East Lothian Beekeepers' Association

(Founded 1887 – Scotland's Oldest Local Association)

www.eastlothianbeekeepers.org.uk

Newsletter 159                                                         February 2012

New President

Thanks to all of those who came along to our first meeting of 2012 and AGM in January – what a great turnout! George Barton stepped down as President after 17 years at the head the Association. He has made an enormous contribution to beekeeping in East Lothian during that time and I'd like to to thank him on behalf of the membership for all of his hard work and generosity.

We welcome Colin Mackay as the new President of the Association. By way of introduction here are his thoughts on the year ahead:

“Sunday 5th February; 9 degrees! Bees out of the hives in numbers and on cleansing flights in the sunshine! What a curious winter – at least to date. I just hope that everyone’s bees have come through well.

I am still trying to acclimatise to the reality that with what I feel is no more than a novice’s experience I am trying to fill the role as President which George has executed so successfully. It is good that he is still so very much in evidence and willing to stand in for me on occasions.

This year promises the usual programme, Mike’s excellent beginners’ course, our monthly informative meetings and the co-operative work of Haddington Show while the dedicated operation of the Association at the apiary will continue to provide fund raising honey as well as “starter packs” for beginners. In addition we will be offering to provide a display, active to some extent, at the Botanics in connection with the Science Festival, and two displays, by (probably) the Oldest Beekeeping Association in Scotland at the SBA Centenary in September at Stirling University. All offers of help will be appreciated.

Meanwhile, I look forward to meeting all or any members at our regular, monthly meetings and to a successful spring for us all (and our bees).”

Winter Meetings – Haddington Town House, 7.30pm

Our monthly meetings feature speakers on a range of beekeeping topics followed by the chance to meet local beekeepers over tea and biscuits.

Thursday 9 February – Experienced beekeeper Alan Riach presents 'Beekeeping – My Methods and Experiments'.

Thursday 8 March – Ian Craig, immediate past-President of the SBA, speaks about methods of 'Swarm Control'.

Thursday 12 April – Honey judges and keen exhibitors Dave and Bron Wright share their knowledge of 'Preparing Honey and Wax for Show'.

Help needed for Botanics and SBA Centenary displays!

The Association will be manning a stand at the Edinburgh Botanics for the Science Festival for two days to be confirmed (hopefully a weekend) between 31st March and 9th April. If you think you could help chat to visitors about beekeeping for an hour or two I'd love to hear from you.

The SBA has asked local associations to create table displays for their Centenary Event (September 15-16). Our Display Sub-committee met and decided to enter both the 'General Exhibit of Beekeeping' and 'Decorative Exhibit' categories. We're looking for photographs of members' apiaries showing something of their surroundings (eg close to field of oilseed rape, at the heather, in a garden), as well as examples of honey from different source plants, to show the variety that East Lothian can offer beekeepers. The Decorative Exhibit needs to be made up of a range of hive products that could include honey, mead, wax, creams and soaps, so the more contributions the better the display! We could hold a workshop, for example on making creams, if there is interest. It would be great to have contributions from as many members as possible – expert and novice. Please let me know if you can help!

Jo Dodds – Secretary            01875 852916

[email-masked]

Film Screening by Natural Beekeeping Trust

A screening of the film “Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?” will be held at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Lecture Theatre on Thursday 1 March at 7pm. Admission £5 on the door. For  information contact Hugh Salvesen [email-masked] 07528 013864. Visit www.queenofthesun.com for details about the film.

Minutes of the AGM held on January 12th 2012

1. Apologies from Hugh Gordon.

2. Minutes of the AGM on 19th January 2011 were read and approved.

3. The Treasurer, Rosemary Carthy, presented the accounts for the year to 31st December 2011 (available to members from the Secretary). There was an operating surplus, although total subscriptions were down on last year due to a small reduction in membership. Total honey sales at the Haddington Show and to local outlets were the best ever.

Expenditure on hall hire had increased because the Corn Exchange was hired for a Honey Exhibiting Workshop. The 'Course in a Case' was also purchased as an educational resource. The George Hood Memorial trophy was bought and donated to the Gifford Horticultural Society to present to the best novice beekeeping exhibitor each year. A larger surplus than last year made 2011 a successful year for ELBA. The meeting voted to keep the membership fee unchanged at £5 per annum.

Income                                                   Expenditure

Subscriptions

£330.00

Hall hire

£193.90

Honey sales

£449.00

Speakers/Hospitality

£89.45

Bee sales

£510.00

Tea/Coffee

£19.73

Equipment sales

£50.00

Secretary Expenses

£0.00

Bank interest

£0.60

Post Office

£6.54

Other

£5.00

Course in a Case

£50.00

Apiary Supplies

£313.98

Gifford Cup

£266.93

Depreciation

£54.50

Total Income

£1,344.60

Total Expenditure

£995.03

Total surplus for 2011                       £349.57

4. The President, George Barton, began his report by declaring that 2011 had been a successful year for the Association. Winter meetings began on 16th February with Lead Bee Inspector, Stephen Sunderland, talking about Notifiable Diseases and the Role of the Bee Inspector. On 9th March Willie Robson related his Notes from a Bee Farmer and on 20th April Beekeepers' Question Time provoked plenty of discussion and the President thanked those who joined the panel. In November Una Robertson gave a talk entitled The SBA: 100 Not Out. November also saw the honey-themed social dinner, which was a convivial evening.

The Association's Lennoxlove apiary hosted summer meetings on alternate Saturdays from May to July. Nine members were supplied with bees this year. Michael Hill was congratulated on becoming the first winner of the George Hood Memorial Trophy. Mike Bain was thanked for his continuing work running the beginners' theory course and website, along with Donald Smith for running the library, Rosemary Carthy for work as Treasurer and Jo Dodds for being Secretary.

5. The annual election of office bearers saw Rosemary Carthy and Jo Dodds unanimously re-elected to their respective posts. George Barton proposed Colin Mackay as President and was seconded by Mike Bain. The meeting approved Colin Mackay as the Association's new President. There were no nominations for new committee members, so the committee remains the same as last year.

6. George Barton noted that 2012 is the SBA's centenary year, and that they are looking for representation from local associations at their convention in September. It was suggested that a sub-committee should be formed to organise a table display for the event, which could also be used at the Edinburgh Botanics during the Science Festival at Easter.