Meeting Minutes – Monday, 6 November 2023
Wilson County Beekeepers met at the Ward Ag Center on Monday, November 6, 2023 with 54 members and guests in attendance. President Carey Mitchell called the meeting to order. The minutes of the October 2nd meeting were approved with the checkbook balance standing at $xxxx.xx. With new members from the Short Course our membership count stands at 230.
Old Business Discussed:
- What do you call a bee with messy hair? A Frizz-bee
- The TBA Fall Conference was 6 & 7 at MTSU. Several of our members were in attendance.
- Jamie Irons recapped the highlights of the board meeting.
- The October 23-25 Short Course went off without a hitch. We had 23 attend the class. Carey thanked the speakers: All Taylor, Jerry Wilson, Leonard Walker and Al Dutton. He also thanked Allen & Jennifer Ferguson and Jamie Irons who helped with the construction and new member Nina Williams who helps with setting the tables and chairs back.
New Business Discussed:
- This is the time of year we elect officers for 2024. As no one has offered to step up to take on a position, all current officers have agreed to stay on another year. if there are no objections, 2024 officers will be President: Carey Mitchell, Vice President: Leonard Walker, Secretary/Treasurer: Petra Mitchell, TBA Directors: Jessica Dodds-Davis, Jamie Irons and Jenny Lamb, Alternate TBA Directors: Chuck Benson, Philip Chapman, and Laurie Karr. Jennifer Ferguson will continue to keep the library, Jenny Lamb will continue as our social media queen, and our new Newsletter Editor is Duane Ackley who did a wonderful job with his first newsletter.
- Each paid member was given a ballot to select this year’s charity. Members are to select one charity. The one with the most votes will be our selection for December and the runner up will be the charity for our June picnic.
- Petra announced that next month we will have our Christmas Dinner on Monday, December 4 at 7:00 pm. RSVP’s will be needed by Saturday, December 2. Need to know how many will be in attendance so we have enough chairs and tables set yup. Each family is asked to bring a covered dish and dessert. We will be playing Dirty Santa so if you wish to participate bring a wrapped gift (valued up to $10) for each member playing. The club will provide the ham and turkey plus drinks and coffee.
- Petra received an email from Mike Studer, and the following have passed the Inspector Class in March and once their system is working, certificates will be printed and mailed: Ian Dawe, Al Dutton, Sterling Earhart, John Hancock, Jamie Irons, Carey Mitchell, Monica Sowders, Leonard Walker, and Jerry Wilson. Each inspector was asked to stop by Petra’s table to pick up some inspection forms that need to be completed in order for reimbursement.
- David Thompson had a brief recap from TBA. They currently are looking for a secretary and a newsletter editor.
Leonard’s Monthly To-Do
- Clean up around your hives, cut weeds, grass, rake leaves. All of these can retain moisture and make a colder environment
- Put weight on your covers. When you go into your hives in cooler weather, the Propolis won’t stick the top to the inner cover and a wind could blow them off. It has happened to me. I keep bricks on mine. Some people will position the brick to keep track of the condition of the hive.
- Feed if your hives don’t have 30 – 40 pounds of stores. The bees need to be able to get to the feed from the cluster. The feed needs to be just above the cluster. Remember, the bees will not be able to convert a 2:1 or 1:1 sugar/water mix once it gets to the temperatures we’ve been having. Damp sugar would be better. Just enough water to make the sugar stick together
- Get ready for spring. If you are buying bees this spring, you need to order them NOW. Al Taylor is selling nucs and packages. Sterling and I will be selling nucs. John Hancock sold nucs last year. Gary Williams out of Franklin sells be. Johnny Miller and Pet Zook sell nucs and queens every year. Pet is a good source for bee equipment. The price list is in the closet. Al Dutton will be selling bees later in the year. Robert Johnson usually sells nucs and queens. Getting bees should not be a problem, but you do need to order soon.
What’s blooming at our house that the bees are working after the freeze:
- Elaeagnus
- Witch Hazel
Program: Susan Welchance from Murfreesboro had a fantastic presentation on how to process your cappings into beautiful wax pieces
Announcements:
- December 2—RSVP for Christmas Dinner
- December 4—Christmas Dinner
The Charity that was selected for Christmas is Wounded Warrior and for the June Picnic, we will be supporting New Leash on Life
Door Prizes:
- 6-month ABJ subscription—Allen Ferguson
- Bee Brush—Lucy Freeman
- Pigeon Mountain Trading Co. shirt—Margaret Cantrell
- Queen Catcher—Cameron Bradshaw
- Aloe plant (donated by Daniel Klapuch)—Donnie Gleaves
- Honey Exchange Magnet—Jessica Stoiko
- Mini J-hook hive tool—Michael Stoiko
- Dial Enclosure—Marianne Smith
- Honey Candy—Duane Smith
- Gloves—David Elliott
- Honey Recipe Book—Jennifer Ferguson
- Vitex donated by Norma Jean Stroupe—Laurie Karr
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 for refreshments & fellowship.
The Club’s current checkbook balance is $xxxx
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Respectfully submitted: Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
November 7, 2023
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