SPRING TOUR 2011

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="040f0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="041203c0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Magic of Reading</B></FONT><B>      |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Magic of Reading"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03ff2f02egerdp.jpg"> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14">    <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14">  <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14">    <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="1073bed0.gif" border=0 width="315" height="493" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="042f0f03.jpg"> <div> <I>SPRING TOUR 2011</I></div> <div> <B>Florida </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>January 10-February 11, 2011</B></div> <bR> <div> SANFORD, FL  I saw something incredible this morning while I was driving to my first school in Sanford.  Traffic was stopped on the busy highway as two very old and skinny people were weaving their way extremely slowly across the road.  Gee, I thought, don't they know they should be crossing at the crosswalk!  Then, as my van pulled to a stop they passed right in front of me very, very careful of each step and determined that all cars be completely stopped while they weaved and ambled oh so slowly along.  Surely my mouth fell open when I realized these were not old people but were actually birds standing about 4 1/2 feet high.  They were a pair, and the female was very determined that everyone respect their right of way.  The male just marched obliviously along.</div> <bR> <div> This was a first for me.  Wonderful!</div> <bR> <div> I spoke at Holy Cross Lutheran Academy in Sanford and The Parke House Academy in Winter Park today.  I was treated very well by the students and staff at both schools.   Thank you for being so kind to Ben Franklin!</div> <bR> <div> Writing this a few hours after my show, the faces of the kids, and some of the adults, are still very clear in my mind's eye.  I am so lucky to have a job that allows me to meet so many new, wonderful people every day.  I'm glad I have something unique to offer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Ben has just returned from four exciting, wonderful weeks in sunny, balmy Florida . . . while the rest of the nation experienced one of its worst winters ever.  Thank you schools and libraries in the Sunshine State for providing Ben safe refuge and great times while the rest of the nation, including South Carolina, shivered!</div> <bR> <div> Our country is on the rebound from a serious economic slowdown.  I see much better times ahead.  Florida gas prices are between $3.05 and $3.30.  You can stay in a nice hotel for $85, which is much cheaper than several years ago.  There are not as many people traveling.  One thing Ben notices in his travels through time and across country, things never remain the same!</div> <bR> <div> Ben sends special appreciation to the schools and libraries that hosted his programs during his Florida Tour, 2011:</div> <bR> <div> Odyssey Charter School, Palm Bay</div> <div> Randazzo School, Coconut Creek</div> <div> The Masters Academy, Fort Lauderdale</div> <div> North Regional/Broward College Library, Coconut Creek</div> <div> St. Luke Catholic School, Palm Springs</div> <div> JFK Medical Center Charter School, Lake Worth</div> <div> Hobe Sound Christian Academy, Hobe Sound </div> <div> St Joseph Catholic School, Stuart</div> <div> Barnabus Christian Academy, Port St. Lucie</div> <div> Sacred Heart School, Jacksonville</div> <div> Holy Cross Academy, Sanford</div> <div> The Parke House Academy, Winter Park</div> <div> Downey Christian School, Orlando</div> <div> St Lukes Lutheran School, Oviedo</div> <div> Orlando Christian Prep</div> <div> The Villages Lifelong Learning College</div> <div> Upper Tampa Regional Library</div> <div> High Point Elementary, Clearwater</div> <div> St Anthony School, San Antonio</div> <div> Clearwater Intermediate School</div> <div> Countryside Branch Library, Clearwater</div> <div> Lealman Intermediate School, St. Petersburg</div> <div> Doby Elementary School, Apollo Beach</div> <div> Summerfield Crossings Elementary, Riverview</div> <div> Colonial Elementary School, Fort Myers</div> <div> Canterbury School, Fort Myers</div> <div> Oasis Charter School, Cape Coral</div> <div> Lehigh Elementary, Lehigh Acres</div> <div> Mid County Regional Library, Port Charlotte</div> <div> Community Christian School, Port Charlotte</div> <div> Gocio Elementary School, Sarasota</div> <div> Deep Creep Elementary, Punta Gorda</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>February 25-May 1, 2011</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Ben's travels during the spring of 2011 were to Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  I notice that about half the schools visited I have been to before.  Thanks!  </div> <bR> <div> As always, it was a great thrill traveling and speaking to audiences.   I still love making the trips, seeing and doing things along the way, and especially speaking to people who come to my programs.  For me, it's the perfect life.</div> <bR> <div> I'd like to give special thanks to several schools that have been especially particularly  kind to me.  Cherokee Elementary has hosted my program a number of years in a row.  I haven't kept count, but it must be four or five now.  I've visited Goose Creek Primary three years in a row and Williamsburg Academy, I believe, four.  It's a special treat for me to make return visits to schools, and to do so several years in a row is an honor.  </div> <bR> <div> Here are the schools and libraries where I performed February 25-May 1:</div> <div>  </div> <div> Cherokee Elementary, Americus, Georgia</div> <div> Southland Academy, Americus, Georgia</div> <div> Lincoln Elementary, Leland, North Carolina</div> <div> St. Mary Catholic School, Wilmington, North Carolina</div> <div> Wallace Elementary, North Carolina</div> <div> Stateside Elementary, Jacksonville, North Carolina</div> <div> Captain Gilmer School, Fletcher, North Carolina</div> <div> Henderson County Public Library, Hendersonville, North Carolina</div> <div> Mountain View Elementary, Taylors, South Carolina</div> <div> Our Lady of the Rosary School, Greenville</div> <div> Oak Hill Elementary, High Point, North Carolina</div> <div> Davis Elementary, Columbus, Georgia</div> <div> Forrest Road Elementary, Columbus, Georgia</div> <div> Wynnbrook Christian Academy, Columbus, Georgia</div> <div> Linwood Elementary, Warner Robins, Georgia</div> <div> Bulloch Academy, Statesboro, Georgia</div> <div> Carolina Academy, Lake City, South Carolina</div> <div> Williamsburg Academy, Kingstree, South Carolina</div> <div> Westview Primary School, Goose Creek, South Carolina</div> <div> Goose Creek Primary School, South Carolina</div> <div> First Baptist School, Charleston, South Carolina</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Magic of Reading"><U><B>The Magic of Reading</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FALL TOUR 2010"><U><B>FALL TOUR 2010</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>