Ahead of this Wednesday Evening’s apiary meeting, all attendees need to be aware that unfortunately the wet weather restrictions to some of the grounds remain in place.

Please do not drive or park vehicles on any areas of grass. And if it becomes necessary (again) to ‘double park’ behind vehicles in parking bays, please do so considerately and do not block the ability of vehicles to be driven around the ends of the central planter. Importantly, do not block the access between the pavilion and containers for Emergency vehicles.

Hive Inspections

The unseasonal and persistently low air temperatures are likely to again greatly inhibit the ability for more than minimal, very brief and essential colony inspections. Please pay attention to advice provided by your Hive Tutors and Mentors.

Access to and from the hives from the pavilion remains restricted to the right hand (west) side of the apiary grounds. Please bring Wellington boots for outside use only and alternative DRY footwear for inside the pavilion.

This evenings Shout Outs will be as short as possible to make maximum use of the daylight and any lingering slightly warm weather. So I make these now.

Show Stall Volunteers Please

DO consider volunteering to help with the operation of RBKA stalls at local shows. Our attendance at these events are windows of opportunity to engage with, inform and enthral the public about honey, honey bees & beekeeping.

Coming up VERY soon now is a show at Lower Kingswood  on the 1st May.

And if you are not already planning to attend our Auction, or need to personally deliver samples of your bees to the Bee Health Clinic on the 14^th May, your help at the Cowpie Show on the same day with be very welcome indeed.

See the website https://rbkbblog.com/shows-fetes/ for details of al show venues planned this summer and please contact Geoff Pye on 07775 821 931 or geoffpye@geniepartnership.com to offer your help at one or more of them.

Observation Hives and Donor Colonies

If you can help with the provision of an Observation Hive, bees on frames to be temporality put into an Observation or able to set up for and manage an Observation Hive at a show, do also please contact Geoff Pye or myself asap.

Auction Day SUNDAY 14^th May

Register with Vince Gallo any equipment or colonies of bees that you want to put into this year’s Auction. Visit our Members or Public website for details

Bee Health Clinic SUNDAY 14^th May

We may all have some sick bees coming out of winter. The clinic provides a timely opportunity to have your colonies checked for Nosema. Bob Maurer is also keen to engage more members in the microscopy skills involved in looking for evidence of Nosema. Visit our Members website for details.

Refreshments

Finally, PLEASE do make sure YOU sign-in each evening when attending the apiary, and don’t forget to pop a 50p coin or more into the Skep Money box towards the provisions of the Tea,  Coffee and Biscuits consumed during each evening.

Thank you.

Richard Bradfield (Chair)

 

We hope that the grounds at Henfold will have drained sufficiently by this Wednesday evening and it will not be actually raining or too cold … to enable at least small groups to attend hives requiring inspections.

• Please remain aware and respectful of the conditions underfoot. 
• Use the firmer ground on the west container side ONLY to approach the hives from (and return to) the pavilion.
• Do not walk across the central area between pavilion and hives.  
• Avoid where possible remaining saturated ground around hives.
• Bring suitable wellies to wear outside – and label them!
• Bring/wear stout socks or slip-on shoes to wear inside the building.
• NO WELLIES in the PAVILION PLEASE (wet or dry!)

If ground conditions at the time regrettably so dictate, please respect requests to limit numbers gathering around particular hives.

Elsewhere, as for the previous two Wednesdays, vehicles must be kept to the entrance track way and on hard standing parking areas only. No excursions onto ANY grass, not even to pass other vehicles.

If double parking becomes necessary, do so considerately and please do not inhibit the ability of vehicles to be driven around around both ends of the central planter.

The meeting will commence at 6:30pm with brief announcements and instructions about the evenings activities before assembling into your respective training groups.

Please aim to to be ready, booted and suited, by 6:30 to commence the activities straight after the announcements & evenings instructions.

See you there …

Richard Bradfield, Chair.

Unfortunately, again, we find ourselves waterlogged at Henfold and this means it’s not acceptable for members to access the hives this week.

Instead … ‘Spring Comb Management’ will be addressed with an impromptu presentation by Trevor Keast & Keith Mackie.

This will be an informal demonstration using the hives in Henfold pavilion to discuss the benefits of spring comb management as a brief introduction; followed by a demonstration of the Bailey Comb Change and Shook Swarm manipulations.

We will start at 18:30 in the pavilion. Do come along with your questions and we will try to address everything.

If it is not actually raining during the evening, some needed Framed making may be possible at the long wooden benches on the west side of the grounds, accessed from their right hand sides only.

We ask everyone who is attending that they use the carpark fully, even double parking, to ensure everyone can park within the carpark area.

Please, on no account park or drive on any grass verge along the entrance drive from main road to Henfold carpark, the ground is too soft to support any focused weight, at all.

Mentors, Apiary Managers and Grounds Team are providing minimal spring comb & colony management this week. The nucleus colonies are being transferred into full hives, other hives are being managed based on their strength and health.

Kindest Keith Mackie – RBKA Improvers Mentor & AHAT Lead

The Surrey Beekeepers Association invites you to an on-line  presentation about the Asian Hornet

Reigate Beekeepers Association

THE SPRING LUNCH

12.15 noon for 1.00pm

Your Chairman and his good Lady look forward to receiving members and partners to our first social event of 2023 on Saturday 11th March…

… at the Grumpy Mole restaurant in Brockham.

Most, but not quite all, places available have been booked by members who had already registered their interest in  participating before the venue & menus had been finalised.

However, if you are not already booked, and might like to; see if the menu options and prices (below) will tempt you. 

No promises, but it may be possible to squeeze in 2 or 3 more … if you are quick. 

 Please contact Julie Thain directly ASAP and certainly BEFORE the end February.   juliethain@hotmail.com 

View Fullscreen

email

juliethain@hotmail.com

 

 

Reigate Beekeepers Association

Proposed SPRING LUNCH

12.15 noon for 1.00pm

Your Chairman and his good Lady invite members and partners to our first social event of 2023 on Saturday 11th March…

… at a restaurant likely to be in Brockham, Buckland or Reigate. Actual venue/location subject to confirmation.

If not done so already, register interest in attending NOW by contacting the Chairman by email , MMS or WhatsApp via 07923 600266.

Then HOLD the date.

Bookings will be being requested VERY SOON

Costs of fixed price Courses with menu options will be advised asap.

Number may be capped, so when Bookings do open, book quickly to avoid disappointment.

Reserve the date in YOUR diary now, to be sure to be able to join in our traditional start to the new Beekeeping Year.

Julie Thain has kindly undertaken to lead the organisation of this event, but welcomes offers of help in the planning and managing of arrangements.

email

juliethain@hotmail.com

 

 

Ticket sales opened at Noon on 30th January. 

For all details go direct to:

https://www.bbka.org.uk/spring-convention-2023

 

 

For some years now, RBKA has fundraised for Bees Abroad as an annual activity. Two years ago, our Just Giving appeal for Bees Abroad moved our donating up a few gears and raised £1800, which with gift aid, totalled almost £2200.

Last year, our Just Giving appeal had opened again in the-run up to our 2021 AGM. We had raised just over £1000, with Gift aid adding another £222 for Bees Abroad by the time we closed that appeal when the Bees Abroad 2021 Big Give Christmas Challenge was announced to be opening at the end of that month. It is not known how much additional funding was then added directly by individual RBKA Members during that 2021 campaign, but being match funded, it would have been doubled! 

For our 2022 contribution, we are inviting all Members to donate individually and directly into the ‘Bees Abroad 2022 Big Christmas Challenge’ between the 29th November and the 6th December ONLY.

All such donations will be doubled by the Match Funding that Bees Abroad has secured; and all donations from qualifying tax payers will attract Gift Aid.  AND … if you include a reference to “Reigate Beekeepers” in a message with your donation, Bees Abroad will be able to let us know the total of donations we make during this years campaign.  Let’s see if we can beat our 2020 total … and aim for £2500 in donations this year.   

View the Bees Abroad 2022 Campaign below, or CLICK HERE go to their website direct. But keep your powder dry until midday on Tuesday 29th Nov for maximum effect.  

A Division of the Surrey Beekeepers Association
Founded 1879
Charity No 1026386
http://www.reigatebeekeepers.org.uk

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

7:30pm  Wednesday  2nd November 2022

at Henfold Copse Pavilion.       

AGENDA 

(click here for all available documentation) 

1.  Welcome and address
2. Apologies for absence
3. Minutes of the AGM held on Wednesday 3rd November 2021 (soon)
4. Matters arising from the minutes
5. Chairman’s report – will be published on RBKA website (soon)
6. Treasurer’s report – summary will be on RBKA website (soon),  details presented at the AGM
7. Other Officers’ reports – will be published on RBKA website (soon)  
8. Election of President, Officers and Committee Members
   • President – Mr Mike Hill
   • Chairman – Mr Richard Bradfield
   • Honorary Secretary – Mrs Liz Jackson 
   • Honorary Treasurer – Mr Vince Gallo
   • Honorary Membership Secretary – Mr Simon Ford 
   • Committee Members –
     • Re-standing: Mr Bob Maurer, Ms Celia Perry, Mrs Gill Simpson
     • New Nominee: Mrs Janet Kay
9. Nomination of Trustee to Surrey Beekeepers Association – Mr Richard Bradfield
10. Appointment of Representative to Surrey BKA – Mrs Gill Simpson
11. Appointment of Independent Examiner of Accounts – Mrs A Clement
12. Questions from Members
13. Presentations of Awards from the Honey Show and Examination Certificates
14. Fundraising for our annual donation to ‘Bees Abroad’.
15. Any other business
16. Date of next AGM – Wednesday 1st November 2023

Officers’ and other written reports will be published on the RBKA Members website within 7 days of the AGM

Hi All,

It’s been a busy week with a show last weekend, a certain show this Saturday and a few things going on in between … not to mention preparing for our AGM in November. 

So please click back again on Sunday (2nd October) by when my ‘Chairman’s View’will be clearer and committed to an updated version of this post.

Meanwhile hope to see quite a few of you at our Honey Show in the pavilion today between 2pm & 4pm.  

Richard Bradfield
Chairman
30th September 2022
mob: 07923 600266
richard.d.bradfield@btinternet.com

 

 

The Chief Steward at the National Honey Show is looking for volunteers to assist in stewarding during the three days (27th – 29th October) of this prestigious event in the Beekeeping calendar. 

And then … why not take the opportunity to also enter into some (or even just one) of the National Honey Show Competition Classes as well! 

 

From: Leigh Sidaway, BBKA General Manager

Dear BBKA Member,
We are carrying out the BBKA overwinter colony survival survey for the winter 2021-2022.
The survey period is from 1st October 2021 until 1st April 2022. Please complete and return it before the 30th April.
All responses will be kept in confidence.
Many thanks for your time and support.The survey is very simple and only takes 5 minutes.

Here is the link to the survey:

https://forms.gle/pknsaEZZXaTTZjkT7

 

 

 

The amendment 53 is a new clause proposed to be added after clause 73 of the Bill. It can be accessed through:

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2021-09-13b.1183.0

Time is short but if you would like to lobby your MP by sending a letter there is a draft below that you can scroll down to, complete and send by post or email.

[Read more…]

From: Diane Drinkwater, BBKA Vice-Chair

The recent warm weather has been a lovely end to the summer but autumn is approaching so I am writing to ask all members to take part in the Honey Survey for 2021. 

The survey will be open from 27th September until 25th October.

Here is the link to the survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUQ9OQWkrHbIhLKozks49DPs_sXvgk5_7OqLVQkOz7xBj_zg/viewform?usp=sf_link

We have heard mixed reports of honey yields for this year so it will be interesting to see the results which will be published in BBKA News.

Kind regards

Diane Drinkwater, Vice-Chair

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Separately, I would appreciate your comments on the relevance of the questions asked and your expectations of the likely usefulness of the survey’s results. Either email me, or use the Comments box below.

Richard Bradfield, RBKA Chair

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Present incumbants Gill Simpson and Sue Hickson have provided sterling support for RBKA and are needing to step back from their roles. They will be tough acts to follow, but they will provide as much support as they can to thier successors.

It is also proposed to lighten the load upon the Hon Sec’s role by seperating out the also important task of liaising with members of the public interested in participating in our Taster Days and Beginners Winter Courses. You could of course be prepared to combine that task with either of the Officer Roles.

If you believe you would be able and prepared to be considered for either of the Officer Roles, please contact the Chairman or any Committee member. Candidates would need to put themselves forward to be nominated for election at the AGM on the 3rd November.

Volunteers for the Public Course Coordinator role would not be required to also become a member of the committee.

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RBKA Honorary Secretary

One of four Divisional Officer roles (Chairman, Hon Sec, Treasurer, Membership Sec) that, together with the Divisional Trustee (if not one of the Officers) and further members as required, form the elected Committee that manages the Division.

The Hon. Secretary is required to be a Member, elected annually to the role at the AGM.  No member may hold the office for more than three consecutive years unless re-elected by at least four fifths of the members present.

__________________________________________________________________________________

• RBKA’s first point of contact for the public by email or telephone
• Provide administrative support for RBKA committee meetings and AGMs.
• Manage bookings for Henfold Pavilion and maintain an On-Line bookings diary.
• Keep various physical RBKA files and records

__________________________________________________________________________________

Public/External Contact

RBKA always endeavours to be friendly and welcoming, with that endeavour needing to be reflected in all communications with the public.

1. Incoming messages should be checked regularly.
2. Field emails arriving at secretary@reigatebeekeepers.org.uk as well as occasional telephone enquiries from the general public, members, BBKA and SBKA. 
   1. Enquiries from the general public can be anything from swarm reports to requests for speakers, course enquiries and requests to visit the apiary. 
   1. Many need to be redirected to other committee members.
   1. Always acknowledge the first message and tell them it has been re-directed. 

Secretarial Administration

1. Co-ordinate with Chairman to schedule committee meetings , prepare and circulate agenda. 
   1. Prepare Secretary’s reports to circulation prior to meetings, summarising latest activities.
   1. Attend meetings and take minutes. (about 5 or 6 a year)
   1. Circulate minutes to committee members as soon as possible following meetings.
2. Co-ordinate with Chairman to prepare paperwork for the AGM. 
   1. Produce a Secretary’s report to summarise activities during the year. 
   1. Attend AGM and take minutes.
3. Keep records for all meetings and any correspondence which arrives. 
4. Keep records of bookings for the Henfold Pavilion and enter dates on the electronic diary. 
5. Book venues as required for events.

__________________________________________________________________________________

“I have really enjoyed being Hon Secretary, meeting so many new people and introducing them to RBKA.  It’s really not an onerous job as almost everything is done by email.  I don’t really remember volunteering for the role in the first place so I think 10 years is quite enough, it’s time for someone else to have a go! ”. (Hon Secretary 2012 – 2021)

Succeeding Jacqui Essen in 2012, Gill Simpson has provided invaluable continuity to the functioning of the committee under three Chairs.  Gill had also grown the supporting roles of managing our increasingly popular Winter Beginners Courses and providing administration of our equally popular Taster Days. It is proposed to now separate these responsibilities from the Hon Sec role to allow this role to be less time demanding. __________________________________________________________________________________

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RBKA Membership Secretary

One of four Divisional Officer roles (Chairman, Hon Sec, Treasurer, Membership Sec) that, together with the Divisional Trustee (if not one of the Officers) and further members as required, form the elected Committee that manages the Division.

The Membership Secretary requires to be a Member, elected annually to the role at the AGM.  No member may hold the office for more than three consecutive years unless re-elected by at least four fifths of the members present.

__________________________________________________________________________________

• Lead point of contact with prospective and current members with membership enquiries.
• Maintain individuals’ membership details on the RBKA and BBKA records systems.
• Ensure RBKA’s compliance with GDPR undertakings.
• Liaise with RBKA’s Hon Secretary and Treasurer and the BBKA in managing new members and appropriate subscription dues
• Issue subscription renewal requests during September and be available during October to validate and process responses received then, updating membership records as needed.    
• Cooperatively work with Membership Sec’s of other Surrey divisions and SBKA.
• Provide RBKA Membership reports for Committee meetings and the AGM.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Technical Requirements

The role includes responding to membership enquiries received via on-line media, email, telephone and in-person, and the ability to input and manage individual membership details on both personal computer and on-line web based systems. 

Formal Responsibilities

The Divisional Membership Secretary shall:-

1. notify the county membership secretary promptly of any new or lapsed registered, partner or country members of the BBKA, and, in the same way, notify any changes to the names, addresses and, if appropriate, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of existing members in any of these classes of membership.
   1. notify the county treasurer of any additions or deletions to registered, partner or country members.
   1. inform new BBKA members of the membership number when it is issued.
   1. monitor the receipt of ‘Welcome Packs’ from the BBKA to new members.
   1. verify the membership list against the BBKA Membership list twice each year in March and September. 
   1. notify Bee Craft Ltd of any additions, deletions or changes to registered members only as they occur.
   1. verify the divisional registered membership with Bee Craft Ltd each year in November.
   1. inform the treasurer on a quarterly basis of the number of BBKA and other members.

__________________________________________________________________________________

“The Membership Secretary is often the first contact a prospective member has with the division.

It is enjoyable and rewarding to see and help members from their first tentative approach to Reigate Beekeepers, perhaps through Associate membership, before then progressing to become full active members.”  (Sue Hickson – Committee Member since 2016, Membership Secretary 2018 – 2021)

Since 2018, Sue Hickson has been instrumental, with support from Mike Hill, in transitioning RBKA’s internal membership records system to use of BBKA’s ER2 system. In parallel, developing our GDPR protocols that have subsequently been adopted by SBKA and its Division.

__________________________________________________________________________________

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Public Course Coordinator

– for RBKA Taster Day & Winter Beginners courses

Not necessarily requiring the holder to be member of the RBKA committee, the role has previously been carried out and developed into a key activity in its own right by the Honorary Secretary.

It is now proposed that this role be filled by a dedicated member, reporting to the Committee as required via the Hon Secretary and /or the Education Coordinator.

The Public Course Coordinator would be a Member, co-opted to the role by the committee. __________________________________________________________________________________

• Taster Day Participant Organiser.
• Winter Beginners Course Organiser.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Both events require liaison directly with members of the public and prospective new beekeepers, as their primary RBKA contact, responding to enquires and managing their expectations & participation in courses.

Taster Day Participant Organiser

Working with the Course Presenter (Colin Clement) in planning and delivery of the event, inc:

1. Venue bookings as required.
2. Dates & Timings.
3. Selection, sourcing & presentation of participants ‘Goodie Bag’ content.
4. Propose appropriate Course fees.
5. Arrange for advertising as required (Public Website, Posters & Flyers & others).
6. Present all proposals to Committee for agreement.
7. Be RBKA’s first point of contact for Public enquiries about the courses.
8. Manage all details of bookings, liaising with RBKA Treasurer over receipts of payments.
9. Maintain communication with applicants in run up to and during the course.
10. Provide information to participants about next available Winter Beginners Course.

Winter Beginners Course organisation. 

Lead coordinator for RBKA of planning for and operation of the courses, inc.

1. Course format and venue bookings as required
2. Dates and Timings
3. Presenter booking and fees (David Rudland)
4. Selection and Sourcing of Beekeeping Course books for participants
5. Sourcing of RBKA Honey ‘gift’ for participants on completion of course.
6. Propose appropriate Course Fees
7. Arrange for advertising as required (BeeCraft, Public Website, Posters & Flyers)
8. Present all proposals to Committee for agreement
9. Be RBKA’s first point of contact for Public enquiries about the courses.
10. Manage all details of Bookings, liaising with RBKA Treasurer over receipts of payments.
11. Maintain communication with applicants in run up to and duration of the course.
12. Liaise with Membership Secretary and Education Coordinator over course participants’ ongoing membership status and practical training requirements.

__________________________________________________________________________________

“I have managed this task for the last 10 years as part of the Hon Secretary role.  There can be busy times in this role, when the courses first open for booking and just before they take place but it’s easily manageable and it’s fun communicating with people who are taking their first steps in beekeeping.  You just need to be organised.”  (Gill Simpson)

This is a new standalone role.

__________________________________________________________________________________