Meet the New Leaders of Women’s FEST 2022!
If you are going to produce a legendary, four-day regional women’s event that brings together over 1,000 women, is filled with sports, dance parties, music, the arts, comedy performances, multiple speakers, a cancer walk, and more, you had better have the right background to prepare you! Luckily, the three new chairs of CAMP Rehoboth’s Women’s FEST 2022 do!
To illustrate, here is the short list of their accomplishments, things they do for fun, and/or things they can’t resist:
One was once an alligator trainer and caretaker, one was a Barney the Beagle roller skating performer, and one was a professional golf cart driver at the Dinah Shore Golf Classic. Among the three, one or more of them also love: music, the stock market, penny stocks, purple (the color), scuba diving, dancing, the theatre, fast cars, and one is an avid video gamer who can handily beat most 20-somethings.
I’ll let you find out for yourselves which of these women is connected to which of those likes, talents, and jobs, but what I will share is that CAMP Rehoboth is excited to announce the three new co-chairs of women’s FEST 2022: Lisa Soens, Hope Vella, and Teri Seaton.
They recognize that they will be standing on the shoulders of community giants Nancy Hewish, Fay Jacobs, and Dottie Cirelli, who all have agreed to guide, support, and mentor the new crew this year. The new co-chairs also recognize they have their work cut out for them, but they committed to bringing a first-class, fun, well-run festival to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Says Lisa Soens, who was on-board to help lead last year’s Women’s FEST (had a majority of the event not been canceled due to the pandemic), “I’m excited to have found two co-chairs for Women’s FEST 2022. They will help us renew the momentum as COVID winds down (we hope), and also bring a few fresh events and new volunteers.”
Top: Lisa Soens, Hope Vella. Bottom: Teri Seaton.
It’s clear these women have what it takes to make the 21st CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST a huge success. All three have been very successful in their professional lives, have entrepreneurial spirits and endeavors, and all are devoted to volunteerism and the community at large. Combined, they volunteer for many other local community organizations: MERR, Clear Space Theatre, Delaware Tech, the SPCA, ASPCA, Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice, Epworth and other food pantries, and Possum Point Theatre. One serves as an educational advocate for former clients who receive special education services. That isn’t even the entire list.
All three are striving to deliver what is needed most right now for the community, for CAMP Rehoboth, and for Women’s FEST: more inclusivity, more gender equity, and more diversity.
These dynamic and fun women still need some other folks to help them both dream up and accomplish all these great plans. “We can’t do it without more community involvement and other CAMP Rehoboth members,” says Teri Seaton. “And we are committed to being welcoming and inclusive to all,” adds Hope Vella.
Asked why she would encourage other members to volunteer, Lisa was ready with a list of great reasons:
■ To support and help raise funds for the CAMP Rehoboth arts, health and wellness classes, and free services
■ To be a part of the premier women’s event in the Mid-Atlantic region
■ To increase interaction and cooperation and inclusivity among women regardless of race, religion, age, physical abilities, financial status, gender expression, or sexual orientation
■ To help the committee ensure an environment for personal and cultural enrichment through the promotion of high-quality arts and entertainment, sports, networking, and educational forums.
She quickly added with her dry humor and cute smirk: “Oh, and let’s not forget too—the chance to find a wife!”
Come join what may be one of the most fun (and at times feisty) committees you have ever been a part of. It may—I daresay—also be one of the most successful and satisfying ones.
If you see Lisa, Hope, or Teri around town and someone asks—“Who’s that?”—now you know and can share: They are CAMP—they are members and the leaders of CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST 2022, that is. ▼
Anita Broccolino is Development Director for CAMP Rehoboth.