Association for Butterflies; Butterfly Symposium Schedule

If you haven’t already registered and sent in payment for the Association for Butterflies 2008 Butterfly Symposium, then you will want to hurry. Time is flying! If you are still contemplating on whether to come or not, read on; you won’t want to miss out. Friday is designed for those just starting into the business or considering it. Saturday and Sunday was put together with the consideration of what most established farmers are concerned about. All meals and snacks are included in the price of the convention.

Before the Symposium begins or after the Symposium is over, take some time to check out the Butterfly Rainforest or take a free tour of a real live butterfly farm, Shady Oak Butterfly Farm, (these are not included with the symposium).

Fill out the registration formto register and send in your payment today. For any questions email afb@forbutterflies.org.


FRIDAY


11:00 – 11:30 Egg care – gathering, washing, hatching

11:30 - 12:30 Caterpillar care – different methods of raising, basic signs of disease in caterpillars, disease ID and prevention, and predators/parasitoids

12:30 – 1:30 Catered lunch (included in seminar)

1:30 – 1:50 Pulling, washing, and gluing pupae

1:50 – 2:10 Emerging butterflies, checking for OE, basic signs of disease in adults

2:10 – 2:45 Release Boxes, Release Envelopes, and Releases

2:45 – 3:00 Break with drinks and snacks

3:00 – 3:30 Packing and shipping adult butterflies / Making your shipments look professional

3:30 – 4:00 Shipping companies and permits

4:00 – 4:20 Shipping eggs, caterpillars and pupae

4:20 – 5:00 Hand pairing and egg laying

6:30 - ? Supper (casual) with get together to know each other better



SATURDAY



8:00 – 8:15 Introduction and AFB Report

8:20 – 9:05 Photography by Bill Berthet

9:10 – 10:10 Disease Presentation kindly sent by Amanda Lawrence (Mississippi State University Pathology Department), presented by Edith Smith

10:10 – 10:25 Drinks and Snacks

10:25 – 10:55 Extending Shelf Life of Your Butterflies

11:00 – 11:15 Farmers Beware; How to Spot Rip-offs and Lies from Customers (are they outright intended theft?) by Edith Smith

11:20 – 12:00 Monarch Migration by Bill Berthet

12:00 – 1:00 lunch

1:00 – 1:45 Marketing / Advertising (to be announced)

1:50 – 2:50 Websites and Web Placement by Dave Polk www.equippedforservice.com

2:50 – 3:05 break with drinks and snacks

3:05 – 3:35 Butterflies and Plants ~ An Essential Relationship by Linda Marchman

3:40 – 4:25 Traveling exhibits by Dan Greathouse

4:30 – 5:?? Making More Money with your Butterflies

6:00 – 7:00 Supper (casual)

7:00 – 9:00 Entertainment





SUNDAY



7:30 – 8:30 Church service for anyone who wishes to attend

8:30 – 9:00 Breakfast

9:00 – 9:30 Class – how to use and hold releases – for wedding/event/funeral/fundraisers – Class is for wedding and event planners, funeral professionals, and fundraiser organizers

(farmers to watch and all AFB members take home this presentation to use directly in their community to build their customer base.)

9:30 - 10:00 Displays – table top, place setting, and floor displays

Theme displays (wedding, baby shower, tea party, anniversary, birthday party, funeral, memorial, etc.)

(Farmers, take home these ideas to offer to your customers to build the bottom line)

10:00 – 10:15 Snacks and drinks

10:15 – 10:30 Q&A

10:30 – 11:00 Live Butterfly Release with attendees and farmers.

11:00 – 11:30 How you can use this presentation and class to get more business for YOUR farm/business (for symposium attendees only)

11:30 – 12:30 End Symposium with lunch (included)