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MINUTES
Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association
June 14, 2007
www.tampabaybeekeepers.com
The Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association monthly meeting came to order on Thursday, June 14, 2007, 7:35 pm at the Hillsborough County Extension Office meeting hall. President Jim Alderman presided. Guests included Allison Corsones, Bob Sprentall, Peter and Nina Singh, Pat and Annie Dwinnell, and Anita Davison. Welcome new members Renee Hartmann, John Missing, Kelly Potter, John and Sue Vandiver, Jimmy and Mark Johnson, and Willow LaMonte. Approximate number of attendees: 48. Bill and Mary Fay Roberts provided the refreshments. Door prizes provided by Charlie and Annemarie Hammond and the Roberts’.
Treasurer’s report: balance is $4,612.76 in the checking account. Treasurer’s report and May minutes were accepted.
Show-n-Tell: Bill Roberts displayed a piece of old-school aluminum foundation to the club that he bought from Sears in 1962. Bill also showed a steam-heated uncapping knife which provided as a door prize.
Jim Alderman welcomed guests and new members and described to them the TBBA mission, work parties and upcoming training. Jim encouraged more people to attend the work parties to learn more about the bees.
A Master Beekeeper program is under development in Florida. Under this program the beekeeper will be required to learn about bee biology and physiology and donate lab work time to the University. Requires volunteer teaching and takes about 4 years to complete. Dr. Jamie Ellis and his wife are spearheading this program. The TBBA will invite Dr. Ellis to present this topic at a future TBBA meeting.
Bill Roberts passed out information on two upcoming Africanized Honey Bee training programs offered at the Hillsborough Extension Office. These workshops are free, but require advanced registration. For more information, please call Seffany Dragon at the Hillsborough County Extension Office.
Red Mangrove is blooming in Pasco and Hernando Counties.
Club Bees and trailers are in new location on right hand side of the road.
Robert Misseneo may invite a guest speaker, Doctor of Apitherapy, to speak at an upcoming TBBA meeting.
Q&A and general bee discussion session. Questions were asked about bee swarms and whether they return to the same spot over and over again. Sometimes they do return due to residual bee odors and tempting holes for the bees to nest in. Swam traps can help lure bees. Swarms in the house walls can cause damage to home due to the honey. It takes 42 days for bees to go through two brood cycles.
Cabbage palm honey is typically watery and can ferment. If it is during a dry season and the honey is 19% or less moisture, the honey could be consumed as it is.
Jimmy and Mark Johnson reported they removed a small hive from a tire and placed it in a hive body. He asked how long to wait before he can add supers. Mike Godwin suggested they read literature on bee keeping and research. Always wait until all the foundation is filled before adding supers. Sometimes bees extract wax from the hive body below to place in the frames of the super. Bees by nature build honey comb hanging down and they want to strengthen the top. Noel suggested they use wax frames instead of plasticil as the bees draw the foundation a lot faster.
Bees that have recently swarmed need not be disturbed or they will abscond. The bees will slim down the queen so she can fly away more easily.
Straw bee skeps are illegal due to the inability to inspect the hive. That is why we use movable frame hives.
Bill Roberts reported that a Hillsborough County code enforcement officer told him that Hillsborough County codes do not allow bees.
The TBBA needs to buy new marked queens in the club’s colonies. We need to get the European stock up. Sean McKay and John Keating are both certified queen bee breeders whom the club may purchase queens from. Jim proposed that the club purchase 50 marked queens. It was suggested that we buy fewer as we need experienced beekeepers to help locate the queens for marking. This subject was tabled to next month.
Charlie Hammond reminded that the club needs to participate in the BMPs.
Old Business:
No old business discussed.
New Business:
Farm Bureau liability insurance is due. General $1 million liability will cost the club $189.85. This coverage during transport and is required for having bees at the park. Club is giving to the park as a thank you for having bees at the park. Jim wants to reimburse at a later time for the park’s efforts in relocating.
Jim Alderman will need to have neck surgery. He needs an experienced beekeeper to take over work parties while he recuperates. Charlie Hammond is appointed Apiary Chairman. Charlie as Vice-President will also be sitting in for Jim at meetings.
TBBA needs a program chairperson to schedule speakers for the club. Examples of possible speakers include Bee Inspectors, researchers, Tom Sanford and others are available. Other ideas include an in-classroom demonstration on how to put together frames.
Next work party is this Saturday and will be installing new foundation in the frames. Charlie Hammond strongly requested a lot of help at the next Saturday’s work party.
The October 11th meeting will be held in the old meeting hall due to a conflict.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30.
NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, July 12th, 2007, 7:30 p.m. at Hillsborough Extension office. Sean McKay will speak on re-queening and marking queens.
Annemarie and Charlie Hammond will bring the refreshments.
- Submitted by A. Hammond
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