Source attachment: 2012_10_05_MSBA Minutes Final.doc
Executive Board Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2012 7:00pm
Room 4112 of the Plant Sciences Building
Department of Entomology of the University of Maryland, College Park
Call to order 7:05 pm
Attendance: Wayne Esaias, Toni Burnham, Robert Crouse, Liz Filter, Pat Haskell, Elizabeth (Izzy) Hill (guest), Meme Thomas, Allen Hayes, Linda Thompson, Neil Lewis, Janet Bardzik, Beth Passavant, David Morris, Paul Dill, Steve McDaniel, Charles Campbell, Jody King
and online: Oliver Snyder, Ben Cooper
Minutes: Approved with Corrections: approved all conference expenses, Meme spelling, delay MSBA letter to Baltimore city – agreement was for Baltimore Honey reach out to city first
Reports:
Treasurer: From Top Bar class – 20 new members.
Accounting does not include Honey Festival
Membership is up – may be due to license plate renewal – review plates and fees
Should still reach out to commercial beeks.
Farm Bureau dues –overdue. Recommend not paying. Pay to have voice but we have no agenda. if we have issue: promote through numerous local FB. Postpone decision to new board.
Vice President:
EPA Save the Bees rally is Thursday October 25.
Toni had an article on Urban Beekeeping in Bee Culture Oct issue.
Programs
Winter mtg. Nov. 10 Annapolis Department of Agriculture
Two talks by Jennifer Berry U. Ga: Varroa Control and New Trends. Chinese Beekeeping, Honey Show – Dean Burroughs chairing and getting volunteers.
Pat help courses – Sunday in August minimal attendance. Debate should we continue
Montgomery Top Bar Course – important to collaborate with local club; work with Eliz Hill for UMD extension room
Future programs: queen rearing and honey production
Pat – Queen rearing course – May 3-5 Graves Mtn Lodge; Larry Connor instructor. Include in newsletter w/ tuition/lodging fees
Beeline – deadline is Tuesday due to travel plans
OLD BUSINESS
Baltimore City regulations
-permitting issue and fee issue is not enforced in Balt. City.
-changing language so reflects placing bees with dept of agriculture not city issue
-as long as they are not forced by other (if someone calls to complain) status quo is to call jerry to get resolution
-MSBA concern: law calls for permit –no fee. Beginning of next year – legislate to get permit out of the language.
-MSBA to wait for local effort and perhaps until legislation is open for public review
-important for communication for all parties. Janet specifically requested to be involved. Meme agreed. MSBA needs to be informed to help support 56 registered beekeepers. Who speaks for beeks in Balto. Beth communicating and organizing locals
-Ben contact Burghbees.com for background issues in Pittsburgh
State Honey Bill took effect with interviews, press coverage
Future legislative action needed: “Agave Nectar” not addressed: means honey in Spanish.
OLD BUSINESS (continued)
June Meeting – Keynote Dr. Rick Fell – terrific educational opportunity. Discussion about fumagellin – don’t use; nosema discussion
State Fair – Wednesday full volunteer coverage. Toni made display 2nd place. Extraction demonstrated – rained out first day
Honey Harvest Festival - Artificial swarm by Wayne. Lots of interest with open hive. Steve and Angie’s spreadsheet – 600 attendance (down from 1000) but feel it was due to lack of publicity. Need workaround bad signal for credit cards (60% sales). Samples and tasters helped honey sales.
Next year it will be September 21 9am-3pm Consider: two day event? Festival committee to meet before, create deadlines., flyer to MSBA, Linda/Steve/Liz to work on this
Website
New hosting service – so many can contribute; WordPress installed
EAS – didn’t attend; face to face 3 weeks ago with Jim Bob. Janet is new chair of new policies and procedures. Work on manual. Ethical guidelines. Governance committee for oversight. Working on transparency. NPP committee work may rectify previous challenges. Encouraged with progress to date. Agreed MSBA should continue its membership. Letter supporting Janet – helpful? Expenses for board meeting but not short courses.
ETO – nothing to report
Urban Agriculture – report by Elizabeth Hill Discussed youth development, online courses, coordination with Pat Haskell
NEW BUSINESS
Meme: Cathy Allen (Self-appointed greening ambassador) wants to raise money, promote MSBA. 11/10 event to raise funds to support MD honey, beekeeping for any lobbying efforts. Event in conflict with Fall Mtg. Defer to new board without prejudice. Invite to our meeting.
New publication from Elizabeth Hill and Dennis Van Eaglesdorf. Ollie will print initial run 2500 copies for $225 (approved). Pdf will be posted on website for distribution.
Nominating committee – Paul Dill. Filling out county officers and board spots. May need treasurer.
Awards – Jody King – nominations and selection:
Imirie “Excellence in Beek Education “: Charlie Brandts
FreeState Citizenship Award: honey bill legislators Afzali and Young
Need photo op
PayPal discussion: great for classes and accounting, but too expensive for dues, donations and license plates (3% fee) look into 5013c waiver. (toni) or adding a donation to shopping cart if PayPal is used
Steve – no notice of spraying by helicopter; no recourse. Even if registered,still no notification system in place. Only defense is Label use of pesticide is the law (within bee foraging area)
Bee Culture article by Toni Urban Beekeeping Oct 12 issue p. 45
Honey Show - David Morris
Jerry Worrell when we judge for labels we don’t judge for legal compliance. Modified rules reviewed by judges to test criteria. Will propose state judging criteria.
Allen – need more publicity in ABJ and Bee Culture. Liz to submit meeting information
Adjourn at 9:34pm
Next Meeting Proposed for January 4 (Jan 11 conflict (NA Beek Conf), Jan 18 MLK weekend, Jan 25 too close to Winter Mtg – Feb 16
Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc, Inc.
Dedicated to beekeeping in Maryland since 1908
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