Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 3 November 2014

The November 3, 2014 meeting of the Wilson County Beekeepers Association was attended by eighty members and guests. President Carey Mitchell welcomed everyone.

Membership approved the October meeting as posted in the last newsletter.

Old Business Discussed:

• The TBA Conference was briefly discussed with those that attended stating it was well worth the trip. Next year’s dates have been set—October 9 and 10 with the board meeting on the 8^th. The TBA current membership as of November 1 is 1,501 with WCBA having 214 members. Great numbers.
• Carey highlighted the Board Meeting:
• Treasurer’s Report for TBA: $60,268.57 as of 10/09/2014 before Conference expenses
• Membership voted to support Pollinator Stewardship Council with a $5,000.00 donation
• Mike Studer reported that there were low TAEP Grant applications and if anything was missing from your application, it was disqualified
• John Skinner reported that there will be 3 Bee Master Classes next year, along with 4 Extension In-Service Bee Classes
• Keith Elrod from Rutherford County Beekeepers was named the Beekeeper of the Year and there were no nominations for the Life Time award
• TBA will once again do the Hive Grant Program, even if the State does not provide a grant
• Thanks was given to Kenny Birdwell and Dean Nuss who copied the old VHS tapes (those that were not copyright protected) from Gordon Reed to Disc. What a great addition to the library
• We had a great Short Course with 38 attending the three-night class. Thanks to the mentors that were in attendance with their help: Margaret Cantrell, Philip Chapman, Jimmy Cunningham, Fred Dawson, Sterling Earhart, Mark Goodrich, Andy and Julie Harper, WT Nolen, David Thompson, and Leonard Walker.
• Fair questionnaires were available for a final time and we will proceed as usual if no comments or suggests are received. Catalog changes will be turned in at the January Fair Board Meeting
• Those that plan to attend the Fair Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, November 13 need to let Petra know tonight, as reservations have to be to the office by Tuesday morning.
• A reminder…if you are feeding or treating bees, your honey supers should be off the hive.

New Business Discussed:

• Petra discussed the upcoming Christmas Dinner: December 1…club providing the ham and turkey, coffee and soft drinks. Volunteers bringing rolls and butter, sweet and unsweet tea. Each family is to bring a covered dish AND a dessert to share. Also, this year we will be doing an ornament exchange, so bring a wrapped ornament for each member in your party ($5.00 limit). Invitations will be sent out two weeks prior to the event and RSVP’s need to be made by November 28.
• Ballots were passed around to select the charity for December. One vote per member. Highest count will be our choice for December and he runner up will be for the June picnic.

Fred’s To-Do List: (presented by Karen Dawson)

• Make plans now for what method you will use for emergency feeding
• Double check ventilation and weight for outer cover
• Begin making plans for next year
• READ—READ—READ — so you are set to go in 2015

This evening was our annual elections: Only one change was made so the officers stand as:
President: Carey Mitchell, Vice President: Fred Dawson, Secretary/Treasurer: Petra Mitchell
Directors: Fred Dawson, Carey Mitchell, and Candice Thompson
Alternates: Margaret Cantrell, Herb Lester, and David Thompson
Kelcie Meador agreed to remain as Librarian, and we will not let Greg Tomerlin leave as the Newsletter Editor. Thanks to those that are willing to serve another year.

Carey introduced Terri Merryman, the Director of Wilson County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Terri discussed the possibility of putting together a ‘Bee Festival’ which will not only entertain kids of all ages, but help educate the public on bees and their plight. Anyone wanting to be part of the committee is to let Petra know so plans can begin.

Arlis Swafford had a most interesting demonstration on making Hillbilly Wine. As we meet in a No Alcohol facility, no samples were provided, but it sure looked good.

Announcements:

• Next meeting: December 1…Christmas Dinner…remember your covered dish AND dessert plus your wrapped ornament
• The charity selected for December is Wounded Warrior Project with monetary donations being collected. New Leash on Life will be our group for June.

Door prizes with Fred and Carey:

• Karla Clark won a bee brush
• Mark Goodrich and Timmi Balentine each won a hive tool
• Leslie Burton got the one-year subscription to American Bee Journal
• Doyle Ferguson got a scraper
• Mike Crowston got a honey dipper
• James Tribble was chosen to receive a book…Garden Plants
• And Paula Rogers donated a bag of Honey Toffee that was won by Margaret Cantrell

Meeting adjourned around 8:35 for refreshments and fellowship.

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Respectfully submitted: Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association, November 3, 2014