Help Needed !! - Spencer Fair - Labor Day Weekend
We need help manning the WCBA Educational Booth at the Spencer Fair during Labor Day Weekend. This is a unique opportunity for our members to educate the public on the importance of Honey Bees in our community. Help is needed on all shifts Friday through Monday. Please get involved!
To volunteer, contact Kathy deGraaf : (508)393-0140 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Current WCBA memberships are good through December
The WCBA bylaws were changed earlier this year so that the membership year is now the same as the calendar year. This means that current memberships are good through December 31, 2018.
For new memberships, and for renewals (before Dec. 31) print, fill-out and mail the form found here. Membership renewal is no longer due until December.
NEXT MEETING -- AUGUST 25 in Royalston, MA
Join us at the home of Joe Nunes in Royalston, MA (Details and directions can be found on our Events page.) This will be a very special meeting with all that Joe has to teach us, in a beautiful setting in northern Worcester County. Hope to see you there!!
NOTE: THE BUS HAS BEEN CANCELLED -- PAYMENTS WILL BE RETURNED
Pollinator Farm to Table Dinner - Tower Hill Botanical Garden
Friday, August 24, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Registration deadline is August 14th
Join Peppers Artful Events and Tower Hill Botanic Garden for a special farm to table communal dinner. We will be featuring locally farm sourced produce that has been pollinated by bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators.
Ken Warchol will be the event's special guest speaker.
See our Events page for more information.
Article on Desiree! - Our WCBA and Mass Bee Honey Queen!
Check out this article in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette on Desiree Gracie, WCBA and Mass Bee Honey Queen!
WCBA EXTRACTORS
WCBA has several extractors available for rent to our members. For details see here.
Update on MA House bill H.4041 "An Act to Protect Massachusetts Pollinators"
Update: This bill did not get a vote in the House during the session ending 7/31/18. Stay tuned for next steps!
Background: H 4041 is a reasoned, extremely moderate use restriction of systemic neonicotinoid pesticides by homeowners. Your Representatives have told the Speaker they support this bill. One hundred Massachusetts scientists support the bill. Now the Speaker needs to hear directly from you!
HONEY BEE SWARM REMOVAL
Honeybee swarms are a natural process where the bees divide their colony and half of them leave home along with their queen, to start a new hive. Before they find their new space, they may hang around in a temporary spot for a few hours. If you see a honeybee swarm, keep your distance and please don’t panic--they are normally fairly gentle. Do call a beekeeper who will come and get them.
A list of Worcester County Beekeepers who are on call to collect swarms can be found here. Most will also travel to nearby towns.
INSURANCE FOR BEEKEEPERS
Did you miss the insurance presentation at our April meeting, by Wendy Ashe of A&B Insurance in Westford? Here is a link to her handout:
TEMPERATURE PROBE INFORMATION
Did you miss the temperature probe presentation at our April meeting by WCBA member Max Weagle? Here is a link to the probe information:
SUPPORT MA BILLS TO RESTRICT NEONIC USE !
Bills to restrict the use of neonicotinoids in Massachusetts are being considered by the MA House and Senate. Let your State Rep and Senator know that your support these bills!
The text of the bills can be found here (they are basically the same):
House bill (H.4041) - https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4041
Senate bill (S.2164) - https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/s2164
You can find the name and contact information for your State Rep. and State Senator by clicking on the following link and then typing in your address: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
PROPOSED APIARY REGULATIONS FOR MASSACHUSETTS
The draft regulations can be found here: 330 CMR 8.00 - revised draft
The current regulations can be found here: 330 CMR 8.00 - current
WCBA BY-LAWS
OCT. 7, 2017 VIDEO AVAILABLE ONLINE
We have posted an online video of Dr. Eric Mussen's talk on Advanced Honey Bee Nutrition from our Oct. 7 conference:
Nutrition Needs in the Honeybee Colony
HIVE INSPECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE
The MA apiary inspection service is now available. If you are interested in having an inspector check your hive, or any hive that died, please submit an online inspection request here:
MDAR Apiary Inspection Request Form
You can also call 617-626-1801 to request a visit from an inspector.
MA POLLINATOR PROTECTION PLAN
The MA Pollinator Protection Plan has been released and can be found at http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/agr/farmproducts/apiary/pollinator-plan.pdf
DOES YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS NEED UPDATING?
If your membership is up to date but you are not receiving club emails (quarterly newletter & important announcements), please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to update your email in our records.