General Meeting (January 2018)

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

• 6:30pm – New Beekeeper Corner (lower meeting room) – Barry D
  Comb building, the foundation of a strong hive
• 7:00pm – Main meeting (upper hall)
  • Research supporting healthy hives in 2018 – Dr Marta G
• 8:00pm – Club business and updates
  • Mite advice for January
  • What beekeepers are doing in January
  • Just so ya know
• 8:30pm – Social: Coffee, tea and treats
• 9:00pm – Close

Minutes

Bill Fosdick called the meeting to order at 7:07pm.

Bill explained to the members that the theme this year will be “Healthy Bees, Healthy Hives”. Bill let the members know that the guest speakers will be first on the addenda and the business of the club will after the speaker.

Marta Guarma – Research supporting healthy hives.
Marta is stationed at Beaverlodge Honeybee Labs. Marta gave a wonderful lecture on the 4 P’s: Parasite, Pesticide, Poor nutrition and Poor queens. She also explained Beeomics, Genomics and proteomics. The scientific group are looking for: Hygienic Behaviour, Defensive Behaviour, Grooming behaviour and Honey Production. These traits are used to breed local quality queens.

Barry Denluck – the BCHPA annual general meeting is being hosted by the CRBA in Victoria, October 2018. Barry is looking 5 volunteers to take on the Silent Auction for this event.

Rupert Rode – treasurer could not attend the meeting. Bill notified the members that Rupert was successful in retrieving the $5000.00 which has been sitting in the MacKenzie Fund for years. It is now with our current financial institution in GIC’s.

What to do in January – Larry Lindahl

• monitor hives for stores
• check for dead bees
• check the varroa count
• vaporize by January 15th
• clean bottom entry
• plan for coming year
• replace equipment
• order packages

Mite control advice for January – Heinz Kaemmerer
Treat now and then check a week’s time and if more than 10 mites on bottom board treat again using the vaporizer. Heinz introduced the members to his newest design of the vaporizer. It was designed to go into a small opening and doesn’t need a car battery, uses a propane torch. The cost is $160 without the torch.

Bill informed the members that Wendi Gilson, the bee inspector for the South Vancouver Island, will be having a free Integrated Pest Management Course at Gordon Head United Church on Saturday, January 13th, 2018 from 1–4pm.

Help is needed in: Seedy Saturday – February 17 – see Bob Lucy.

The Fairs – Graeme Nye – help is needed with the Saanich Fair, Sooke and Luxton. These are the late summer.

Small groups – connecting with beekeepers in your neighbourhood.

Paul Peterson has over wintered nucs for sale. Stan Reist is offering packages approximately the 1st of March – $200.

Meeting adjourned at 8:37pm for refreshments.