Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes  – Monday, 1 October 2018

Carey Mitchell, Wilson County Beekeepers President called the Monday, October 1 meeting to order at the Ward Ag Center with a small group of 38 members and guest in attendance.  We were back in our usual meeting place, and the new kitchen is beautiful.  The minutes from September 11th  meeting were approved.

Old Business Discussed:

• Carey announced that on September 21 we lost Herb Lester.  Herb was attending meetings regularly until bone cancer made it impossible for him to travel.
• The Fair Appreciation Dinner is Tuesday, October 23 at 6:30.  If you worked the Honey Booth and are planning on attending the dinner, let Petra know so she can put you on the guest list.
• TBA Conference is October 12 and 13 with the Board Meeting on October 11.  Delegates will be Carey, Jessica, and Candice
• Major vendors at Conference will be Kelley Beekeeping, Mann Lake, Bon Aqua Springs, Brushy Mountain, Dadant, Pigeon Mountain Trading Company, and Rossman Apiaries..place your orders and pick up at Cookeville.  If you aren’t going to be there, check with those that will so they can bring your order back.
• There are still some boxes of Mite Away and Mentol.  If anyone can use it, please help yourself but be careful.  Use according to directions.
• Short Course is October 23-25.  If you are planning on attending, please let Petra know.  Mentors…can use some help on Thursday to construct hive boxes and frames.  If you have equipment to put together, please bring it.
• We will be looking for one, possibly two TBA delegates for next month’s vote
• Carey stressed the importance of registering your bees.  It doesn’t cost anything, you are advised if there is a disease outbreak in your area (8 mile radius), and there is a $500 fine for unregistered bees.

New Business Discussed: 

• Lists were circulated for members to add the local charities they would like to see on the ballot for next month for us to contribute to in December and June.
• Also a reminder…elections are in November and EVERY office is open, if anyone wants to put their name on the ballot.

Monthly To-Do List—Carey provided in Jessica’s absence

1. Check colonies for queens and health brood
2. Check food stores and location (food next to brood area—top and side)
3. Small hives, low stores, weak colonies may be combined while the weather is warm and forage is still available
4. Check hive bodes and tops, tops and bases for soundness
5. Get rid of unoccupied equipment
6. Add mouse guards
7. If you are feeding, be sure to put on entrance reducers to avoid robbing
8. Read up on pest and disease control practices

Our own Dale McCleskey had an excellent program on the different types of hives he uses in his yard.  Most interesting….if you weren’t there, you missed a wonderful program.

Announcements:

• October 11—TBA Board Meeting…who will be representing WCBA?
• October 12 & 13—TBA Conference
• October 23-25—Short CourseNovember 5—Emergency Feeding & Readying for Spring with Trevor Qualls (order your equipment and have him bring it).

Carey and Fred handed out door prizes at the end of the meeting to Leighann Harmon (notebook), Leonard Walker (candy), Diane Leu (bee brush), JD Vantrease (calendar) Gus Kavounis ($25 Pigeon Mountain Gift Certificate, Laura Lindsey ($40 Brushy Mountain Gift Certificate) and Brianna Kruse (Bee Hive Log)

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 for refreshments and fellowship.

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Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
October 3, 2018

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