The President's Buzz

Welcome to the New Year and MHPA's newly updated website! Many thanks to those involved in getting it up and running. Our goal was to improve on the old site by making it a little more modern and easier to navigate. We also wanted it to have more eye appeal to attract the general public. In the future, the website will be an important tool for MHPA to attract new members, educate the public, and to keep our members updated and informed.

2011 turned out to be a tough year for most Mn beekeepers. Maybe the worst honey production year ever?? Beekeepers are an optimistic people, and those I've talked to in recent weeks have put 2011 behind, and are talking about Spring and making plans. By the time most people read this in January, beekeepers will be making plans for summer and thinking about the new honey crop.

When you're making your plans, keep in mind this year's convention will be held in Duluth Mn, at the Edge. (Edgewater Resort and Waterpark) July 12,13,&14th. Whether you keep a few hives, a few thousand, or just thinking about getting into bees, the MHPA welcomes you to our summer convention.

Rooms can be reserved immediately. Call 1-800-777-7925 Roomrates are $119-$139 a night from the 11th to the 14th. (Depending on what kind of room you choose.) Go online at www.duluthwaterpark.com to check out what the facility has to offer. The water park is huge and is a very kid friendly place. Water park is free to all registered guests. There is a ton of things to do in Duluth and along the North Shore. Get your hands on a visitor's guide or go online to check it all out. (Maybe one of you motorcycle boys would like to plan a small trip.)

Convention will follow the traditional layout. Thurs. night crop and bee health report, Friday: talks and business meeting. Sat. half day of talks and a field day in afternoon with the Northeastern Minnesota Beekeeper's Association. I am also planning a dinner cruise on Fri. evening for our annual banquet. The boat will hold 150 people. We can bump that up to 250 depending on dining arrangements. My goal is to make this event as affordable as possible, so all can attend. Especially those with children. If some of you would be willing to throw in $50 or $100 to help get the cost down, give me a call. Once I get menus and arrangements more pinned down, I can set the registration rate for the convention and cruise.

We plan to have this so you can download it in pdf form, fill it out, and then mail it to Conrad (Treasurer). Registration slips will also sent out with our newsletter in early June. Early registration would be a big help in planning. I will have numbers figured out for February's website update.

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