Source attachment: 2015_10_16_MSBA board minutes.pdf
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
DRAFT
Executive Board Meeting Minutes
October 16, 2015 7:00pm
Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland
Fair Office Conference Room
Call to Order – 7:05 PM by MSBA President, Toni Burnham
In attendance:
Phone: Maggie Mills, Cybil Preston, and George Meyer
In Person: Toni Burnham, Allen Hayes, Robert Crouse, Wayne Esaias, Paul Dill, Steve McDaniel,
Tim McMahon, Jerry Fischer, Jody King, Bill McGiffin, Jim Frasier, Charles Campbell, Izzy Hill,
Debora Hewitt
Change of Representative: Debbie Hewitt of AA County has agreed to replace Oliver Snyder as
regional VP For AA County. Motion by Wayne Esaias, seconded by Steve McDaniel, Motion
passed.
Review and Approval of the Minutes: Friday, May 8, 2015 BOD Meeting
Minutes of the May 8 , 2015 BOD meeting were presented. Motion to accept by Paul Dill,
seconded by Charles Campbell, motion passed unanimously.
Reports by the Officers
Presidents – Toni Burnham
Call for additional agenda items (George Meyer request: honey standard), noted that the Honey
Harvest Festival was a success, well attended. Lindsay Barranco not present so an accounting is
not available at this time. Appointed nominating committee for upcoming elections at General
Meeting: Paul Dill and Bill McGiffin will be the chairs for the nominating committee.
Secretary of Agriculture responded to letter of invitation to November meeting. Letter written to
MDA to request accounting of Apiary Inspector Fund, reply expected in time for BeeLine.
Treasurer - Robert Crouse (report attached)
Secretary – Absent
Vice-President – Allen Hayes
Announced that there is a full program for the November 14, 2015 meeting. Mann Lake, Dadant
and Brushy Mountain will be asked to attend and set up in the hall outside of the meeting room.
The winter meeting will be Feb 13, 2016 in the dining hall at the Howard County Fairgrounds.
Discussion about the difficulty in finding venues for our BOD meetings and General meetings.
Chesapeake College on the Eastern Shore was recommended for a general meeting. Motion to
accept made by Jim Fraser, second by Wayne Esaias, motion passed.
Budget for the November meeting will be the same as last year. Honey show Judges are paid$
200.00 plus mileage; Stewards are not paid as they are “students” of the judging process on track
to become honey show judges.
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
EAS Director – Tim McMahon
EAS in Guelph was attended by about 580 people, including 7 from Maryland. EAS 2016 will be
July 25-29 in Stockton NJ. Tim will attend a site visit there on Nov 7 and then he will visit all local
clubs in Maryland to promote the EAS Conference. He has visited most Maryland clubs and
contributed articles to both MSBA and local newsletters throughout 2015.
Old Business
1. ETO Chamber: Bob Crouse, Toni Burnham
Due to ongoing repair needs and the age of the chamber, Toni researched comparative cost of
buying new chamber and has determined it is cheaper to keep the chamber we have. Officers
with expertise in this area seconded this opinion. She will talk to Mr. Davidson at the MD MDA
Pesticides Office once the chamber has been readied for use. Bob reported that the chamber
operates at 26 P.S.I.G. and is able to hold pressure. A licensed operator will be needed to
operate the chamber. The operator may need to have insurance on the chamber. (Or MSBA
may need to have insurance on the chamber). The Board agreed to tackle each immediate
requirement before entering into discussions on potential future arrangements.
2. Apiary Inspector Program restoration, future: Cybil Preston reports that the program has
enough funds to go into winter. AFB dog Mack will inspect from Thanksgiving on. As of March
1 of the inspectors will be brought back. Apiary enhancement fund 100% goes to inspector
salaries. National Honey Bee survey: Participation may allow the hire of one more person to
inspect. Louis Capezuto has been hired to inspect Garrett, Alleghany, Washington and
Frederick Counties. Managed Pollinator Protection Program (MP3) will meet on January 20,
2016 at either the MDA or at UM College Park. MDA would like to register beekeepers at the
November 14 meeting and therefore requests a table and possibly a volunteer. Toni to write
enclosure letter and have copies for Cybil at this meeting.
3. Paypal donations: There is now a Pay Pal donation button on the MSBA web site so it is easy
for folks to donate to MSBA. There is already an Apiary Inspector Fund Donation page.
4. Honey Show Rules Committee: DID not meet. Tim McMahon mentioned that Keith Fielding, a
welsh honey judge from Georgia, may be willing to come to MD and train judges. Building the
next generation of honey judges and ensuring availability for shows across the state is a goal
of the MSBA. Emphasis to be placed on expanding participation, flexibility given to
superintendent.
Motion to Approve Officers’ Reports, Reports on Old Business: made by Jim Fraser
seconded Wayne Esaias, passed unanimously
New Business
1. Imirie Award for Excellence in Beekeeping Education: Tim McMahon was nominated by Toni
Burnham and seconded by Wayne Esaias. Motion passed.
2. The Free State Beekeeper Citizenship Award: Lindsay Barranco was nominated by Toni
Burnham, second by Tim McMahon, Motion passed.
3. Steve McDaniel requested MSBA send a letter of support for a new the Pollinator protection
act to be proposed in Annapolis during the legislative session, a renewal of the effort behind a
previous bill that failed last year. No text of the proposed legislation is yet available for officers
to review, and MSBA membership is significantly divided on this issue, making it difficult for the
board to speak on members’ behalf. For these reasons, TB tabled writing a letter of support for
this bill. However, Toni Burnham asserted that it is important for members to know that silence
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
on this matter did not imply consent to either side of the issue, and agreed to discuss the
Board’s deliberations on this matter with the membership during her remarks at the November
14 meeting.
4. Steve McDaniel requested MSBA make a donation to the MD Pesticide Network ahead of the
effort to draft and promote a new Pollinator Protection Act. The organization is in financial
straits at this time. No request from the organization itself was provided, nor an accounting of
the purpose to which such funds might be put. For these reasons, TB tabled such a donation
at this time.
5. Maryland Honey Standard Enforcement: Second VP George Meyer found a farm market
selling “strawberry honey” produced in PA. It has strawberry flavoring and should say
strawberry-flavored honey. George to get offending bottles and Toni Burnham will send a letter
notifying producer and vendor of this violation.
Meeting Adjourned: Jim Fraser made a motion to adjourn, Paul Dill seconded. The meeting
adjourned at 9:12 PM,
Next Board Meeting: (Suggested) Friday, January 8, 2016
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Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
Financial Statements and Treasurer's Report, 2015
Explanatory Notes
of $200 over 2014
Paid in advan@ lor 2015
of S1885 over 2014
of $50 over 2014
10 to George lm. CD less $100,2014 award
32 Balance Due from 2014
of $1 750 over 2014
of $3660 over 2014
Treasurer Notes: ** = manually entered number
Applied for and re@ived Sales Tax Exemption in September 20'11
Reminder: George lmirie Award Funds Paid are to be deducted from new donations or CD