Wilson County Beekeepers Association President Carey Mitchell called the July 11, 2022 meeting to order at the Ward Ag Center. Forty-eight members and guests were in attendance. Minutes of the June meeting were approved as posted in the last newsletter. The reported checkbook balance is $__________. Membership count stands at 178.
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Old Business Discussed:
- A reminder…be sure to register your bees. This can be done online…just google apiary registration/TN
- Remember your bee space. Keep those frames tight to avoid extra comb you don’t want
- We had plenty to eat at the June picnic…anyone leave hungry? Because of your generosity, we were able to send Hives for Heroes $536.00 and $471.00 to Carry the Load for a grand total of $1,007.00. We received a thank you note from Carry the Load. Still waiting for Hives for Heroes to cash the check.
- We also received a Thank you note from the Nashville Zoo for our $250.00 donation we made at the May meeting towards their Pollinator Garden
- Pesticide Kill—contact directly before doing anything with the hive. They will advise you on the process…615-837-5148
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New Business Discussed:
- Wilson County Fair—Tennessee State Fair dates are August 18-27. Petra has Fair schedule. Please help where you can. Passes will be mailed to you after the July 25th meeting in time for the Fair
- Entry day for the Honey Show is Saturday, August 13 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Judging will begin at 3:30 pm.
- 6 ounce bears are available for those willing to donate honey for the Fair sale.
- We will be doing an extracting demonstrations on the weekends…need 10 frames for this. Anyone willing to bring in an observation hive?
- Past winners of the New Beekeeper Scholarship…remember you have a 2-gallon commitment.
- One-pound honey jars for Fair entries only available for $1.00 each
- Still collecting bee-themed items and jars of honey for the raffle basket. Any and all are welcome.
- Finally got in touch with mike Studer and he will be speaking at our regular club meeting on March 6 on Honeybee Pests and Diseases, and he will be doing a two-night Inspector Class March 7 & 8, 2023. This is a refresher course for current inspectors and new course for those that are wanting/willing to be inspectors…requirements are 5 years beekeeping experience and have gone through the UT Master Beekeeping course. There is a 25 seat limit, so if you are interested, let Petra know before it is open to surrounding associations.
- TBA Fall Mini-Conference for the North Middle Region is scheduled for October 8 in Greenbrier.
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Leonard’s Monthly To-Do
- If you haven’t removed your honey, do so and extract
- If you treat for mites, do so after removing your honey
- Dick Brickner (Columbia Beekeepers President) gave a program at NABA on using oxalic acid
- As of 2022, you can use oxalic acid soaked in shop towels, sponges or pads
- You can do this with honey on your hives
- Oxalic acid is natural occurring in a lot of plants and honey
- State to state hon how to use
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What’s blooming (at our house) that the bees are working:
- Bottlebrush Buckeye
- Catnip
- Clover
- Crepe Myrtle (especially the white)
- Magnolia
- Milkweed
- Mints
- Vitex
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New Book Review: Carey recommended that beekeepers consider getting a subscription of Bee Culture, as there are always relevant articles in each issue
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Program: John Benham from Nashville had a fabulous presentation on ‘The Threshold of Healthy Spring Bees’
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Announcements:
- July 25—Kent Williams—Fall Management
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Door Prizes:
- Box of Shallow Foundation donated by Lanny Correll—Daniel Klapuch
- Double Strainer—Monica Sowders
- Rossman t-shirt—Ronnie Woodard
- Bucket Drainer donated by Jessica Dodds—Doug Philyaw
- Lighter—Bill Rourke
- J-hook hive tool—Pat Gouch
- Honey Candy—Jerry Wilson
- Mini j-hook hive tool—Ed Schwark
- Note Cards from Wounded Warrior Project—Tricia Davis
- Box of latex gloves donated by Beth McClain—Al Taylor
- Vitex donated by the Mitchells—Leonard Walker and Kenny Birdwell
- Hot Pepper Jelly donated by Norma Jean Stroupe—Jack Erdley
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The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm for refreshments.
The Club’s current checkbook balance is $—————-
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Respectfully submitted: Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
July 12, 2022
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wcba
Wilson County Beekeepers 