WIMBLEDON
BEE KEEPERS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES
OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Held
on the 12th November, 2007
1. Apologies for Absence.
None
.
2.
Approval
of Minutes of AGM held on the 6th November 2006.
The
minutes of the last AGM were agreed and signed off by the Chairman.
3.
Matters
arising.
Fred
Howard our extractor manager reported that item 4. j of the 2006 minutes
had yet to be resolved but he would continue to investigate the
possibility of obtaining a new motor for the honey extractor.
4.
Reports of Officers.
Chairman’s
Report
- Chairman, Peter Bowbrick, reported that 2006/07
a.
Treasurers
Report. John Masters
reported that the accounts had been audited and passed and all monies
had been deposited with the bank. The Gift Aid option, taken up by most
members, had yielded a £233.75p refund for 2005/06 an increase on the
previous year. The refund for 2006/07 is still with The Revenue. WBKA
had made a profit of £272.67p at the Morden Hall Spring Fair despite
having to pay £165 + vat to the National Trust for use of their
marquee.
b.
Secretary.
Phil
Barnes reported that the leases for our Morden Hall Park apiary and hut
had been re-negotiated with the National Trust unfortunately the Trust
had increased the rents substantially. The hut rent has increased from
£20 to £75 and the apiary from £60 to £100. We had hoped that with
the increases we could consolidate our tenure on the site but this was
not possible and the six months notice to quit by either party still
applies. The number of
candidates from WBKA taking the BBKA Basic Beekeeping Examination was a
little disappointing this year with only one member, Anne Murray,
applying and passing.
c.
SBKA
Rep. The Risk Assessments as proposed by the SBKA are now in place
in the WBKA apiaries and all members are requested to follow them. The
new SBKA constitution is still under construction which means
implementation of the new BBKA membership categories will be delayed in
the Surrey divisions. Phil hopes to have more information after the SBKA
AGM on the 3rd of December 2007. There are moves afoot by the
BBKA to allocate funding for bee research with help from the divisions,
how and when is under discussion. It was hoped that Dr Christine Wilkin
would be able to provide us with more information but unfortunately she
was unable to attend our meeting We are also short of a second SBKA representative for WBKA
this was put to the meeting and Max Gladwyn volunteered.
d.
Surrey
Show Rep –Jill
Tyndale reported that although it was very very wet people did turn up
although in somewhat reduced numbers and honey sales were down. After
last years request for stewards to help at the show this year produced
more than needed maybe it needs more co-ordination between divisions.
e.
Programme
Secretary – Norman
Chapman advised the meeting that he would be standing down as programme
secretary and explained how he had managed to find interesting speakers
and topics over the last 20 or so years. The Chairman thanked Norman for
involvement with the WBKA not only as programme secretary but also as
one of our Bee Advisors a post he was also relinquishing this year.
f.
Circulation
Secretary. The post of circulation secretary has now been absorbed into
the offices of the News Letter editor.
g.
Librarian
–Charlotte Winterborn reported that, after looking at the new books
available she was not sure that many of them were worth purchasing, the
older books that would have been of use are out of print. She thought
that with the improvements made to the Beecraft magazine members would
gain more from the current thoughts of the contributors and thought WBKA
should keep current issues in a binder, available to all members. She
hopes to compile a definitive list of books held by WBKA to be available
next year.
h.
Apiary Wardens. Phil Barnes, Holne Chase warden, reported
no major problems
and
advised that there were spaces if anyone was interested. Peter Bowbrick,
Morden Hall Park warden, reported the apiary had been free of
disease for two
years and colonies had increased from 7 two years ago to 21. The
Sunday
morning teaching groups were well attended and the move to
provide more
Association hives was underway with WBC, National and Commercial
hives
already sourced and in place and a Langstroth hive in the
pipeline. It was hoped
that by having different hives available for beginners to
practise on it would make
the task easier when they came to buy their own. Max Gladwyn
reported no
problems at the Cannizaro apiary and with a fallen chestnut tree
soon to be
removed there will be more space.
j.
Extractor
Manager. Fred Howard
reported revenue for hires at £54 a £1 increase on last year.
k.
Swarm
Secretary. Peter
Bowbrick and Phil Barnes reported that although it would appear fewer
swarms were reported this year member’s requests had been met.
l.
Visiting Advisers –
All advisors reported no take-up this year.
5.
Appointment of
Auditor – Max
Gladwyn – Proposed by Charlotte Winterborn and seconded by Paul
Gardiner.
6.
Election of Officers
Office
Name
Proposer
Seconder
Treasurer
John Masters
Dave Boxhall
Jill Tyndale
Chairman
Peter Bowbrick
Fred Howard
Charlotte Winterborn
Secretary
Phil Barnes
John Masters
Toby Chapman-Dawe
Minutes
Secretary The meeting
agreed the secretary should hold this position.
S.B.K.A
Rep. Phil
Barnes
Peter Bowbrick
Max Gladwyn
Programme
Sec Charlotte
Winterborn Fred
Howard
Toby Chapman-Dawe
Circulation
Sec Post
disbanded, position now held by newsletter editor.
Newsletter
Ed Phil
Barnes
Paul Gardiner
Toby Chapman-Dawe
Membership
Sec This post
combined with that of secretary.
Extractor
Manager Fred Howard
Phil Barnes
Maggie Greenleaf
Swarm
Sec
This position is to be managed by the chairman and secretary who
will advise members when and where swarms are available.
Librarian
Charlotte Winterborn Max
Gladwyn Paul
Gardiner
Visiting
Advisers Peter
Bowbrick, Fred Howard, Paul Gardiner
A
number of members were co-opted to serve on the committee, Toby Chapman-Dawe,
Vladimir Berka and Steve Barton.
7.
Any
Other Business.
a.
Peter Bowbrick stated he would like more input from members on
the format for Monday evening meetings, would they like more outside
speakers, teaching sessions or a what to do next in their beekeeping
calender? We could even run a Beekeepers Question Time if members
thought it would be of benefit but we need a response from our members.
b.
Jill Tyndale reported that our website was being visited 9 times
a day and most were looking at the bumblebee page. Peter Bowbrick
thanked Jill for her efforts and will solicit members on what can be
done to improve our “hit rate”
c.
Peter Bowbrick reported that John Cook will not be supplying
Honey Stix at next years Morden Hall Craft Fair. Fred Howard has decided
that his legendary candle rolling expertise will not be available at
next years fair and its time for others to take on the task.
8.
The date of the next A.G.M was booked for the 3rd November 2008.
9.
The next committee meeting was booked for the 19th
November 2007.
PNB
24/11/07
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