Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 7 January 2019

Wilson County Beekeepers President Carey Mitchell welcomed 85 members and guest to the first meeting of 2019 on Monday, January 7 at the Ward Ag Center.  Minutes of the December meeting were approved as posted in the past newsletter.  The year-end balance was reported and ending statements were available for review.

Dues are due, starting in January.  If you attended the Short Course, your dues were paid with your registration.  Be sure to go by Petra’s table to pick up your new membership book.

Old Business Discussed:

• Carey thanked everyone that donated to the wounded Warrior Project at the Christmas dinner. Due to your generosity, we were able to send them $602.00
• The Honey Convention has found a new location to hold their annual event at the Rothchild Catering and Events Center in Knoxville. The dates are the same…March 22-23…for details and registration, go to honeybeeconvention.com
• The HAS convention has changed location…instead of Nashville, they will be on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green on July 8-10…for more details and registration, go to heartlandbees.org
• If you are planning on getting bees this Spring, you better place your order soon. Make sure you have your apiary sited and your equipment assembled.  If you haven’t already done so, get together with your mentor.  (check map in window)

New Business Discussed:  

• Nashville Area Beekeepers will be hosting their annual Advanced Beekeepers Class on Saturday, January 19 at Belmont University. The cost is $35.00 and will include lunch.  Speakers are Clarence Collison, Jennifer Berry, and Mike Studer.  For registration, go to their website…www.nashbee.org
• For the first time, The Tennessee Beekeepers Assn. will participate in the Pick TN Conference starting on Thursday, February 21 through Saturday, February 23. Register online before February 15 for $125 for all three days including Friday breakfast, Friday lunch, and trade show… www.picktnconference.com
• Petra has ordered six copies of BeeCabulary Essentials. There is one copy for our club’s library, three for the public libraries, and two additional ones for sale at a cost of $19.00 each.  Karen Dawson volunteered to take the copy to Lebanon and Joyce Gagnon will take the one for Mt. Juliet.  Petra has already delivered the copy to Watertown.
• If anyone has topic ideas they would like to see covered at a meeting in 2020, please let Petra know, as she is working on the schedule.

Jessica’s Monthly To-Do List:

• Continue to monitor your bees for their food needs.
• Monitor the hive entrance. Brush off any dead bees or snow.
• Consider a winter hobby…candles, wax projects, mead making. Never too early to get ready for the Fair
• Order your packages/nucs and equipment
• Repair, clean, and paint old equipment
• Attend meetings!
• Book of the month recommendation—“BeeCabulary Essentials”

Bonnie Holman (Ag teacher at Wilson Central) informed us they received a $3,000 grant to expand the school’s apiary and plan on selling nucs this spring, so keep them in mind when placing your orders.  If all goes well, they will also have queens for sale.  She introduced two of the FFA members that are in the beekeeping group at school…Ashley Davis and Avery McClure.

Trevor Qualls was to be our speaker for the evening, but cancelled last minute due to potential buyer for shop equipment.  Carey stepped in and reviewed some bee biology, pest management, and other topic suggestions from the room.

Announcements:

• February 4—Use of a double screen/making splits with Joel White
• February 16—TBA Board Meeting in Murfreesboro…directors plan on attending
• February 21-23—Pick TN Conference

Petra has smokers for sale at the back table–$15.00 each

Carey and Jessica handed out door prizes at the end of the meeting to: Abigail Siemans, Becky Owens, Joyce Gagnon, and Bonnie Holman.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 for refreshments and fellowship.

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Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association,
January 9, 2019

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