Source attachment: 2016_1_15_MSBA board minutes.doc
DRAFT
Executive Board Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2016 7:00pm
Carroll County office of the University of Maryland Extension
700 Agricultural Center Drive, Westminster, Maryland 21157
Call to Order – 7:05 PM by MSBA President, Allen Hayes
In attendance:
Phone: Elizabeth Hill, Maggie Mills, Beth Sherring, William Taylor, Linda Thompson
In Person: Toni Burnham, Robert Crouse, Wayne Esaias, Jim Fraser, Allen Hayes, Marc Hoffman, Jody King, Brenda Klaunberg, Bill McGiffin, Tim McMahon, Fred Smith, Larry Truchon
Review and Approval of the Minutes: Friday, October 16, 2015 BOD Meeting
Minutes were presented. Motion to accept by Tim McMahon, seconded by Jim Fraser, motion passed unanimously.
Reports by the Officers
President – Allen Hayes
Maryland Managed Pollinator Protection Plan Meeting: A better meeting than expected, good beekeeper representation. Primary issue is pesticides. More under “New Business.”
Website update requested: remove brochure until updated. Talk to BeeInformed re: availability of data.
Participation in Fort Meade Earth Day April 28.
Treasurer - Robert Crouse (report attached): 628 members, 133 are new.
Secretary/BeeLine Editor – Toni Burnham
Updates to 2016 county club officer information and contact details requested in next week for records, newsletter, website. Will complete and mail newsletter in 10 days, only 150 hard copy mailings at this time, significant number of these to life members whose details are out of date.
Vice-President – Jim Fraser
Winter Meeting agenda mostly ready: Dr, Delaney, Larry Truchon, others. Space issues at Howard County Fairgrounds growing more significant. Mann Lake and Dadant confirmed as vendors, have we outgrown this location? Alternatives include UMD/College Park, UMBC, MD. Entomological Society, UMUC? Cost of rental is a factor: raising dues discussed but association still has considerable resources in savings. Treasurer reports that Board members agree to seek alternatives and bring to next meeting. Still working on Keynote for June 2016 meeting.
EAS Director – Tim McMahon
Visiting all Maryland clubs, and DC, this year. Several already complete. LESBA and Western Maryland are exceptions. EAS Conference 2017 will be in Delaware, Drs. Delaney and Caron are organizing.
Motion to Approve Officers’ Reports, Reports on Old Business: made by seconded, passed unanimously
Old Business
MSBA Membership update – Bob Crouse
MSBA has 628 members as of meeting time, 133 of these are new, 4 of them Lifetime members. There are many single-time members.
2015 Honey Harvest Festival report (postponed from last meeting): Lindsay Barranco organized the festival with cooperation from several clubs, including Montgomery County, and beekeeping related organizations. It was done with no budget, though honey sales from Montgomery County Club and Steve McDaniel’s stand were paid in. Suggestion that MSBA advertise the event more widely, and Brookside Gardens parking is now completed/more capacity.
EAS Report – Tim McMahon: Allen will speak about EAS at the upcoming meeting, see above concerning MD EAS Director visits to all local clubs. EAS 2016 will take place at Richard Stockton University in Galloway, NJ, Short Course July 25-27, Conference July 27-29.
ETO Chamber – Bob Crouse, Toni Burnham: ETO work divided into two categories: physical repair/restoration of the gear (managed by Bob Crouse), and regulatory work to return it to service (Toni Burnham). Several parts (conveyor for gear, raking tray, escape wheel) still need repair, not a complete seal on flange. Leak appears small, needs to pull 30 psi. Allen suggests Devcon for help. Society of Engineers can perform seal test for $125. Hoses, valves all repaired. MSBA needs to re-connect with Mr. Davison of MDA re: process for getting label for ETO use. Have been supportive in past. EPA has paperwork from other jurisdictions to review, has indicated no problem on their end with use for beekeeping equipment.
Honey Standard Letter: Will write letter to manufacturer of “strawberry honey” to make them aware of violation of honey standard. Opting to inform first before taking legal steps (Toni)
Status of donations to Frazier/WellBeeing app: we do not have this info. Toni Burnham will request and write up for BeeLine newsletter this spring.
New Business
Welcome new board members
About Annapolis: Maryland Managed Pollinator Protection Plan Meeting (MP3)/Pollinator Act (Allen Hayes): Effort required by a federal directive from the EPA based on President’s Pollinator Protection Memorandum. There are no (legal) teeth, will be written by MDA, no funding. Intended to increase communication, identify potential projects (i.e. Driftwatch in other locations). There are guidelines/expectations for the states. Focus is on pesticides, not other aspects, specifically managed pollinators and crops. Effort is intended to produce data. Many board members expressed frustration at lack of associated resources, funding, data, programs, and ownership.
Report on Maryland Farm Bureau Convention—Marc Hoffmann: We are affiliate members, with 2 votes. 2015 was 100th meeting, MSBA among founding members. Miss MD Agriculture available for our events (i.e. Honey Harvest Festival). There is a Law Education Initiative program for Agricultural Law, another resource available to us if we need it. Southern States is not selling bee equipment: should we provide a flyer for these customers? State Veterinarian discussed possible Bee Emergency Plan, i.e. how to deal with bee spill. LEAD Maryland has program for farmers. Reminder: the convention votes on policy that is basis for lobbying, local farm bureaus musts propose, we need to be active there to affect policy. Should write to County VPs to find attendees.
Vendor Participation in membership meetings: Thus far, successful, see space issues above.
Approval of funds for audit: $175 for audit required by bylaws, Tim McMahon moved to approve, Jim Fraser seconded, passed unanimously.
Outreach to new head of UMD Extension: Marc Hoffmann suggests a letter to Dr. Wright, Dean, discover if there is flexibility to create an extension apiarist. Send letterhead to Marc for use in letter.
Policy for Adding County Clubs to list in BeeLine, Website: No issue with bylaws, OK to add as requested based on editor judgment of interest to MSBA membership.
Condolences for Galen Dively (http://www.borgwardtfuneralhome.com/notices/Christine-Dively): will send letter, mention in newsletter.
Loss Survey from Hood College, data available? (Wayne Esaias) Not known, main board participants not present. Will raise in next meeting.
Meeting Adjourned: Wayne Esaias made a motion to adjourn, Bill McGiffin seconded. The meeting adjourned at 9:12 PM,
Next Board Meeting: (Suggested) Friday, May 13, 2016
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
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