Njalo Nje! (N jah lo N jay) Forward ever! Peace and Blessings. May all your story have divine purposes and happy endings. Welcome to the Year 2010 African American Storytellers’ Retreat. Your presence promises to make this another special event in the cultural heritage and history of our people. If you have any questions please call Baba Jamal Koram  at :  

office phone:    703.684.8587 or   Sauuda Eshe' (A shay) at  919.673.2507

email :               storyman @ rcn.com or 

cell phone:        703.725.6593 .  

PLEASE NOTE some  cell phones do not connect in the Whitakers, NC area. Some do. Some of us have to go off site to make calls. 

ARRIVAL

A departure from previous years, this year we are having the Storytelling Institute on Thursday, May 13th from 10:30 am until 5:30 pm.  Registration begins at 9:00 am and Institute payments can be made online.  Meals are on your own.  Snacks will be available.  

Wednesday  lodging is an extra 45. to be paid onsite..

Retreat Classes and Workshops begin on Friday morning, however, Registration for the Retreat begins on Thursday at 12:00 noon.  Also on Thursday Morning  there will be Mwongozi Orientation/classes for those interested in making a lifelong commitment to affecting culture and education through storytelling. We expect that some of the participants will arrive on Wednesday and others on Thursday. If you plan to arrive on Wednesday. Please try to do so between 6 pm and 10 pm, unless other arrangements have been made. 

Thursday's arrivals are expected after 12:00 pm and before 10 pm. Look for the registration in the dormitory area which is the new single level building. You will receive a packet and someone can help you unload if you need assistance. If you are bringing someone who needs to register, they may do so at the time of your arrival. NO CREDIT CARD on site registrations at this time.  The new facility will fill up fast, and late registrants will be housed in the dormitory.  It a comfortable facility with hall bathrooms and showers.  All housing is double occupancy.

EARLY ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Please make arrangements  if you plan to arrive early and to arrange for departure transportation to the airport or bus or train station.  The best flights are into Raleigh Durham Airport. which is an hour and fifteen minutes away.  Amtrak stops in Rocky Mount about 20 minutes away.  There will be scheduled pickups so it is important to contact us as soon as possible.

LODGING

All registered lodging will be DOUBLE OCCUPANCY. Over flow participants will have to stay in the Dormitory. That is not a lodging option,  however, until all the New Facility rooms  are filled. Otherwise, at your own expense you can stay at local hotels at your own expense which are 10 -15 miles south of Whitakers.

 Towels and sheets are provided or you may bring your own (twin beds). The town of Enfield is a small town about 3 miles away,  with a supermarket shopping area,  fast food places, a Chinese takeout bank, and other retail stores.. Rocky Mount, NC  is a larger city with all of the big marts and malls and chain stores located 15 miles south of Whitakers.

MEALS

Three meals will be provided on Friday, and  three on  Saturday,  continuing with breakfast- only on Sunday. No meals are provided on Wednesday or Thursday.

GENERAL ORIENTATION

On Thursday at 6:30 there will be a General Orientation about the Retreat, its purpose and to answer any questions or concerns about the weekend’s activities. It is expected that campfire storytelling will follow (weather permitting).

SILENT AUCTION                                                                           

You may want to participate in the annual storytelling auction by donating or bidding or both. Some one -of- a-kind items are always donated.

FREE TIME AND GUESTS

This is your free time. While at Franklinton Cener, please feel at home to walk the grounds and to mix and mingle with the other participants in attendance. Remember, however, that basically this is a wooded rural environment bordered by a small country town so be aware of your surroundings. Please let staff know if you are leaving the immediate retreat area.  As in any event of this type we  require a secure environment. Any invited guest must come through the registration process and are not allowed in the sleeping areas unless properly registered.

Everyone comes to learn and we all have a wealth of wisdom and experience. Please SHARE your skills and information as often as you can. What you give will come back to you.

CRAFT DISPLAYS

The Retreat would like to display your personal crafts or other works. Please bring any secured examples of your works for display or sale.

TRAVEL

If you require any logistical assistance with your travel arrangements. Call Baba Jamal. If your are driving, use the following directions to the Franklinton Center.  Again, it is in the country, so once you get off the interstate highway, be prepared for two lane roads.

Franklinton Center

Phone:  252.437.1723
 Rte. 301 South (South of Enfield - North of Whitakers on 301)                                                                                                                      

Whitakers, NC

AIR, RAIL, BUS TRAVEL

If you are traveling by air you may fly into the Raleigh Durham Airport. If you don’t rent a car, we will have scheduled pickups (morning, afternoon, evening) Raleigh  is a little more than an hour and fifteen minutes away from Whitakers. Several airlines travel into this International Airport..  Southwest Airlines is usually an affordable airline that flies into RDU.  There is an Amtrak train and Greyhound Bus lines that come into Rocky Mount,  which is about 20 minutes away from Whitakers.  However you plan on arriving, please let us know of your travel plans.

TRAVEL HOME                                                                                       

The Retreat officially ends at noon on Sunday. Check out on the grounds is 12:00pm. Check with staff if you need transportation to the airport or other stations. If you have to leave at an odd time, please check with us to make sure you have transportation.

RETREAT HOUSING

All rooms are dormitory style, double occupancy. If you bring children we will attempt to make you as comfortable as possible but we assume no particular responsibility outside of the regular program to accommodate them. You may want to bring extra towels, etc. We have a community atmosphere, however, your children are your responsibility.

EVERYONE MUST REGISTER

At the Retreat you are either an instructor or a participant and EVERYONE MUST REGISTER.