Meeting Minutes – Monday, 10 April 2017
On Monday, April 10, 2017 Wilson County Beekeepers Association met at the Ward Ag Center in the East/West building. President, Carey Mitchell welcomed a large crowd of 84 members, guests, and visitors to the monthly meeting. The minutes of the March meeting were approved.
Old Business Discussed:
- The Swarm List was available should members want to add their name. You do have to be a current WCBA member in order to be on the list.
- Field Day is scheduled for May 20 with the alternate rain date March 27. Start time is 10:00 with Sterling Earhart (Mt. Juliet) and Jim Murff and Mike Belcher (Lebanon) opening their yards. Directions will once again be in the newsletter. Carey reminded those that are attending NOT to bring their smokers, hive tools, or gloves. Also be sure your protective clothing is clean…we don’t want any cross-contamination between yards.
- Newbees…have you made contact with a mentor. Check out the map to see who is near you and see if you can work together
- Jessica Dodds is still looking for volunteers for Farm Day on May 10 and 11
New Business Discussed:
- Putting together a new T-shirt order for this year. Color choices are Gray with black lettering, Bright Blue with white lettering, and Bright Orange with black lettering. We need at least 12 of each color (no matter the sizing) to place the order. Cost is $10.00 per shirt and we will continue to take orders until June. You can email your order to Petra and monies will be collected when order is received.
- Still have a few black and yellow shirts from last year. Also there are a few hats and visors left.
Margaret had her To Do List:
- Inspect your colonies…be sure your hive is queen right, has a good brood pattern, check for swarm cells
- Begin putting honey supers on overwintering hives
- No syrup feeding or chemical treatment with honey supers on
- Beetle traps—probably needed now
- Read! — Check out the WCBA library
Clarence Collison had a most-informative PowerPoint program on Swarm Management. He is making his Swarm Prevention publication to WCBA members. Check the website for a link to his publication
Announcements:
- May 1 — Kent Williams—Things that can cause summer losses and what to do about them
- May 10 and 11 — Farm Days
- May 20 — Field Day with May 27 as a rain alternate
Carey and Margaret handed out the evening’s door prizes to: Kelsie Meador, Lita Baldwin, and Odell Binkley.
Respectfully submitted: Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
March 12, 2017
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