Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 7 March 2022

Wilson County Beekeepers Association President Carey Mitchell called the March 7, 2022 meeting to order at the Ward Ag Center.  Seventy-four members and guests were in attendance.  Minutes of the February meeting were approved as posted in the last newsletter.  The reported checkbook balance is $xxxx 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
• Positive reviews from those that attended the NABA Advance Beekeeper class on February 12
• Great reviews from those that attended the TBA Conference on March 4 & 5. WCBA awarded 12 Conference Scholarships in the amount of $25.00 each.
• The WCBA sponsorship check for the Honey Show at the Wilson County Fair has been delivered.
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New Business Discussed:                                                             

• The club has purchased Ultra Bee Pollen Substitute and available for $2.00 per 1-pound bag
• Jenny Lamb reported on the TBA Board Meeting (short and polite meeting)—Each of the five regions can spend up to $2,500 to put on a mini-conference to take the place of the regular fall conference. Also, each club can spend up to $400 at their discretion (education, hive kits, equipment, etc.)
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Leonard’s Monthly To-Do

When the weather gets back to the 60’s and 70’s…

• Check brood boxes…if bottom is empty of brood, reverse
• In two weeks, check and reverse again. Repeat until the honey flow starts
• Check for disease and mites when reversing brood boxes. Treat when possible.
• Check honey stores…feed if less than 15 pounds of honey
• Get honey supers ready. Drawn comb stored on crystals need to be aired out for several days
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What’s blooming (at our house) that the bees are working: (before the shows)

• Daffodil
• Dandelion
• Elm
• False nettles
• Flowering Quince
• Hazelnut
• Hellebores
• Henbit
• Magnolia
• Mahonia
• Maples
• Nanking Cherry
• Pansy
• Pussy Willow
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New Book Review:  Carey reported on Wild Honey Bees
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Program:  Shannon Trimboli had a wonderful PowerPoint presentation on Planting for Honeybees

For those that were not able to attend, you can go to busybeenurseryandconsulting.com for a list of plants for our region.
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Announcements:

• April 4—–John Ratcliff—Cut outs

Door Prizes:

• Native Bee House (donated by Susan Stanford)—Petra Mitchell
• Honey Candy—Al Taylor
• Hive Tool—Tricia Davis
• Bee Brush—Aimee McCain
• Smoker—Philip Chapman
• Shannon Trimboli’s Plant book (donated by Shannon)—Caryn Boles
• Honeybee TN hat (donated by Jessica Dodds)—Tim Lankford
• J hook Hive Tool—Bill Rourke
• Entrance Feeder—Jeremy Blackwell
• Box of Beetle Traps (donated by Beth McClain)—Eddie Kim
• Honey B Healthy—Craig Galles
• Cookbook—Laurie Karr
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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
March 8, 2022

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