BOARD MEETING MINUTES

DRAFT MINUTES
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CALIFORNIA STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
January 5, 2010 – Hilton Arden-West, Sacramento , Ca

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by President Roger Everett.  David Bradshaw, Leroy Brant, Steve Godlin, Carlen Jupe, Lucy Knoefler, Bill Lewis, Larry Lima, Bob Miller, Eric Mussen, Steve Park, Frank Pendell, Bob Seifert, Pat Stayer, Mike Tolmachoff (Central Valley Beekeepers),Alan Henninger (Delta Bee Club), Jackie Park-Burris (Shasta Beekeepers), Brian Fishback (Sacramento Area Beekeepers), Joan Seifert (CA Bee Breeders), and Clyde Steese (L.A. County Beekeepers) were present.  Guests were Bob Felker, Holly Fraumani, Nella Henninger, Orin Johnson, Sherri Pendell, Larry Pender, Steven Shamp, and A.G. Kawamura.

Financial Report – The financial reports were accepted on a motion by Steve Park, seconded by Jackie Park-Burris.

Correspondence – While circulating the correspondence, Carlen Jupe noted the new CSBA phone number as (209)-545-5359.  He also asked for and received Board permission to discard the folder of old Board meeting attendance sheets, and to try selling any surplus CSBA office equipment, with any proceeds to be put in the CSBA Treasury.  

OLD BUSINESS

Honey Bee/Seedless Mandarin Co-existence Resolution – Roger Everett announced that California Secretary of Agriculture A. G. Kawamura would be sharing lunch with us.  Roger alerted us that, while we hope to hear the status of the bees-in-citrus regulations, there is likely to be mention of a West Side “bee pasture,” and we will need to think about how to respond to Secretary Kawamura’s comments.

Australian Bee Importation Injunction – Steve Park reported that the ABF and APHIS have over 200 requests for improved border regulation of bee imports.  He said that the CSBA’s maximum additional contribution for legal services in this effort would be $5,000 in 2010.

Marketing Order/Honey Advisory Board – In Gene Brandi’s absence, this issue was not discussed.

Standardized Bee Inspections – Leroy Brant noted that, at the Sacramento meeting, the county commissioners did not agree to marking colony grading on the top covers, nor to grading without removing frames.  They were concerned that marked tops might be shifted around, and that they would need extra training to accurately grade without pulling frames.  Leroy said that everyone involved with this still wants the training and implementation to happen very soon.

2009 Convention – Brock Ashurst was not present, so there was no further report.

California Specialty Crops Council  – Roger Everett asked for ideas on how to use our membership in this group.  Frank Pendell said we should attend their meetings, and Steve Godlin reported having attended one which included training on applying for grants.

2010 Convention – Roger Everett said we now have a signed contract for 15-18 November at $129/night for rooms, with a $12,000 food and beverage guarantee.  He obtained the hotel’s Direct Bill application, which Carlen Jupe will complete and return to them.  Roger is also arranging for the Board meeting in May to be at this site, The Embassy Suites on Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo  

Research Funding – David Bradshaw repeated the dollar total for the first eight projects approved at the last meeting.  On Frank Pendell’s motion with Jackie Park-Burris’ second, the Board voted to fund all eight of these.  Bob Miller said we need to provide better guidance for those submitting proposals.  David asked if we get followup reports from them, and Eric Mussen said that we usually do.  Roger Everett pointed out that these reports need to get into the BEE TIMES.

NEW BUSINESS

Convention Committee status – Carlen Jupe noted that the Convention Committee created at the last Board meeting would require a vote at the Annual Business Meeting if it is to be a permanent standing committee.  The Board confirmed that this is the intent, so this will be an ad hoc committee until that vote takes place.  Its focus will be mainly administrative to start, but may later deal with program content, too.  There was discussion of creating Convention protocols in a password-protected area of the CSBA website, instead of depending on whatever memories and records remain from those who have previously organized conventions.

Apiary Commission Bill Formulation Committee – Leroy Brant said they received a first draft, assembled by Holly Fraumani and Eric Mussen, and modeled on that of the Blueberry Commission.  Part of it is required by law.  What’s not is what will be discussed in a meeting today right after the Board meeting.  About $10,000 will be needed from the CSBA, but not until the actual commission-creation referendum is authorized.  We are on a tight schedule, as spot bills must be in by mid-February.  However, once a bill is introduced, changes are allowed until June.  Therefore, the Board could circulate draft language internally before the February deadline, later linking our website to officially-approved language for the bill.

Affiliated club usage of CSBA logo – Roger Everett will look into the possible legal ramifications of permitting this.  Meanwhile, the issue was tabled again on Frank Pendell’s motion with Jackie Park-Burris’ second.

NOD Apiaries’ MiteAway Quick Strip (MAQS) product status – Eric Mussen said we need a letter from NOD, backing our Section 18 application for this product in California .  Roger has signed an application for Section 18 and will get his local county agricultural commissioner to sign it, too.

Ag Day at the Capitol – Jackie Park-Burris asked that someone else do the pre-packets, as these take too much time in her busy season.  She can still organize the event.  Holly Fraumani will know the date.  There is a $500 entrance fee, with about the same amount needed for supplies, including those for the packets sent to legislators before the event.  Brian Fishback said the Sacramento area Boy Scouts might be able to provide some volunteers.  Alan Henninger will bring his observation hive.  Jackie moved that the CSBA again participate in Ag Day at the Capitol and pay the signup fee of $500 and not more than $700 for expenses.  Bob Miller seconded the motion, which passed.  On Jackie’s  motion and Eric Mussen’s second, the Board voted to increase the Publicity line of the CSBA Budget to $1500.

Pesticide Inspections – Bob Miller recounted how a local official cited him after a random inspection.  He warns that they are looking, and may cite you even if you’re following label instructions, if these don’t jibe with California regulations.  Access must be restricted, and people in the area notified, when “danger” or “warning” level pesticides are used, stored, or transported.  Bob’s citation, involving formic acid, was retracted only on review by the Ag Commissioner. 

Bee Importation Protocol – Steve Park said we cannot afford to let up the pressure for quarantine measures.  The Washington and Oregon State Beekeepers want to help, too.  APHIS still hasn’t moved on this.  The Board voted, on Steve’s motion with Jackie Park-Burris’ second, to fund up to $5,000 for the lawyer to continue pursuing bee importation protocols, assuming other parties maintain their commitments.

OTHER BUSINESS

Apiary Board – Jackie Park-Burris said there will be a meeting Friday at 9:00 a.m. in this hotel.

PAm – Steve Park said to check out their excellent website: http://www.projectapism.org/.  He also noted that they received a $250,000 grant to for honeybee management research, and that they need contributions.

American Beekeeping Federation – Bob Miller reported that their convention in Orlando is next week, Tuesday through Saturday.  There is a new format for their newsletter.  They are having a little trouble with a company mentioned in the last newsletter in connection with the honey importation issue.  The ABF is working with Darren Cox of the National Honey Bee Advisory Board on pesticide issues.  They are also cooperating with the North American Pollinator Partnership Campaign (NAPPC) to produce a huge poster.  They will be holding a joint convention with the AHPA in Galveston in 2011.  The ABF is still getting used to their new management.  Ray Olivarez will be replacing Bob Seifert as ABF delegate for the Orlando convention.

American Honey Producers Association – Steve Park noted that their convention is here, this week.  They are working on the honey importation circumvention problem, and at keeping honey prices up.  They need members and donations.   The population for voting on a U.S. Honey Board is about 317 producers.  An indicator of the need for the AHPA is that, as a country, we’re down from producing 60% of the honey consumed here (as of 1986) to 17% now.

NHB – No report was available.

Summary of remarks by California Secretary of  Agriculture A.G.Kawamura  Governor Schwarzenegger is very supportive of the agricultural sector.  The Department is working hard on the huge problem of invasive species such as the psyllid afflicting the citrus industry.  This is now a much bigger concern for mandarin orange growers than are bees-in-oranges, but the growers will not drop the latter unless they see the problem lessening.  The negotiated coexistence structure is in Administrative Law right now, but Secretary Kawamura sees the conflict as a regional issue, and wants to maintain “arm’s-length” status with respect to both sides.  Mandarin acreage will increase, as will netted acreage, and access to these will continue to decrease.  We don’t yet know about restricted access to true seedless orange varieties.  Also, the spraying required to combat citrus greening is so heavy that beekeepers in Florida cannot risk putting their bees in affected groves.  This has not been seen in California yet, but may be.  Orange buyers are starting to differentiate between netted and not-netted seedless levels.  Following are the options, as Secretary Kawamura sees them: 1) Currently, there is no official compulsion.  That might be good enough, but there may be local legal tests by both sides.  2) Growers might implement a loan program to help smaller operators get netting.  3) Tenting might work better than netting.  4) Bee pasture might be increased in several ways.  For example, the right variety of vetch in almonds can fix nitrogen, perhaps using orchards that are already available, and maybe with financial aid from the citrus industry.  It might also be possible to create massive bee pastures on the West Side .  In context of helping to counter wind erosion, there’s a lot of money available for this.  Specifically, NRCS and Equip can make $75,000 grants, while Pollinator Habitat Creation grants can go as high as $1,000,000 if we partner with another state.  Beekeepers might also work with the cattle/dairy industry, maybe even getting carbon sequestration money, to help with both bee pasture and cattle feed sources.  The bottom line is that beekeeping has been determined to be very important to California state agriculture, the USDA now contains quite a few beekeeper friends such as Karen Ross, and the citrus industry says they’re willing to pay to help us get pasture set up as an alternative to putting bees in oranges.  Discussion:  Holly Fraumani said that the CSBA should start a small grant committee to work with the dairy industry, which already has grant writers.  She will help,  as will Steve Godlin, Steve Park, Roger Everett, Jackie Park-Burris, and Larry Pender.  It will operate under our Public Lands Committee as “The Bee Pasture Expansion Effort.”  On Eric Mussen’s suggestion, Roger will ask Kathy Kellison to also be in it.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

African Honey Bee – Rex Christensen was not present.

Awards – Bob Miller noted the correspondence from beekeeper Ken Bennett, who was an old-time aviator.  Bob also said it is never too early to send awards nominations.

Bee Times – Carlen Jupe made no report, but asked for permission to 1) only report minutes highlights in BEE TIMES, with full copies placed on the website and made available from the CSBA Secretary/Treasurer via email, and 2) still send 25 free copies of each issue to the L.A. Honey Company on Fishburn Avenue .  The Board granted permission for both items, noting that the L.A. Honey Company copies have resulted in many new members for the local clubs.

Constitution – Valeri Severson was not present.

Ladies Auxiliary – Lucy Knoefler reported that they are deciding where to disburse funds.  They will be looking at facilities available in San Luis Obispo for their activities at the next Convention.  Lucy will be getting their membership list to Carlen.  They will also look into helping with the gift packs to be sent out before Ag Day at the Capitol.

Legislative – Holly Fraumani reported in Gene Brandi’s absence.  Due to the State budget disaster, look for no tax increases, there will be dire cuts instead.  Noreen Evans will carry our spot bill again this year.  Please help your local candidates with campaign contributions, as corporations won’t.

Marketing – Troy Bunch was not present.

Membership – Larry Lima noted that new membership brochures are available, and handed out samples.

Parliamentarian - Eric Mussen had no report.

Public Lands – Steve Park reminded us to document situations where we get kicked off of public lands, and to forward this documentation to CDFA.

Publicity – Bryan Ashurst was not present.

Research – David Bradshaw had no further report.

Rewards – Dion Ashurst was not present.

Resolutions – Leroy Brant asked, “Do we need a resolution to vote on the permanent standing committee for Conventions?”  He was told that we do.

Website – Mark Allen was not present.  Questions were directed to Joan Seifert: 1) Who pays for the website? A: CSBA pays $180 to Delight Design annually.  2) Is CSBA the registered owner? A: Yes.  Joan noted that the website was updated properly after the last Convention.  Eric reminded everyone that one must hit “refresh” to be sure of viewing the most recent version of any web page.  Joan commented that this does not seem to be an issue with ours.  Roger Everett will generate a letter to Mark Allen, as Joan will now do website updates.  Until approved by the Board, minutes must be published as “proposed” or “draft,” not “official” minutes.

CLUB REPORTS

BASC – No representative was present.

Beekeepers Guild of San Mateo County – No representative was present.

California Bee Breeders – Joan Siefert said January 20 is the date for their next meeting.

Central Valley Beekeepers – Mike Tolmachoff said their next meeting will be 6:00 p.m. January 14 at Brooks Ranch.  A beekeepers class will happen March 6 at the Fresno Farm Bureau.

Delta Bee Club – Alan Henninger reported their next meeting to be January 12 at the Stanislaus County Ag Center.  Leroy Brant and Gary Caseri will be speaking on several regulatory subjects.  Also Chris Kaler and Jonna Stephen from the USDA will talk about some beekeeper government aid programs.

LA County Beekeepers – Clyde Steese reported that their meeting was last night, as it is the first Monday every month.

Nevada County Beekeepers – No representative was present.

Partners for Sustainable Pollination – No representative was present.

Sacramento Area Beekeepers – Brian Fishback noted that their meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month.  They have updated their website.  Eric Mussen, Serge Labesque, & Randy Oliver will be teaching beekeeping classes.

Shasta Beekeepers – Jackie Park-Burris said that they have donated four paintings to help beekeeping organizations.  They will be meeting with their county commissioner to update bee ordinances.

Sonoma County Beekeepers – No representative was present.

South Valley Club – As was reported last meeting, their next meeting will be January 21 at Charlie’s Pizza Kitchen in Porterville .

FURTHER BUSINESS

The May, 2010, CSBA Board meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo, the date and time to be announced.   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m. on Jackie Park-Burris’s motion and Leroy Brant’s second.

Respectfully submitted, 

Carlen Jupe, Secretary/Treasurer