Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – 06 May 2013

On May 6, 2013 Wilson County Beekeeper’s President Carey Mitchell welcomed 118 members and guests to the monthly meeting.  The membership approved the April minutes as were posted in the newsletter.

Old business discussed:

• Peggy Scholes said she still could use a few more folks for Farm Day on May 8-9
• The Inspector Class is scheduled for May 23-25 in the School Exhibit Building with time not yet confirmed by Mike Studer
• Wilbanks packages will be delivered Saturday, May 11 at the Ward Ag Center between 5 and 6.  Queens are also available for $25.00 each.
• Still waiting for a delivery date on the nucs
• Beetle traps are for sale at $1.00 each and Beetle Jails are $1.50 each.
• We are still accepting $1.00 chances on the beginner’s kit from Linda Johenning.  This will be given away at the picnic

New business discussed:

• This year’s Field Day will be May 18 at 10:00 am with a rain date of June 1.  We have three locations:  Watertown, Lebanon and Mt. Juliet
• The fair is approaching.  Items for the raffle basket are requested
• We will also be raffling off a country ham at the picnic.  $1.00 per chance with proceeds going to New Leash on Life.
• The Picnic is scheduled for June 3 with the Association providing the meat and soft drinks.  Each family is asked to bring a covered dish AND a dessert.  Volunteers will bring sweet tea, unsweet tea, and lemonade.  Our charity is New Leash on Life and a wish list will accompany the invitations.  RSVP’s will need to made by May 31 so that the meat order can be placed.

Fred’s To Do List:

• Inspect colonies for queen cells, congestion, and queen right
• Watch for swarming
• Add supers
  • They do no good in garage
  • No feeding with supers on
  • Put your empty supers between the brood nest and full super
• Read-Read-Read

Jim Garrison, our speaker for the evening, spoke briefly about the importance of being a TBA member, the upcoming HAS conference, and advised us that there still isn’t a date set for the Nucs, as the weather has been a huge factor.  He had a wonderful program on pollen and nectar plants along with pictures and stories.

Next meeting is scheduled for June 3, which is the picnic.

Door Prizes given:

• Pollinator Wheel from John Skinner—Rachel Duch
• Honey candy from GloryBee—Fred Dawson
• Hive Tool from Pigeon Mountain—Eddie Donnelly
• Honeybee pin from Lynda Rizzardi—Rebecca Roe
• Vitex Bush from Petra—Allen Persinger
• Brush from Marcus Bigsby—Paul Tripp
• Goodie Box from Paula Rogers—Jeremy Blackwell

Meeting adjourned at 8:25 for refreshment provided by the membership.

Unfortunately, time didn’t permit for Herb Lester to give a brief queen rearing presentation for the entire group, but he did discuss with several members during fellowship time.  We will have Herb do a full presentation during next year’s programming.