Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – 9 September 2013

Ninety-nine members, guests, and visitors were welcomed by Wilson County Beekeeper Association President Carey Mitchell to the September 9, 2013 meeting at the Ward Ag Center.  A request was made to approve the July 29th minutes as posted in the last newsletter.  The honey basket was won by Vickie Wilson and the goodie basket was won by Becky Roe.

Carey congratulated all that won ribbons at the fair and thanked everyone for their help…including entries, time, donations, WT Nolen the wax blocks and Mark Anderson for the 10 frames used during the extracting demonstration.

Old Business Discussed:

• North Alabama Beekeepers Symposium was August 10.  Who attended?
• Short Course is scheduled for October 15-17…had almost 90 folks sign up at the Fair.  Would be great to have mentors available for those days.
• WCBA Shirts are $10 each
• TBA Conference is September 27 and 28^th.  Large vendors attending:  Kelley’s, Dadant, and Bon Aqua Springs  Apiaries…if you want to order and prepay, let them know we will pick up your order if you are not going to be there…be sure to let us know.
  • Don’t forget the Honey Show…entries need to be in Friday by 1:00 pm
  • Honey Swap on Saturday
  • TBA Conference Scholarships…last call to get your name on the list.  Will draw at the end of the meeting
  • Those that are attending Conference can turn in your registrations today.  Deadline for early registration and to save $10 is September 20^th.
  • TBA Board Meeting is scheduled for September 26^th at Hyder Burkes in Cookeville started at 7:00 pm.  Anyone is welcome to attend, but only directors are eligible to vote and speak (Fred, Candice, and Carey)
  • TBA still looking for nominees for Beekeeper of the Year and Lifetime Beekeeper awards.  Written nominations need to be forwarded to Lynda Rizzardi
  • Beetle Blasters ( $1.00 each) and Beetle Jails ($1.50 each) are available for purchase
  • Joe Riddle has sugar for sale by the bucket

New Business:

• Please turn in your fair questionnaires…extra copies on the tables.  Let us know what you think needs to be changed or how it went
• New books for the Public Libraries:  Bee Essentials…Karen Dawson to deliver to Lebanon and Kelsie Meador to deliver to Mt. Juliet.  Petra already delivered to Watertown
• New books for WCBA’s library:  Bee Essentials and Bee (2 copies)
• Circulating 2014 Program Ideas List and Christmas Charity suggestions
• Brushy Mountain Bee Farm has free shipping September 9-20 with code P1FS
• Carey explained how to use Ultra Bee, a pollen substitute.  Petra has for $1.75/pound
• The Hive Grant/Beekeeper Scholarship Committee met before the meeting and Fred hopes to have some information by the next meeting, as there is more to discuss

Fred’s Monthly To-Do:

• Inspect colony for queen right
• Check for stores—60 pounds of feed needed for winter—Feed 2:1 syrup if needed—prepare now
• Evaluate hives…it’s better to have one strong hive than two weak hives
• Store empty supers—get extra equipment off hives so beetles don’t have too many places to hide and bees don’t have to patrol such a large space
• Watch for robbing during nectar dearth
• Read, Read, Read!!!!

Mike Studer presented some interesting information regarding Fall and Winter Management.

Final call for the TBA Conference Scholarship…no one else signed up.  There were 12 folks on the list.  As Wilson County had stated they would sponsor 10 and TBA was giving one scholarship, Petra Mitchell made the motion that the club pick up the other so everyone would be able to attend.  The membership agreed so these are the scholarship winners for 2013:  Leslie Burton, David & Rachel Duch, Mark & Diane Linder, Helen Vose, Gayle Long, Joshua Long, Ricky Underhill, Wayne Thornton, Jim Carlson, and Lindsay Gunter.  The first $25 was waived and recipients only need to pay the balance.

Our next meeting is scheduled for October 7 with Sue Dickhaus discussing lotions and salves.

Prizes for the evening:

• ‘I Work for the Queen’ hat from GloryBee—Wayne Storey
• Honey Candy from GloryBee—Carol Tripp
• Wounded Warrior 2014 calendar—George Bilbrey
• 6-pack of Vitex—Kelcie Meador
• 6-pack of Vitex—Mark Anderson
• Frame Rest from Peter Klaes—Anissa Dredge

 Meeting adjourned at 8:09 for refreshments and fellowship.

Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer—Wilson County Beekeepers Association, September 11, 2013