Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 4 February 2019

Wilson County Beekeepers met Monday, February 4, 2019 at the Ward Ag Center with 98 members and guest in attendance.  President Carey Mitchell called the meeting to order.   There were 11 new members join since the last meeting and currently there are 160 paid members.  Minutes of the January meeting were approved as posted in the past newsletter and the reported checkbook balance is $________

Just a reminder…dues are due.  If you have paid and haven’t picked up your membership book, stop by Petra’s table.

Old Business Discussed:

• NABA held their annual Advanced Beekeepers Class on January 19 with a few of the WCBA members attending. Russ Davis reported it was a good program.
• The Pick TN Conference is February 21-23 in Franklin at the Marriott. Registration online at picktnconference.com before February 15 for $125 for all three days (our own Jessica will be one of the speakers)
• The Honey Convention is scheduled for March 22 & 23 at the Rothchild Catering and Events Center in Knoxville. They are offering a one-day free pass for each Association.  We drew at the end of the meeting.  You can check out the schedule and register for the event at  honeybeeconvention.com
• A reminder, 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)
• The Refresher Course is Saturday, February 23 at 9:00 am. Bring your smokers and let Petra know if you are attending, so we get a head count.

New Business Discussed: 

• The Swarm List is at the back table…never too early to sign up. Remember, your WCBA membership needs to be paid for the year.
• The Inspector Grant is in place…inspectors, be sure to turn in all of your inspection slips as you complete them. If they aren’t turned in, you won’t get paid.  They have to be turned in before June 15^th.
• If anyone is interested in a subscription to American bee Journal, Petra has some discount order forms…$23.80 per year.

In Jessica’s absence, our Librarian, Jennifer, had her Monthly To-Do List:

• The warmer it is, the more intense of an investigation you can make. If temps near 60, you can open the hive for a brief period and assess the remaining honey stores and clear out the dead bodies that accumulate over the winter.
• Condense honey stores into one area, and, if they are out of honey but still alive, begin feeding. We recommend a 1:1 water/sugar ratio in spring, as they will be using it for immediate energy and not storing it for winter.  Don’t fill the jar all the way, as the solution could still freeze.  Check on it whenever the temps are high enough to make sure the holes aren’t clogged.
• If your bees didn’t survive winter, we offer our condolences. It can be very hard to lose a hive, we know.  Take comfort in the fat that the work of your deceased hive will give your new hive a stronger start.
• If your hive didn’t survive, now is the time to place a deposit down on your new bees, to be sure you get an early start in spring.
• Remember the PickTN Conference

What’s Blooming:

• elaeagnus—Silverberry
• Flowering Quince
• Dandelion
• Henbit
• Maple
• False Nettle
• Mahonia
• Hazelnut

Joel White, from Nashville Beekeepers Association, was the speaker for the evening discussing his approach for using a double screen to make splits and stop swarming.  Handouts were available, and because his computer was not compatible with the projector, the PowerPoint was not available, but was emailed out to members (with Joel’s permission).

Announcements:

• February 16—TBA Board Meeting in Murfreesboro…directors plan on attending
• February 21-23—Pick TN Conference
• February 23—Refresher Course—East/West Building..9:00 am
• March 4—Honeybee Nutrition—Clarence Collison

J.D. Vantrease has bee equipment for sale.  If interested, call him at  464-5596

The drawing for the Honey Convention Scholarship was the last item on the agenda with Mike Bell winning the one-day admission pass

Carey and Margaret  handed out door prizes at the end of the meeting to: Jerry Sanders—honey candy, David Elliott—hive tool, Danny Driver—ABJ subscription, Jared Brasel—lighter, Walt Syes—flower pot charm.

The meeting adjourned at 8:07 for refreshments and fellowship.

The Club’s current checkbook balance is $_______ including the sponsorship payment to Wilson County Promotions for the Honey Show at the Fair.

Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
February 6, 2019

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