The Pittsylvania County Beekeepers Association is sponsoring a new Honey Bee license plate for Virginia drivers. A $10 special interest fee is proposed to support apiculture through the Virginia Department of Agriculture. 450 prepaid applications are required for the license plate to be considered by the state legislature. The Honey Bee license plate design (honey bee will be correctly spelled as two words) has been approved by DMV and is ready for submission by the plate’s patron, Del. Les Adams, in the General Assembly. All that’s needed are the 450 applications! 

• Fill out a License Plate Application
• Include $10 (or $20 for personalized plate). Make checks payable to Pittsylvania County Beekeepers Association or PCBA
• Mail check with completed application to Russell East, 455 E. Store Lane, Chatham, VA  24531

Money will be deposited into a special account as specified by DMV.  Applications and money will be turned into DMV when the total reaches 450.

Click here for FAQ's or address any questions to Rusty East, President of the Pittsylvania County Beekeeper's Association.

UPDATE: A motorcycle plate will be offered and will count towards the 450 applications necessary to introduce the plate. Motorcycle plate applicants should denote that the application is for a motorcycle in a bold marker at the top of the application.

We have posted a lot of new information about the upcoming Fall meeting --here--.

We have a preliminary agenda, a list of current vendors, information on nearby hotels that offer special rates and a proposal for a grant for Brenda Travers' research. More information will be posted as it becomes available!

The Fall Meeting location and date have been finalized -

Saturday, November 8, 2014 at Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave, VA.

More information will be posted 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 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