LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
I think everyone knows by now that CAMP Rehoboth has moved across the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard and into our newly renovated space at 37 Baltimore Avenue. Though we still have a lot of work to do on the placeand big plans for the futurewe are home. Fifteen years ago when Murray and I moved full time to Rehoboth and started CAMP Rehoboth, this space was, in fact, still a private residence, and its longtime owner was our neighbor for many years. We're delighted that our plans for the community center will allow us to preserve one of the buildings that have for many years given Baltimore Avenue its scale and charm. Best of all, it fits perfectly with our vision of what we want the community center to bea home for all. Some recent visitors to CAMP Rehoboth even stopped in to tell us about renting a room here a long time ago and how glad they were that the community center still retained a homelike quality. I'm glad too, that even after we add on to the back of the property, the face of CAMP Rehoboth will still be that of a housewe really seem to be living up to our "house and heart" logo. Stop by to see the new place, to hear about our building plans, to volunteer, or just to say hello. This is your house toowelcome home!
Along with the rising temperatures local politics are heating up as well, and this summer's Rehoboth Beach election should be an interesting one. Mayor Sam Cooper, who ran unopposed in his last election, is being challenged by Bob Sokolove, and five candidatesDennis Barbour, Tjark Bateman, David McCarthy, Ron Patterson, and Bill Shieldsare running for the two city commissioner seats to be vacated by Mark Aguirre and Betty Ann Kane. We are again preparing questions for all the candidates and their responses will be featured in the July 29 issue of Letters. Elections will be held on Saturday, August 13. You must already be registered with the city of Rehoboth Beach in order to vote in this election. For many years now, CAMP Rehoboth has been selling tickets for a wide variety of events. We started, of course, selling them for our own events, and then later as a service to other organizations. Now we basically operate our own box office. Plans for an exterior box office/information kiosk are even being included in the designs for the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard renovation that will accompany the construction of a larger space on the rear of the building that currently houses the offices and public rooms of CAMP Rehoboth. Tickets currently on sale at CAMP Rehoboth include: Splash 05 (June 25), Rainbow Chorale Pride Concert (June 25), Love Retro Dance with DJ Mark Thomas and Evelyn "Champagne" King (July1), Love Main Event with DJ Julian Marsh (July 2), CAMP Rehoboth Follies (July 23), Vagina Monologues (August 12-13), Suzanne Westenhoefer Concert (August 19), Suede Concert (August 20), and all too soon, of course, the season finaleSundance 2005 (Labor Day Weekend). On June 5, members of the CAMP Rehoboth community center founders' Circle celebrated at the annual (and once again sold out) Black and White Beach Ball at the Atlantic Sands. During his short comments before the HEART of the Community art auction that is a part of that event, Murray said that he thought we were "building something unique.... Something that could serve as a model for other communities looking for ways to create more positive environments for not just gay people but for the whole community." Looking around the room that evening at all the people who are making the community center a reality, I couldn't help but think that with support like this, anything is possible. My thanks to all the members of the Founders' Circle, to the staff and Board of Directors of CAMP Rehboth, and to all the volunteers who continue to give so much to CAMP Rehoboth and to this community. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 15, No. 7 June 17, 2005 |