Dear Kennet BeeKeeper,
First of all may I start by wishing you all a Happy New Year 2023.
The first date for your diary. On 1 January at 12.00 noon we hold our annual Oxalic Acid, Mulled Wine and Mince Pies get-together at the Horton Road Apiary. (We have not yet moved the bees to the new site). I hope you have guessed that the Oxalic Acid is when we give a short demonstration of treating the bees for varroa by using Api-Bioxal and then we all have a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie and wish each other a Happy Hew Year. This is one of the easiest treatments to give and is really to encourage you all to treat for varroa. But do remember that if about 10 C + the bees maybe flying, so bring your bee-suits if you wish to watch at close quarters and also the odd mince pie and some mulled wine – all to share. We will do this even if raining but it should not take longer that 60 seconds a hive. Hope to see you there.
Now today I paid in a generous cheque into KBKA bank account of £750.00 from the Waitrose Partner and Community project made up of donations given shoppers visiting the Marlborough Waitrose. This was all because one of our members Doug Dewey suggested to the company that KBKA should be one of their good causes. A big thank you to Doug and all those kind Waitrose shoppers who supported us when the went to the Marlborough store. I expect the money will be used for the new apiary – but that has to be decided.
The second date for your diary is Wednesday 4 January at Bishop Cannings Village Hall starting at 7.30 pm when our new apiary manager Jeremy Percy will be talking on ‘The Association’s new apiary, developed by members, for members’– your chance to comment and put forward any ideas. I hope that many of you will come to this discussion and talk.
On the 31 January we have the Wiltshire BeeKeepers Association AGM starting at 17.00 pm. At the AGM the post of secretary is up for election and I have been asked by Amanda Leworthy, the secretary, to enquire if any of our members would like to stand for that position. She is happy to continue, but if you are interested, please could you let her know by 6 January by emailing her at :- leworthya@gmail.com After the AGM there is a interesting talk The electric ecology of bees by Beth Harris.
The BBKA Examinations Board is seeking a Minute Taker to attend four meetings each year (normally January, March, September and November) taking place on a Sunday starting at 10am finishing around 4.30pm (with a lunch break). The Minute Taker will attend the meeting via zoom.Excellent active listening and note taking skills required. This is a self-employed position with a pay rate of £175 per meeting. Please contact Leigh Sidaway, General Manager at BBKA to discuss further : 024 76 696679 xt 2005 or email gen.manager@bbka.org.uk.
Finally congratulations to Pauline and Martin Phipps who came First and Second in our tightly contested skittles evening. Pauline got the trophy by just one point if I remember correctly. I hope all who came enjoyed the event which was arranged by our secretary Elaine Lewis who I now wish to thank publicly as I forgot to mention and thank at the end of the evening – due to all the excitement! See the attached photos at the bottom of this email.
All best wishes for a Happy New Year and hope see you during 2023
Robert
Chairman Kennet Beekeepers Association