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Honey BeeThe Connecticut

www.ctbees.org

I have to apologize that this is only the second newsletter of the year. Circumstances prevented us getting the April newsletter out. Then bee season was underway full bore and the newsletter kept slipping. So we will issue this newsletter and then do an August issue.

It’s been a tough spring so far. It feels like it will never stop raining. Hopefully the skies will clear and the bees will be able to bring in some honey. Nucs don’t want to build. The brood nests are smaller. Mite levels seem to be low so far, but it’s early. Every year seems to bring something new in Connecticut.

Statistics for the state of Connecticut seem to indicate that as a whole, we aren’t tend-

The Connecticut Beekeepers Assoc. Volume 91, Issue 2: Summer 2017

President’s Message

Upcoming Meetings & WorkshopsMid-Summer & Fall Hive Management Workshops

Saturday, July 229am-10:30am or 11:30am-1pmMassaro Farm41 Ford Road, Woodbridge

Hands-on sessions in best practices for mid-summer and fall hive man-agement. Includes a close look at several hives to assess condition, feeding options, mite detection and control.

Wear long trousers and long sleeves! Veils will be provided, or bring your bee suit. Please check the website for more information:http://ctbees.org/workshops/

June Meeting

Saturday, June 109am-3pmLockwood Farm890 Evergreen Avenue, Hamden

Featured Speaker: Dr. Raymond Nabors

Morning session: “Comb Honey Production”

Afternoon session: “Diseases and Control”

Potluck lunch - please bring a dish to share! Beverages will be pro-vided.

ing our bees properly. In the report from the office of the State Entomologist to the state legislature, losses in Connecticut were over 50% last year. In spite of the weather, we need to do better. We will provide more training and education in the coming year on how to measure your mite levels and how to take care of your bees. Attend our work-shops. Attend our meetings. Learn what you need to know about mite control so that you can be a better beekeeper.

This year we conducted three bee schools for nearly 300 people interested in becoming beekeepers. Welcome to all our new mem-bers! To our longer term members, please welcome them at our next meeting on June 10th. They will have questions. You have answers.

I attended a conference in Wethersfield hosted by the Connecticut Farm Bureau. The University of Connecticut had done a study on the impacts to economy of the state of Con-necticut due to agriculture. All sectors were listed including maple syrup, forestry, etc.

Unfortunately, beekeeping contributions were not included. They did not include the in-creased agricultural production due to pollina-tion. They did not include sales of Connecti-cut honey and hive products, including the sales of bees. We need to interface with the people doing these studies and correct these misperceptions of the impact of honeybees. When we have our contributions included and recognized, our state legislators are more likely to provide the support we need.

The state budget is still in negotiation. There is no word on the fate of the Connecticut Ag-ricultural Experiment Station budget and the position of the bee inspector. If we need to take action, we will put out a message via an email blast.

Steve DinsmorePresident

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Looking for CBA Historical Documents

From the Connecticut Beekeepers As-sociation History: “A number of back volumes of the Connecticut Honey Bee were collated and bound into volumes in 1952 and distributed to various in-dividuals and libraries in the U. S. and one set was sent to the British Research Association.”

If anyone has a set of these bound back volumes, would you please contact us? We’d like to get a set for our archives.

Call for Connecticut Bee Trees

If you know of a feral bee tree in your area, please let us know. We are not looking to harvest the tree, just to place swarm traps near some of the trees.

We would like to maintain a statewide list of bee trees and over time, see if the survival of these trees seems to persist, or are they dying out, only to be replaced later by a new swarm?

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Member List Signups

We maintain several lists:

Swarm call list - When we are contacted by a person who has or saw a swarm, we try to contact someone close to go collect the bees. If you would like to be added to the list, please contact us and we’ll get you on the list. Please indi-cate your name, phone and if you are willing to ‘extract’ bees from buildings. There are no bees like freebies!

Looking for Bee yards – If you are looking for more places to keep bees, let us know. We are contacted periodically by people willing to host bees on their property.

Mentors – We have a shortage of people willing to be mentors to newbies coming into beekeeping. I’d like to add to the list of people who will mentor, but until then, I just tell people to look for people in their town or in nearby surrounding towns.

Please send this information to membership@ctbees.org.

Help Wanted!

We have committee positions that have long been unfilled. These include:

Publicity – Handling outreach to the Vo-Ag schools, the Farm Bureau, the State Department of Agriculture, The CAES, FFA, 4H, state fairs and any other groups you can think of. By increasing our visibility, we have more of a voice in agriculture in general.

Historical – We have historical records and photographs that need to be cata-loged and maintained for future generations. Some research needs to be done to find information. Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to re-peat it.

Publication – This is separate from the newsletter editor. If you haven’t seen them, we have some ‘helpful guides’ on the CAES website. They are out of date and could stand revision. We could look at other member useful publica-tions.

If you would be interested in filling one of these positions, please let us know. Email info@ctbees.com

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Mike’s Beehives LLCRoxbury, CT203-648-2942

Handcrafted BeehivesHoneybees- Italian Beekeeping SuppliesBeekeeping ClassesHive MaintenanceSwarm RemovalBee SuitsLip BalmsCandlesHoneySoaps

Treasurer’s Note

Below is an approximate summary of the accounts held by the CBA at Farmington Bank as of 28 Apr 2017 and PayPal as of 29 May 2017.

Thanks to the members who recently renewed their 2017 membership!

Farmington Bank Accounts

Checking $34,435.00 Legal Fund $14,737.00 Norm Farmer Education Fund $2,615.00 Legal Fund CD $6,782.00 N. Farmer Edu Fund CD $1,107.00 Extractor Program $2,809.00 PayPal $6,273.00 Total Funds $68,758.00

Summer Meeting Will Bring Fun & Education For All!Smoker ContestAt the summer picnic, we will have a smoker contest. Bring your smoker and your favorite mixture of smoker fuel. We’ll light things up and let them go. Throughout the day, we’ll give them an occasional puff. The last smoker still burning (or burn-ing the best) at the end of the day will be the winner. Its owner will receive a 1 year subscription to the American Bee Journal!

LunchLunch will be a pot luck. Bring something yummy to share. Refrigeration is not available, so if your dish needs to be kept cool, bring your own cooler and ice. Drinks, plates and utensils will be provided. Please remember to collect your dish and utensils afterwards.

Free GiveawayFor the first hundred people who arrive, we will have trees to give away. These are honey producing trees. This year, we will have Redbud and Serviceberry. It was supposed to be Redbud and Sourwood, but the order was messed up. Ah well – there is always next year. If we continue this program year after year, eventually, we will have honey trees all across Connecticut!

AuctionWe will do a silent auction at this meeting . Bring something to donate and may your bid be the highest on something you want! All proceeds will go to the club.

Speaker BioOur Speaker at the summer picnic will be Dr. Ray Nabors, formerly of the University of Missouri. Ray Nabors began keeping bees in 1978 at the University of Tennes-see in Knoxville. He has continued to keep bees in Missouri since 1980. In 1979 Ray Nabors took a Position at the University of Missouri Delta Branch Experiment station. He worked there until 2005 when he retired and went into private practice as a crop consultant. From 1990 – 2006 his Special Assignment was State Apiculture Special-ist for the University of Missouri. His current interests include: Working with the Missouri State Beekeepers Association education committee, Comb Honey Produc-tion, Columnist for the American Bee Journal and running a crop consulting business. He also enjoys Fly Fishing and gardening.

Meeting Agenda (Subject to change)8:30 – 9:00 Registration – Check in9:00 – 9:15 Smoker Contest9:15 – 10:15 Ray Nabors – Honey Comb Production10:15 – 10:45 Break – Check the smokers10:45 – 11:45 Ray Nabors – Diseases and Pest Control11:45 – 12:45 Lunch12:45 – 1:15 CBA Meeting1:15 – 2:30 Hive Opening2:30 – 2:45 Smoker Contest Wrap up2:45 – 3:00 Clean Up and a safe trip home

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Our summer picnic will be at Lockwood farm. It will be a potluck pic-nic. Bring something yummy to share! Here are the directions:

890 Evergreen Avenue, HamdenTelephone: (203) 974-8618

From Wilbur Cross Parkway (Route 15):• Traveling north: Take Exit 61, Whitney Ave. Take a right off the exit and go north for 2.3 miles. Take a left onto Evergreen Ave., go 0.1 mile and take a right onto Kenwood Ave. The farm is on your left; enter the 2nd driveway.

• Traveling south: Take Exit 62, Whitney Ave. Take a right off the exit and go north for 2.2 miles. Take a left onto Evergreen Ave., go 0.1 mile and take a right onto Kenwood Ave. The farm is on your left; enter the 2nd driveway.

From Interstate 91:• Traveling north: Take Exit 10. Follow the Route 40 connector for 3.1 miles. Turn right onto Whitney Ave. (Rt. 10) and go north for 0.6 miles. Take a left onto Evergreen Ave., go 0.1 mile. Turn right onto Kenwood Ave. The farm is on your left; enter the 2nd driveway.

• Traveling south: Take Exit 10. Follow the Route 40 connector for 3.0 miles. Take a right onto Whitney Ave. (Route 10) and go north for 0.6 miles. Take a left onto Evergreen Ave., go 0.1 mile and take a right onto Kenwood Ave. The farm is on your left; enter the 2nd driveway.

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History of Bee Laws and Litigation in Connecticut Past to PresentThe first bee legislation in Connecticut was proposed as the result of a foul brood outbreak in 1904. But as with most things related to the government, it wasn’t until 1913 that action was taken by the state legislature. In that year, $750 was appropriated from the state to establish two bee inspectors, under the guidance of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment station1. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) still maintains the bee inspector program under the office of the state ento-mologist.

In 1949, a law was passed requiring registration of beehives on the first of October of each year with the state entomologist at the CAES (P.A. 89-176, sec 22-89)2. This replace the previous requirement that beekeepers register with their local town clerks. While registration of bee hives through CAES is free, a $5.00 fine was enacted for failure to register. The problem is that there is no mechanism in place to enforce the statute for failure to register. The bee inspector is not given a book of tickets and is not about to involve the police for a $5.00 fine. Copies of registrations are maintained by the CAES and are transmitted to local municipalities so that they have a record of who within their town has bee colonies. In the current legislative session (2017), 22-89 has been submitted for update. It is proposed to increase the fine for non-registration to $25 per incident. It is also proposed to change the registration requirement from annually, October 1st, to when bees are acquired. There is still no means of enforcing the proposed fine. Also in 1949, the statutes for inspection of hives for diseases were updated (P.A. 89-176, sec 22-90)3 to specifically define the rights and means of honey bee and equipment inspections. The only disease specified was Foulbrood. It grants the state entomologist or his appointed inspectors, the right to in-spect any colony of bees or stored equipment. It also restricts the sales of bees within the state and the importation of bees from out of state, without an inspection certificate. There is currently a fine of $50 for violation of this statute. As with the registration statute, there is no means to enforce this. While most package importers in Connecticut are buying their packages from reputable bee companies in the south and west, and these generally come with health certificates, there is a lack of communica-tion with the office of the state entomologist to confirm this. Honeybee resellers do as they will, with-out repercussions.

These laws remained largely unchanged until 2016. In 2016, Connecticut became the second state to pass a pollinator protection act (PA 16-17)4. Input was provided by the state bee inspector and the Connecticut Beekeepers Association (CBA)5. This act restricted the use of neonicotinoids (and other pesticides that might cause a LD-50 of a bee colony when 2 micrograms or less are applied to a colony. CAES along with the department of agriculture and the Department of environmental Protection, were tasked with developing guidelines for their use. This bill also directed development of pollinator friend-ly guides for citizens. Due to the fiscal crisis Connecticut finds itself in, there have been many layoffs across the state. Union rules allow ‘bumping’ into position of people with less seniority. The Act also required the CAES to report on recommendations for future legislation that would support the develop-ment of lines of bees and queens with mite tolerances and environmental adaptability specific to Con-necticut’s climate. Coincidentally, the CAES recently won a grant to start a queen rearing program to see if traits could be selected for mite resistance. This bill modified section 22-90 to define required experience for a bee inspector. Preservation of the state bee inspector position remains tentative in the current budget proposals. Cuts to the CAES threaten the position. In 2017, in response to the pollinator protection act, the CAES has submitted an update to 22-90 as part of RB-8336. It further expands the inspection authority of the bee inspector to include mites, insects and parasitic organisms is existing colonies and in imported stocks of bees. Fines are increased to $100 for the first violation, $300 for a second violation and $500 for a third violation. While the law is finally getting some teeth, enforcement still remains in question. (Cont’d. on Pg. 8)

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History of Bee Laws (Cont’d. from Pg. 7)

Connecticut Beekeepers have also had to fight in court, as well as working with the state legislature, to protect themselves. In the spring of 1981, the Connecticut Beekeeping industry took a serious hit. As colonies, were building up for the spring, they were suddenly crashing and dying. Investigation by the state bee inspector showed that pesticides were to blame. Encapsulated methyl parathion (PennCap M) was the culprit. Bees were gathering this encapsulated, time released pesticide and storing it as they would pollen. In the spring, they would feed it to their brood, causing the colonies to collapse. This led to a legal fight between beekeepers and apple growers, with beekeepers eventually prevailing after a lengthy fight in 19867. The result of this were some of the early laws on pesticide application in Connecticut (SS 22a-66-2b, effective April 18, 1986). It also led to the establishment of a legal de-fense fund by the Connecticut Beekeepers Association, which has not been needed since, but is avail-able if it is.

With bee losses making national news, the interest in urban beekeeping has increased. CBA held three bee schools this year for nearly 300 people interested in learning about beekeeping. From CAES reg-istration, it can be shown that bees have been kept in every community in Connecticut for years with-out incident. The CAES swarm collection registration program, provides a list to town clerks of people who are willing to collect swarms. Novice beekeepers have gone to local zoning officials and asked if beekeeping is permitted within their town. Zoning official responses, when asked, tie beekeeping to agriculture and cite acreage requirements for agriculture. Most people in urban neighborhoods don’t meet these requirements. So, by asking for permission, they are denied the opportunity to keep bees. The CBA bee schools have incorporated Best Management Practices to train urban beekeepers how to be good neighbors. These cover, placement on property, interfacing with skeptical neighbors, providing sources of water, and other factors so that they can keep bees and live in harmony with their neigh-bors. These are also used to educate zoning boards that bees do not pose a threat to their communi-ties. The first town Wallingford, CT passed a zoning ordinance in February allowing beekeeping in urban communities, subject to best management practices and recommended hive densities. CBA is working to educate and change the zoning regulations in three other towns.

Prior to 2016, there was over a 25 year period where there were no issues requiring legislation or litiga-tion by the CBA. Changes in the view of bees and the environment have changed public perception so that state legislators have chosen to try and support beekeepers. Legislators are open to further sugges-tions. Future proposals of legislation will concern preservation of the state bee inspector position, with-er by placing it under another department with better funding or making it a statutory position. A proposal has been submitted for the latter in the state senate (PSB-601)8. In the future, addressing the enforce-ment of the statues on the books will be necessary. Mites and hive beetles were imported from the south. Bees coming into the state need to be inspected as a means of control for future threats. Local issues will have to be addressed on a case by case basis as they come up through education and demonstrations as to the benefits of honey bees.

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Connecticut Beekeepers Association Officers:President: Steve DinsmoreEast Lyme, CTPresident@ctbees.org

Vice-President: Gosia LiedlichSouthbury, CTVicePresident@ctbees.org

Treasurer: Michael CampionProspect, CTTreasurer@ctbees.org

Secretary: Karen ParkerOld Lyme, CTSecretary@ctbees.org

Program Chair: Al AvitabileBethlehem, CTProgram@ctbees.org

Publications and Publicity Chair: Susan LydemNaugatuck, CTNewsletter@ctbees.org

Member at Large: Mike CareyOxford, CT

State Beekeeping Officials:

Deputy EntomologistVictoria SmithState of CTCT Agricultural Experiment Station123 Huntington AvenueNew Haven, CT 06504203-974-8474

State Apiary InspectorMark CreightonState of CTCT Agricultural Experiment Station123 Huntington AvenueNew Haven, CT 06504203-974-8474

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Connecticut Queen Producers Cooperative

In 2012, we started the process of forming the Connecticut Queen producers cooperative. In 2014, the Connecticut Queen Producers Coopera-tive was granted non-profit status as a 501(c)3 organization. Its purpose is to develop a queen rearing program in Connecticut. Ultimately, we would like to have multiple producers supply-ing queens that are acclimated to our climate and show higher degrees of mite tolerance. With established sources of local, available queens, we hope to develop sources of Connecticut overwin-tered nucs, and cut down on the numbers of im-ported bees from out of state. It should decrease our state wide colony losses. Well, that was the plan. We have been unsuccessful in 3 grant ap-plications, and with a lack of funding, it has been very slow to get off the ground. However, a new opportunity has emerged.

Dr. Richard Cowles of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station applied for a grant to develop local queens and was successful. For the next 2-3 years, he will be working with Mark Creighton, our state bee inspector, in looking at survivor stock, feral bee populations and commercially available genetic stock. To try to develop a line of bees with favorable genetic characteristics. Dr. Cowles doesn’t have an extensive background in bee-keeping, but has recently completed a program in Instrumental insemination and has back ground in developing scientifically controlled programs. Dr. Cowles will be looking for help this spring. If you are interested is assisting, please contact us at ctbqueenbees@yahoo.com Hopefully, we can get Dr. Cowles to speak at one of our upcoming meet-ings.

If you are interested in learning about queen rear-ing and would like to participate in the Connecti-cut Queen Producers Cooperative, please contact us. Donations are tax deductible.

Eastern Apiculture Society’s Annual Beekeeping Conference Information

To all beekeepers: Please be sure to come to the one of the largest beekeeping conferences in the US. It is being held at the University of Delaware, in Newark Delaware July 31 thru August 4 2017. On Monday and Tuesday there is a Short Course program for beginners, intermediate and advanced beekeepers. The Master beekeepers program is also given these days. The Main Conference starts on Wednesday and ends on Friday with keynote speakers Wednesday and Thursday morning. Please come for one or more days.

A one day registration is just $65 and the Main Conference or Short Course is $175. All five days is $250. The Short Course attendees are also invited to stay Wednesday to listen to the keynote speakers and spend the rest of the day in classes. We have evening activities as well, including Tales in the Apiary, Dancing with the bees with Cliff Sun-flower, Beeopardy (bee Jeopardy) with Howland Blackiston (author of Beekeeping for Dummies) and Next Gen Social evening with Sarah the bee girl. We have field trips to Nemours Mansion, My Cuba and Liquid Alchemy Mead Maker. Buses will be pro-vided and sign-up is required as seating is limited. We have many, many great speakers including: Debby Delaney, Tom Seeley, Jen Berry, Marla Spivak, Mike Palmer, Jim Tew, Clarence Collison, Jay Evans, Tammy Horn, DE beekeepers and more. We will also have over 30 of the finest beekeeping supply vendors in the country. They will be selling all of their goods on-site. You also don’t want to miss the Thursday Evening Auction & Buffet and the Friday Evening Awards Ban-quet. And please don’t forget the honey show. See website for details. You must be a member of EAS to attend the conference. Membership is just $25 for a family of four. Click here to learn more about the conference: http://www.easternapiculture.org/ Click here to become a member: http://easternapiculturesociety.wildapricot.org/page-1861117. After you become a member, you will receive an email in order to set you initial password. You will then be able to log on to the registration link and register for the conference.

Click here to register for the conference: http://easternapiculture.org/conferences/eas-2017/2017-reg-istration.html and click on online registration or 2017 mail-in form.

If you want to become a volunteer for the conference, please email me at rjb.bauer@gmail.com. Volun-teering can reduce or eliminate your conference costs. Please help us make this a wonderful event.

Please note that the conference has a maximum enrollment of 600, and last year in New Jersey we hit number, therefore be sure to sign up early to ensure your spot at this exciting and educational event. See you in Newark!

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Minutes of the Membership February 22, 2017

Bristol, CT

1. Call to Order - 12:00

2. REPORTSA. Massaro Farm workshops - Details @ https://www.massarofarm.org. No need to sign up, just show up!B. EAS Report – 2017 Conference will be held at Universary of Delaware, Newark, DE. July 31-Aug 4. easternapiculture.org.C. ABF was in Galveston, Texas. Ted Jones reports that it was a very educational program. Check out the website at http://www.abfnet.orgD. Treasurers Report – Supplemental added. Due to increase in treasury, we will be able to fund more workshops, special programs such as queen rearing and using horizontal hives. We are also considering creating a scholarship program for 2 students under the age of 18. CBA would provide the equipment and bees. We would like your ideas for selection criteria

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Carey’s Beehives

203-910-4350careybeehives@yahoo.com

Our beautiful, handcrafted 10-frame Langstroth hives are made with care in Oxford, CT. All hives are fully assembled and available in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Each hive includes:

Screened Bottom Board with insert•2 deep supers with 10 frames•2 medium supers with 10 frames•Inner cover•Insulated Top Cover•Entrance Reducer•

We provide free delivery in Connecticut, west of the Connecticut River. There is a nominal delivery charge to other areas based on distance.

Great for beginners and seasoned professionals alike! Carey’s Beehives is a proud member of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association!

E. Eastern Ct. Beekeepers – go to myecba.org for upcoming events. Randy Oliver to speak June 25/26.F. Backyard Beekeepers Association – go to backyardbeekeepers.com for upcoming events. Tom Seeley to speak 9/26.G. Tom Seeley will also be speaking at SNEBA in November.H. Next CBA meeting is April 8 at Ag. Station NH. Bill Hesbach will be our speaker.I. Final Bee School will be held in Falls Village, Ct. 3/11/17.J. Ag. Day at Capital is 3/15. We had two hives at the Governor’s mansion last year but had to remove them after 3 weeks because ground crew did not want to mow around them.K. Last Wednesday at the town of Wallingford Zoning Commission meeting, Steve Dinsmore and Mark Creighton spoke. The commission approved beekeeping in residential neighborhoods as accessory use. It took 1 ½ years to get this through. Currently there are restrictions in North Haven, West Hartford and East Lyme.L. Steve attended the Ct. Farm Bureau meeting in Wethersfield. They are looking at contributions of agricultural tax and revenue generation. Unfortunately, beekeeping is not even on the map. We don’t report our honey sales, nuc sales so it is difficult for them to advocate for us, since we are not advocating for ourselves. We will need to spend time collecting data over the next few years to get recognized. At this time, they don’t even recognize the contribution of pollinators to veg- etable growers.M. The Dept. of Consumer Protection has been visiting several beekeepers around the state. They are auditing how beekeepers filter, store and pack honey. There are regulations for approved honey houses and what you have to do to be legal. 3. OLD BUSINESSA. We need to establish the St. Bee Inspector position as a statuary position. We need a state in- spector especially for inspection of bees coming from out of state bringing in possible diseases.

4. NEW BUSINESSA. On the legislative front, last year the pollinator bill passed. Three more bills are under consider ation. Going to hearing next year is RB-833, concerning the bee inspector. They will update regulations, which can be found online, if interested in seeing what is proposed. If you would like to get involved with legislative business, contact Steve Dinsmore.B. Next is HB-5860 on Best Beekeeping Practices for Ct. Richard Moore has volunteered to interface with a representative from East Haven.C. Also Senate Bill PSB-601. Craig Miner is in the environmental committee to move the State Bee Inspector to another agency and establishing it as a statuary position because we need a state bee inspector.D. We developed Best Beekeeping Practices last August, one of the tools we give to new beekeepers. As long as we follow these practices, towns shouldn’t have a problem with beekeeping in their area.E. We are looking for volunteers for public outreach of various events.F. We are currently redoing our brochure, Where Are The Honey Bees.G. Registration of hives online will begin soon. You can go to Ct. E license and create an account. We will let you know when the site goes live. Regulation will require hives to be registered when obtained.H. There will be a $25 fine for hives that have not been registered. We need to know how many hives are in the state.I. Dr. Richard Cowles has received a grant for a Bee Project. He needs volunteers who have 3 or more years of experience managing hives. Must be available on weekdays 8-5. If interested, contact Mark Creighton at mark.creighton@ct.govJ. New beekeepers can participate as evaluators. They will be given queens to take home, with forms to fill out evaluating their progress.K. Federal Government has set regulations for use of terramycin. Can only be distributed by Vets.

5. Adjourned – 12:40

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Minutes of the MembershipApril 8, 2017

CAES, New Haven, CT

1. Call to Order 12:45

2. Reports

A. Massaro Farm – Next workshop 4/15 Topic: Hive openings “What’s going on in the hive”B. Mark Creighton explained new hive registration procedures. Hive registration will be online within 60 days. No longer will need to draw maps. Will need email to register for e license. Mark will set up a password, so you must get your emails to him at Mark.Creighton@ct.gov. Certificates will no longer be mailed, but you will be able to download it. Mark will also be able to send out mass emails with pertinent information. There will be a $25.00 fine for unregistered hives.C. Bee laws have been updated. For more information go to Ct. Agricultural Experiment Station.D. Members may participate in a “bee lining” project or “queens for free”(should have at least 3 years experience) evaluation project. If interested, email Mark Creighton. List in the subject line, the project you are interested in participating.E. To get the most up to date information on Varroa Mites IPM, email Mark with Varroa Mites in sub ject line and he will send out a 30 page booklet.F. We need help with our queen rearing project. Not for new beekeepers.G. EAS Report – John Baker - This year will be in Newark Delaware. For information: easternapiculture.orgH. ABF Report – Will be held in California. For information: http://www.abfnet.orgI. Eastern Connecticut Beekeepers Report – Randy Oliver will be speaking 6/24-25, WB Young Build- ing room 101, UCONN, Storrs, Ct.J. Backyard Beekeepers Report 4/25 Frederique Keller 5/23 Christina Grozinger 9/26 Tom Seeley 10/31 Kirk Webster 11/28 Jennifer BerryK. CBA meetings 6/10 Dr. Raymond Nabors, Lockwood Farm 10/14 Dr. Leo Sharashkin, Memorial Hall, Bethleham, Ct. 11/18 SNEBA Groton Inn & Suites, Groton, Ct. 3. New Business

Election of officers remains: President – Steve Dinsmore VP – Gosia Liedlich, Treasurer – Mike Campion Secretary – Karen Parker Member-at-Large, Mike Carey

4. Adjournment 1:15

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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS CONNECTICUT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

CONSTITUTION

Article I: NAMEThis association shall be known as the Connecticut Beekeepers Association, Inc.

Article II: OBJECTThe object of this association fostered by a strong bond of union among beekeepers shall be the promotion of scientific beekeeping.

Article III: OFFICERSThe officers of this association shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Trea-surer.The duties of these officers as are assigned to such officers – and the terms of office shall be one year, and until successors are elected and qualified.

Article IV: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEThere shall be an executive committee consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one member of the Association who does not hold office. It shall be empow-ered to act for and on behalf of the Association and to call special meetings when there is a need thereof.

Article V MEMBERSHIPAny person owning one or more colonies of bees may become a member of this Association by payment of annual dues, and shall continue to hold such membership as long as the annual dues are paid by January 31Persons not owning bees but interested in apiculture or related fields may become members of this Association on payment of annual dues, and shall continue to hold such membership as long as annual dues are paid by January 31.Associate members – persons under 18 and qualifying for membership, may become non-vot-ing members without payment of dues.Honorary membership – Persons of outstanding work in the Bee Industry may be made Honor-ary Members of the Association by the vote of the members.Each member, in good standing, shall be entitled one vote on each matter submitted.

Article VI: MEETINGSThere shall be four Regular Business meetings held annually.February – Regular business meetingApril – Annual business meeting and electionsJune – Field meetingOctober – Regular business meetingArticle VII: AMENDMENTS

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This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote at a meeting, provided notice of this proposed amendment is mailed to each member not less than one week prior to a meeting.

Article VIII: GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTSNo profits shall proceed an Officer, Shareholder, Director or member of the organization. In the event of Dissolution, the net assets after payment of debts will proceed to a group qualify-ing under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

BY-LAWS

ELECTIONSECTION 1. At the February meeting the president shall designate a committee of five to make nominations for officers for the ensuing year, to be voted for at the annual meeting. The committee shall consist of ex-presidents present, the committee shall be augmented by addi-tional members to fill the quota.SECTION 2. The officers of the Association shall be elected by majority ballot, or if so decided by a two-thirds vote of the members in attendance, the election shall be decided by a show of hands.SECTION 3. The non-ex-officio member of the Executive Committee shall number one, to be elected bi-annually for a term of two years.

VACANCYSECTION 4. In the event of death or other unavoidable loss of an officer of this Association a member may be elected at any meeting to fill a vacancy thus occurring.

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENTSECTION 5. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings; to call for all re-ports of officers and committees; to decide upon all questions of order; to uphold the Consti-tution and By-Laws of the Association; to count the votes at all times; and at the expiration of his office to deliver an address before the Association.

PARLIAMENTARY RULESSECTION 6. The rulings at the meetings of this Association shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order.

VICE PRESIDENTSECTION 7. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to assume the duties of the President’s office and Powers in the absence of the President. Is a member of the Executive Board. May head some specific phase of the Association’s activities if so directed.

DUESSECTION 8. Dues – The Annual dues shall be $20.00, and are due on the first of January.

SECRETARYSECTION 9. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to report all proceedings of the Association and read the minutes of the previous meetings at each regular meeting, record the same, af-ter approval, in a book kept for this purpose; to conduct all correspondence of the Association; and to take the name and address of every person who becomes a member of the Association. The Secretary may sign checks for payment of accounts in case the Treasurer is unavailable.

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TREASURERSECTION 10. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive Annual Dues; to Render a written report of all receipts and expenditures of the Association at each annual meeting, and to make such report at any time upon request from the Executive Committee. Every October the sec-retary will cause to be sent a letter stating that the Dues are payable to the Connecticut Bee-keepers Association, Inc. and remitted to the Treasurer.

AUDITORSECTION 11. The Treasurer shall at or before the Annual Meeting have the books audited, the person auditing the books to be named at by the Executive Committee at the February Meet-ing.

MEETINGSSECTION 12. At each regular meeting, all business not transacted before eleven o’clock must be postponed to the afternoon session.

SECTION 13. There shall be two regular meetings of this Association, viz., in February, April (annual meeting, elections), June, and October.The fee, if any, of the invited speakers at any meeting shall be approved in advance of the meeting by the Executive Committee.The programs for the four regular meetings shall be the responsibility of the Program Commit-tee.

SECTION 14. The Executive Committee or the Program Committee shall not contract or spend more than $250.00 without the vote of the Association.

AMENDMENTSSECTION 15. Any member who may move to authorize the printing of the Constitution and By-Laws as amended. Each member and new member shall receive a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws.

SECTION 16. These By-Laws may be amended in like manner as provided in Article VII of the Constitution.

OTHER OFFICERSSECTION 17. In addition to the Association Officers and Executive Board, there shall exist the following committees. The Chairperson of these Committees shall be appointed by the Presi-dent at the June Meeting. Publicity, Program, Publication, Historical Library.

QUORUMSECTION 18. The Members entitled to vote, present in person at any regular meeting of all members, shall Constitute a Quorum for such meeting.

SPECIAL FUNDSECTION 19. The Special Fund shall be maintained, with interest, in a separate account. This fund will be used for legal purposes only in line with its original intent of defending beekeeping interests.

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