WATERVILLE – The Maine State Beekeepers Association annual meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 3, at the Holiday Inn.

Programs will include “A Pollination Primer” by Dr. Roger Hoopingarner, professor emeritus, Michigan State University; “Making Mead,” Fred Wardwell, master vintner, Hardscrabble Farm Mead; and “Beekeeper’s Selection for Varroa Resistance,” Dr. Hoopingarner.

Cost of the program is $15; luncheon and program, $25. For reservations and information, call 621-1981. The public is welcome.

DAR conference

AUGUSTA – The Maine State Organization, Daughters of the American Revolution, will hold its annual spring conference Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, at the Senator Inn.

Hostess chapters are Silence Howard Hayden of Waterville, Fort Halifax of Winslow, Koussinoc of Augusta and Mary Kelton Dummer-Patience Stanley of Hallowell. General chairwoman is Carolyn Kelley of Oakland.

The event will include workshops for members on the duties of regents, treasurers, volunteer specialists, fund-raising and programs, and optional tours of Fort Western. An awards banquet will be held at 7 p.m. April 16 at the Senator. State Regent Pauline T. Bartow of Otisfield will preside.

Regional meeting

SOUTH PORTLAND – The National Salvation Army Advisory Board, chaired by Edsel Ford II, will host a regional gathering for business, corporate and community leaders from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday, April 23, at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks.

The board CEO Breakfast is the highlight of the 60-member National Advisory Board meetings, being held for the first time ever in northern New England.

The breakfast will feature an address by Ford, who will explain his commitment to philanthropy. Salvation Army National Commander/Commissioner W. Todd Bassett will also speak.

Tickets are available through the Salvation Army by calling toll free 1-866-674-4391. Admission is $15, with tables of 10 available for $150. The Portland Regional Chamber is offering a member discount for individual tickets ordered through its Web site, www.portlandregion.com. Those tickets are $11 each and are available through Friday, April 16.

Seeking marchers

AUGUSTA – The city of Augusta and Old Fort Western are encouraging civic organizations, nonprofit groups, businesses, historical societies, re-enactors, veterans organizations, marching bands, Boy and Girl Scouts, sports teams and similar groups throughout the Kennebec Valley to march in this year’s Augusta Independence Day parade.

The parade will take place Sunday, July 4, beginning at noon at the Shaw’s parking lot on Western Avenue.

July 4th also marks the 250th anniversary of the construction of Old Fort Western, and the parade has adopted the fort’s anniversary theme, “People, Places, Community.”

The parade, an official Whatever Festival event, represents just part of what is scheduled. The parade will be followed at 1:30 by the official anniversary observance at Fort Western.

More information and parade registration forms may be obtained by calling 626-2352.