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 2008 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 703.725.6593 

email :               storyman@ rcn.com or griot9@blackstory.org

:        . These schedule for comparison purposes only  -  subject to change

PLEASE NOTE most cell phones do not connect in the Yanceyville, NC area. Some do. Most of us have to go off site to make calls. The Pinnacle Studio’s number is 336.694.7785

ARRIVAL

Classes and Workshops begin on Friday morning, however, on Thursday from 3 - 4:30 pm there will be Mwongozi Orientation 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 1 pm and before 10 pm. Look for the registration in the dormitory area which is the single level building by the mansion. 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.

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.

LODGING

All registered lodging will be DOUBLE OCCUPANCY. Over flow participants will have to stay in the local Day’s Inn. That is not a lodging option,  however, until all the dorm rooms are filled. Otherwise, at your own expense you can stay at the hotel in town or in Danville, VA 15 miles away.

The dormitory is quaint, clean, and with hallway showers. There are bathrooms in the rooms. Towels and sheets are provided or you may bring your own (twin beds). Yanceyville is a small town with a supermarket shopping area, two fast food places, a Chinese takeout bank, and a hardware store. There are few other shops in the small downtown area adjacent to the Retreat site. Danville, VA is a larger city with all of the big marts and malls and chain stores.

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 the Pinnacle Studios, 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. Also, we are virtually in town and 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 North Carolina Pinnacle Studios.  Again, it is in the country, so once you get off the interstate highway, be prepared for two lane roads.

Carolina Pinnacle Studios
336 W. Main Street
P.O. Box 778
Yanceyville, N.C. 27379
Phone: (336) 694-7785
Fax: (336) 694-7786
email: info@carolinapinnaclestudios.com

AIR, RAIL, BUS TRAVEL

If you are traveling by air you may fly into the Greensboro airport. If you don’t rent a car, we can arrange for someone to pick you up. Greensboro is a little less than an hour away from Yanceyville. Several airlines travel into Greensboro. The Raleigh airport is another option and is about an hour and thirty minutes away. There is an Amtrak train and Greyhound Bus lines that come into Danville, VA which is about 15 minutes away from Yanceyville. 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.