Though our winter was almost nonexistent and the cherry blossoms are already long gone, welcome to spring! This is the third issue of the 2012 season of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, and the last one of the pre-summer issues to be published monthly. Next month we return to our bi-weekly schedule; look for Letters every other Friday from May to September.
In Delaware, 2012 could be called the year of the civil union. though the CU legislation was passed last year, it didn’t go into effect until January 1 of 2012, so the last three months have been filled with ceremonies of all kinds—many of them right here at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. As we’ve done previously, we will continue to celebrate those unions in the pages of Letters. To have a photo included, send a high resolution digital photo to: Civil Union Photos.
Civil union legislation became a reality because many of us from across the state worked through Equality Delaware to make it happen. This year, the legislative focus of Equality Delaware will be gender identity. In Delaware, lesbians and gays are included in both hate crime and non-discrimination legislation, but our transgendered brothers and sisters are not. Along with other members of the Equality Delaware Board of Directors, I wholeheartedly support these long overdue changes, and encourage everyone to join us in our efforts to achieve full equality for the whole LGBT community.
We’ve talked about the CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST for months, and it’s finally here! All that talk must have worked, because as we go to press the numbers look great. Though individual event tickets may still be available, FEST passes are sold out. Also, we’ve added an extra show for Poppy Champlin, and we keep adding rows for Suzanne Westenhoefer. Please note: the film showing of Serving in Silence and discussion with Col. Grethe Cammermeyer has grown too large for its location and has been moved to the Convention Center. This year’s Women’s FEST committee has worked hard to make the event live up to its acronym—Fun Entertainment Spring Tradition. After 12 years, this event has become a favorite of women in the mid-Atlantic region.
On June 3, the Black and White Beach Ball will return to the CAMP Rehoboth lineup of events, thanks largely to the support of our Black and White benefactor PNC Wealth Management. Sponsors make a huge difference to all our events, and we are always grateful for the support, but in this case, I feel comfortable saying that we would not be able to do the B&WBB without PNC.
The Black and White Beach Ball was originally the home of the CAMP Rehoboth HeART of the Community (HOTC) Art Auction, and I’m delighted to say that a new version of that auction will once again be a major part of the Beach Ball. The difference this year is that five curators will each be responsible for selecting five artists and the work that is a part of the auction. I’m not going to spoil the surprise of who’s been selected, but I will say, that it’s going to be a very exciting auction, not just because of all the amazing art, but also because auctioneer Lorne Crawford of Crawford Auction Company will be on hand to make it work. All the art to be auctioned at the B&WBB will be previewed at the Sneak Peek Preview Party on Sunday, May 27 at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.
Excitement is always building in downtown Rehoboth Beach as we get closer to the summer season. CAMP Rehoboth is no exception, and all of us look forward to the months ahead. For those wishing to get involved in the work of CAMP Rehoboth (or for long-time volunteers), there is a Volunteer Orientation scheduled every two months. The next one is May 12; check our website for a 2012 schedule.