Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – 5 March 2012

With 110 plus members and guests in attendance, Carey Mitchell, President of the Wilson County Beekeepers Association called the March 5, 2012 meeting to order.

Newbees were reminded to speak/locate a mentor to help them with getting their hives set up

The minutes from the February meeting were approved.

Old business discussed:

**The T-Shirt committee will be meeting after our regular meeting and should have some info for us at the April meeting.

**We had 58 attend the workshop on the 20^th of February with much information covered.

**The Swarm List was circulated for completion and will be posted to the website this week, along with being mailed out to needed parties.

**Wilson County Farm Day, May 9-10, anyone wanting to help is to contact Danielle Drueck.

**Reminders to order bees and start buying sugar.

**Hayes Wilson (new WCBA member) still has some packages available and was on hand to accept payment for orders.

The TBA Board meeting was recapped:

**2012 Conference scheduled for September 28 & 29 AT Hyder Burkes Ag Pavilion at TTU in Cookeville with the board meeting on the 27^th.

**Speakers will include Dr. Richard Fell from Virginia Tech, Kent Williams, Clarence Collison, Phil Craft, plus others.

**Myrtle Evans is the new Honey Show Director: Bill Mullins of Alabama will judge the honey show, Sandra Garrison will judge wax, and Jay Williams will judge photography.

**As of February 18, TBA’s membership was 1,111 with 33 affiliated clubs.

**AC Mann from Knoxville is the new Marketing Director and has a few new items to introduce this year.

**Each club was asked to bring an item for the Silent Auction.

**2010 Hobbyist Level of TN Beemaster Class Schedule was available to anyone interested in attending.

New business discussed:

**We received a $100 Short Course Grant from TBA to help offset some of our expenses.  Question to the floor was made regarding offering first-time Conference attendees’ scholarships this year.  A motion was maid that we offer 8 scholarships this year and the vote passed.  Names will be selected at the July 23^rd meeting.

Fred Dawson gave his monthly To Do’s:

**Check stores again—feed all colonies that have less then 15 lbs. (2-3 frames feed) **Feed pollen substitute for all colonies that are low on pollen reserves

**Hive inspection—check for brood, queen

**Make sure supers are ready

**Rotate hive bodies with empty ones on top

Leonard Walker introduced our speaker for the evening, Elizabeth Forbes who had a fascinating discussion on native plants and wildflowers.

Our next meeting is scheduled for April 2—Honey Basics:  From the Flower to the Jar with Clarence Collison—WE WILL BE MEETING IN THE EDUCATION BUILDING.  As parking is limited on that side, the East/West doors will be open so you can park there and just cross the building.

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The evening’s door prizes are as follows:

Smoker Fuel donated by Charlie Deshler was won by Marc Goldhamer

Outer Cover donated by WT Nolen was won by Anisse Dredge

The book, Natural Beekeeping, donated by Don Wright was won by Morgan Fleener

Kelley’s 2012 mug donated by Leonard Walker was won by Leslie Burton.

Meeting adjourned at 8:17pm for fellowship and refreshments provided by the membership.