Dear Beekeeper
At the time of writing, damp, cloudy weather is dominant,
but cold is on the way! My bees are flying on most days. Their food intake
increases when the weather is warm enough for cleansing flights, so check
stores. Fondant can be fed if a hive feels light, but once started, has to
continue.
Wrap the fondant in clingfilm, slitting the plastic
and placing it on the brood frames. [This now seems to be the advice rather
than over the feed hole in the crownboard.]
Our next meeting is the AGM, important for our future.
Our membership runs from end of January to the following January.
The cost is the same as last year, very good value.
* For £23, you will get a monthly newsletter, meetings
and support, access to basic equipment, BBKA News delivered to your door every
month, Bee Disease Insurance for 3 hives, a library, excellent refreshments and
a good raffle to boost our funds.
* If you pay by bank transfer, let Len know you have
done this. He will still need the form, by email to him or printed.
Our hive loan scheme and hive adoption is also available to beginners.
We will have 4 National hives to be borrowed to give an inexpensive start to a
beekeeping life.
Please pay at the AGM, or the February meeting at the latest.
A couple
need only pay one sub; Associate membership is useful for beginners or those
with no bees.
In addition,
consider if your apiary could host a summer meeting. July and August this year.
Do you want
to be on the swarm collecting list?
All the
association offices will be up for election again at the AGM. It is important that we broaden the pool of
members willing to take on responsibilities, so please do not be shy about
standing, your contribution is needed, a chance to voice your views about any
aspects of DDBKA.
NB Only Registered members can
hold offices, but a beekeeper registering on 26th January would certainly be
eligible. Please check in
advance whether your nominee is willing to stand.
Each
nominee needs a proposer and seconder.
You are at liberty to nominate yourself if you wish to
take a role, but need proposer and seconder.
Associate members may nominate and vote.
Please phone, post or email nominations to
me before the AGM. I shall need to prepare ballot papers in the case of
any contested elections.
Office
|
Current holder
|
Remarks
|
Chair
|
Brian Marlow
|
Does not wish to stand
|
Vice Chair
|
Richard Baker
|
Does not wish to stand
|
Secretary
|
Maggie Harrowell
|
|
Membership Secretary
|
Maggie Harrowell
|
|
Treasurer
|
Len Mole
|
|
Show Secretary
|
Chris Holdstock
|
|
Examinations
Secretary
|
Jan Cross
|
Does not wish to stand
|
Training Secretary
|
Mary Hill
|
|
EDUCATION
Basic Exam
Anyone wishing to take the Basic Assessment
this year who is not on Mary's course starting in January, should forward an
application form together with the appropriate fee to:
Exam Secretary Jan Cross at St Margarets
Farm, Napchester Road,
Whitfield, CT15 5HD.
The form and fee must arrive no later than 13th February.
We hope to arrange
for the assessments to take place in May and the majority of people should be
assessed at the DDBKA apiary at Eythorne.
Beginners
Look on our
COURSES PAGE for spring courses locally, Patrick Murfet has different levels of
involvement to choose from, all at Bridge and Julian Audsley in Barham.
Library Return your
books this month.