Source attachment: 2012_01_20_MSBA Minutes.doc
Executive Board Meeting Minutes
January 20, 2012 7:00pm
Room 4112 of the Plant Sciences Building
Department of Entomology of the University of Maryland, College Park
Attendees
Cheryl Evry
Jody King
Jerry Fischer
Wayne Esaias
Charles Campbell
Paul Dill
Beth Passavant
Meme Thomas
Janet Bardzik
Allen Hayes
Neil Lewis
Linda Thompson
Robert Crouse
Toni Burnham
Liz Filter
By Phone:
Ben Cooper
Chip Whipkey
George Myers
Jon Bealer
Call to Order – MSBA President, Wayne Esaias – 7:05pm
Reports by the Officers
Treasurer - Robert Crouse
Balances as of Jan. 18, checking $5040.20, Savings $3696.26, CD #1 renewed at $7431.96 and the George Imerie CD renewed at $4717.44. Due to bank clerk error the additional funds that were to be placed in the George Imerie CD were not added in and I asked the Board for permission to correct that when the CD #2 comes due on 7/5/2012. This action was approved by voice vote.
Secretary – Liz Filter (new)
Vice-President – Toni Burnham
Programs
MSBA Winter Meeting: February 18, 2012: Dr. Dennis vanEngelsdorp of the University of Maryland/College Park at the Howard County Fairgrounds
Always looking for speaker suggestions or specific questions to address – now for June meeting.
Beeline Editor – Oliver Snyder (new!) – online registration and registration pdf available on website; ideas are still submitted to Toni
Continuing Business
ETO chamber progress - Toni Burnham
Toni and Marc Hoffman represent us. Pesticide Mary Ellen dep sec’y MDA. Label for ETO, who owns equipment, if we get license, we have operator
MSBA Website Committee! - Toni Burnham
Ollie, Beth Passavant, John Bueller (consult), Roxanne Papagianopolis
Ideas for the Future of MSBA: To Serve Beekeepers: Beth Passavant (see Appendix A)
Partially tabled; education discussed under New Business
Do we have nominees for ABF delegates? Maryland may select two delegates for ABF events.
Snyder went in the past. This year’s ABF (American Beekeeping Federation) meeting was mid January. Find when Hershey Park. There are planning meetings throughout the year.
MSBA Participation in State Honey Bill
Bee Day in Annapolis – February 2, 2012
Partnership with Delegate Kathy Afzali and Senator Ron Young. Open house for 200 legislators and staff from 9am-12noon. Supporting the honey definition bill.
Needed: Coffee and baked goods. Educational displays, gift bags of honey products, tastings. Representation from all counties needed. Talking points handout.
Discussed the language of the bill – removed heavy metals and antibiotic language because these are already covered by MD law (metals) and illegal according to FDA (antibiotics) Does not diminish the bill.
New Business
How do we address the issue of "backyard beekeeping" – Jerry Fischer
Legislation - After the Honey Bill, Jerry is regulatory only; needs support legislatively. Several states have begun to pass legislation to keep municipalities from outlawing beekeeping, and to limit the liability in case of a stinging incident. It was proposed and approved that we create a legislative liaison committee, Dave Morris and Marc Hoffman.
Education – local nuc, package and queen breeding increasing in Maryland. New program needed, seed money needed, education needed – create a summer course: how to handle Q cell, virgin Q, fall requeening and raising your own. Need to apply for grants from USDA/SARE. Paul Dill (Eastern Shore)
How do we support the backyard beekeeper statewide?
Wayne’s agenda
To do a better job of communicating to local beekeeping associations and to cultivate a two way conversation. Get to know MSBA VPs, attend local meetings, solicit input/priorities, state beekeeper of the year?
Other new business
Two new organizations
Lower Eastern Shore Beekeeping Association (Salisbury-Wicomico) Ron Wilson VP
??
Next Meeting: May 11, 2012 7pm Room 4112 of the Plant Sciences Building, Dept of Entomology of the University of Maryland, College Park
Appendix A
Ideas/focus for next year
I know that the agenda is really full, but I stepped out a bit with the my letter to the Board asking for ideas to help us create a focus for the coming year or how we can become more relevant to the local organizations.
Beth,Here are some projects that we might be able to take on as an organization to help highlight the power and benefit of having a State-wide organization, and perhaps differentiate our role from that of the local organizations:- developing and publishing a standard curriculum for Short courses – this could include lesson plans, teaching aids, presentations, maybe even multi-media- developing a framework for ongoing education (post Short course) – this could be considered preparation, or a feeder system for a Master Beekeeper program; it could provide the foundation for standard curriculum, materials etc in the same vein as the item above; it could help local clubs stimulate their members, spark interest and a desire to delve into other beekeeping-related topics – for example this could include queen-rearing, nuc-production, production of pollen, bee venom, propolis etc.These are both absolutely in keeping with our 501c3 education mandate – on a different tack, another project to promote beekeeping in MD could be more political – lobbying in Annapolis to persuade townships and communities in our State not to adopt anti-beekeeping laws and regulations. Jon Bealer
One thing that would be nice to see is an outreach effort from MSBA to the local associations. The local clubs that are hours away don't really see the value of being part of the State association. One suggestion I think would show that MSBA would be of value is to cover the cost of judging at local fairs or Ag Expose. MSBA could provide a list of qualified judges and help to cover the cost for travel. We could get consistent judging throughout the state and a rotation of different people. AT the very least, a list of qualified judges would be nice to provide for the local associations.
Here are some of my barely formed ideas.
1. Forum for Beekeeping Educators, Invite all of those who teach beekeeeping for beginners and advanced to get together for a day to review their curriculum and brainstorm on creating a blueprint for everyone.
2. Forum/refresher course for Honey Judges to develop consistency in judging standards
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
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