Great news! We have finally nailed down the agenda (it is of course subject to change, but any changes should be minor at this point) and posted it on the Meetings page (click here to view.) In addition, the early bird registration discount period has been extended to May 31!

Sign up soon!

Early Bird Registration Deadline - May 22

The Spring meeting is coming up and you can get the registration form by clicking on this link: Registration Form

For more information on the conference and hotel rooms, please click here.

The Executive Committee has extended early registration to November 1, 2013, for the VSBA upcoming meeting at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, VA. Pre-Registration forms postmarked by November 1^st will be accepted.

A copy of the registration form is available from the VSBA website at:

http://virginiabeekeepers.org/sites/default/files/VSBA%20Nov%202013%20Mtg%20Registration%20Form%20from%20docx.pdf.

The following agenda is subject to change. All changes will be posted on the site as they are encountered.

Saturday, November 9, 2013 Agenda
8:00 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 9:15 Opening Remarks
9:15 – 9:45 Matt Lohr, VDACS Commissioner
9:45 – 10:30 Reyah Carlson - The Medicine Chest Known as the Beehive - Part 1
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00 – 11:15 Door Prize Drawing
11:15 – 12:00 Reyah Carlson – The Medicine Chest Known as the Beehive – Part 2
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:15 Door Prize Drawing
1:15 – 1:45 Business Meeting
1:45 – 2:15 State Apiarist’s Report – Keith Tignor
2:15 – 2:45 Update of Master Beekeeper Program – Frank Walker
2:45 – 3:15 Break
3:15 – 3:30 Door Prize Drawing (last one)
3:30 – 4:15 Carl Webb – Russian Bees: Beekeeping without Miticides
4:15 – 5:00 Virginia Webb - Marketing outside the (Bee) Box
5:00 Adjourn

We have placed the Fall Meeting Registration form on the site so that everyone can take advantage of the early bird registration prices.

You can download the form by clicking here. The early bird registration deadline is October 25.

We hope to have more information about event agenda up soon!

On June 22, 2013 the Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA) membership voted to develop a VSBA Master Beekeeper Program (MBP). The membership also voted that Mr. Frank S. Walker would be the program Chairman.

The Chairman will develop a VSBA MBP Committee and introduce them in the VSBA Fall Newsletter, on the VSBA web page and to the membership at the VSBA fall membership conference held November 2, 2013. The committee will be composed of the VA State Apiarist, the current VSBA President and mostly other VSBA members who have successfully completed a Master Beekeeper certification with other beekeeping associations.

The MBP committee will assist with all aspects of the program, including testing, grading and reporting the results. Additionally, the MBP Committee will keep a data base for all levels mentioned above, and be responsible for issuing the proper certification certificates to the VSBA beekeepers for each level completed. Certificates will be presented at the annual Spring and Fall VSBA membership conference.

At this time, and subject to change, the Master Beekeeper Program of the VSBA consists of 3 levels, namely: the QUALIFIED beekeeper level; the CERTIFIED beekeeper level, and the MASTER BEEKEEPER level. The requirements for each level are being established and once completed will be posted on the VSBA website www.virginiabeekeepers.org, under the heading Master Beekeeper.

The VSBA MBP is not affiliated with the VA MBP managed through Virginia Tech (VT).  However, all VSBA beekeepers who have successfully completed testing at the Qualified & Certified levels of the VA MBP, can notify the VSBA MBP Chairman in writing that they want their testing certifications to be transferred to the VSBA MBP. All requests must also include a copy of the VT Certificate of Completion for the level completed. The VSBA MBP Committee will approve all requests received on or before December 31, 2013. After this date, all beekeepers must enter the MBP at the Qualified Beekeeper testing level.

Frank S. Walker
VSBA MBP Chairman
E-mail: mail@norfolkbeekeeper.net

The 2013 Summer meeting was a huge success with several great speakers and a lot beekeeper networking taking place, as always.

In addition, the club voted in a new treasurer, Barbara Russlander (our Join page and membership form have been updated) and took further steps to support the Virginia Master Beekeepers Program (more info to follow on this later!)

The VSBA Fall meeting date has been set for Saturday, November 9 (note the new date - SECOND Sat in Nov) at Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave, Va.

Mark your calendars - more details to follow!

VSBA Master Beekeeper Program (MBP)

Testing Schedule for the June 21 -22, 2013 VSBA meeting in Chesapeake, VA.

Registration:  Can sign up in advance (click here for application) OR register at the meeting.

Cost: $25.00 for the Qualified or Certified testing. This includes the written and practical hive inspection testing which will be held on another date and at another location. Make checks payable to VSBA.

Written Testing (Qualified and Certified levels) - Friday June 21 & Saturday June 22, immediately following conclusion of the meeting program in the auditorium.

Practical Testing for those who have taken the Qualified or Certified Written testing in the past:

Schedule: Practical "In hive" testing - Friday June 21, 2013 from 10 am - Noon in VA Beach, VA.

For further information, please contact VSBA MBP Coordinator:
Frank S. Walker (757)641-5933 or e-mail: mail@norfokbeekeepers.net