BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

President Denise Taylor 1st Vice President Tom Greiner 2nd Vice President David Taylor Secretary Christopher Reed Treasurer Bennie Liles Newsletter editor Alan Fiala Website http://www.beekeepersnova.org In This Issue

October-November 2008 Next Membership Meeting is Tuesday, November 25, 2008 7:30 p.m. Cafeteria, Falls Church High School 7521 Jaguar Trail Falls Church, VA 22042

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Next Meeting program BANV Presidents Column 4-H Report Minutes of the Sept. 2008 meeting News Notes Announcements Future meetings long list

Bob Wellemeyer to speak at November meeting

The next membership meeting is Tuesday, November 25, in the cafeteria at Falls Church High School at 7:30. Bob Wellemeyer, state bee inspector, will speak on Common Sense Beekeeping and winter into spring management. The Presidents Hive Stand Here we are at the end of our bee year. Hopefully you got some honey and the girls are winterized to come out strong next year. If you have a nice day in the 50s low 60s get out and clean up your empty supers. Believe me, it is much easier when the propolis and wax is brittle than when it is warm and acts like epoxy. Speaking of honey - interesting observation: my fall honey last year had very little taste, but this year it is incredibly tasty. I have often thought it would be fun to bring in a little bit of our honey and do a casual tasting. What do you all think? Often it is hard to write a column for a newsletter. What do I write about? Pearls of wisdom from my keyboard? Not likely! So, instead of attempting to write something pithy, I would like to hear from you. I am in the process of lining up speakers for the next year or so. What topics would you like to hear about? Any comments about the speakers so far? What would you like to see from BANV in the future? You can email me at yarnoverboard@verizon.net with any comments. Have a happy holiday season and a happy new year. Denise

Future meetings of BANV The meeting room is frequently changed without notice please check at the door for announcements. Jan. 27, 2009 TBA March 24, 2009 Falls Church HS Annual Pot Luck dinner See last page for other meetings 2008-9 Other Meetings of Interest Advanced classes see the club web site (URL above).
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BANV Newsletter, November 2008


2 B A Bee 4-H Club Report Brenda Kiessling, Leader 2 B A BEE club meets monthly, on the 1st Saturday of the month. In November the meeting was on the second Saturday since the first Saturday was the state VSBA meeting. One club member, Peter Garbacz, and his Dad Bob, attended the State meeting. As a result of 2 B A BEE's success (we are now in our sixth year and have 21 club members), there is interest in other parts of the state in 4-H beekeeping clubs. Mr. Bob Duxbury, of Rappahannock County, attended 2 B A BEE's November 8 meeting to see what a meeting looks like and to meet our extension agent; he has enough youngsters interested and hopes to get his club going soon - accepting members from Rappahannock and surrounding counties. At the November club meeting, the new county extension agent, Lenah Geer, taught club members how to make a "4-H project portfolio". Each club member will have a binder and at each club meeting, he will enter what he has done in the last month, such as give a talk at club or make a presentation to another group. There is also a place for photos in the portfolio. In the last four months, three of the club members have given talks/demonstrations at the club meetings, on subjects such as "Solitary bees" and "components of observation hive and how it works". Club president Enya Kent will present at the BANV workshop on November 22, 2008, on the topic "Making lip balm". 2 B A BEE club wishes to express its gratitude to BANV for their generous contribution of $200. Minutes of the September 23, 2008 Meeting of BANV 1st Vice President Tom Greiner started the meeting by introducing Sammy Thompson, an 8-year old 4Her who showed pictures and talked about his first day in the bee yard. Denise Taylor, BANV President, then discussed some upcoming events listed on our web page and handed out registration forms for the next meeting of the Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA).
BANV Newsletter, November 2008 2

Dane Hannum informed the approximately 70 meeting attendees to expect a $5 increase in the cost of a package of bees from Wilbanks next spring. Dane will start taking orders for Wilbank packages and queens on December 1, 2008. BANV sold $7474 worth of hive products at the Arlington County Fair in August. Tom Merz thanked the seventeen people who worked at the fair to make it a success. Pat Haskell encouraged BANV members to participate in Maryland State Beekeepers Associations centennial celebration on October 11, 2008 at Brookside Garden in Maryland. The treasurers report produced by Bennie Liles shows BANV has $6410.31 in the bank. Denise Taylor asked for consideration of a proposal to change our annual potluck dinner from January to December or March because it is not difficult to find guest speakers for meetings in January but it is difficult in March when everyone is busy in their bee yards. A vote was held and a large majority favored having the potluck dinner in March. Denise then introduced Bart Smith, an entomologist with the Beltsville Bee Lab, who gave a presentation on queen bees that included an interesting tour of a commercial bee breeder in Hawaii. Respectfully Submitted, Christopher Reed, Secretary Short News Notes VSBA Fall Meeting The Virginia State Beekeepers Association met on November 1 at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, VA. It included a celebration of its 90th anniversary. We received proclamations from the state legislature and the governor acknowledging our promotion of beekeeping to the benefit of agriculture in the state, and proclaiming November 1-8 as Beekeeping Week in the state. The program featured presentations by 5 scientific researchers, 4 of which have advanced degrees in physical sciences and who have applied ideas and techniques from their professional specialties to conduct research to the benefit of beekeeping. Also,


they all work in Virginia or the Maryland suburbs of DC. There was a birthday cake at the afternoon break, and the day concluded with the performance of a one-man play written, produced, and performed by Marc Hoffman, a beekeeper from Montgomery County, MD. Entitled Bee Man, it depicted scenes from the life of Rev. Lorenzo Langstroth. The first group of beekeepers to pass the first level exams for the new Virginia master beekeeper program received certificates. At 156, we set a new attendance record. Quite a number of attendees said it was the best program ever presented by VSBA. Announcements New, never used woodenware for sale. Includes a number of supers and frames. Handmade to Langstroth specifications. Contact elzaritten@msn.com or call 703901-3614. Dane Hannum will start accepting orders for Willbanks packages and queens on December 1 for delivery next spring.

BANV Newsletter, November 2008


MEETING DATES FOR BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA November 22, 2008 Work shopProducts of the hive (besides that wonderful honey) November 25, 2008 Regular Meeting Bob Wellemeyer, inspector January 24, 2008 January 27, 2008 Open House for Beginning Classes (Saturday)Volunteers Needed Regular Meeting

February 2 thru April 6, 2009 (Monday) Beginning Beekeeping ClassesMentors Needed!!!! February 24, 2009 Refresher Class--Lets make nucs and splits for swarm control and Profit. Get ready for honey!

March 14 AND March 21, 2009 (Saturdays) Woodenware Workshop for all of BANV. Experienced beekeepers come help our new students! Bring incomplete beekeeping projects to finish. March 24, 2009 April 28, 2009 May 26, 2009 June 23, 2009 Regular Meeting Refresher Class Evaluating your hive for requeening; fall requeening Regular Meeting Refresher ClassRound table (Experienced Beekeepers share with new beekeepers and help problem solve)

BANV Newsletter, November 2008