Source attachment: 2015_05_08_MSBA board minutes.doc

DRAFT
Executive Board Meeting Minutes
May 8, 2015 7:00pm
University of Maryland -Plant Sciences Building
Gahan Conference Room 4120

Call to Order – 7:12 PM by MSBA President, Toni Burnham

In attendance:
Phone: Jerry Worrell, Brenda Klaunberg, George Meyer, Linda Thompson, Izzy Hill
In Person: Toni Burnham, Allen Hayes, Tim McMahon, Jim Fraser, Bill McGiffin, Maggie Mills, Bob Crouse

Review and Approval of the Minutes: Friday, January 16 2015 BOD Meeting
Motion to accept minutes of the January 16th BOD meeting, made by Linda Thompson, seconded by Tim McMahon, motion passed unanimously.

Reports by the Officers
Presidents report – Toni Burnham
Treasurer - Robert Crouse
Secretary – Absent
Vice-President – Allen Hayes

Old Business
MSBA Membership update – Bob Crouse: membership is down (687 members now, 698 2014, 711 2013), suggests outreach to non-renewals, Jim Fraser agrees to do mail merge postcard.
Account Change: Bob Crouse has shifted some of MSBA’s accounts to minimize fees and minimum balances. Will need to write occasional checks to keep reduced fees.
Treasurer’s audit required by MSBA Bylaws completed by Pam Spencer who is not a CPA but the bylaws allow for this. Motion to accept findings and recommendations made by Tim McMahon, seconded by Bob Crouse, passed unanimously
ETO Chamber – Bob Crouse, Toni Burnham
Feds have passed on approval/paperwork to Mr. Davidson at MDA, MSBA will need to stay on this to see it through, concerns continue about condition of ETO chamber, Requires $100.00 worth of parts. Much of Bob’s labor to replace the leaking tube assemblies. Jim Fraser offered to rebuild the conveyor which is in bad shape.
Apiary Inspector Program restoration, future.
MDA inspection funding has been reinstated thru June, but not with budgeted funds (i.e. needs to be requested and funded again in 2016). Toni Burnham: MD farm bureau is hard to talk to/no help to our knowledge. Discussion: encouraging increased registrations, taking advantage of public goodwill toward bees. George Meyer: registrations are MDA’s problem, building public support potentially more powerful.
Honey Harvest Festival: September 19 at Brookside nature Center and Gardens. Very limited parking. We expect this event to be income neutral.
EAS: Tim McMahon has been criss-crossing the state visiting many local association meetings and talking up EAS. We owe Tim a heap of gratitude for this effort. EAS 2016 will be in Stockton NJ.
MSBA Banners: Allen Hayes has, will bring to Membership Meetings.
Newsletter: BeeLine now reaches more than 2/3 of members electronically, 220 mailed in January.
Future BOD Meeting Spaces: Bill McGiffin believes Frederick County may be able to host in 2016.
Motion to Approve Officers’ Reports, Reports on Old Business: made by Jim Fraser seconded Maggie Mills, passed unanimously

New Business

Discussion of future of Apiary Inspection Services: We expect MDA to cut funding again. They need beekeepers to register their hives. Request for Accounting of Apiary Inspection Fund expenditures: Toni Burnham to request of Cybil Preston. Toni Burnham to invite Secretary of Ag to speak.
Motion for Toni Burnham to write Cybil Preston, Secretary of Ag: made by Bob Crouse, seconded Linda Thompson, passed unanimously
Queen Anne County Anti-Beekeeping Ordinance: No bees within 1000 feet or a residence or dwelling. Local BK club jumped on it and it went away.
Emergency Teleconference re: MSBA Participation in MP3 stakeholder outreach: quorum was reached, decision to participate unanimous. Many individual board members sent letters of support for grant funding, MSBA Instructed Toni Burnham to write on behalf of association (attached)
Honey Show Rules Committee: Appointed by Toni Burnham to revisit changes in standards, packaging, needs since last revision. To be led by David Morris, George Wilson, members Maggie Mills, Jim Fraser, Tim McMahon. Intended to meet, discuss rules before next honey show in November 2016.
Noted: Chuck Huselton, a long time MSBA member, has died.

Meeting Adjourned: Jim Fraser made a motion to adjourn, Bob Crouse seconed. The meeting adjourned at 9:18 PM,

Next Board Meeting: (Suggested) Friday, January 8, 2016

Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908

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