BEELINES January, 2006

Regularly scheduled meetings are on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month. 7 p.m.
Meetings at 1305 Pine Avenue in Snohomish in the Christ the King Lutheran Church building.

Next Meeting: Tuesday January 10, 2006

I trust you all had a great Holiday break and rang in the new year with much cheer and toasting!  It's hard to believe another year has gone by but our new roster of officers will be shepherding us thru 2006:

Please bring your suggestions for meeting topics to the January meeting.

Dates to Remember
Jan 10: January NWDBA Meeting
Feb 14: February NWDBA Meeting

Holiday Party
The holiday party this year was again a great success.  There was tons of food with so many deserts I didn't know where to start!  We even had door prizes for everyone.

Message from the President
We need to thank Lawrence for the job of past president!

Let me to introduced myself.  I only been in beekeeping for 11months and have been with the lions organization for the past 6 years  and am currently President of the Marysville Lions club.  I work out of my home on Camano Island.  My wife passed away  in 1999 and I have three children from a first marriage that are all grown up and live in Spokane.  My parent are still alive and into their eighty's.  I also have three bothers who all live in or around Spokane.  I Moved over here in 1987 from Spokane to work as a Certified Nurse Aid until my wife took ill and I stayed at home and took care of her till she passed away in June of '99.

I would like to see us grow and bring in new members to the association and have fun at our meetings with programs.  I like feedback from my membership on where you see us going.  With all of working together we can make this a great  association for years to come.  I look forward to working with all of you this year.

2006 Dues
Please bring a check to the January meeting or send dues to our treasurer payable to NWDBA.

John Bryant
9824 38th Pl SE
Everett, WA 98205

January Program
Please bring some interesting honey to taste for our January Meeting where we'll talk about revising/updating our beekeeping calendar and entertain ideas for programs for the rest of the year.

December Beekeeping
Keep the entrances free of dead bees.  This is a good time to go to beekeeper meetings and read all the beekeeping magazines that have been stacking up all year.  Repair old equipment, assemble all the new frames and supers you will need next year.  If you need apiary permits for outyards, apply for them now.

January Beekeeping
Make or order spare hives and other equipment required for the coming season.  See that hive entrances are kept clear of dead bees.  Note the amount of bee loss in your apiary notebook.  Order queens and package bees now to avoid the last minute rush.

February Beekeeping
See that hive entrances are kept clear of dead bees.  If you have not done so already, order your package bees or queens.  Lift the hives from the front to determine an estimate of colony honey stores – you should be lifting 45 to 50 pounds.  If they are light (or near starving), place two cups drivert sugar on the back end of the top bars above the bee cluster, or feed 2-4 quarts syrup in a four-hole top-feeder a using two parts sugar to one part water.