A Zoom-based option for your club, too?

By Ryan Eicher

For several years, the Montgomery County Beekeepers Association (MCBA) has been exploring meeting/information options in addition to the traditional monthly gatherings that most clubs offer. For those who run meetings, it is easy to see why: beekeeping clubs include both experienced and newbee members, who have different information needs. While new beekeepers often have first-year questions that emerge after their beginners course, experienced beeks might not find the repeated cycle of topics compelling. MCBA tried several interesting programs to work on that!

Right now, MCBA offers "Fireside Chats," basically a monthly 1-hour Zoom "question and answer" session for new beekeepers with between 1 and 3 years experience. Rick Wallace and I answer questions regarding what to expect from the upcoming month in terms of the beekeeping in our area. 

Beginnings: "Bees After Hours"

This predecessor program was originally started by John Mahaffie and Meegan Kelly, with a similar, albeit more robust concept. These sessions were originally held in person and called “Bees After Hours.” The organizers would invite different speakers every month, also in a Q&A format. Eventually as "Bees After Hours" grew in popularity, the club ended up inviting two speakers at a time, and the meeting would break into two rooms to accommodate 25-30 beginner beekeepers.

After running the program for several years, the founders turned this program over to me and Rick. We trimmed it down to make it a little easier to organize, and to require less time commitment. The two of us are currently running the meetings and answering questions.

Today: "Fireside Chats"

Now we call these Zoom meetings "Fireside Chats," and they take place on the first Tuesday of every month from March through September from 7 PM to 8 PM.

We believe that these sessions might also provide a nice level of continuity month to month, and decided to call them “the fireside chats” as a historical reference to Roosevelt’s popular radio broadcasts, which offered reassurance in troubled times ((we were coming up with a name around the time that news was breaking about historic colony losses around the nation).

Having had three Fireside Chats so far, we have been getting 8-12 participants. MCBA hopes to boost attendance as we get into the swing of things, and Fireside Chats are open to beekeepers across Maryland and DC.

Plans include once again bringing on including special guests again to inject a little variety (rumors are swirling that we may be able to draw renowned and beloved local beekeeper Eric Malcom).  

If your club is interested in trying a similar concept, please feel free to reach out to us!

[Return to June 2025 Beeline newsletter]