Saturday, September 4, 2010

Cabell Wayne Beekeepers July 12, 2010 meeting

FIFTY MEMBERS & GUESTS attended the July 12th meeting and good fellowship was had by all. The Minutes & Treasurer’s Report were approved. Billy Black, James Black, Jason & Billy Branham, David Lee Boggs, Dennis Clyde Maynard, Martha Nix &Chad Simmons joined as a new members. Hobart Hundley, Sr., Daniel Lucas, Sherman Smith, Andy & Yolanda Williamson renewed their memberships. THANKS TO EACH & EVERY ONE OF YOU!
We elected officers for the next 2 years: Gabe Blatt, President, Wade Stiltner, Vice President, Dan O’Hanlon, Treasurer & Newsletter Editor, Kathy Taylor, Secretary & Mike Smith, Webmaster. Dan thanked Kathy & Mike for helping him with agreeing to their positions. The club has grown from 27 to almost 80 members & it was a lot for one person to do. Mike has done a terrific job upgrading the webpage. BEE SURE to visit & take a look!
Gabe reported on HAS in Tennessee & mentioned EAS was coming up in Boone, NC along with the WVBA Fall Meeting September 24-25 at Jackson’s Mill. Dr. Nancy Ostergard will be the speaker from Penn State. Wade will be teaching at the Honey Festival in Parkersburg in August. Dan gave a report on the new Beekeeper Immunity Bill & Wade answered questions about the new regulations.
We held the annual honey harvest at Gary Strickland’s place again & helped several members extract their honey [THANKS, GARY!!!].
Wade & Gabe led a discussion about how much honey people got this year — better than last year was the consensus. And we discussed treatments for mites which should be done after the honey supers are off and as soon as the weather cools down a little.
After the break, Gabe talked about “Summer Management” and showed a video from Dr. Keith Delaplane from Georgia. New members were introduced, including several from Sandy Hook, KY, and they were welcomed with a round of applause.
The next meeting will help you figure out how to get your bees ready for this winter.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Honey Harvest 2010

Thanks to the generosity of Gary Strickland the Cabell Wayne Beekeepers Association was able to hold yet another Honey Harvest at his place. This has been a big help to those who do not have the large expensive extracting equipment that makes getting your honey a LOT easier.
This year we helped Sam Kilgore and Dr. Gil Ratcliff with their honey harvest. A good time was had by all. This is especially true of Dr. Ratcliff who showed he had quite a sweet tooth for the comb honey Gabe Blatt was cutting off the frames with a hot knife. Before long, Dr. Gil was doing the cutting while Gabe & Dan did the extracting. We missed Nancy Adams who came by to help last year. Rhonna Blatt joined us this year & took pictures we hope to post here soon.
Gary showed off his backyard hive of Italian bees in the tradition of Jack Dick, whose award Gary won two years ago for hosting the Honey Harvest.
We all had a good rest and enjoyed the fine creme brulee coffee Gary's wife made for us. Hope to see ALL of you next year! - Dan O'Hanlon



Rhonna Blatt, who takes much better pictures with her digital camera than I do, made me a CD of her photos from the Honey Harvest. The proof of her talent can be seen below -- THANKS, RHONNA!!!