Southeastern Michigan Beekeepers Association (SEMBA), in cooperation with the Schoolcraft College Beekeepers Club, the Oakland Beekeepers Club and the Seven Ponds Beekeepers Club will hold its 72nd Annual Beekeeper's Conference on Saturday, March 19, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

It will be held at the Vis Ta Tec Center of Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia, MI.

The featured speakers will be:

• Roy Hendrickson, an Ohio commercial beekeeper
  

• Roger Hoopingarner, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University and former Apicultural Specialist Michigan State University

Sessions, during the day-long program, are designed for all beekeepers, both novice and experienced, or anyone interested in honeybees!

Specially featured again in this year's bee conference is a series of beginner workshops, each dealing with a different aspect of beekeeping to help the new beekeeper get started. New beekeepers will have an opportunity to enroll in a year-long hands-on beekeeping course. Other workshops' sessions include a variety of practical beekeeping management topics taught by experienced beekeepers.

On display, will be the latest in beekeeping crafts and beekeeping equipment. A variety of new and used beekeeping equipment will be on sale. There will also be a silent auction and a package bee-hive raffle.

All participants will be entered into a drawing for door prizes.

Admission is free to SEMBA members. A $10.00 registration fee is charged at-the-door for non-members. No pre-registration is necessary.

A potluck lunch is held at noon. Coffee and tea are provided. Bring a dish to pass and your own table service.

For further information or to volunteer to help with the event contact Roger Sutherland at (734) 668-8568 (rsuther@sembabees.org)