AIREDALE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

ABKA Committee Meeting

Date 2 May 2017

Time 7.30pm

Venue New Inn Connonley

Present: Sue Chatfield, Suzanne Starling, Chris Hardy, Chris Solloway, Jane Law, Jane Denney, John Peet, Gill Taylor, Mike Baldwin, Jonathan Sanders, Linda Schofield

1Apologies: Steve Hill

2Minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2017 were accepted

3Matters Arising

  • Suzanne reported that she was finalising amendments to the Hazard Assessment Document for honey extraction/processing, before forwarding it to Bradford Environmental Health. If approved, Suzanne will forward a copy and guidance to members by e-mail and provide hard copies for those not on line. Gill to post it on the website.

Jane D to provide Suzanne with contact details for Craven DC Environmental Health, to check on their requirements. The Bradford document, if approved, could also be supplied to Craven.

It was agreed that a maximum of 4 training fee costs should be met by ABKA, to cover individuals who use their premises to extract association honey.

Sue thanked Suzanne, on behalf of ABKA, for all her time and trouble taken with this work.

  • Mike has liaised with Steve on the inventory for the Equipment Shed. ERH inventory still to be completed. Linda provided Mike with a Thorne’s catalogue for pricing guidelines and Steve needs to check the receipts for refurbishment work on the heather presses from last year to gauge their value.
  • Jane D to amend the membership renewal letter, to read that subscriptions must be paid by 30 November, latest, or renewal cannot be processed. This allows for subscriptions and BDI cover to run in tandem. Gill to post this information on the website. Noted that members paying subscriptions should give their full name on reverse of cheque to enable quick/reliable identification of payees.
  • Chris advised that she will be meeting with Claire Humphris at ERH on 17 May. Any questions members wish to raise should be mailed to Chris beforehand. Suggested that she checks on the NT volunteer status issue.
  • Keighley Show poll concluded that ABKA withdraw. Sue has informed Show Committee and re-engagement is possible in the future if wished.
  • Linda has written to 20/25 beekeeping associations in areas with incinerator plants to check on any adverse effects noted on their bee populations. From replies received to date, no concerns raised.
  • Jane L reported that the World Heritage Event Day at Roberts Park, Saltaire, had been a great success. Our stall was very well presented and well attended by members of the public. Candle rolling raised £32.15 for ABKA funds. Thanks to all who took part.

4Correspondence:

  • Halifax Beekeepers Association have sent a notice of a member they have banned, in the event he tries to join adjacent associations.
  • Interim feedback received from the ReViVe project, effectively stating that work is going to plan. Unable to share more detail at this stage to avoid compromising their publication of work in the scientific journal eLife.
  • BIBBA open day workshop 22 June, Wakefield circulated to members.
  • Notice received from Leeds Beekeepers Association re-theft of bees and equipment in South Elmsall (subsequent information on Facebook re-thefts in Doncaster too).

5Treasurers Report

  • Steve had forwarded a breakdown of finances. Current accounttotals £2779 at April 2017, deposit account remains static.

Steve requested information on any additional payments needed for the ReViVe project. Linda to liaise with Steve about this.

6Association Apiaries

East Morton: Now formally closed by ABKA and Bee Base notified.

ERH: Currently comprises 8 colonies. Ivor to complete the annual disease check on 4 May.

Chris proposes raising splits for sale this year, from good colonies, as part of the swarm prevention strategy.

Cliffe Castle: Jane L reported that a frame with Q cell had been removed this week to ease congestion/reduce swarming risk. John Peet is increasingly involved with inspections.

The Easter holiday provision of daily volunteers at the hive to talk to visitors worked very well and got a good reception. Linda and Louise gave an illustrated talk on the Saturday, that would have benefitted from better publicity. Agreed that Jane L should decline the offer of an ABKA stall at the Spring Fayre (staffing and produce issues).

David Wadsworth has kindly donated 5 children’s books about beekeeping for use at future events.

7Agenda Items

  • Constitution working party to include Sue Chatfield, John Peet, Carol Mosco and Linda Schofield.

Sue to arrange a meeting date.

  • Beginner’s Training working party to include Suzanne, Chris Hardy, Joyce Drake, Gill Taylor and Jonathan Saunders. Suzanne to arrange a meeting date.
  • Suzanne reported back on the 2017 Bee Basic assessment training session. 3 possibly 4 candidates this year. Suzanne to progress the arrangement of the examination date and liaise with Chris Hardy to have the ERH apiary prepared.
  • Funding of the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers (July 2017). From letters previously circulated, some concerns expressed by committee members as to whether this was the best use of such a large sum of money (£80,000), expended on so few young people (just 4 from the UK, some of whom have attended previous events). The IMYB is being held in the UK this year, for the first time and includes cultural visits and social events as well as the competitive schedule.

Committee members not clear how much detail of the costings and itinerary had been made available at the YBKA Delegates Meeting that voted in favour of contributing funding to the event.

This matter underlines the responsibility of committee members to read up on agendas for YBKA area meetings and to have some prior consultation about issues for discussion so that local delegates are briefed to ask for clarifications/raise any concerns.

Linda to request minutes of the YBKA Delegates Meeting/BBKA Delegates Meeting from Roger Chappel to inform further discussion and the preparation of a letter to BBKA suggesting that future funding might be used more equitably for the benefit of more young people.

Any Other Business:

  • Chris Solloway has liaised with a British Heart Foundation trainer about basic group first aid training for ABKA members, for a donation. Chris to clarify further details and liaise with Jane L who will check on the availability of the Cliffe Castle Education Room for a weekend event. When obtained, information to be circulated to membership for recruitment on a first come/first served basis.
  • Dan Palmer has provided a list of equipment that ABKA can access for training events. List with Linda.
  • Sue has a framed collection of BBKA medals awarded to the late Julie Williams, past member of ABKA, for first prize in local honey shows. She would like them to be cared for in perpetuity. It was suggested that Cliffe Castle Museum might welcome them for inclusion in the honeybee display area. Linda to check with Jayne Smith; Sue to obtain a photo of Julie and Chris Solloway offered to write a short piece about ABKA if wanted.
  • Sue to liaise with Bill Cadmore to apologise that she will not be available to help with the Bee Disease training session at Bradford University on 27 May.
  • Linda asked whether e-mail addresses that will not accept group ABKA mailings might now be removed, given that owners have been contacted and alternative steps suggested. Gill to action after clarifying a problem with one new member. This problem, that appears to be restricted to AOL accounts, needs to be raised with all new recruits to beginners’ courses.
  • It was agreed that Linda can buy a selection of blank cards to send to members affected by illness.
  • Condolences were expressed for our President, Peter Hewitt, on the recent loss of his dear wife, Doris, after a long period of ill health. We hope to be able to support Peter in attending any events/training sessions that he is interested in, when he feels able.

Date of next meeting: 29 June 2017. Venue tbc