Source attachment: 2025_05_23_MSBA_BOD minutes.pdf
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
Minutes of Executive Board Meeting
Thursday, May 23, 2025, 6:30 PM
Online via Zoom
MSBA President Mary Laura Fitzgerald called the meeting to order at 6:39 PM.
Attendees:
Mary Laura Fitzgerald, Fred Smith, David Schultz, Kim Mehalick, Lisa Marie Ghezzi, Valerie Wampler, Toni Burnham,
Minca Schmitt, Russell Sprangel, Ben Cooper, Rob Yochem, Matt Gagle, Mike Raide, Harry Dutcher, Len Greig,
Michael Mehalick, Crystal Lehmanking, Diane Wellons, Thomas Babcock. Non-voting: Clyde Strang, Cybil Preston,
Allen Hayes.
Review and Approval of the Minutes of the January 30, 2025, MSBA Board Meeting: Attention is called to appendix
including minutes of special interim board meeting on November 6, 2025 previously discussed by this board. Valerie
Wampler moves to approve, David Schultz seconds, motion carries.
Reports by the Officers
President – Mary Laura: Very pleased with progress on June meeting and good workshops ahead.
Treasurer – Lisa Marie Ghezzi: Has been working on tax filings that are nearly complete, and has confirmed that
MSBA is eligible for 990 postcard filing because our revenues are below baseline. Though delayed there will be no
fine. The license plate program has enjoyed a positive response, and Lisa Marie will offer a summary Treasurer’s
report at June meeting. Previous treasurer has not yet provided MSBA records. Is functioning well, however, and has
received support from Montgomery County. Lisa Marie and Kim Mehalick will discuss access to past records outside
the meeting.
Vice President – David Schultz: using compressed meeting format, will be including both in-state and out of state
speakers. Not changing hybrid format due to major change in structure of the meeting day.
• June 7 Meeting at UMD/College Park: Chris Rosario, Guam State Apiarist, EAS Master Beekeeper David
Dobbs. In person and Zoom.
• November 15 Meeting at Montgomery College: Will continue to be hybrid with compressed schedule.
EAS Director – Clyde Strang: New Jersey will host 2025 meeting July 27-August 1 in Cherry Hill. Mailing with
registration information will be out shortly. EAS 2026 will take place in Louisville, Kentucky and 2027 will be in
Indianapolis.
Secretary & BeeLine Editor – Toni Burnham: BeeLine newsletter is well underway and will be released shortly, with
great contributions from around Maryland. Second, current secretary will not be running for this position for 2026,
announcing now in order to support potential new candidates. Will continue doing newsletter in 2026.
Old Business
1. Education Committee: Have had a good year. Nucs and Splits class, wax working class all well attended and well
executed. Also completed an all-day Queen Rearing class. There are proposals for two additional classes this year.
The Committee is seeking additional members and is considering a mead making class for later in the year,
including a request from the mead maker for Maryland honey from which to make a special batch, potentially as a
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Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
fundraiser. The next firmly planned class is Nucs and Splits in January 2026.
Ben Cooper notes that a new and well improved Beekeeping Basics book is now available from Penn State for $25
and can be ordered online.
2. Meeting Format Survey Report: Level of response was lower and less complete than hoped. It does not help to
inform out decision. Previous BOD vote had decided that 2025 meetings would continue hybrid in order to test
efficacy of compressed agenda. Survey data was hoped to inform decision to hold June 2026 meeting as Zoom-
only. BOD members as well as First VP report the stress, both technical and volunteer staffing, experienced by
local clubs in offering hybrid meetings. Cybil Preston queries possibility to move meetings away from Central
MD/DC area. Might MDA/Annapolis be considered again? Harford County CC was poorly attended. Board
members interested in exploring other options/dates in Anne Arundel County.
3. License Plate Fee: While treasurer reports some complications getting started, the cost and time cost is not high
for our plates, which cost $15. Other BOD members cite low need for funds for MSBA at present and the value of
having many plates on the road to support beekeeping.
4. Moving assets to interest producing accounts: our funds currently earn an interest rate of zero percent. The
Bylaws do not require the Treasurer to seek Board approval for the accounts through which assets are managed.
The Treasurer is therefore able to work on moving funds to interest bearing accounts.
New Business
1. Impact of Federal funding changes on local beekeeping resources/should MSBA encourage membership
advocacy: MSBA relationships with Farm Bureau and ABF provide some access to lobbying, asking members to
take action may be perceived as political/inappropriate. Further discussion postponed.
2. ABF Platinum sponsorship: MSBA has previously supported ABF sponsorship of research programs at a $500 level.
Toni Burnham moves that MSBA support a platinum/$1,000 sponsorship on an annual basis going forward, Mike
Raide seconds, motion carries.
3. Association of Southern Maryland Beekeepers 50 th/Dewey Caron visit (Diane Wellons): ASMB has invited and
been accepted by Dr. Dewey Caron to participate in this celebration in 2026. ASMB does not have deep financial
resources and would like to cooperate with MSBA, perhaps around June 2026 meeting. Perhaps other local clubs
could participate. Multiple locations mentioned. Toni suggests that the active contributors to the discussion
communicate offline/form a committee that can be recognized at future board meeting, perhaps with suggestions
for recognizing other Maryland clubs with significant anniversaries or important events. Diane Wellons, Kim
Mehalick, Matt Gagle and Lisa Marie Ghezzi are suggested as founding committee members.
4. MSBA swarm management module for website and/or participation in “Swarmed” online swarm assignment
service: Phil Frank/webmaster is unable to attend tonight but has asked MSBA to share costs with MCBA for
development of a module that will keep the online swarm retrieval information on our website working. Other
proposals include instead participating in “Swarmed” online web portal hosted elsewhere on a subscription basis.
“Swarmed” is a startup that allows beekeepers to list themselves and be assigned swarms in their area. MSBA
would pay for it, but beekeepers could sign up for free. Board is intrigued and requests that Swarmed developer
be invited to speak at future meeting. Toni Burnham moves for $500 for website module, Rob Yochem seconds,
motion carries. Board requests that Swarmed developer be invited to near term MSBA meeting.
5. MSBA Facebook page control: Toni Burnham has researched and discovered that former MSBA Liz Filter set up
and currently “owns” MSBA Facebook page but has lost access. Is working with her to restore access and take over
management. Future board tasks will involve who will manage, what content to consider, and rules for
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Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
membership.
6. Mite Resistant Queen Survey: Lisa Marie Ghezzi has been developing a survey of utilization of mite resistant bees
(what people are doing to have mite resistant bees) and seeks support from MSBA, beeline or website, or direct
outreach to clubs to get participation. Use of monthly MSBA Mailchimp mailing and website link is OK, with
suggestion of direct outreach to local clubs as well (no vote required).
President requests a motion to close the meeting: Lisa Marie Ghezzi makes motion to close, Russ Sprangel seconds,
motion carries, meeting concludes at 8:21 PM.
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