A postal copy of the front two pages will be sent to all members, to ensure everyone is aware of the programme and planned changes

Transcription

1 A postal copy of the front two pages will be sent to all members, to ensure everyone is aware of the programme and planned changes Communication Improvements... Five years ago the association was posting out newsletters approximately three times a year. These were black & white photocopies which had to be individually put into envelopes, stamped and addressed. We then took a huge leap forward when it became possible to upload documents and have a two side colour newsletter printed and posted for less than the cost of a stamp. As more members started using , we then saved by sending newsletters by . Today, out of 187 members, only 10 do not have . However, not everyone opens their ed newsletter. For the last six months we have sent newsletters through mailchimp. This has enabled us to monitor how many members open their s and read Combings. Unfortunately it appears that only two thirds of our members read our s and only one third actually download Combings. Your committee has therefore decided to introduce some changes. We now intend to produce a full newsletter only three times a year; this will be called The Hive. A single sheet, which will be posted to all members, will include the programme for the following four months, important announcements, and a summary of the articles in the full version. The full version will be ed to members with a copy being posted only to those without . In between the issues of The Hive, we may send out short notices from time to time. Those without will be invited to join a cascade system, so that two people in the cascade will be notified about announcements, and they will each notify two others, and so on. This should ensure that everyone is kept informed of all important issues. 1

2 PROGRAMME... OCT 2014 / JAN 2015 Wed 1st Oct 2014 FMH ST5 1QJ Sat 18th Oct 2014 The Minton Centre Vicarage Lane Hartshill ST4 7NJ turn by the Jolly Potter pub; parking free behind the centre Wed 5th Oct 2014 FMH ST5 1QJ Wed 3rd Dec 2014 FMH ST5 1QJ Wed 7th Jan 2015 FMH ST5 1QJ 7.30pm an evening for new beekeepers (but old hands welcome!) This will be an informal chat session where new beekeepers can discuss their year and ask for advice on any problems they have, led by Nick Mawby. The Honey Show Staging entries & Book viewing Closed judging commences (Terry Ashley) Dinah Sweet Developing Skills with Wax Products Q&A Afternoon tea Judges remarks and viewing of exhibits Book Auction ENTRIES accepted up to on the day and must be staged by Full info on the website or contact Margaret Teasdale pm Special General Meeting see notice in this issue 7.30pm A Taste of Honey a talk by John Goodwin from South Cheshire 7.30pm Christmas Social Plants for Bees a talk by our own William Kirk, author of Plants for Bees: A Guide to the Plants That Benefit the Bees of the British Isles followed by a shared supper; Food offers to Pat Twigg on pm the Annual General Meeting CHECK WEBSITE FOR UPDATES FMH = The Friends Meeting House, Miller Street, Newcastle under Lyme ST5 1QJ 2

3 The Varroa Mites Life Cycle Via ebees Reigate BeeNews Phase 1 the Phoretic stage: During which mites ride on adult workers or drones. At the same time they are feeding on blood (hemolymph) from bees, usually from the inter segmental membrane on the abdomen. The phoretic stage lasts about 5 11 days when there is brood in the colony. Mites are forced to remain phoretic if there is no brood, and this can last 5 6 months in cold climates. Mites often change hosts (hopping from one bee to another), and this contributes to the transmission of various viruses, by injection in another bee during feeding. Mites experience higher mortality during the phoretic stage, because they make mistakes, and fall to the screen bottom; get bitten by workers during grooming; or die due to old age. The natural drop on a screened bottom board reflects a combination of all of these factors. However, the total of these fallen mites is less than 20% of the population. Therefore, using a bottom screen board alone will reduce, but not eliminate, the need for other IPM techniques. During the phoretic stage, mites transfer horizontally to other colonies. Either by being accidentally dropped onto flowers and then picked up by other foragers, or by mite carrying bees drifting to another colony, or finally by bees robbing a colony dying from mite infestation. This last situation causes selection of mites with high virulence, because normally mites that kill a colony will also die with their host, but with robbing behaviour the successful transfer of mites from the dying colony to another is guaranteed (another very good reason to avoid robbing behaviour). Phase 2 the reproductive stage: Only during this time is it possible for mites to increase their population. This occurs only under the capped brood cell. Mature female mites are already mated when they emerge at the same time that the bee emerges from the cell. 12The varroa mite invades a host (worker or drone larvae) cell just prior to the cell being capped. Once inside, she will hide in the brood food in an upside down position (viewed from the top of the cell). Mites have special appendages called peretrimes (essentially as snorkel ling tubes) that help them to breathe. Shortly after a cell is capped, the larva inside will spin a cocoon and then become a prepupa. The mite will not feed until about five hours after the cell is capped (after spinning is done), and the first egg is laid 70 hours after cell capping. The first egg is not fertilised, and becomes a male. This is the same as in honey bees, as both organisms have a haplodiploidy sex determination mechanism, where males are haploid (having no father) and females are diploid (having both parents). After this, approximately every thirty hours, the mite lays a female egg. If the mother mite was not mated properly, then all of her offspring will be males. A total of five (on worker pupae), or six eggs (on drone pupae), can be laid in a capped cell. However, worker bees will emerge about 11 days after capping, and drones 14 days; but a daughter mite takes 6 days to mature. Therefore, most of these eggs do not have time to develop into adults, (6 days + 70hrs delay in egg laying + 1 day for first egg as male = 10 days, leaving only 1 daughter time to mature). The mites and the unsclerotized (white) females, who are not fully developed, all die shortly due to dehydration after a cell is opened, (after bee emergence, or uncapping by hygienic bees). Therefore, only the mature, tanned female mites but not most nymph stages and males are seen by beekeepers. (not to scale) Males will mate with a female repeatedly to result in a total of about 35 spermatozoa inside the female spermatheca. Report on research by Dr Zachary Huang, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University USA via ebee s/reigate BeeNews. 3

4 Saturday 18 October At the MINTON COMMUNITY CENTRE, Vicarage Lane, Off Hartshill Road, Stoke on Trent ST4 7NL. Honey Judge: Terry Ashley Speaker: Dinah Sweet Programme Staging entries & Book viewing Closed judging commences Speaker Developing Skills with Wax products Q&A Afternoon tea Judges remarks and viewing of exhibits Book Auction Notes: Parking Free behind centre ENTRIES staged by Will be accepted up to on the day of the show and must be JUDGING Terry Ashley will be doing closed judging from ABS Grading Glasses are available from the Show Manager Download an entry form from the Website... 4

5 Notice of Special General Meeting 7.00pm Wednesday 5th November 2014 Friends Meeting House, Miller Street, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1JD Proposal: North Staffordshire Beekeepers Association shall adopt the revised constitution as presented to the meeting. Over the years, our existing constitution has not kept up with changes in BBKA membership categories and has become outdated in some areas. After several years of debate, the committee has unanimously agreed on a revised constitution, which is attached to this sheet. If you have any queries regarding the revised constitution, please discuss them with Nick Mawby before the SGM (nick@mawby.net or ) We will allow 20 minutes to discuss this before the guest speaker on 5th November. If more time is needed we will adjourn to a future date. 5

6 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION Registered charity Number Revised CONSTITUTION For adoption on 5th November 2014 RULE 1 The association shall be called the North Staffordshire Beekeepers' Association and shall have the following categories of membership: Full (Registered) membership gives membership of the BBKA, with Third Party Public & Products Liability Insurance, which covers beekeeping activities, including sale of direct hive products, Bee Disease Insurance (full details of both voting rights, publications as issued by BBKA, NSBKA newsletter, association s programme of events and communications. Country membership is for those without bees, so does NOT provide insurance cover, but gives membership of the BBKA publications as issued by BBKA Partner membership is ONLY for those residing at the same address as a full member who need insurance cover to handle bees independently, giving BBKA membership and insurance, but no BBKA or NSBKA publications. Associate membership is for those who are members of another beekeeping organisation affiliated to the BBKA and give no BBKA benefits, but gives entitlement to NSBKA benefits All the above categories of member have voting rights. Only members of the association are eligible for election to the committee, though non members may be co opted by the committee, but will not have voting rights. Junior associates will not have voting rights, and the committee will determine the benefits of this category RULE 2 The Association shall be in affiliation to the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA). RULE3 The objects of the Association shall be to promote and further the craft of beekeeping. RULE 4 The management of the Association shall be in the hands of a Committee who shall be responsible to the trustees for the finances and governance of the association. RULE 5 (a)the officers of the Association shall consist of: President Chair Secretary, Assistant/Minutes Secretary, Treasurer, Honey Show Manager, Newsletter Editor, Education Secretary Membership Secretary, Programme Secretary, Librarian Social Secretary Delegate (b)they are to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. A member may not hold more than one of the posts of President, Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer at the same time, except as provided for by Rule 9. (c)the Committee shall consist of up to five elected members together with the officers of the Association listed in RULE 5(a) (d)the Committee members shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. 6

7 (e)the committee may appoint sub committees (which may include persons not on the committee) and will determine the terms of reference of such sub committees. (f)there shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting a minimum of 3 NSBKA Trustees (g)the committee may appoint additional persons to the committee, who shall have voting rights provided they are members of the association RULE 6 An Annual General Meeting of the Association, of which at least seven days notice in writing or is to be given to all members, shall be held each year as early after October 1st as the Committee may decide. At the Annual General Meeting the following business shall be included: (a) President's welcome. (b) Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting and matters arising. (c) Trustees report and presentation of the Association s accounts, (d) Any comments from the accounts inspectors, (e) Opportunity for members to raise questions related to the trustees report or accounts, (f) Election of Officers for the ensuing year. (g) Election of members of the Committee for the ensuing year. (h) Election of the Trustees (i) Election of two accounts inspectors for the ensuing year. (j) Members' resolutions (which have been submitted in advance according to rule 17) (k) Any other business accepted by the Chair RULE 7 The Committee shall hold meetings at least four times a year to transact the business of the Association. Seven members shall form a quorum of which at least one shall be a trustee. Ten days notice by of each meeting shall be given to every member of the Committee. The agenda will be distributed by at least five days before the meeting. The committee may agree to hold meetings in electronic format. RULE 8 It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and pay all monies on behalf of the Association, and to prepare an annual balance sheet, duly inspected, for presentation to the Annual General Meeting. The financial year for the Association shall start on the 1st October and end on the 30th September of the following year. It shall be the duty of the Secretary or Assistant/Minutes Secretary to make and keep proper minutes of the transactions and relevant documents of the Association and Committee and to send out all notices required by these rules. The reports of the Trustees and Treasurer shall be approved by the Committee before presentation to the Annual General Meeting. RULE 9 In the event of a vacancy occurring in any of the offices or on the Committee, any member of the Association may be appointed by the Committee to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting. In the event of the temporary absence of any of the Officers, the Committee shall appoint one of its members to perform their duties for the time being. RULE 10 Each member of the Association shall inform the Membership Secretary of any change of contact details. RULE 11 The annual subscription of each type of membership shall be as determined from time to time by the Association at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for that purpose All subscriptions shall become due on February 1st each year. The committee may offer reduced rates to those joining part way through the membership year A member whose subscription is in arrears shall be removed from the list of members at the discretion of the Committee. Accepted members shall receive a copy of this constitution from the membership secretary 7

8 RULE 12 All monies belonging to the Association and not invested shall be in the hands of the Treasurer. He/she shall keep an account in the name of the Association at such bank as the Committee may appoint. Investments shall be made at the discretion of the Committee. The monies collected by the Association are for the objects of Rule 3. RULE 13 The President or Committee, on written or requisition of any ten members or of any one trustee, shall summon a Special General Meeting of the Association and shall send to all members ten days notice in writing or thereof. The notice shall specify the particular business of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted. RULE 14 If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee, be injurious to the Association he/she shall be requested to resign and the privileges of membership other than insurance shall automatically cease 21 days after such a request. Any member so requested shall have the opportunity to state his/her case before the Committee, who may reconsider their request. RULE 15 At meetings the chair shall be taken by the Chair or at his/her wish, or in his/her absence, the President or a chair elected for the occasion by those present. RULE 16 Fifteen members or half the members of the Association, whichever is fewer, shall form a quorum at the Annual General Meeting or any Special General Meeting. If any meeting is not quorate 15 minutes after the published start time, it shall be adjourned to a future date of which members will be given at least 7 days notice by or post, and at the resumed meeting whatever number of members are present shall form a quorum. RULE 17 (a)these rules may be altered by resolution at any Annual or Special General Meeting, provided that the notice calling the Meeting has specified the proposed alteration. Members' resolutions to change these rules must be in the hands of the Secretary or Assistant/Minutes Secretary at least 42 days before any Annual or Special General Meeting for prior consideration by the Committee. (b)a copy of the constitution is to be available to every member on request. (c)no alteration shall be made to this Constitution that would cause the Association to cease to be a charity at law. (d) Members resolutions for the AGM must be in the hands of the secretary at least 42 days before the AGM RULE 18 The Association may be dissolved as a result of a resolution passed by a two thirds majority of those persons present and voting at an Annual or Special General Meeting of the Association called for that purpose. If, upon the dissolution of the Association, there remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, this shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Association but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to those of the Association as the members of the Association shall decide. 8