, we still want to recognize the eight FEST founders, seven of whom are still in the area and attend the festival each year, who were scheduled to be honored just before the May 1 Friday night headliner show.
Bravo to Andrea Andrus, Ellen Feinburg, Joan Glass, Maggie Ottato, Lesley Rogan, Maggie Shaw, Libby Stiff, and Bea Wagner. Your original CAMP Rehoboth Women’s Project morphed into the Women’s Conference, the Women’s Weekend, and ultimately the Women’s FEST. We cannot thank you or celebrate you enough!
As for the Olivia Raffle for a luxury cruise for two to Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, tickets have been selling briskly. At press time we are working with our steadfast and generous friends at Olivia and determining how and when to proceed with the raffle. Stay tuned.
Wash your hands, stay home if you can, and stay safe, please.##