Meeting Minutes – Monday, 6 May 2019
On Monday, May 6, 2019, President Carey Mitchell welcomed 82 members and guests to the monthly meeting of the Wilson County Beekeepers at the Ward Ag Center. Minutes of the April meeting were approved as posted in the past newsletter and the reported checkbook balance is $xxxx. During the meeting we received two renewal memberships bring the total membership to 209.
Old Business Discussed:
- Several members said they attended Kent’s Bee School and had a grand time.
- Farm Days is May 8 & 9 and Jessica will greatly appreciate any and all volunteers.
- Field Day has been scheduled for May 18 with a rain day of May 25. One location in Lebanon (Jim Murff) and one in Mt. Juliet (Sterling Earhart). Petra has driving directions.
- T-Shirt order is going on. Stop by Petra’s table to place your order.
- Winter Loss report (with information forwarded from the membership) Total overall loss: 31%. With no treatment—35% loss ApiGard/ApiLife—18% loss Oxalic Acid—32% loss Tea tree Oil—43% loss
New Business Discussed:
- Dr. Jennifer Tsuruda has released the TN Master Beekeeping Program Class schedule for 2019. The Beginner level will be held in Greene, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Putnam, and Rutherford counties and the Advance level will be in Fentress, Franklin, Madison, and Williamson counties. These are two-day programs (8 am to 5 pm) and the cost is $100.00. Seating is limited and you need to register on line.
- June Picnic—the club will be providing the barbecue and each family is asked to bring a covered dish AND a dessert. Location and time is the same as regular meetings…Monday June 3 at 7:00 pm. Please send your RSVP’s by June 1 so we can make sure we have enough seats set up and meat ordered. Our charity will be New Leash on Life. On their wish list is dry cat food, bleach, laundry detergent, copy paper, and monetary donations.
Jessica’s Monthly To Do’s:
- Now the activity really starts hopping. The nectar and pollen should begin to come into the hive thick and fast.
- The queen will be reaching her greatest rate of egg laying.
- The hive should be bursting with activity.
- Spring mite treatments should be completed, and removed prior to adding any honey supers.
- Add honey supers on top of the top deep.
- Watch out for swarming. Inspect the hive weekly.
- Attend bee club meetings and workshops.
- Read Read Read.
What’s Blooming in our area:
- Clover
- Creeping Charlie
- Honeysuckle Bush
- Locust
- Magnolia
- Poison Ivy
- Privet
- Tulip Poplar
Plus
Our program this evening was presented by Kent Williams, an EAS Certified Master Beekeeper who has been keeping bees for about 30 years. He manages 80 +/- hives in western Kentucky. He rents bees for pollination, produces honey, raises several thousand queens, and produces nuc colonies for local beekeepers. We are proud to have him come speak with us, as he has done annually for several years. Today’s discussion was on Pest Management plus answering other topics.
Announcements:
- May 8 & 9—Farm Day
- June 1—RSVP due
- June 3—Annual Picnic
Carey and Jessica handed out door prizes at the end of the meeting to:
- J-hook hive tool—Preston Poteete
- Field Evaluation Journal from Mann Lake—Jeff Crutchfield
- Honey Candy—Chuck Benson
- $25.00 Pigeon Mountain gift certificate—Allen Ferguson
The meeting adjourned around 8:58 for refreshments and fellowship.
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Respectfully submitted: Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
May 7, 2019
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wcba
Wilson County Beekeepers 