Membership Rates and Dues Payable

The annual single membership rate of $15.00 has been implemented to help pay for upcoming planned events, more guest speakers, and upgrades to our public exhibits. As it was considered disadvantageous for families having to pay this amount for each member, a new FAMILY membership is being implemented of $25.00. So if you are a couple, or an entire family, your membership dues will be $25.00.

• Per our by-laws, the annual dues are payable at or before the first meeting of the year. After July 1 of any current year, a new member’s dues will be prorated at 50% of the regular annual dues for the remainder of that year.

• The board is cognizant that a few members have already paid for 2020 when the old rate was in effect. Under this circumstance, i.e., if you have already joined or paid for the 2020 calendar year, your dues will not be payable until January 2021. In accordance with our by-laws, and to greatly simplify our book-keeping going forward, we are reminded that membership dues are payable at the beginning of the year and run from January to January rather than random dates scattered across the calendar.

Treasurer Mark Urnes kindly requests that all dues being paid (new and renewal) be accompanied by the NOPBA Membership & Renewal form found here or on page 26 of the newsletter. Everyone’s help with this will be greatly appreciated. Forms will available at the meetings as well. Thanks in advance.

By-Laws

By-Laws: The NOPBA Board met on January 4 and reviewed several items relating to our current by- laws. Items being considered include establishment of a budget for upcoming guest speakers, maintaining a reserve for unanticipated expenses, and having the treasurer report budget items with the monthly report to membership.

• An additional item is proposed to be added to the by-laws that will help remedy the condition that arises when a board member becomes unable to fulfill their duties. In this case the board will take action to fill the vacancy which would subsequently be voted upon by a majority of the membership.

• The proposed amendments are finalized and available here for review. After discussion, it is anticipated that a vote of the general membership to incorporate the proposed amendments will occur at the MARCH 2020 regular meeting.

Congratulations to Annaka!

When NOPBA members Rob and Annaka Freeman began coordinating a rescue for a fully developed colony hanging out on a tree branch high up in a fir tree - little did they know their efforts would reach thousands of readers all over the world. As an experienced beekeeper and very accomplished writer, Annaka documented the rescue in her personal blog. Following the suggestion of Judy Harvey, she submitted her story to the American Bee Journal. Low and behold, her article has been published in the January 2020 issue!

This was far beyond an errant swarm recovery. We’re told that sometimes when a swarm can’t find a new home, or is unable to reach a consensus for their new location, they will simply begin building comb right where they are. This is evidently what may have happened because by the time Annaka found them, the colony had built 8 or 9 very large well developed combs high up, out in the open, up on the tree branch. This was a family of “survivor” bees whose mother was a local Dan Harvey queen that had evidently decided to just camp out where they were. With winter on the way, their nest location clearly made a compelling case for a rescue which Annaka has now shared with the world.

The story of the American Bee Journal, its origin, and Samuel Wagner, the first editor, is closely associated with the Rev. L.L. Langstroth. Wagner established the American Bee Journal and its first issue appeared in January 1861. And 160 years later, with her exciting account of a bee rescue operation, Annaka deservedly joins a very prestigious cadre of contributors. Congratulations, Annaka !

Supplies for Sale

1 Ventilated Roof - offers great protection from the elements and insulates your hive in the summer and winter! The roof fits over the normal lid of the Golden Mean Hive.
This new Ventilated Roof has screened vents on both ends and all along the top of the roof. This allows for proper ventilation and air flow and keeps any unwanted critters from being to access the area underneath the roof. Our roof designs are modeled after the way that most house roofs are constructed, with a vented peak. The roof is designed to breathe and create a lot of air exchange through natural micro convection. Purchase price $89. Your price $50.

1 Glass Honey Comb Display- Golden Mean frames of honey comb.
- Acacia wood, Hand crafted
- Hand carved wooden honey drip bowl

- Removable glass, for ease of access and cleaning
- Accommodates Top Bar Frames of honeycomb. Purchase price $150. Your price $80.

Carry all for bee equipment free if all Top Bar equipment is purchased together.

Total cost for everything $700. Cash preferred. Savings $490.

Cindy Ericksen
95 Mar Vista Way
Port Angeles, WA 98362 phone: 360 477-9335

Local Sequim Honey for Sale

ocal Sequim honey for sale. Medicine free hives to guarantee honey as pure as nature intended. RAW and Unfiltered, this honey is strained but retains existing pollen composition, acting as a source of natural vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes proteins and minerals.I have three extractions. Spring, Summer and early Fall. Some delicious creamed honey is also available for 1.00 more. Six blue ribbons at the county fair, the tastes are different but all are great.

Small sampler 1/4 pint for $4.00 1/2 pint $6.00 1 pint $11.00

Herb Senft (360) 808-5619

February 9th - NOPBA Guest Speaker is Sue Cobey!

NOPBA is extremely pleased to announce our guest speaker February 9 will be Sue Cobey.  Sue is an internationally recognized honey bee expert from nearby Whidbey Island. The recipient of numerous honors and awards, Sue presents her work at conferences and seminars worldwide and publishes extensively in trade journals and professionally peer-reviewed publications. She formerly managed several honey bee research labs, including those at UC Davis and Ohio State University. She has also worked at the USDA Honey Bee Lab, Baton Rouge, and in commercial queen production in Florida and California.

Beginning in 2010, Sue joined WSU Department of Entomology as a Honey Bee Research Extension Associate working to enhance honey bee stocks and improve colony health through breeding programs that include incorporation of diverse genetics collected from all around the world.

Largely due to Sue’s passion, determination, and diligence, WSU is currently the only laboratory in the United States permitted to import honey bee germplasm from outside the borders of the United States.

Please join us February 9th when Sue will discuss these topics and share her adventures traveling around the world in search of honey bees in their native habitats. You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to hear from a researcher whose life work has been successfully improving the viability of North American honey bees.

January General Meeting to be held in Sequim

Our next meeting, the January 2020 meeting, is being held at the Sequim Library on January 12 from 11:30 AM to 2;30 PM..  Due to a scheduling conflict, our regular location at the Port Angeles Library is not available.  This is for January only.  Please don’t forget:   JANUARY = SEQUIM 

This meeting in Sequim will include the first beginning beekeeper class of the year as well.  

Sequim Library
30 North Sequim Avenue
Sequim, WA 98382
360.683.1161

Class begins at noon, regular meeting at 1:00.  Another reminder will be sent out as we get closer.

Clallam Conservation District Courses in January

Clallam Conservation District will soon be offering a couple of short courses of interest to beekeepers involving planting native species for pollinators.  They can also help with your soil tests.  Please find more information on their excellent website.

January 8 :    Planting Native Species for Pollinators, 3:00 - 4:30 PM, Port Angeles Library

January 9 :    Planting and Maintaining a Native Landscape, 3:30 - 5:00 PM, Port Angeles Library

January 16 :  Planting and Maintaining a Native Landscape, Sequim, 3:30 - 5:00 PM,  Dungeness Audubon Center

Apprentice Beekeeping Certificate

Want something fun for the off-season? Enrollment is still open for the University of Montana Onliine Beekeeping Program. The Apprentice Class (first in series) is equivalent to about twenty hours of instruction. It begins November 4th and runs six weeks until December 13th. Classes are completely online.

Visit the program website for complete information about the course, schedule, textbooks, and system requirements.

Year-End Wrap Up

Our regular November meeting (and yearly club elections) will be held on Sunday, November 10th. Beginning beekeeper classes have concluded for the season but we’re inviting everyone to show up at 12:00 NOON for a year-end “get-together” to share some fun, tell stories, talk bees, and enjoy some cakes, cookies, coffee, and tea. If you have any honey to share, bring it along! We’ll set up a sampling table!

Buy - Sell - Trade - Want - Need - Giveaway

I remain a honey bee supporter and club member but will "retire" from the attempt at bee keeping. Therefore, I have assorted paraphernalia available plus a top bar Warre hive (built by Walt and never occupied) that I would give to a young man or woman who is just starting out.

Thank you very much,
George Will georgeandjolie@yahoo.com

Local Sequim honey for sale. Medicine free hives to guarantee honey as pure as nature intended.

RAW and Unfiltered, this honey is strained but retains existing pollen composition, acting as a source of natural vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes proteins and minerals.

I have three extractions. Spring, Summer and early Fall. Some delicious creamed honey is also available for 1.00 more.
Six blue ribbons at the county fair, the tastes are different but all are great.

Small sampler 1/4 pint for $4.00 1/2 pint $6.00 1 pint $11.00

Herb Senft (360) 808-5619



Your Help is needed at the Clallam County Fair, 2019!

We’re looking forward to the Clallam County Fair, August 15 - 18, 2019.

Some booth volunteers signed up at the July and August meetings and we still need volunteers! There are 25 slots available. Won’t you please take a look at our online signup page and see what might fit into your schedule? You will provide a much-needed service to your bee club, have a wonderful time, and you will receive free tickets to the fair!