North Cotswold Beekeepers Association

Annual General Meeting

Held on Thursday 7^th October 2004 at Church Rooms, stow-on-the-Wold

Present: Martin Edwards (Chairman), Eric Drinkwater (President), Julia Edwards (Secretary), Mike & Gillian Rose, Pete Smith, Victoria Logue, Roy Paxford, Brenda Parsons

Apologies for Absence: Jeremy Voaden, Claire Lees, and Nicole Arkell

Minutes of Last AGM (2^nd October 2003)

The minutes were read through and approved by the meeting.

Secretary’s Report

The Secretary reported on last year’s activities. The 2003 programme finished with a lecture on Hygienic Beekeeping from Robin Hall and an enjoyable evening at The Royalist Hotel for our Christmas meal. Unfortunately, the January lecture was snowed off so we will have to wait until next year to hear Gillian Rose talk on Beekeeping in Kosovo. David Charles came all the way from Bristol to lecture on Bee Anatomy luckily in fine weather and we enjoyed an excellent Mead Making demonstration from David Lishman. (No entries yet in the Honey Show!) We then had an interesting talk by Michael Hunt on Heather Honey where the Shipston-on Stour beekeepers joined us and Robin Hall is due to lecture on Pest Control on 25^th November.

The weather was fine for all the apiary visits and they were all well attended considering the small number of members. Thanks to all the hosts for wonderful teas and to everyone for bringing imaginative home produced raffle prizes such as marrows and plums. We had one missing demonstrator and we must thank Eric for standing in on the day. We also had two interesting walks, one at Wolford Woods and the other at Gawcombe Estate where Pete Smith arranged for us to be escorted round by an expert on deer. Thanks to Pete Smith and the Shipston beekeepers for arranging these events for us.

i) Christmas meal on Friday 10^th December

Whistlers, Chipping Norton has been reserved if no alternative venue nearer Stow could be found. The Merrymouth near Burford was suggested and it was agreed to look at their menu.

ii) Skittles on Friday 22^nd October

Members were reminded of the skittles night. Last year we hosted

the event and profited from the raffle because of the generosity of the Cheltenham beekeepers. However only 2 members attended and more are needed to keep this event on the calendar.

Chairman’s Report

The Chairman reported that it had been a good year for lectures but not so good for honey. The joint meetings with other beekeeping clubs helped to boost the funds made from the raffle and made it worthwhile for lecturers to come and visit us. We need to concentrate in the year ahead to increase the membership, either beginners or experienced beekeepers. He suggested that members try to introduce someone they knew who was interested as it was often the best way to get new people. An idea to raise funds could be to throw open meetings to non-members if they were on general subjects like wax products and charge a small fee.

Treasurers Report

The accounts were circulated. The club is fairly self sufficient with the main source of revenue the raffles. We can claim back speakers fees of up to £60 from GBKA but have received all the costs for the last 2 years at the GBKA treasurer’s discretion. A Gift Aid refund may be due. The membership is currently 16.

Honey Show Report

Eric reported that he was pleased with the greater number of honey entered this year and from that more members had entered than last year. There was no dark honey as it is not common in this area. He commented on a particular jar of honey that was 2-tone and when the cap was removed had blobs on top – not good for show honey! The judge had found the ‘Something made from honey’ class difficult to judge and it may be worth discussing changing it at the committee meeting.

Deakin Cup – Roy Paxford

Challenge Cup – Eric Drinkwater

Douglas William Plate – Julia Edwards (brownies)

Edna York Trophy – Mike Rose

Election of Officers

It was proposed by Eric Drinkwater, seconded by Victoria Logue and agreed unanimously that the present committee be re-elected.

Executive Committee

i) Victoria reported on behalf of Jeremy that the executive committee was trying to resolve past financial difficulties and move forward. The Midlands convention was a great success and much time had been spent organising this. Congratulations to Eric Drinkwater who won the ‘Tom Swain’ award at the AGM. The charitable status of the committee was under review. Members were reminded to complete their crop reports.

(ii) Gillian Rose stood down as our branch delegate and Victoria Logue was nominated to represent us.

Ideas to attract new members

Newsletters – Gillian Rose would circulate a draft copy

Publicity to inform people that they have the opportunity to do beekeeping

Informing local organisations

Honey show attracted some interest – more information available there

Observation hive at local shows.

Ideas for 2005 programme

Lectures	Apiary Visits
Processing Honey	May – Gillian& Mike Rose
Making products from wax	June – Victoria Logue
Beekeepers ‘Any Questions’	July – Brenda Parsons
Beekeeping in Kosovo	August – Diana & Gordon Ray?

Meeting Venue

It was agreed to continue to use the Stow Rooms.

AOB

Jeremy Voaden has written 2 beekeeping leaflets and has kindly donated them to the library.