Source attachment: 2022_05_20_MSBA_BOD minutes.docx

Source note: The file name indicates May 20, 2022, while the document header says January 21, 2022. The source discrepancy is preserved in the text below.

Minutes of Executive Board Meeting
January 21, 2022
Online via Zoom

MSBA President, Fred Smith called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.

Attendees:
Fred Smith, Mary Laura Fitzgerald, Kim Mehalick, Jim. Fraser, Toni Burnham (with proxy for Deb Hewitt, Crystal Lehmanking), Stefanie Ottenstein, Deborah Hewitt, Larry Truchon, Ben Cooper, Carl Guerci, Greg Gentry, Pam Hepp, John Knapstein, Regina Andrew, Russell Sprangel, Brad Luff (with proxy for Harry Dutcher), David Schultz, Michael Mehalick, Lisa Ghezzi, Greg Gentry. Non-voting: Allen Hayes, Mark Dykes, Cybil Preston, Phil Frank.

Review and Approval of the Minutes of the January 21, 2022 BOD Meeting. Stefanie Ottenstein moves to approve, Pam Hepp seconds, board votes to approve.

Reports by the Officers
President – Few items to report: referred a documentary film maker to beekeepers in Baltimore, several inquiries concerning interest in MSBA. Would like to ask Jim Fraser to provide info on upcoming EAS conference, and to discuss his term which ends in August.
Treasurer – Stefanie Ottenstein: we are having issues with QuickBooks software and need upgrade. Minimal expense and affordable to us. Dues are up over 2021, totaling about $5,000. We also had income from workshop registrations and classes. Speaker fees and travel expenses are up over last year, which was expected with transition to face to face. MSBA’s net income for the first quarter was $5,000. MSBA has approximately $92,000 in the bank, CMBA has made a $2,000 donation to the Apiary Inspectors Fund. Donations to the fund are up $900 so far. MSBA has committed to donate $1.50 per member once a year. Stefanie plans to make the donation based on MSBA’s approximately 964 members (283 lifetime, 681 annual) at the time of the November Membership Meeting and Elections.
Vice President – Mary Laura Fitzgerald: Arrangements for June 11 meeting at UMD are complete, featuring speakers Dr. Lewis Bartlett and Kamon Reynolds. We are also hoping to include Hon’s Honey, a social enterprise from Baltimore. Topics include Darwinian beekeeping, hydrogen peroxide/sanitation in the hive, queen rearing for the small apiary and great queens, dead mites and good nutrition., a student speaker as well. The meeting will be in person and via Zoom. Tables will be available for interested organizations.
Secretary & BeeLine Editor – Toni Burnham. As usual, board members are encouraged to submit regional news for the BeeLine. Apologies for late distribution of the January minutes. The new website transition done by Phil and his team has greatly eased my work. Mailchimp has also been particularly helpful for member communications and creating/distributing the newsletter. We have received some bothersome communications from “copyright trolls” concerning images and comics, and we will be either not including them or including complete copyright info going forward.
Upcoming Programs:
• Spring Meeting June 11, 2022: Dr. Lewis Bartlett, Kamon Reynold at UMD
• Fall Meeting November 12, 2022, Dr. Geoff Williams, Keith Delaplane at MDA

Old Business

• Education committee: (Kim Mehalick) Nucleus Colony and Splits Class on February 26 went well, limited to 45 students. Honey Judging held in May was also a success. Committee is still working to offer a Honey Extraction Class/Videos in cooperation with UMD honey house. Proposes calling for committee to schedule a meeting soon. Issue with holiday scheduling of Nucs and Splits class will be considered for any 2023 session.
• Disposition of hives from experiment: We may have 6 colonies to give away from experiment in starting 3 hives from a nuc, a package and a split. Would like to give bees/frames and retain woodenware. Kim moves that the bees/frames be offered to local clubs first, and left over to be raffled off at June meeting. Toni seconds, all vote aye, motion passes.
• Nomination of Frederick, Talbot Second VPs, New EAS Delegate: Mike Raide has offered to fill vacant Frederick seat. Jim moves to nominate, David seconds, motion passes. Lisa Ghezzi has offered to fill recently resigned Talbot seat. Debbie moves to nominate, Jim Seconds, motion passes. Clyde Strang has offered to succeed Jim Fraser when his term concludes in August. Larry moves to nominate, Pam seconds, motion passes. Discussion of Maryland’s background in hosting EAS, likely future EAS hosts. Requests that Jim Fraser learn more details of EAS hosting requirements and report during October BOD meeting.
• Maryland Farm Board Policy on beekeeping: Jim Fraser and George Meyer had initial discussions of possible requests of the Maryland Farm Bureau but do not have recommendations as of yet.
• Highway Pollinator Planting Project: no progress to report, board volunteer has resigned.
• Sentinel Hive Project Cooperation: Two applicants only. Toni will coordinate with Eric Malcolm of BIP.
• MSBA T-Shirts: John has cooperated with Kim to sell shirts. We have approximately 100 going into the June meeting. No additional order appears necessary immediately.
New Business
• Speakers Bureau for Clubs on Website: Phil Frank not present to discuss. We do have speaker lists available from Toni and Russell. All must be cleared with folks who prepared the content before being offered on our website. Toni suggests that she will connect Phil, Russell and Dave around this topic.
• February 2023 Meeting Planning: Harford County Community College is again available to us/construction postponed. Hybrid meeting with them in 2022 had technical glitches, might college allow us to bring in additional tech support/King AV? Their previous fee was $1,100. Is UMD hybrid meeting supported well/Mark Dykes says yes. John Knapstein will reach out to Harford CC to ask tech question.
• SBA Club seeking 501c3 status: Can MSBA provide guidance? Stefanie recommends that SBA register with MD as a non-stock corporation, apply to IRS for nonprofit status. Can be done online. Also, Anne Arundel County/Dennis Roundy just completed this process and may have tips. Toni recommends that club also pursue club liability and Directors/officers insurance coverage as part of this process.
• November 2022 Meeting Site: MSBA is growing too large for MDA. Board opts to look at Howard County Community College for November 12 meeting based on positive session with Kim Flottum there in 2020. Dave Schultz agrees to reach out. Facility does not have to be free of charge. Cybil confirms that MDA is always available to us. Howard County Fairgrounds may also be an option/new facility there.
A motion to adjourn was made by Fred Smith and seconded by Jim Fraser, the motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 8:23 PM.