1. ELECTIONS- Maryland State Beekeepers Association

Maryland State Beekeepers Association needs you. Please consider volunteering for a vacant MSBA Board Position. Deadline for self-nominating (or convincing someone else to self-nominate) is October 16th. CLICK to self-nominate.

Maryland State Beekeepers Association (MSBA) is a dynamic group that supports beekeeping education throughout the state of Maryland. In November 2026, we will have elections for MSBA positions. The only requirements: 1. you must be a current member of MSBA and 2. advocate positively for our Bees.

UP FOR ELECTION: 1st Vice President
Term: 2 years

• Plan and execute MSBA’s three major annual Member Meetings:

• Develop meeting agendas.
• Recruit outstanding speakers and coordinate logistics.
• Lead promotional of Member meetings (e.g., collaborate with the web engineer and 2nd VPs).

• Schedule and arrange four annual Executive Board meetings, including managing Zoom links and meeting invitations.
• Serve as President during the President’s absence.

UP FOR ELECTION: Director
Term: 2 years | Positions available: 1 of 3 seats

• Monitor the affairs of the association to ensure organizational continuity.
• Suggest topics for upcoming association meetings, with a focus on enhancing the scientific aspects of bee culture.
• Provide articles for publication in the association’s newsletter.
• Initiate appropriate legislative and political actions to protect and further the beekeeping industry.
• Ensure compliance with the association's Articles of Incorporation.

UP FOR ELECTION: Second Vice Presidents
Term; 1 year (no term limits) 25 seats available (one for each county/region)

• Act as a liaison between county/regional clubs and MSBA to help them grow and succeed together.
• Attend and participate in MSBA Board meetings (held online four times each year).
• Promote MSBA membership, events, and news to local beekeepers, including at regional club meetings, through newsletters, and via email.
• Participate in and initiate MSBA subcommittees to enhance the organization and its service to members.

If you are interested in serving in any of these positions, please complete the form at https://www.mdbeekeepers.org/nomination-questionnaire/ by October 16, 2026.

Questions? Valerie Wampler at valwampler@yahoo.com.

2. Montgomery County Beekeepers Association - Oct 6 Fireside Chat

Fireside Chat - on Zoom - Final Session of 2026

Tuesday, October 6th, 2026 at 7:00 pm

Fireside Chat is a monthly Zoom meeting for new and newish beekeepers to get their questions answered by experienced beekeepers from our region. What to expect? What needs to happen in the coming weeks? Join hosts Rick Wallace and Ryan Eicher on Zoom for this relaxed hour of bee-talk.

Link at: https://montgomerycountybeekeepers.com/fireside_chat/

3. Frederick County Beekeepers – Oct 7 Meeting

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 7:00 pm - ZOOM only

Dr. Michele Mansfield: Diagnostic Methods to Identify Floral Resources and Evaluate Characteristics of Honey and Pollen.

Zoom link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89017053254?pwd=NFbDw5tNWbcblz8HYAtFDBB1PuqP0z.1

4. Howard County Beekeepers Association 50th Anniversary Celebration

Beekeeper Bash - All are invited!

Friday, October 9, 2026, 5:00 - 9:00 pm

Sapwood Cellars Brewery, 8980 MD-103 Suite MNO, Columbia, MD 21045

To celebrate Howard County Beekeepers Association's 50th Anniversary (and benefit the Lamas Bee Lab), HCBA is collaborating with Sapwood Cellars Brewery to develop an anniversary honey beer (Braggott Ale). The honey used for the brewing process was donated by HCBA members and represents the best of Howard County.

Area beekeepers are invited to join HCBA members at the Beekeeper Bash release party on Friday, October 9, between 5:00-9:00 PM at Sapwood Cellars Brewery. The HCBA 50th Anniversary Braggott will be available as well as more than a dozen other unique, and award-winning beers. Beer and food are the responsibility of the attendee. Check the HCBA website for more details: www.hocoba.com .

Celebrate Howard County Beekeepers' 50th Anniversary!

5. Howard County Beekeepers Association Oct 13 Meeting

General Meeting - October 13 from 7-9 PM
Pre-meeting Open Discussion Q&A at 6:30 PM
Howard County Fairgrounds & Simulcast via WebEx

Guest Speaker: Charlie Linder, The BeeCAUSE Alliane: Advocacy & Federal Legislation

Charles (Charlie) Linder is a commercial beekeeper specializing in pollination, currently providing services for 15,000 acres of produce. A retired engineer with over a dozen patents, he brings a unique blend of technical expertise and agricultural knowledge to his beekeeping practice. He is passionate about supporting sustainable farming practices and the vital role that bees play in our ecosystem. He continues to inspire others by promoting awareness of the importance of pollination in agriculture.

As a Director of the BeeCAUSE Alliance, he will speak to HCBA regarding BeeCAUSE initiatives and the important role the Alliance has in advocating for commercial as well as hobbyist beekeepers.

6. Montgomery County Beekeepers Association – Oct 14 Meeting

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 (in person only)

Faith United Methodist Church, 6810 Montrose Road, Rockville MD

6:30 pm - Socializing

7:00 pm - Club announcements and "What's Up with The Bees?"

7:30 pm - Marc Roux: Heredity in Bees and the Need for Selected Drones

Marc Roux is a retired biology and geology French teacher who taught mostly outside of his country (Ottawa in Canada, Montevideo in Uruguay, and Bethesda MD). A passionate naturalist since childhood and mostly oriented toward Vertebrates, he discovered the world of bees while preparing for his zoology oral exam during his third year of university. He kept his promise of becoming a beekeeper through MCBA’s introductory program in 2022, nearly 40 years after leaving university. He manages the RochamBees program for groups of students in grades 5 through 12 at Rochambeau, the French International School. The curriculum covers subjects from Basic Biology of bees and beekeeping to Heredity in Honey Bees (genetics and epigenetics). Marc has learned a great deal at the Club's Brookside apiary, thanks to the people he met there, and since last year he has been participating in sessions as a mentor. Because he has always been interested in genetics, Marc is now focused on breeding drones to fix desirable traits in local bee populations. The presentation will focus on the benefits of rearing local drones.

7. Maryland State Beekeepers Association - November 14 Meeting and Honey Show

Saturday, November 14, 2026 at Montgomery Community College in Germantown MD

8:30 am to 3:00 pm

Speakers include Zac Lamas of the Lamas Lab at University of Maryland Baltimore Campus, Jason Wolf, Maryland Youth Beekeepers (winner of Best Honey 2024 AND 2025, Montgomery County Beekeepers Association), Daniel and Lexi Boback of ThermaHive, and others. Details and schedule are at https://www.mdbeekeepers.org/2026-november-14-meeting/

8. Meet the Pope - December 11th (papal audience) and December 12th (Mass)

An incredible, first-of-its-kind event is happening for the global apiculture community! For the first time in history, the Vatican is hosting an official gathering dedicated entirely to beekeepers.

The event will take place in Rome this December, uniting apiarists from all over the world to celebrate our craft and highlight the critical role bees play in protecting our planet. For those interested, click on the link below for further information. Please note, ABF and EAS are not providing travel, accommodations, or meals. The Vatican is not accepting individual beekeepers. You need to be a member of one of the groups that is attending.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/01a08274f3757d3eb95c115acaed4452

This registration is only for beekeepers who are members of either the American Beekeeping Federation or Eastern Apicultural Society. By submitting this form, you are indicating your interest in participating in the events and agreeing to meet with the ABF delegation at the designated meeting place and time that will be communicated to registered participants.