Source attachment: 2024_10_18_MSBA_BOD minutes.pdf
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
Minutes of Executive Board Meeting
October 18, 2024, 6:30 PM
Online via Zoom
MSBA President Mary Laura Fitzgerald called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM.
Attendees:
Mary Laura Fitzgerald, Fred Smith, Kim Mehalick, David Schultz, Toni Burnham with proxy for Crystal Lehmanking,
Rob Yochem, Brad Luff, Len Greig, Michael Mehalick, Scott Edie, Thomas Babcock. Non-voting: Phil Frank, Clyde
Strang, Cybil Preston.
Review and Approval of the Minutes of the June 5, 2024, Board of Directors Meeting, noting that financials are not
yet included. Kim Mehalick moves to approve, Mary Laura Fitzgerald seconds, unanimous vote to approve.
Reports by the Officers
President – Mary Laura: no report.
Treasurer – Kim Mehalick has acquired the Treasurer’s Materials from Stefanie Ottenstein, but has not yet
transferred them to Lisa Ghezzi, the new treasurer. We have QuickBooks records updated to September 30, 2024, as
well as the remainder of the checks from the checking account. Current plan is to transfer all materials at the
November 16 General Membership Meeting. There are two outstanding check requests: honey show ribbons and
EAS dues. Stefanie filed our taxes and corporate filings on time, so the association is in good standing there. MSBA
must buy its own online QuickBooks subscription. Kim has also set up a Google Drive with all Treasurer information
to avoid similar problems in future. Treasurer, President and VP will have access to this account. Toni will add PayPal
access info.
Unresolved issue 1: MSBA license plates. Apparently existing arrangements with Maryland Department of Motor
Vehicles (MDMV) have lapsed and must be re-initiated. Hopes that we can re-establish that relationship and be able
to offer license plate forms at November meeting. Kim will see if there is anything in the materials that will help us
figure out next steps with MDMV, and requests that the PayPal account be reviewed to determine members who
have paid for plates and not received them. Toni Burnham volunteers for the latter.
Unresolved issue 2: Spreadsheet that calculates Honey Show winners and prizes. David Morris may have a working
version.
Vice President – David Schultz: Gard Otis, Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph, will keynote on November
16. He has recently completed a new presentation on drones and mating, which he will share first with us. This is an
area where few of us have significant information and is a welcome addition. His second talk will be on swarming,
which was the subject of his PhD dissertation. Grai Rice of BeeJoy Apiaries in New York will speak on topics related
to natural beekeeping, a nice counterpoint. Phil Frank of MSBA will present on beekeeping photography on your
iPhone. The meeting will also include the honey show, general membership meeting, awards and elections.
We are in discussions with Dr. Deb Delaney for February, as well as some others. Currently we are working on
booking the UMBC facility that we used last year.
DRAFT
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
Secretary & BeeLine Editor – Toni Burnham. Have received good newsletter input from a couple of county VPS:
PLEASE NOTE that info from VPs is deeply interesting to all our members. We request info on local honey shows and
winners. Our “Photo Gallery” feature continues to be popular with member contributions from across the state.
EAS Update –Clyde Strang. Previous board discussion of EAS Research Fund continues. EAS receives requests for
funding bee research, about $100,00 per year, and has a committee that vets requests. They usually offer $20,000 in
grants but increased that to $30,000 last year. There are two options for clubs that would like to support research
but do not have grant committees or resources that substantial on hand. Clubs can donate to the EAS Fund, which
they disburse, or we can request a recommendation of a researcher to support at a given level. EAS is meeting on
October 20, and Clyde can provide more details on their criteria and 2025 plans after that meeting. More discussions
are possible for MSBA at the November meeting. Many congratulations for the success of the Turf Valley
conference, which apparently netted $38.000. Next year’s conference will be in Cherry Hill, New Jersey at the
Doubletree Hotel, July 27-August 1, 2025. Maryland EAS membership fee of $50 now due.
Old Business
1. Education Committee, Kim Mehalick: Will be offering the Nucs and Splits class in 2025, but details to be discussed
with participating educators at the November 16 meeting. Plans are to a Queen Rearing Class in May rather than
April due to cold temps. Class size to be the same and fee to remain at $125 per person, which allows us to provide
resources which we have to purchase in advance. Goal is to break even. Mission Beelieve is providing location.
Valerie Wampler and Monica Schmitt are working on a third class on Rendering Beeswax to be offered in 2025.
The hope is to complete it by June so folks can use their knowledge for summer fair entries.
2. Update: threat to legal beekeeping in Baltimore: Rob Yochem. City of Baltimore attorneys are representing that
local hearing findings can overturn city regulations regarding nuisances. No hearing has been scheduled, as there
have been several delays. There is an upcoming deadline for Rob Yochem and Emily Locke to file a response to the
city. MSBA previously voted to provide $1,000 in legal support, which has not yet been paid. The beekeepers in
question face a cap of $15,000 in legal fees. Because attendance is light, a potential vote on additional support will
be added to the online award poll (see below). The existing commitment will be sent by check immediately.
3. ABF Delegate: Lisa Ghezzi not present, time assigned at November meeting. Her term limit is approaching as
Maryland rep, we get two. Several board members, including Rob Yochem, Len Greig, Fred Smith, and Monica
Schmitt are ABF members. Will request statements of interest as well in online poll (see below).
New Business
1. Nominations Committee: Toni Burnham: To hold elections each Fall, the Board of Directors provides a list of
nominees for office, as well as accepting nominations from the meeting floor. A committee of 3-4 Board members
is required to reach out to sitting BOD members to confirm their 2025 participation, and to seek replacements for
those in term limited positions. Currently, the only position facing a limit is Director Doug Shuman. Mary Laura
may serve one more year if re-elected. Toni volunteers to chair, Mary Laura and Rob Yochem agree to participate.
2. Awards: Each year, MSBA presents two major awards at its General Membership meeting: the Free State
Beekeeper Citizenship Award and the George S. Imirie Beekeeper Education Award. The Free State Award is
directed to those who educate the public and comes with a certificate and a permanent inscription on a trophy at
MDA. The Imirie award includes a certificate and $200 check. A very active discussion ensued, including
nominations for David Dobbs, Monica Schmitt, Maureen Jais-Mick, Phil Frank & Frank Linton. Board would prefer
to make this decision in a larger group, online poll. Kim moves to table, Rob seconds, all concur. Toni commits to
contacting entire BOD with online poll link. List award winners since 2014 in appendix to these minutes.
DRAFT
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
3. Honey Show: Jim Fraser is in position as Superintendent, and ribbons have been ordered and received.
4. Apiary Inspection Letter: Cybil Preston requests 4,500 trifold copies by December 6, 2025, at MDA. Toni will
provide Mary Laura with previous versions to use in developing her message. Previous humorous messages of the
past two years were well received. Kim requests that her name be omitted this year.
5. Maryland Farm Bureau Meeting in December: George Meyer will no longer attend. Fred Smith is willing to
attend if accompanied. Kim Mehalick may be interested. May be an important venue to present Baltimore
Beekeeping issue as a right to farm.
6. Speaker List for Maryland Clubs: Kim Mehalick requests status. Russell Sprangel and Toni Burnham collected
information into an Excel spreadsheet over a year ago, but it requires work. Requests that County VPs submit lists
of speakers from their clubs this year. Could be a powerful asset for all clubs.
• Motion to close by David Schultz.
• Seconded by Michael Mehalick seconds
• All in favor, meeting closes at 7:41
Appendix A:
MSBA Awards, 2014-2023
Free State Imirie
Robert Crouse and David
2014 Clark Paul Dill
2015 Lindsay Barranco Tim McMahon
2016 James Naurot David Morris
2017 Karen Rennich Mike Embry
2018 Robert Crouse Samuel Ramsey
2019 Richard Crane Larry Truchon
2020 Greg Gentry Zac Lamas
2021 Mission Beelieve David Schultz
2022 Fields for Valor Ben Cooper
BKY2AB (Mehalick and
2023 Charles DeBarber Storm)
DRAFT