MeetingMinutes

South-central Alaska Beekeepers Association

Meeting – Monday, 11/26/11
By: Donna Victors

Officers Present:
Steve Victors, President
Ty Tobias, Treasurer
Donna Victors, Secretary

Steve called the meeting to order at 6:33.

Treasurer’s Report:
We have $5,061.07 in the bank. There are no bills.

Correspondence:
National Honey Board designed a new sticker to promote honey as “one ingredient as
nature intended.” They get their money from the major honey producers. Beekeepers,
packers and other honey industry members may receive up to six of these decals for FREE.
To help spread the word, we are enclosing two free decals as a sample of what you would
receive. The smaller decal is 14.5” tall and 15’ wide. The larger decal is 22”x 24”. Use the
decals on your bee yard, shop or farmers market signs, vehicles or anywhere they might be
seen by the public. To get the free decals, call the National Honey Board office at 800-553-
7162 and ask for Andrea Brening, NHB’s fulfillment coordinator. After receiving up to six
free decals, individuals may purchase additional quantities of the smaller decal for $8.00
each and the larger decal for $12.00 each, plus shipping costs. Bruce Boynton, CEO
National Honey Board

The State Fair sent a card asking us if we wanted to be a sponsor for the Fair. Last year, we
spent $220 for prizes. First is $10 and $50 for the Grand Prize. Rick Falk moved to be a
sponsor again. Ray Reynolds seconded it. It passed.

Ryan Schierman, a grad student at Idaho University, spoke with Steve via the telephone
regarding his study of radioactive precipitates in honey from the Japanese fallout. He is
requesting to purchase 2 one-pound samples—one from this year and one from last year.
He is looking at cesium 137 or a certain element or isotope. Any Fair honey entries would
work perfectly for his study. His telephone number is 804-669-2966 or his email is
schirya2@isu.edu. He is interested in the long term effects of the fall-out. He is mainly
focused on the 8-9 month period around the nuclear accident. The group decided that if the
honey comes back clear, it could be great for your advertisement that it was tested to be
pure!

Old Business:
Does anyone know Cheri Logan? She gave Ty $20 for membership while he was
barbequing at the Sept picnic, but she didn’t fill out an application. Thus, we have no
contact information for her.

Donna sent a card to Jim Downs.

New Business:
Donna handed out subscriptions for the American Bee Journal. If you join through SABA,
there’s a deduction in the annual cost.

Responses to Questions from Members:
A member asked regarding bee classes. Steve explained that the Iditarod kick off is the first
weekend in March. So the second and third Saturdays are the beginning bee class in Eagle
River. The beginning class in Palmer occurs before that. This gives a month to prepare for
the arrival of the bees. The advanced class takes place in February.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30.
We concluded by raffling off prizes.

Bob Milby donated some raspberry honey from Washington. Ty gave two poinsettias. The
National Honey Board stickers were also up for grabs. There was also

Southcentral Alaska Beekeepers Association

Upcoming events:

Next meeting:
November 28th