Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – 05 November 2012

Sixty-nine members and guests of the Wilson County Beekeepers met at the Ward Ag Center on November 5, 2012 for the monthly meeting.  President Carey Mitchell called the meeting to order.

The membership approved the October 7^th  minutes as posted in the newsletter.

It was reported that all of the empty bears have been sold.  The Mentor List was circulated again for folks that are willing to help newbees.

The 2013 schedule has been completed with speakers including Clarence Collison, Trevor Qualls, Dann Purvis, Kent Williams, Jim Garrison, Jay Williams, Mike Studer, Sue Dickhaus, and Harris Overholt.  Also we will start doing our short course in the late fall (October) instead of spring hoping to help newcomers from the fair get started earlier.  The January short course for 2013 is scheduled for 22 – 24 and the October one is the 15 – 17.

Karla Clark said she attended the Gunther Hauk Biodynamic/Sustainable Beekeeping workshop in Nashville recently.  She said it was a rather informal but informative program and left with some good tips.

The Christmas Dinner is slated for December 3.  Members were asked to RSVP by November 30 and bring a covered dish and a dessert.  Volunteers were asked to bring rolls and butter, tea and lemonade.

By vote, the membership selected the Wounded Warrior Project for our December charity and we will be collecting for New Leash on Life for June 2013.

Ballots were circulated to voting members on how to continue with the Grant Hive Program.  With a vote of 32 to 28, the membership voted to leave the program as is and give kits away in a random drawing.

Fred Dawson had his monthly To-Do list:

• Evaluate your equipment..make necessary repairs and determine what equipment is needed for next year
• Make plans for next year—-bee packages, sources, etc.
• READ – READ – READ
• Double check—have weight on outer cover and ventilation
• Make plans NOW as to what method you will use for emergency feeding

Allen Persinger had stated earlier that he will not be able to continue to serve as Director for TBA due to work schedule.  Fred Dawson agreed to step up from his Alternate position to take on the Directorship.  Jil LaBelle volunteered to take the open Alternate position.  With no other changes to the officers, the membership voted to keep current officers :

• President—Carey Mitchell
• Vice President—Fred Dawson
• Secretary/Treasurer—Petra Mitchell
• Directors:  Fred Dawson, Carey Mitchell, Candice Thompson
  Alternates:  Sue Dickhaus, Jil LaBelle, David Thompson

Sue Dickhaus agreed to continue as librarian with Kelsie Meador as her assistant and Caryn Crowston will continue to do the newsletter.

Carey reported that Mike Studer’s 15-year old son had an accident while walking the dog which prompted emergency brain surgery resulting in 4 titanium plates in his head.  This caused Mike to cancel his program for the month as around the clock attention was required.  Carey filled in with an informal program on various methods of emergency feeding and questions from the floor.

The evening’s door prizes were given out:  How to Keep Bees & Sell Honey was won by Chris Dawson,

Helen Martinez won the hat donated by Glory Bee, and Paul Tripp and Candice Thompson each won 2 mouse guards Carey brought it.

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