Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 4 March 2024

Wilson County Beekeepers met at the Ward Ag Center on Monday, March 4, 2024 with 96 members and guests in attendance.  We had six new members join bringing our paid membership to 185.   President Carey Mitchell called the meeting to order.  The minutes of the February meeting were approved with the checkbook balance standing at $xxxx.xx, which includes our sponsorship of $547.00 for the Honey Show at the Wilson County Fair.  This includes all premiums available plus the cost of our judge.  Honeybee Tennessee also sponsors for $200.00.  The Tom hart Bluest of the Blues gift certificate we provide is sponsored by Maple Bend Bee Supplies in the amount $50.00.

Old Business Discussed:

• Why did the honeybee queen’s dessert wobble when she tried to eat it? Because it was royal jelly!  (Thanks Duane)
• Thanks to Jessica Stoiko for delivering the memorial book for Bill Rourke to the Mt. Juliet library.
• The Refresher Course was Saturday, February 24 at 9:00 am. There were a total of 24 attendees and 6 new members joined.  Welcome!
• Petra has the Swarm List on her table to review…if you wish to add yourself to the list or make location changes. You do have to be a paid member in order to be on the list.
• Remember, dues are due, if you haven’t taken care of that. Be sure to pick up your new membership books.
• Jamie recapped the TBA board meeting: No quorum was met so there were no votes, but there was discussion.

TBA is looking for a new treasurer, secretary, Parliamentarian, East Region VP and South Middle Region VP.  It was reported that the Yellow legged hornet was confirmed in Georgia and the Spotted lanternfly was confirmed in Wilson County.

New Business Discussed:                                               

• Kent Williams Bee School is scheduled for Thursday, April 18 at 8:00 am until Saturday, April 20 until 3:00 pm. There is no cost to attend and no sign-up necessary.  Just show up.  Lunch is provided by Lake Barkley Beekeepers Assn for donations.
• Petra has started working on programs for next year…any topic suggestions are appreciated.
• New shirts are in…olive green in color with long sleeves. $10.00 each
• Anyone who isn’t already on the mentor list and wishes to help new beekeepers, please let Petra know.

Leonard’s Monthly To-Do

• If you are running 2 brood boxes, you should check to see if the brood is in the top box. If so, rotate them.  Do not rotate if there is brood in both boxes
• Check the honey stores. A hive should have 15 pounds.  You can start using sugar syrup, if you need to.=
• Always check for problems at this time…diseases, mites and beetles
• You can super strong hives with drawn comb. It is early to super with foundation.  Don’t super if you are feeding sugar water.
   

What’s blooming at our house that the bees are working:

• Dandelion
• Elm
• Hazelnuts
• Hellebores
• Henbit
• Magnolia
• Maple
• Nanking Cherry
• Pussy Willow

Pat Gooch reported on a new book he received that was worth a read:  Bees and their Keepers:  A Journey Through Seasons and Centuries by Lotte Mӧller

Daniel Kalpach had a great trick for feeding bees in top bar hives

Al Taylor did a brief review and tips on installing packages.

Program:  Shannon Trimboli had a most informative program on Nectar Flows that Honeybees Use

 Announcements:

• April 1—John Benham—A Bird’s Eye View of Nucs and how they Adapt
• April 18-20—Kent Williams Bee School

The evening’s door prizes were handed out by Carey with the help from Jennifer Ferguson and Evie and Katie Wilson:

• Plastic Queen Excluder—Russ Davis
• Frame Grip—Ronnie Woodard
• Ultra Bee (1#)—Steve Brewer
• Hive Tool—Ed Schwark
• Ultra Bee Rocket Fuel patty—Alissa Weeks
• $25 Gift Certificate from Lappe’s Bee Supply—Gayle Eckel
• Mini j-hook hive tool—Al Taylor
• Beetle traps (donated by Ian Dawe)—Shannon Redmond & Norma Jean Stroupe
• Dial Entrance—John Hancock
• WCBA hat—Sterling Earhart
• Blue Sky Shirt—David Cuen
• The Hive and the Honeybee—Freddie Stroupe
• St. John’s Wort plant (donated by Ian Dawe)—Gloria Cannon
• Plants Honey Bees Use book (donated by Shannon Trimboli)—Vince Sells

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm for refreshments & fellowship.

The Club’s current checkbook balance is $

—
Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
March 5, 2024

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