Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 3 February 2020

President Carey Mitchell of the Wilson County Beekeepers Association called the February 3, 2020 meeting to order at the Ward Ag Center with 96 members and guests in attendance.   Minutes from the January 2020 meeting were approved as posted in the past newsletter.  The reported checkbook balance is $_________.

Old Business Discussed:

• Dues are due…be sure to pick up your new membership books.
• Comments were made from those that attended NABA’s Advanced Beekeeping Class

New Business Discussed:                                                             

• New shirts were ordered and arrived…long sleeved, Oxford Gray…for $10.00 each. Get them while available
• For those of you that know Allen Persinger, he says hello…he is relocating to Montana
• Refresher Workshop—February 22 (Saturday) at 9:00 am until around noon. Bring your smokers and lighters, and we will bring the fuel, coffee and donuts
• Honey Convention will be in Knoxville on March 20 and 21 at the Rothchild Conference Center. They are offering each club on one-day free admission for anyone that has not attended before.  If anyone is interested, let Petra know and she will put your name in the hat and we will draw at the end of the meeting for the ticket.
• Petra is working on this year’s Swarm List. If you want to be added or make changes, please visit her.  This is for paid WCBA members.

Jessica’s Monthly To Do’s:

• Take advantage of any days over 50 degrees and go check on your hive. You want to see bees flying around, and going to the bathroom. If you can’t be home when temps are the highest, look for evidence that the bees were out- you will usually see poop scattered on the top of the hive, or on the snow in front of the hive.
• 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.
• 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 fact that the work of your deceased hive will give your new hive stronger start.

What’s Blooming at our house:

• Maples
• Flowering Quince
• Helebores—Lenten Rose
• Mahonia
• Dandelion
• False Nettle
• Hazelnut
• Magnolia

Kate Read, a Girl Scout Leader from Lebanon, was in attendance to ask if WCBA would consider working on a project with them in the future.  She left some brochures,  business cards, and pens.  Anyone interested could contact her direct.

Carey awarded TBA’s Beekeeper of the Year award to Gene Armstrong..

Program:  Gene Armstrong, the current NABA President did a wonderful job presenting Woodenware Applications.  He had many examples and answered questions.

Announcements:

• February 22—Beginning Beekeeper Refresher workshop
• February 29—TBA Board Meeting—Rutherford County Ag Center—1:00 pm
• March 2—Clarence Collison—Spring Preparation

Carey and Jessica handed out door prizes at the end of the meeting:

• A ball cap from Rossman Apiaries—Roger Pollack
• Notebook—Mickey Payne
• Hive Tool—Walt Syes
• Candle from Paula Rogers—Norma Jean Stroupe
• Honey Candy—Laurie Vinson
• WCBA has purchased some large door prizes and the winner each month will be able to make a selection for them…This month Danny Driver selected the 5-Frame Nuc box with bottom board and outer cover

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm for refreshments and fellowship.

The Club’s current checkbook balance is $ _______________

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Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
February 4, 2020

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