Civic League
From left to right, Joan Kloepfer, Dale Cooke, Diane Hanson, Jim Tyler, Eleanor Tyler, Kay Sullivan, Phil Winkler, Steve Huse
PARTICIPATION
The Dewey Beach Civic League is a volunteer organization for property owners and residents of Dewey Beach. The Civic League differs from our local government, as they operate independently from the Town, and adhere to their own bylaws. The DBCL encourages all property owners, long term renters or full-time residents to join the organization! Business owners may also join if they own property in the town and/or if they own a business with a physical presence in town.
The Civic League also meets on Friday mornings at 9:00am at the Starboard to discuss current goals. Interested parties are welcome to join. Questions? Contact us!
FOCUS
The purposes for which the corporation is formed are as follows:
- To stimulate interest in improving the community.
- To serve as a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas and experiences.
- To foster understanding of laws, customs, services, and facilities of the town, area, county, state and federal agencies and government.
- To advocate, promote, create, establish and/or support worthy enterprise, and to promote and support constructive legislation.
- To provide information and guidance to its membership regarding the qualifications, experience, and philosophies of town officials and candidates for the town commission.*
- To keep the membership informed of DBCL events and proposed changes in zoning, tax, or general town legislation through periodic communications.
- To establish the consensus of the membership in reference to civic, cultural, and legislative matters (past, present, and future) and promulgate the same. The DBCL may endorse candidates for office in the Town, but is not required to do so.*
- To attend to any other purposes as may be deemed by the Corporation to be in keeping with its general aim of improving the area.
*The Dewey Beach Civic League acts independently from the Town of Dewey Beach. The Town is a bipartisan, government entity that does not endorse any political candidate or other town official.
OFFICERS
Diane Hanson, President
Joan Kloepfer, Treasurer
Diane TenHoopen, Secretary
DIRECTORS
Kay Sullivan
Jennifer Taylor
Eleanor Tyler
Phil Winkler
Steve Huse
Mimi McKennan
Kay Miller
Susan Macey
RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Community Improvement
- Participated in Dewey in Bloom by sponsoring a planter. Several board members also helped maintain the planters throughout the year.
- Donated $2000 to assist in the purchase of mulch for the center island in town.
Advocacy
- Notified property owners of upcoming public hearings regarding the Nalu expansion. Several DBCL board members attended the hearings to ensure the concerns from property owners were heard and considered.
- Sent out periodic notices to members on town issues including noise ordinances, expansion of premises, voting and residency requirements. Several DBCL members attended town meetings to be sure their complaints about noise were heard.
- Planned and held Candidates Forum (no election required) on September 24, 2024 at the Lifesaving Station that included questions for present commissioners and updates from Police Chief and Town Manager. Concluded forum with our DBCL annual meeting and board elections, and presented a tribute relating to James "Jim" Tyler for his years of service to the town and the Civic League.
Community Building
- Held Happy Hours throughout 2024 to help property owners get to know each other. We included Dewey in Bloom volunteers, sponsors, and Town Commissioners. Will continue Happy Hours in 2025.
- Planned and hosted a history program April 26, 2025, with speakers, including Dewey residents and guests, to begin coordinating a history of Dewey for the new Town Hall. The first gathering at the Hyatt brought out over 90 people for a gathering of info, Dewey pre-1962. At another gathering in the fall, the Dewey Beach Civic League will concentrate on Dewey 1962 to present.
DBCL Business
- Added two new board members, Susan Macey and Kay Miller.
- Continuation of 9:00am Friday breakfast gatherings at Starboard. We've had several guests throughout the year.
- Obtained a table for Civic League members at the Dewey Beach End of Year Beach Party on September 14, 2024.
- Modernized our communication system to allow for information to be sent to members as needed. Updated our membership renewal, allowing members to pay online.
- Sent out New Year's Greetings and other communications on what was happening in town during the off season to keep our members informed.
- Staffed a booth at Dewey Arts Fest to share magnets and membership info.
- Agreed to do board meetings via Zoom in the winter months.