Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 5 October 2020

President Carey Mitchell called the Monday, October 5 meeting of the Wilson County Beekeepers Association to order.  A total of 25 members were in attendance.   Minutes from the September 14, 2020 meeting were approved as posted in the past newsletter.  The reported checkbook balance is $xxx.

Old Business Discussed:

• The October Short Course has been cancelled

 New Business Discussed:                                                             

• Elections are in November. All offices are open.  If you want to fill a seat, let Petra know, so she can put together a ballot.  Jessica Dodds will be stepping down as Vice President, so that slot will definitely need to be filled.  That leaves President, Secretary/Treasurer, three delegates and three alternates.
• Due to Covid-19, we will NOT be hosting the Christmas Party this December, and there will be NO meeting. (Carey thought it was a good time to wished everyone an early ‘Merry Christmas’)
• This year’s winners of the W.T Nolen New Beginner Scholarship award are: Chuck Benson Judy Parrish, and Linda Sanders.  Chuck received $250.00 and Judy and Linda each received $125.00 as they share an apiary.

Monthly To-Do per Carey due to Jessica’s absence

• Check to see your colonies are queenright. If not, combine weak colonies with strong ones.
• Check food supply—will need 40-60 pounds of nectar and pollen for the winter
• Check for hive beetles—don’t let them overwinter in the colony
• Treat for mites, if you plan before it’s too late in the season. Be sure to completely follow treatment directions
• If they need feed, it’s best to use a wet sugar cake. (Kent Williams’ recipe can be found in this addition of the newsletter)
• Consider a back windbreak, depending on the location of your colonies. Also, you can use a second outer cover for hive insulation
• Read (American Bee Journal and Bee Culture magazines were available for anyone interested)

 What’s Blooming at our house:

• Vitex
• Golden Rod
• Boneset
• Asters
• English Ivy
• Abelia
• Elaeagnus “Autumn Olive”
• Smartweed
• Cup Plant

Program:  Dale McCleskey presented an excellent program on ‘Managing the Sex Lives of Honeybees’.  He offered to send his PowerPoint presentation to anyone requesting it.  He also agreed to have it posted to our website. [ Available here: https://wilsoncountybeekeepers.org/resources/ ]

Announcements:

• November 2—Club Elections
• November 2—Sue Dickhaus—Making Salves
• Sterling Earhart brought some Korean Be Bee tree seed to share

Door Prizes: 

Tool Bucket—Russ Davis                  Rossman Hat—Freddie Stroupe
Lighter—Deannie Hughes                ABJ Subscription—Amanda Felt
Hive Tool—Jack Brown                     Honey Candy—Norbert Braunwalder
Bee Brush—Eddie Kim                      Honey Candy—Paula Fox

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

The Club’s current checkbook balance is $xxx

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Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
October 6, 2020

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