General Meeting (January 2016)

The Capital Regional Beekeepers Association (CRBA) meets on the second Thursday of every month.

This meeting usually starts with a beginner’s corner 30 minutes before the regular club proceedings start around 7pm.

AGENDA

• 6:30-7:00 – New beekeepers’ corner (Carolyn, Tara, Don)
  Getting starting in beekeeping
• 7:00 – Welcome (Bill Fosdick)
• 7:05 – Club business
  • CRBA membership for 2016
  • BCHPA membership for 2016
  • Constitution committee
  • Annual general meeting
  • Seedy Saturday
  • Disease identification seminar
  • Other upcoming courses
  • Books now available
• 7:40 – Making mead (Bob Liptrot)
• 8:30 – Tasting and social time

Minutes

Bill Fosdick, President, called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM. He welcomed the members and guests to the first meeting of 2016. Bill informed the members that our next meeting to be held in February will be the Annual General Meeting of the club.

As this is Bill’s 2^nd year in office his focus will be: To develop the website as this is our communication with members, to build the membership numbers and to leave the club in good hands when his term is up.

• Seedy Saturday
  Bob Lucy is heading this event and he is looking for volunteers to man the booth on Saturday, February 20^th, 2016 at the Victoria Conference Centre.
• Outyard
  Derek Wulff was called upon to give a report on what happened in the outyard this past season. There were approximately 60 members’ hives brought up to the 3 yards. There were no bears reported this year.
• CRBA Membership
  Renewals are due for 2016. Please renew early.
• BCHPA Membership is now due for 2016. BCHPA’s insurance renewals are now due.
• Disease Identification for Beekeepers seminar is set for February 27^th, 2016, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm in the St. Aidan’s Church Upper Hall. This is being presented by Wendi Gilson and Bill Fosdick.
• Beekeeping Courses
  • Bob Liptrot will be presenting an Intermediate Beekeeping Course in February at Royal Roads University and the Beginners Beekeeping Course in March at Royal Roads University.
  • Barry Denluck will be having courses for Intermediate and Beginners in March and April.
• What is happening this spring?
  Larry spoke to the membership about what to expect and what to do in January and February in the hive. He reminded the members to check for food supplies and to treat for mites before there is brood in the hive. This is the time to start feeding and supplying pollen patties until the nectar flow is in and making sure that your equipment is ready for the new season (building new or sending it to the Iotron).
  Three key hints:
  1. Health of the bees
  2. Sufficient stores
  3. Protect the hive
• History of mead
  Bob gave a very informative talk on the history of mead. He took the membership from the Neolithic period (12,000-14,000 years ago) to modern times. He spoke of the many different types of mead. Mead making is a global enterprise.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm for refreshments which included mead tasting.