AIREDALE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Branch of the Yorkshire Beekeepers Association
Affiliated with the British Beekeepers Association
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Held on Thursday 12 October 2017
Keighley RU Club
AGENDA
1Apologies for Absence:
Sue Chatfield, Rick and Gill Nottidge, Val Preston, Lee Matthews, Mandy Glover, Kate Clough, Mike Lathom, Bryony Partridge, David Wilkinson, Chris Cunningham, Andy Thackray
2Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 7.10.15
Agreed as a correct record.
3Matters arising from the minutes
- Items of equipment: Equipment Officer Mike Barlow to progress purchase of the items voted on.
4Chairman’s Report – Sue Chatfield (presented by acting Chair, Chris Hardy in Sue’s absence)
First and foremost, I must extend my sincerest apologies that I can’t be with you tonight. Unfortunately, I am attending a family funeral in Hertfordshire and cannot possibly get back in time for either the meeting or my pie and peas!
As Linda will report, we have had a very busy year, with a lot of changes to the status quo. It was with great sadness that we had to leave our old apiary site at East Morton. This is a site that was started up by the late Dr Jimmy Ord-Smith and I think our President, Peter Hewitt, is probably the only person here who remembers him and will be able to tell you how long ago the apiary was started there. It was a lovely site, perfect for bees; sunny and sheltered and with great forage all around. But once the lower field was developed for the use of horses it became less ideal and it is a great shame the owner wanted us to leave.
We had foreseen that this might happen eventually, which is why we started up the apiary at East Riddlesden Hall. It was never the intention to have two association apiaries and my thanks must go to Chris and the team who have managed the East Riddlesden apiary so well for the last four years.
Sad too, our leaving Keighley Show after so many years, but circumstances prompted a poll of members, the majority of whom voted to leave. However, the Show has generously left the tent flap open for us to return in the future, should we decide to do so.
On a personal note, I decided that it was time for me to step back from teaching the beginners and let ABKA run a more structured course for our future beekeepers. I feel confident that this new structure will help to bring on the best beekeepers that we possibly can and with this initial core training and our continued progress through the BBKA assessments and examinations, I believe that we can make Airedale BKA a centre of excellence in beekeeping for Yorkshire if not the UK (no pressure Suzanne!). I am sure that Suzanne will tell you all about the new courses she is planning later in the meeting.
I have been lucky, indeed we have all been lucky, to have such a brilliant committee-and therein lies the true meaning of the word-people who are committed to doing their best for the furtherance of ABKA. Our Secretary has worked herself into the ground of behalf of ABKA-she was five feet ten before she started all this! She has been the absolute mainstay of us all. However, I can’t say anything good whatsoever about our Vice Chairman, as we don’t appear to have one, but I hope that by the end of the meeting this will have changed! Our Treasurer, Steve, has been working quietly away in the background sorting out our bank account, so that members can now pay their subs directly and he has kept a good watch on the purse strings, not too tight, not too slack! All the other committee members have gone over and above the call of duty, working away, particularly Suzanne, who has shown a level of understanding of the rules and regs regarding honey processing, whilst still studying for her Module exams, that would leave most people’s brains reeling.
I promised Linda that I would keep this report short and to the point and to that end, rather than going through everybody by name and thanking them, I am just going to say a HUGE thank you to all members of the committee, who have given us, free of charge, their time and expertise and bloomin’ hard graft.
All in all, I think that ABKA is in a very good place, better than we have ever been, and this is all down to the hardworking committee and those of you who have volunteered with working parties and public event. Long may it last!
5Secretary’s Report – Linda Schofield
Blimey, if I knew then what I know now……this time last year I was moaning on about having been Equipment Officer for three years and thought I’d got my birthday and Christmas together to leave that behind and become Secretary! Incidentally I still get people East RiddlesdenApiaryasking me about borrowing items of ABKA equipment and need to sign post them on to Our Man in the Shed, Mike Barlow! Keep up, Members!!
What an action-packed year this has proved to be. Your ABKA Committee went Large. Not satisfied with clarifying the Honey Extraction and Bottling procedures, and re-working the entire Beginner’s Training Programme (let’s hear it for Suzanne, Chris, Gill, John and Jonathan) ……we also decided to revise the Association Constitution (last chiselled out in 1996)!
Back in the early Spring, we needed to vacate the East Morton apiary site after many years. Member volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in to clear the grounds and dismantle and then relocate the metal Equipment Shed in its new home at the Spring Gardens Lane, Parks’ Enclosure.
Our ongoing links with the Cliffe Castle Grounds Works Team, led to publicity and fundraising opportunities at Roberts Park, Saltaire, for the World Heritage Weekend and the Cliffe Castle Grounds Garden Party in August. Our eminent Treasurer, Steve, has had to invest in a bigger swag bag, to get all the takings to the bank! Most recently, we have been offered a permanent, ABKA, display space in the newly built glasshouse area and Committee Members will be visiting to consider the best use of this valuable publicity site.
Great works with bees continued at our and with the small, but perfectly formed, colony housed in the new, des-res, oak observation hive at Cliffe Castle, courtesy of Richard and the team. These ventures, like so much else of what ABKA does, can only continue and succeed due to the time given and commitment made by volunteer team members. This year’s designated Swarm Team, with some help from the wider membership, dealt with a steady flow of collections. Of the 60 calls received by the Swarm Co-ordinator alone, 24 concerned bumble bees and 10 were from callers outside our Association boundaries – ranging from Bradford, Skipton and Grassington, to…. Pontefract?! But remember, “just” giving advice and sign posting on, takes time too.
Links with Cliffe Castle Museum have continued to strengthen, as staff and public alike are enamoured of the Observation Hive bees. Information and Activity events have been provided again this year in the main school holidays and the weekly, “beekeeper by the hive” slot, during half terms and the long summer break is always popular. So much so that the volunteer beekeepers are almost coming to blows to get a place on the rota! We have an invite to provide a stall to sell our produce and “talk bees” to visitors at an event there, scheduled for 10 December, so more hands will be needed to make light work of this.
We have also forged a close bond with Brackenhall Countryside Centre in Baildon, where one of our members, Louise, manages a couple of hives on site. There have been two successful events there this year, including a safe, live, demonstration of a hive inspection; tastings and sales of local honey; demonstrations of equipment; candle rolling and the chance to meet and talk to ABKA beekeepers, with handouts to take away. The Centre manager is already making plans for more next year!
Yes, it’s been busy and we still have the Red Cross First Aid training session (just one place left, folks, and it’s FREE!), the Honey Show and Christmas Kerfuffle to come! Our ABKA President, Peter Hewitt has kindly agreed to be the Show Judge, so any bribes and bungs need to be made out in his name for the big night on 17 November! Look out for the Winter Talks Programme too, we can’t have you slacking just because the bees are in cluster. Thank you to Jane, our Events Co-Ordinator for keeping us all to task on these many activities and Chris Solloway, our Publicity Organiser for creating lovely things for us to give away and dangle above our stalls!
On a more serious note, the ABKA area has been affected by several Foul Brood outbreaks again this year, both within and adjacent to our boundaries. The challenges to monitor colonies for signs of pests and diseases, follow recommended treatment programmes and discuss concerns with experienced colleagues and the Bee Inspector, remain as real as ever. The Asian Hornet has been found in Devon, if anyone has missed the recent alerts...and what’s been happening to the queens this year? It’s been like Game of Thrones in the apiaries!
Amid all the busyness, we have needed to take a moment to reflect on some significant changes, facing us in the season ahead. Firstly, the shock retirement of Sue Chatfield from her longstanding role as Beginner’s Trainer. Most people in the room will have been introduced to the ancient art of beekeeping by Sue; or have worked alongside her on some committee or other; or at very least, eaten one of her famous cakes! In a double-whammy, this is also the third year of her Chairing role and she must now stand down. But she is willing to continue as a Committee Member without Portfolio (so we’re still good for cakes then!).
Joint secondly, we are very sorry to say goodbye to Chris Hardy and Jill Mastin as the Laurel and Hardy/Little and Large/Morecambe and Wise of the East Riddlesden Hall Apiary Team! Chris and Jill, as Manager and Deputy respectively, have steered the apiary and wildflower meadow through the “dark times and the good”, over the past four years (with and without sheep). We have all had reason to be grateful for their commitment, humour and guidance throughout. Thankfully they are each still willing to offer a hand as needed in the future. Another change this year, has been the decision to pull out of the Keighley Show, the considered result of a membership poll.
However, the ABKA show must and will go on, with the support of its members. They say that Nature abhors a vacuum and the openings noted above are in process of being filled with new faces, bringing fresh ideas and opportunities for learning new skills and forging new friendships. So, don’t be shy, take a chance and try your hand at one of the many ventures available. To do this most effectively, follow the What’s On at our website and Facebook page and please, don’t forget to keep Gill, our Woman on the Web, and Jane, our long suffering, but endlessly patient, Membership Secretary posted if you are not getting any ABKA e-mails, or of any change of address, whether digital or analogue.
As for me, I’m off for a long (or should that be a short) lie down!
If you have been, thanks for listening.
6Education Officer’s report – Suzanne Starling
Winter Education seminars will run at YBKA Harrogate on December 9th, January 13th and February 10th They will cover Module 3 (Disease, Pests and Poisoning) and Module 5 (Honey Bee Biology).
Exam Results
Bee Basic Certificate
100% pass rate with all 3 candidates receiving a Credit (an aggregate mark of over 75%), congratulations to:
Chris Solloway
John Peet
Julian Reed-Purvis
Written modules
Louise Mallinson Credit in Module 6 (Honey Bee Behaviour)
Chris Hardy Credit in Module 6 (Honey Bee Behaviour)
Linda Schofield Pass in Module 6 (Honey Bee Behaviour)
Suzanne Starling Credit in Module 5 (Honey Bee Biology)
Further to these results, Louise Mallinson has now gained her Intermediate Theory Certificate.
Microscopy Certificate
Suzanne Starling
7Treasurers report and Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet
Steve provided his information in a hand out and explained that he was working on completing the evaluation of fixed assets to broaden the scope of ABKA’s financial evaluation. In simplest terms, we’re doing ok! Current assets of £25,187 are well up on last year’s total, although there are some payments to be made out and some payments in to be banked.
8Election of Officers
Sue Chatfield has served a 3-year term and now must stand down as Chair.
Jill Mastin nominated Chris Hardy as Chair and Sue Chatfield had seconded this. Chris was elected by agreement of the meeting.
The current Treasurer and Secretary and the current Committee are happy to remain in post and this was agreed by members present.
The post of Vice-Chair remained to be filled, after a 12-month vacancy. No nominations had been received and no volunteers emerged from the members present. Richard Law suggested the post might be best filled from within the existing Committee, for reasons of continuity. James Thomson suggested that Sue Chatfield would be appropriate, if willing and Keith Hebden seconded this. Sue to be approached on this matter on her return.
9Agenda items:
- Revision of Constitution: Linda Schofield
A draft version had been circulated previously. Linda advised that this was still “work in progress” and would need to be fully ratified later. A review of the membership categories had been crucial, to ensure insurance cover applied to partners working jointly with bees and any prospective junior members. The name of the association also needed to be updated, from the previous Keighley and Craven Beekeepers Association! The objectives statement has been revised to embrace the wider themes of bee health and promoting a bee friendly environment. It was also important to make some equitable provision for action, should the association be disbanded.
Concern expressed by Peter Hewitt that there was no mention of compulsory registration with Bee Base in the Constitution, yet this appears in small print on the membership renewal form. This sparked a lively debate, with speakers for and against the idea of compulsion. Given the matter had raised such strong feelings, Linda suggested that it could prove an interesting topic for a winter talk, especially if our Bee Inspector, Ivor Flatman, could be invited. This agreed.
Break for refreshments
- Revised Beginners Training: Suzanne Starling
Sue Chatfield valiantly carried out training virtually on her own for many years, when she decided to step down earlier this year the Committee decided it was a good time to review what the Association offered to beginners. A working party was formed to review the training.
Several concerns were identified which have shaped the design of the new programme:
- training was mainly down to one person, this is unfair and didn’t tap into experience and knowledge available in ABKA
- we were spending time and resources putting new people through the whole training programme who didn’t end up becoming a beekeeper and were just interested in finding out more about bees
- the training needed to focus more on developing practical skills to improve the bee handling skills of new beekeepers
- few people were attending the apiary inspections which was annoying that Sue had given up her time for so few and resulted in new beekeepers with fewer practical skills
The priorities were to have a structure which allowed us to separate people who were interested in bees from those who actually wanted to be beekeepers and to make the beekeeper training more apiary based and more practical.
3stages to the training:
- Bees and Beekeeping course – covers honey bee biology, how the hiveworks, bee products and what’s involved in being a beekeeper. It also includes 1 year’s social membership to ABKA
2. Meet the Bees – small group practical session at ERH to inspect a colony
3. Competency based training – this would only be for those wishing to
complete training to become a beekeeper
Those individuals who are just interested in bees can take either option 1 or 2 or both.
New beekeepers would be required to do option 1 and 2 to ensure they understand exactly what is involved (time, equipment, cost and a hobby which is essentially livestock handling) and they are comfortable with handling bees before they embark on the competency based training.