Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 7 February 2022

Wilson County Beekeepers Association President Carey Mitchell called the February 7, 2022 meeting to order at the Ward Ag Center.  Seventy-six members and guests were in attendance.  Minutes of the January meeting were approved as posted in the last newsletter.  The reported checkbook balance is $xxx.xx and a copy of the treasurer’s report was available for anyone interested..
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Old Business Discussed:

• Membership books are in and dues are due.
• Hoodies are in. If you placed an order, see Petra and pay her.  A few extras were ordered and are in the appropriate size shirt boxes.  Hoodies are $18.00 and t-shirts and hats are $10.00
• The Refresher Course is scheduled for February 19 (listed as the 12^th in the membership book. If you are planning on attending, please let Petra know so she can get a head count.  We will be meeting in the School Exhibits building (behind the Veteran’s Building outside Fiddler’s Grove).  We will start at 9:00 am and should finish around noon.  Please bring your smoker and lighter, if you have one.  We will provide the fuel, unless there is something special you use.
• The TBA Conference is scheduled for March 4 and 5^th with the Board Meeting on the 3^rd in Murfreesboro. Early registration ends February 11.  If you registered for last October, you are still registered, unless you requested a refund.  Cost is $40.00 for two days for TBA members and $60.00 for non-members.  After the 11^th, the cost is $50.00 and $70.00.  Registration can be made online at TBA’s website (tnbeekeepers.org).
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New Business Discussed:      

• The 2022 Kent Williams Bee School is scheduled for April 28, 29, and 30^th from 9:00 am to 4:00pm in Wingo, KY. Class is free; donations are requested for lunch
• Maple Bend Bee Supply has relocated to their home on Lascassas Pike. They are there Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.  In March, they will open on Saturdays from 8:00am to Noon.
• Per bylaws, we need to vote on our sponsorship of the Honey Show with the Wilson County Fair. Petra provided this:  Currently there are 26 categories with premiums of $10/$7/$5.  Some other venues offer a premium for their Best of Show placement and the Honey Show will follow the same practice at a premium of $15.00.  Also, Maple Bend Bee Supply has graciously offered to raise the Bluest of the Blues award from $25.00 to $50.00.  WCBA’s outlay for total support of the Honey Show is $747.00 including judge’s fees, and since Honeybee TN has come aboard as a sponsor, a request of $547.00 was made with membership approving the request.
• Petra announced that our shirt supplier can also provide 3” patches with the WCBA logo on them for a cost of $3.50 per hundred. Not much interest was shown.
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Leonard’s Monthly To-Do

• On a warm day (50 degrees or more) check for a laying queen
• Check honey stores…feed if necessary
• Unite weak or queenless hives with another hive. Not another weak hive, unless you plan on feeding.  Remove one of the two queens.
• If you are treating for mites, you could start your first treatment now.
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What’s blooming (at our house) that the bees are working: (before the shows)

• Henbit
• Lenten Rose
• Mahonia
• Maple and magnolia should bloom this week
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Program:  Dr. Clarence Collison had a most-informative program on Spring Management
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Announcements:

• February 12—–Nashville Area Beekeepers Advanced Beekeeping Workshop at Ellington Ag Center
• February 19—Refresher Course
• March 3—TBA Board Meeting (open to the entire TBA membership) Directors are to attend.
• March 4-5—TBA Conference
• March 7—Shannon Trimboli—Planting for Honeybees
• Jamie Irons still has a few extra double screen board for $25.00 each.
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Door Prizes:

Honey Candy—Shelley Flint
Hive Tool—Lucy Freeman
In-Hive Feeder (donated by Petra)—Cecil Ray
WCBA Hat—Sheril Ray
Beeswax Candle (donated by Lucy Freeman)—Jenny Galles
Shallow Boxes (donated by Beth McClain)—Wendy Street and Aimee McCain
Smoker Fuel—John Crowder
Mug from Hive Live Conference—Allen Ferguson
2022 Bee Culture Calendar—Roger Flatt
Cheese plate and spreader (donated by Susan Crawford)—Chuck Benson
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The meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm for refreshments.

The Club’s current checkbook balance is $_______________

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Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
February 8, 2022

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