Friday, January 29, 2010

ECWBA Newsletter - Jan 29, 2010

1. Meetings. Here is the list of meeting dates for the start of 2010:

* February meeting: February 20, 2010, 9:30 am at Ripon Public Library.
* March meeting: March 20, 2010, time and place is yet to be determined.

2. Meeting Topics. Here are the discussion topics to be covered at the meetings:

* February meeting: Mite and disease control and prevention.
* March meeting: Splitting spring colonies and making nucleus colonies.
* May meeting: Another field day ??? Anybody interested in sponsoring this ???

4. Membership dues reminder. ECWBA membership dues for 2010 will remain at $15.00. Dues need to be paid by end of March, 2010, in order to continue receiving a newsletter and association communications.

5. Spring Bee Orders: Listed below are some suppliers of package bees and nucs (nucleus colonies). The ECWBA does not specifically endorse any one of these sources. These sources are known for quality bees.

* Lee Heine, Watertown, WI, 920-261-5363. He has 2# & 3# packages available in April.
* Lapp’s Bee Supply, Reeseville, WI, 800-321-1960. Lapp’s has 2# & 3# packages available in April.
* John & Sheri Kohn of Honey Glow Farm, Owen, WI, 715-229-4766. Kohn’s have 2# and 3# packages available in April. They also have nucs available in late April and early May.
* Chris Hansen of Hansen Honey Farm, Rhinelander, WI, 715-369-0383. Three pound packages due in Rhinelander on or around April 23.
* Chris & Becky Werner of Indian Summer Honey Farm, Germantown, WI, 262-242-6569. Werner’s handle nucs, but not packages.

A LINK FOR ORDER FORMS has been posted in the blog preceding this one - for some of the above bee vendors. You may download any of the forms from the blog for more information about each vendor.

6. Group Package Bee Order and Pick-up. Ed Curran from the Brandon area plans to order package bees from Lee Heine for a late April pick-up. He has volunteered to coordinate a group purchase for package bees. If you are interested in participating and would like more information, feel free to give Ed a call at one of the following numbers: Home—920-346-5295, or cell—920-948-5395.

Beekeeping Notes:

* Plan for 2010 – do you want to expand your beekeeping operation or just improve upon what you already have?
* Secure an order of package bees or nucs for spring delivery. It’s best to order early to assure that you’ll be able to get bees.
* Now is a good time to plan and purchase equipment for 2010. This gives you plenty of time to assemble and paint any new hive components.
* Register for and plan to attend a beekeeping class sometime this spring.

Best of beekeeping,
Jeff Champeau
President, ECWBA
Telephone: 715-330-9969

P.S. You may send membership dues to the association’s treasurer or president at one of the following address: George Weigel, 268 S. Peters Ave., Fond du Lac, WI 54935 or Jeff Champeau, 145 N. Wisconsin St., Berlin, WI 54923

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