Important Update: Fall Conference Postponed Due to Hurricane Helene

Dear Members,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe. We’ve been closely following the impact of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm, devastating communities across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and here in Virginia. In light of the widespread damage, power outages, road closures, and ongoing recovery efforts, the VSBA Executive Board has made the difficult decision to postpone our upcoming Fall Conference.

Why This Change?
After much discussion, it became clear that holding the event as planned would not only be unsafe but also inappropriate, given the challenges our members and fellow beekeepers are facing. Many of our members are dealing with the immediate aftermath of the storm—recovering their homes, hives, and communities. We want to respect that by not asking anyone to travel during this uncertain time and instead focus our efforts on supporting one another.

New Conference Dates
We’re tentatively looking at rescheduling for the same location on either January 31 - February 1, 2025, or February 7 - 8, 2025. We will confirm the final dates as soon as we can.

Your Registration Options
If you’ve already registered, you have the following options:

• Transfer your registration to the new dates.
• Receive a Credit to use at the next conference.
• Request a Full Refund if neither option suits your needs.

Our team will be reaching out to each of you directly to discuss your preference and make the necessary arrangements.

What’s Next?
We’re actively working with our venue, speakers, and vendors to ensure a smooth transition and will provide more updates in the coming days. Please bear with us as we work through these changes.

Supporting Our Beekeeping Community
Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this storm. Many beekeepers have suffered significant losses to their colonies, equipment, and infrastructure, and several regions are still dealing with hazardous conditions and blocked roads. By postponing the conference, we hope to keep everyone safe and give our community the space it needs to recover.

We encourage everyone to focus on helping their neighbors and supporting local relief efforts where possible. Together, we can help rebuild and strengthen our beekeeping community.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Admin@virginiabeekeepers.org.

Thank you for your understanding and support. Please stay safe, and keep those impacted by Hurricane Helene in your thoughts.

Warm Regards,
Bill Gartner
President, VSBA