what's this?

[Todd Balsiger]

Well, we'll miss seeing your new face Andrew . Thanks for your input.

I went to the Willamette Valley branch web page. NO info. regarding their next meeting yet... Someday I need to visit them down south. I have gone to some Portland meetings. We need to jump around and visit with other branches occassionally. Harry does it. Ray Varner certainly did it. I could always count on Ray.

Interestingly, I was reading through some of my late grandfather's diary pages. My grandfather was a well known beekeeper in the Portland area for "a long time". His 1992 journal included references to meetings he attended with the Portland club. That surprised me. I didn't realize, even though he was dying of cancer, he was still attending the meetings. He wrote that the Portland group was "dying"as well. I know they had a resurgence since 1992.

[drew]

Well I did my 24 hour drop check. Had over double the drop in 24 hours, as I did with the 56 hour counts. SO strips must be doing there thing. yaaaaaaa

[Todd Balsiger]

What strip did you use, Drew?

[drew]

Apistan this time. I have used checkmite last couple years.

I know the Apistan is working the drop was about three times as much in a third of the time.

I don't know if the checkmite was working in the end. I did not do drop tests then Such a pain in the butt.

I suspect checkmite was not working cause my bees like most have come through this winter the worst ever.
They will be fine in time for the blackberries but I will miss the early hard wood honey flow. Plus I won't be able to put the # of nucs together that I wanted.

Sooo folks looks like I will have a few extra queens if anyone is interested. They will be here mid April.

I'm going to treat with formic after the blackberries are done and hope to catch some of the dark late honey.

[drew]

So what will be the topic this month if I decide to set down my NEW C0CKTAIL SHAKER and show up.

[HarryVanderpool]

Regardless of the topic your attendance is important.
Beekeeping is somewhat unique in it's supportive community of which you are a very important part.
So here's my attitude on meeting attendance:
Make every meeting, no excuses other than emergency.
I did not miss a W.V.B.A. meeting for 12 years.
When Ray Varner got sick, I missed a meeting to visit him. Then I missed a few more.
Remember, your attendance is as important as anyone elses. And it does not matter if you have 5 colonies or 50000 colonies. You are valued as a member of the agricultural comunity that is beekeeping.
Your regional association's meeting is greatly improved by your attendence.
My 2 cents.