Minutes of Meeting for March 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Long Island Beekeepers Club Monthly Meeting Minutes,
March 22, 2009
Holbrook Ecology Center
President Joanne Thomas called the meeting of 60 members to order at 2:45 PM and led them in the Pledge of Allegiance. She then introduced our guest speaker Paul Cappy.
Paul Cappy talked about the proposed massive expansion of the state apiary inspection program and the proposed compulsory registration of bee yards. Paul was unable to answer questions about how any of this would apply to bees kept on the land of others, in light of the rights of private property owners who merely allow bees to be kept on their land.
Paul admitted to the proposed program's inability to provide any tangible help to beekeepers with concerns about Nosema apis, Nosema ceranae, or the detection and control of any problem other than foulbrood.
Since a lack of a bee inspector for Long Island for the last few years has not resulted in an increase in the number of cases of foulbrood, serious questions remain about the usefulness of any inspection program in New York. Beekeepers appear to be able to get better information about the health of their hives by sending samples to the USDA Beltsville Bee Lab.
A question and answer period followed. A brief break was taken for refreshments and then Ray Lackey spoke about the preparations for Spring Management. Pete Bizzoso , and Ray also reminded the club that nukes and packages were still available for ordering. A raffle followed for a great assortment of donated prizes. The meeting was adjourned at 5pm.
Respectfully submitted. Jim Fischer and Conni Still
Holbrook Ecology Center
President Joanne Thomas called the meeting of 60 members to order at 2:45 PM and led them in the Pledge of Allegiance. She then introduced our guest speaker Paul Cappy.
Paul Cappy talked about the proposed massive expansion of the state apiary inspection program and the proposed compulsory registration of bee yards. Paul was unable to answer questions about how any of this would apply to bees kept on the land of others, in light of the rights of private property owners who merely allow bees to be kept on their land.
Paul admitted to the proposed program's inability to provide any tangible help to beekeepers with concerns about Nosema apis, Nosema ceranae, or the detection and control of any problem other than foulbrood.
Since a lack of a bee inspector for Long Island for the last few years has not resulted in an increase in the number of cases of foulbrood, serious questions remain about the usefulness of any inspection program in New York. Beekeepers appear to be able to get better information about the health of their hives by sending samples to the USDA Beltsville Bee Lab.
A question and answer period followed. A brief break was taken for refreshments and then Ray Lackey spoke about the preparations for Spring Management. Pete Bizzoso , and Ray also reminded the club that nukes and packages were still available for ordering. A raffle followed for a great assortment of donated prizes. The meeting was adjourned at 5pm.
Respectfully submitted. Jim Fischer and Conni Still