General Meeting (July 2019)

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

This meeting usually starts with a beginners/intermediate beekeeper corner 30 minutes before the regular club proceedings start around 7pm.

Agenda

• 6pm – Setup
• 6.30pm – Pre-meeting discussions
  • New beekeepers corner (downstairs/lower hall) – Don L
  • Intermediate beekeepers corner (upstairs/upper hall) – Bob L
• 7pm – Regular meeting
  • Beekeeping in Sri Lanka – Bob L
• 8pm – Club business
  • What’s in bloom? – Nairn H
  • What beekeepers are doing in July – Larry L
  • Outyard update – Bill F
  • Just so you know – All
• 8.30pm – Social – Bring a travel mug for tea and coffee
• 9pm – Close of meeting

Minutes

Bill Fosdick called the meeting to order at 7:20 PM.

Guest speaker this evening is Bob Liptrot on his trip to Sri Lanka titled “Sri Lanka Some Bugs and Other Things”. There are 7 to 8 types of bees there that produce honey. Bob explained the different types of bees that resided in the country. Apis dorsata (giant rock bee), Apis florea (dwarf honeybee, honey producer), Apis dipennis (stingless honeybee), Apis cerana indica (South Asia honeybee) and Xylocota genus (Carpenter bee, non honey producer).

Bob spoke on the beetle that is destroying tea plants which are the Tea Shot Hole Borer and Ambrosia Beetle (bores into citrus and avocado).

Bill Fosdick informed the members that one of the older members, Bill Spriggs, has passed away. Many of the members will remember him as the “drug handler”.

What is bloom in July – Nairn Hollott – herbs are in bloom, lavender, fireweed, snowberries, thistles, dahlias, coneflowers, sunflowers, golden rod.

Rupert Rode visited the outyard and there was nothing much in bloom at that time.

What to do in the hive in July – Larry Lindahl started with another of his amusing stories.

Nectar flow is slowing, make sure the hive is disease free going into August which is the make or break month for mites, dearth of nectar flow, check weight of the hive to see if there is enough stores, make summer spits, prepare for the fairs, extract honey.

Saanich Fair – Irene Tiampo asked the members to sign up to volunteer at the Saanich Fair and to enter their honey in the display as “Honey and Bees” are the theme of the Fair this year.

Bob Liptrot has brought 10 queens to the meeting just in case a member needs to re-queen for sale at $35 each.

Meeting adjourned for refreshments.