ECWBA Newsletter

December 5, 2009
Holiday greetings to all of the ECWBA members,
December has settled upon us and now is the time every one is making preparations for the holiday season. However, I thought I'd send out a brief newsletter to keep everyone updated about the East Central Wisconsin Beekeepers Association.
1. Here is the list of meeting dates for the new year, 2010:
January meeting: January 23, 2010, 9:30 am at Ripon Public Library.
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. Here are the discussion topics to be covered at the meetings:
January meeting: Review of beekeeping basics.
February meeting: Mite and disease control and prevention.
March meeting: Splitting spring colonies and making nucleus colonies.
May meeting: Another field day ???
3. Beekeeping seminar: Earl Jewett is working on putting together a seminar for the timeframe of January and February. Details of date, time, and place will be forthcoming in the next newsletter.
4. ECWBA library news: Andy Krueger will be purchasing some books for the new year. Most of the initial book purchases will be beginning beekeeper oriented.
5. Membership dues reminder: ECWBA membership dues for 2010 will remain at $15.00. Dues need to be paid by March, 2010, in order to continue receiving a newsletter and association communications.
Beekeeping Notes:
· As for 2009, if there is something you have not done yet for your bees, don't worry – it's too late.
· Start planning for 2010 – do you want to expand your beekeeping operation or just improve upon what you already have?
· Be good!!! – Santa Claus just might deliver some good beekeeping stuff!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all…
Best of beekeeping,
Jeff Champeau
President, ECWBA
Telephone: 715-330-9969

Telling the Bees

I recently came across a "folk" group from the UK - their name, "Telling the Bees" - REALLY nice music and they have a new cd available. They're a little hard to find in the states. Their BLOG: http://tellingthebees.blogspot.com Their website: http://www.tellingthebees.co.uk I found them on Amazon.com - but for download only. They're also available for download from Itunes.com On any of these sites, you can "listen" to some samples. The music (to me) - feels very "summery" and warm - the words wrap around the themes of nature. (reminds me of bees)

I did a little search regarding the legends and stories behind the theme, "Telling the Bees" and came up with some interesting tales.

I had heard/read of the practice of TELLING THE BEES, in that - when the beekeeper had died - "the bees must be told". I came across this story too, "One of the most important practices being the "heaving up" of the hives. This practice requires that on the day of the funeral as the funeral party is preparing to leave the house the hive and coffin are both "heaved" or lifted at the same moment."

There's also a "history" of the bees being SOULS DEPARTED. "Plato's doctrine of the transmigration of souls holds that the souls of sober quiet people, untinctured by philosophy come to life as bees."

And there are a multitude of stories involving a sleeping human - where the bee plays the role of "messenger" or "guide" to other realities. Perhaps providing them valuable information for use in their awakened state.

It's interesting to see the deep psychological connection humanity has with bees.

Late November

So - here we are late November....no snow yet (great lakes area). We've had a couple of cold weeks - then they seemed to warm - it's been hovering in the 40's to 50's.

The off-site hives are bundled up (wrapped with black tar paper with a couple of straw bales on the wind side). The hives in the Beehouse are enjoying the fact that i can move that front flap up and down for them! There have been some 50 degree days that they've been out in force - getting water from the bird bath, airing themselves out as well as carrying on with hive duties.

Everything of vegitation is brown and dry - no substantial pollen or nectar left for them. There's a small cluster of mustard greens and arugula that has managed to stay green through the frosts...and has some flowers yet - and they've found them! (note to self: leave a bigger patch of greens "go" for next year).

...back to the bee books and pictures of bees....thinking of warm summer days.

From the South Lawn

From the New York Times, "From the South Lawn - a Sweet Smell of Honey"

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/04/us/politics/20091104_BEES_SS1/index.html

For the first time in history, honey has been made on White House grounds. It's a bumper crop.

Wisconsin Honey Producers Convention

Wisconsin Honey Producers Convention
Nov. 5 – 8, 09 Best Western Trail Lodge Hotel & Suites
3340 Mondovi Rd, Eau Claire, WI 54701
715-838-9989

Thursday, November 5, 2009
3:00 p.m. Board Meeting
6:00 p.m. Board Dinner
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Introduction to Beekeeping – Doug Jensen, Dave Wolske, Tom Prescott
9:00 – 10:00 p.m. Question and Answer with Doug Jensen, Dave Wolske, Tom Prescott
8:00 p.m. Budget Committee Meeting

Friday, November 6, 2009
8:00 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. Exhibits Open
8:45 a.m. Sessions Open – Call to Order – President Tim Fulton
8:50 a.m. Welcome – Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce
8:55 a.m. Introduction of the Wisconsin Honey Queen and 2010 Queen Candidates
9:00 a.m. Dr. Sue Cobey - UC/Davis
The Benefits of Being Promiscuous
Mating behavior, genetic diversity, changes in the US honey bee gene pool.
10:00 a.m. Break
10:20 a.m. ABF Update – Lee Heine
10:30 a.m. State Fair Update
10:50 a.m. Randy Oliver
12:00 p.m. Luncheon (ticket required)
1:00 p.m. John Buhrow – Leinenkugel’s Brewery
Leinenkugel portfolio of Honey Weiss Biers
2:00 p.m. Liz Meils – DATCP Wisconsin State Apiarist
2:15 p.m. Richard Ericksrud – WC Freight – Transporting Bees
2:45 p.m. National Honey Board Update – Lee Heine
3:00 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Business Meeting
5:30 p.m. Dinner on your own
6:30 p.m. Queen Candidate Presentations
6:35 p.m. Wisconsin Honey Queen Marketing Presentation
6:45 p.m. Special Entertainment – Howard Luedtke
8:00 p.m. Wisconsin Honey Queen Fund Auction
Auctioneer – Jerry Andrews (Andrews Auction)

Saturday, November 7, 2009
8:00 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. Exhibits Open
9:00 a.m. Sessions Open – Announcements
9:05 a.m. Randy Oliver
10:00 a.m. Break
10:20 a.m. American Honey Princess – Allison Hull
10:30 a.m. Honey Queen Year in Review – 2009 Wisconsin Honey Queen Amy Roden
10:45 a.m. Dr. Sue Cobey UC/Davis
Stock Importation & Developing a Protocol for the International Exchange
of Honey Bee Germplasm.
Status of bee semen importations, methods of transport for semen & eggs,
performance of instrument inseminated queens.
12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Kids N Bees Expo
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Rhona Amundson – skep making demonstration
1:00 p.m. Dr. Marla Spivak – University of Minnesota
University Minnesota Update: Propolis, Nosema, and the Hygienic Line
2:15 p.m. Sue Bee Honey Update – Doug Mammen
2:30 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. Dr. Jennifer Eddy – Eau Claire Family Practice – Medical treatment with Honey
6:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour
7:00 p.m. Banquet (ticket required)
9:00 p.m. Dance & Social – Entertainment by Brandon Larson (Premier Sound & Video)

Sunday, November 8, 2009
8:00 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting