Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 26 July 2021

Wilson County Beekeepers President, Carey Mitchell, called the July 26, 2021 meeting to order at the Ward Ag Center with thirty-seven members and guests in attendance.  Minutes from the July 5^th meeting were approved as posted in the last newsletter.  The reported checkbook balance is $______ with membership count standing at 178.

Old Business Discussed:

• TBA Conference registration is now open for those planning on attending with early registration ending September 17. Remember, we have a Conference Scholarship set at $300.00 for first time attendees.  Depending on how many attend both days, you can share in the Scholarship (not to exceed the $40.00 admission cost).  Reimbursement will be paid AFTER Conference.
• Petra has Fair tickets, parking passes, and schedules for those that have already signed up. If you haven’t and still want to help, see Petra.
• Petra has bears for donations. She is also collecting items for the raffle basket and any pictures of bees on flowers you would like to display.
• The Books for the Lebanon and Mt. Juliet libraries have been delivered.

New Business Discussed: 

• As honey donations have been slim this year, once again we have purchased honey from Sterling. As always, we thank him!  A reminder to those that have previously received the New Beekeeper Scholarship, now would be a perfect time to reimburse the club a portion of the two-gallon commitment.
• Fred Dawson gave up keeping one of the club’s extractors for rental and Jamie Irons took his place. Thanks Jamie!

Leonard’s Monthly To-Do

• Mite treatment…need to do that in time to raise fat bees for the winter
• Check for queen right. Sterling has had several people calling about queenless hives.  Remember Kent talking about supercedure queens…some of those might not get back
• Check week hives or new ones for food…not much out there for the bees. These hives need entrance reducers.

What’s blooming (at our house) that the bees are working:

• Catnip
• Clover
• Crepe Myrtle (especially the white ‘Natchez’)
• Devil’s Walking Stick
• Magnolia
• Milkweed
• Seven Sons
• Vitex

Program:  Melissa Ross was on hand to discuss Honey Show fair entries and how they are judged

Announcements:

• August 7—Honey Show entries for the Fair (taken in the Veteran’s Building)
• August 12–21—Wilson County Fair/Tennessee State Fair
• September 13—Tinker Vinson (moderator)—“What have you learned?”

Door Prizes:

• Vitex bushes—Roger Pollack, Traci Richcreek, Doug Bowes, Philip Chapman
• One day Fair Pass—Holly Spears, Sheril Ray
• Hive Tool—Kris Pollack
• Frame Display Case (donated by Helen Martinez)—Matt Scavone
• Queen Catcher—Beth Saddler
• Beekerk Belt (donated by Jamie Irons)—Elizabeth Thompson
• Refractometer (donated by Jamie Irons)—Nathan Wilson

The meeting adjourned for refreshments.

The Club’s current checkbook balance is $_______________

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Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
July 27, 2021

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