June Meeting and Fair Notes

(1) Meeting Notes,
(2) Can we publish your contact information?
(3) Do you want a swarm?
(4) Do you want to help a swarm catcher and learn about catching swarms?
(5) Can you help build the club's display at the County Fair?
(6) Do you have Honey, Pollen or any other hive products, or products derived from hive products to sell at the Fair?
(7) Can you help at the information booth at the County Fair?

Meeting Notes:
This month's meeting was held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, about 20 in attendance, including two newbees and a few very helpful kids.  The display will be housed in the Agriculture Building instead of the Garden Building as in the past several years.  This means (a) less noise, and (b) air conditioning.  Hooray!

We discussed the display/booth layout at length.  Naturally, no final decisions were made, but several options are being discussed, including (a) replacing the information booth with a steel framed booth from Joe Gutierrez, (b) replacing the bee cage with something significantly smaller and easier to store, (c) building a race track by one of several means, etc.

As usual, we will not actually make a decision about what to do.  Instead, members will execute on what motivates them personally, and the result will be a winning synthesis.  All this means is that we need your ideas and participation.

Can we publish your contact information?
Beekeeping is more fun when you share.  Many new members have offered to help with your beekeeping in exchange for the things they will learn, they just need to be able to contact you.  Until now, we have not made our roster broadly available, but we would like to be able to send it to the membership via email.  If you would like to be removed from the printed version of the roster, please email president at alamedabee dot org with "no publish" in the subject line.

Do you want a swarm?
Denise Qualls is our swarm coordinator.  Email her at d dot qualls at comcast dot net with your name and phone number if you are are a competent swarm catcher.  She will refer only common outdoor swarms at step ladder height unless you tell her that you have special skills and equipment such as: swarms in walls, swarms in rooftops, swarms in tall trees, etc.

Do you want to help a swarm catcher and learn about catching swarms?
This is a new category.  If you want to learn to catch swarms, we will try to pair you with a swarm catcher who lives near you.  Most swarms are caught after work in the summer, and taken home just after dark, so this should not interfere with work.  Register with Denise Qualls as above, and indicate you're a swarm helper.

Can you help build the club's display at the County Fair?
Tuesday 6/10 and Wednesday 6/18 - 7:30 to whenever

Thursday 6/12 - no work

Friday 6/13 - 6:30pm - 9:30pm (okay maybe 10pm)  Pizza at about 7pm, maybe some beer.
         Construction - bring screw guns, hammers, etc.  Review printed materials for duplication.

Saturday 6/14 - 11am until late afternoon, maybe early evening.  Margaritas and Pizza at 1:30pm
         Construction - decorating begins

Sunday 6/15 - Father's Day - 11am until mid-afternoon
        Painting and decorating only.  More Pizza?  Maybe a trip to In&Out?

Monday 6/16 - 7pm - 9:30pm - Kentucky Fried Chicken?
         Animation & Multi-media

Tuesday 6/17 - 7pm -9:30pm - Chinese Food?
        More Animation - anybody worried yet?

Wednesday 6/18 - 6:30pm - 10pm - Pizza and Beer
        Final Night - everything has to be perfect - might as well drink beer.

If you will be joining us on Friday or Saturday, please give us a head's up so we can get a pizza count.
We please bring ideas and a good spirit.  I'll bring Margaritas on Saturday - that's the kind of spirit I'll be in!  Pizza provided on some evenings and both weekend days.

Do you have Honey, Pollen or any other hive products, or products derived from hive products to sell at the Fair?
We sent-in the paperwork to the Health Dept today for our license to vend.  This means that all club members are eligable to sell hive products and hive derived products.  Best of all, you get to keep all the money you earn.  Please email Sara Willis at Treasurer@alamedabee.org and let her know your intended schedule.  We'll pool our talents and sell one-another's stuff.

Can you help at the information booth at the County Fair?
Speaking of honey sales, we need people to talk to people.  Even if you don't have honey or other hive products to sell at the fair, you can help us greatly by being there to talk to our visitors, sample honey, and answer questions.  Please email Sara Willis as noted above.

A few parting comments:  If you come to help during the fair, please sign-in at the booth in the back of the Ag Building, we are judged on member participation.  Also, this year, we would prefer that there be no eating of meals in the booth area.