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MINUTES
Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association
August 9, 2007
www.tampabaybeekeepers.com
The Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association monthly meeting came to order on Thursday, August 9, 2007, 7:30 pm at the Hillsborough County Extension Office meeting hall. Vice-President Charlie Hammond presided. Guests included Alton and Bobby Wheeler and Earl Benjamin. Approximate number of attendees: 28. Gail Conroy and John Stonehouse provided the refreshments. Door prizes provided by Charlie and Annemarie Hammond, Bert Kelly, and the Roberts’.
Charlie Hammond welcomed guests and new members and explained the TBBA mission, work parties and upcoming training. He thanked everyone for coming. He also expressed how important for the beekeeper mentors to help in the bee yard and encourage folks to help in the apiary. Charlie reminded everyone about waivers (provided).
Treasurer’s report: balance is $4,112.35 in the checking account. Treasurer’s report and June minutes were accepted. Jane passed around American Beekeeping Federation newsletter.
Guest Speaker: Dave Westervelt spoke on CCD. An action plan has been developed. This action plan outlines funding. Researchers are still trying to find the cause. Symptoms include missing old bees, viable eggs, active queen, functioning hive one day then few bees the next. One researcher in Montana observed the CCD happen to his hives. Young honey bees observed would get lost and bring back the wrong things that the hive would not need. For example the bee would bring nectar instead of water. Dept of Defense is helping in the research effort. So far so single variables have been identified. DOD runs the genome samples. Same problems occur in Europe ,but started 5 to 6 years before. Nosema soranus - a spore that attacks larvae, found this past spring in US is one potential cause. Some scientists are publishing this basis too early. CCD in Europe has not corrected itself. In the US, hives won’t collapse all in one day. Samples from bees that have been pollinating up north will be taken. It is happening to commercial beekeepers primarily, but some hobbyists are also experiencing the symptoms. Bait samples from traps at shipping ports have been much lower this year than last year. Bee’s nutrition varies with the seasons, but has not found that this correlates to the CCD. Queens can select to lay either a fertilized or unfertilized egg. If a queen is laying unfertilized eggs in worker cells, she may be getting old or sick. Laying workers, what to look for: eggs on the side and multiple eggs, scattered brood. Difficult to get rid of the laying worker. Best way to rid of a laying worker is to shake out the bees away from the hive.
Dr Jaime Ellis is starting a master beekeeping course in February and March and takes 4 years to complete. He may be able to speak to our club in October 2007. The
Elmore Herman, State Association President attended the August TBBA meeting. He indicated that more research money has been made available because of the CCD. Washington politicians are sitting on the bill for research money. State meeting in Winter Haven will be Nov 1-3. Agenda includes Thursday (tentative) 1 p.m. pesticide license class, free fish fry that evening. Friday 8 a.m. features guest speakers and reports from researchers, awards banquet that evening and auction. Saturday concurrent meetings: board meeting and open hives and hobbyists and side-liners. All inspectors will be giving classes including Jerry Hayes. The event will be held at a scout house and the boy scouts will cook for the group. Packets will be mailed out. Elmore is looking for help on committees including a treasurer. Mail out is expected mid-September and will be posted in bee journals. DPI (Dept of Plant Industry) technical council met today. Reports from port authority on how they control pests which could affect bees.
Robert Messineo – Met with the American Apitherapy Society. Dr. Shoshenko will be coming to September’s meeting.
Club Apiary report: Bee yard inspection by Todd Jameson was performed on the 26th of July. Re-queening the club hives will occur in August and October.
David Smith has some of the club supers. We need someone to pick up supers from Smith’s house near Plant City.
Old Business:
Marked queens will be provided by Sean McKay and John Keating in August and October, respectively.
New Business: Charlie Hammond brought up an idea about bringing in young people. David and Todd would set it up and create a curriculum. Would work on sponsorship from IFAS, Farm Bureau, Young Ranchers, 4-H. Bring in a demonstration hive. Best to do the class on a Saturday. Need to set up a committee. Motion was made to set up an education committee and Rebecca Conroy volunteered to head the committee.
50/50 drawing. Good fund for a youth group. Will start next month. 6 for $5.00 or $1.00 each.
Debit card to pay for lunches at Golden Corral. Prepaid card. Low-end credit card with Merchantile Bank. The card could be in the association’s name. An account could be set up at Golden Corral. Jane will check with the restaurant to see.
Honey pull this Saturday. The following Saturday we will be re-queening.
Charlie Hammond strongly requested a lot of help at the next Saturday’s work party.
Reminder: The October 11th meeting will be held in the old meeting hall due to a schedule conflict.
Meeting adjourned at 9:35.
NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, September 13th, 2007, 7:30 p.m. at Hillsborough Extension office. Guest speaker is Dr. Vetaley Stashenko PHD, ND., Apitherapist. Should be a very interesting meeting. Bobby and Alton, and Robert Messineo will bring the refreshments.
Also scheduled for upcoming meetings include Dr. Amanda Ellis in October, Dr. Jaime Ellis in November with a video presentation by Todd Jameson on AHB.
- Submitted by A. Hammond
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