VSBA 2017 Fall Meeting
November 4, 2017
Blue Ridge Community College
Weyers Cave, VA
Mark your calendars for November 4th to attend our fall meeting at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, just south of Harrisonburg.
Our speakers for the day are:
Erin MacGregor-Forbes, EAS Chairman and Master Beekeeper, instructor of bee schools and workshops as well as the creator of several beginner “how-to” beekeeper videos, will present, “No-graft Queen Rearing” and “Organizing a Second Year Bee School”.
Mike Embrey, retired from the University of Maryland Entomology Department, a member of the Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium, the Maryland State Beekeepers Association, the American Beekeepers Association and EAS, will present “Small Hive Beetle Then and Now”.
Dr. James Wilson, Virginia Tech Extension Apiculturist, will present “Integrating Pest Management in Virginia Cucurbit Production: An Example for Virginia Beekeepers”.
A short business meeting will be held for the important vote on changes in VSBA’s constitution and bylaws in order to become a 501(c)3 non-profit. It is extremely important to have quorum vote on this matter.
An optional lunch consisting of a hot pork barbecue sandwich, coleslaw, macaroni salad, baked beans, potato chips & a drink is offered by the Shenandoah Valley Beekeepers Association for a nominal fee.
On-line registration is available at http://bpt.me/3073379 to current VSBA members and expired/non-members via credit card. A mail-in registration is included in this newsletter. Registration is open until October 23, 2017 with an early registration discount through October 9, 2017. Prices and deadlines are identical for both mail-in and online registration.
On Saturday, November 4th, walk-in registration (cash or check only) will open at 8 AM with the meeting beginning at 9 AM.
Dadant, Geezer Ridge (a Mann Lake dealer) and Valley Bee Supply will be attending again this year. A complete list of vendors and cut-off dates for pre-orders is in this newsletter.
The Meeting Committee has arranged discounted VSBA group rates at the following hotels:
Country Inn & Suites, 27 Covenant Drive, Harrisonburg, VA, 540-433-2400, has rooms available at the group rate of $89 per night plus tax for a king and $99 per night plus tax for two queen beds. Please note that is group rate is available until October 13th. Please remember to mention that you are with the Virginia Beekeepers Association. Directions: I-81, Exit 243, stay straight at light, hotel on left.
Sleep Inn, 222 Jefferson Highway, Staunton, VA 540-887-6500, has rooms available at the group rate of $86 per night plus tax for two double beds. Please note that is group rate is available until October 20th. Also, remember to mention that you are with the Virginia Beekeepers Association. Directions: I-81, Exit 222. At the bottom of the ramp, turn LEFT. The hotel is 1/8 mile on the left.
Any program changes will be posted on the website along with additional vendors attending the meeting.
As with all locations, there is an occupancy capacity so we advise that you pre-register if possible.
Hope to see you there!
Deb Parker, VSBA Meeting Chair
SWARMS OF BEES
Do you have a large bunch of bees hanging around too close to your house and family? Have the bees moved into your house? Would you like them safely removed? If you have honey bees swarming on your property, please don't harm them! You can simply call a beekeeper who will come out and relocate them to a new area where they can continue their important pollination efforts safely. Please do not spray the bees or call an exterminator.
First, please be sure what you have are honey bees. If you see a large clump of bees hanging from a tree, or any type of overhang, and are in the open, versus in the ground or in a paper nest, then they are likely honey bees. Check this link for help with bee identification: http://pollinator.com/identify/whatsbuzzin.htm
There are local beekeepers willing to remove honey bees swarms and some that will do removals if honey bees have located in a structure such as a wall, soffit, etc. To find assistance removing a honey bee swarm or removal you can go to the “Local Groups” page of this website http://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/local-groups/local-groups-map to find a bee club close to you. Most clubs will have contact information for swarms and removals listed. There is also a site that lists those interested in removal by city is http://beeremovalsource.com/bee-removal-list/virginia/
