Meeting Minutes – Monday, 5 February 2024
Wilson County Beekeepers met at the Ward Ag Center on Monday, February 5, 2024. There were 80 members and guests in attendance with seven new members joining the group. President Carey Mitchell called the meeting to order. The minutes of the January meeting were approved with the checkbook balance standing at $xxxx.xx. The year-end financial report was available for anyone wanting to know who the club’s money was spent over the course of the year.
Old Business Discussed:
- What is small, yellow and black and drops things? A FUMBLE Bee! (Thanks Duane)
- Our member, Bill Rourke passed away on January 15 after being diagnosed with brain cancer. We purchased ‘The Beeing’ for the Mt. Juliet Library as the memorial book. Michael & Jessica Stoiko volunteered to deliver the book.
- American Bee Journal discount certificates are available for anyone interested, See Petra.
- The Refresher Course is Saturday, February 24 at 9:00 am. If you are planning on attending, let Petra know for a headcount. Bring your smokers and lighters, we will provide the fuel.
- The TBA Board Meeting is also on February 24 starting at 1:00 pm. Any TBA member can attend, but only our delegates (Jenny Lamb, Jessica Dodds-Davis, and Jamie Irons) will be able to vote or voice their opinions.
New Business Discussed:
- Maple Bend Bee Supply will be hosting a Beginner Boot Camp in Lascassas on March 16 & 17. Check their website for details.
- Petra has the Swarm List on her table. If you wish to add yourself to a location or make changes, please do so. You do need to be a paid WCBA member to have your name on the list.
- Dues are due, and new membership books are in. If you attended the Short Course and paid the registration fee, your 2024 dues were includes, so stop by and pick up your copy of the membership book
- Petra will start working on programs for 2025…any topic suggestions are greatly appreciated to be added to the lists being passed.
Leonard’s Monthly To-Do
- Time to check your hives on a warm day…check for a laying queen and the condition of the brood
- My phone says the highs from now until the 18th will be in the 50’s and 60’s except for 1 (49). Plenty of warms days to check your hives
- I have a couple of weak hives that are bringing in gray/yellow pollen
- While you are in your hives, check for rood. Remember, warms days with pollen coming in will cause the queen to start laying at a higher rate. The queen will lay around the clock when the temp stays above 50 degrees. (For you new beekeepers, that’s because they don’t cluster when the temperature is above 50 degrees, but remember that there are not many 100 percents in beekeeping).
- If the warm days continue we will have early swarms. Clarence is going to tell you how to take care of that.
- Skunks become more active in February. It helps if your hives are on stands
- Get your bees ordered (call me), if I’m sold out, I’ll send you to someone else….Leonard’s personal note!
What’s blooming at our house that the bees are working after the freeze:
Hellebores (Lenten Rose)
Program: Clarence Collison had a very informative program on Swarm Management—are you winning the battle?
Announcements:
- February 24—Beginning Beekeeper Refresher Course—9:00 am
TBA Board Meeting—1:00 pm - March 4—Shannon Trimboli—Nectar Flows that Honeybees Use
- New Catalogs are available in the closet
The evening’s door prizes were handed out by Carey with the help from Jennifer Ferguson
Door Prizes:
- ProHealth—Al Dutton
- WCBA t-shirt—Ed Schwark
- Frame Grip—Beth McClain
- Bee Brush—John Holland
- Ultra Bee Rocket Fuel Patty—Vince Settle and Sue Holland
- Hand-turned Bee skep (donated by Linda Twelves)—Norbert Braunwalder
- Entrance Guard—Tom Morgan
- J-Hook Hive Tool—Paul Phillips
- Smoker Fuel—Gloria Cannon
- $25 Gift Certificate from Lappe’s Bee Supply—Amanda Braunwalder
- Refrigerator Magnet—Heather Kitchen
- Succulent donated by Amanda Braunwalder—Rhoda Stansberry
- Aloe donated by Amanda Braunwalder—John Hancock
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 for refreshments & fellowship.
The Club’s current checkbook balance is__________
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Respectfully submitted: Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
February 6, 2024
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