More ideas wanted for our club

[Focus on Bees]

I was looking for some new ideas and or projects to do with members of our local club. I was thinking of trying to do some things to get the public either more educated or involved in beekeeping. I would also like to make them aware of what they are doing when they spray pesticides and herbacides on their property. I don't know how far to go with this, I don't want to stir up a lot of problems. I was also thinking of maybe doing an article in the local paper and maybe doing like a 6 o'clock pm thing on the news. The only thing I don't want is the reporter to try to stick us with tricky questions off guard. I don't know if we would be able to kinda edit the thing before it hits the news. Any suggestions ??? Please remember that this is only an idea, don't know how far it will go with our club, but it sure would be interesting. I know one of the ladies had taken the FFA through her bee yard one year. I'm not sure what to think of insurance liabilities its a thought. Let me know if its a good idea or not.
Thanks

[Sundance]

How about a school program where you give an interesting lecture to kids. Kids are a good funnel to their parents.

You could discuss the benifits of honeybees and differentiate them from hornets and wasps.

[Focus on Bees]

Actually my wife is a 1st grade teacher. When I started keeping bees, she started a "bee unit" where she would teach about honeybees. She does a little bit of comparison with honeybees versus other bees. She also talks about how H-bees work, what makes them tick, basically all about honeybees. They watch videos and do projects all related to bees. They love messing with the equipment and tasting honey. She says that they have a hoot trying on the bee suit (of course its way too big) and gloves. She keeps bugging me to let her bring in the smoker, but its dirty with tar. They are so funny, Hey look, this ones alive- its not- all the observation bees are all dead ones that I pick up from by the hives (I make sure they are dead) I do suppose they could still sting ?? Never tried it so don't know.
But anyways, they are so fascinated by them. I hope that they will remember when they get older.

[Robert Hawkins]

Denver has a reporter, LuAnn Akin, who is a beekeeper. If I wanted to do a piece, I'd have her do the interview in teh bee yard and compliment her all the way through it. Maybe you can find someone similar. Also you said it's for a club.

Start a newsletter. I might join for that. Any others here?

Hawk

[BjornBee]

Get together in some bee yards. Pick topics like splits, queen evaluation, site selection and basics, etc. Too many clubs sit around and do nothing but talk. I belong to a couple clubs and its always sitting in a room talking. If I joined a bike club, I would want to ride. If I joined a horse club, I would want to see a horse. If I belong to a bee club, I would hope to see some bees!

This is one reason I started throwing my own bee picnic every year.

[Focus on Bees]

The last meeting some of us had talked about maybe gettin' around to different members bee yards. Also I said that I would like to host a workshop where the club could make equipment, and of course talk bees
I also thought about getting members together and go to some classes at the U of Minn. with Marla Spivak

[BjornBee]

Keep it simple and easy. Most club members are hobbiests who just want something to do. Meet at someone bee yard on a saturday morning for a couple hours. Wrap it up with hot dogs, chips and soda. You'll have more attend than something they need to pay alot for.
Regular get togethers like this is easy and entertaining.

[Craig W.]

Bjorn, that is a good idea. As a newbie myself I am very hungry for bee education and training. I live close to the Weavers Apiaries and am surprised they do nothing for people, as big as they are.

Craig
P.S. not meaning to sound critical about them, I get my bees from them, just saying.

[Michael Bush]

I'm trying to do more hands on stuff in our bee club. I think it's going to do well, but it hasn't been warm enough yet. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[beegee]

We just started a new bee club and we already have 41 members. We are going to have a speaker's bureau, a swarm hotline, cooperative buying and marketing, public honey sales, demo hives. I do monthly articles for the local papers and magazines. Our monthly meetings have a timely topic using a video, DVD or powerpoint and occasionally a presentation by a local queen breeder or equipment supplier. We also have snacks and a short social time and will be havingsome covered-dish suppers from time-to-time. 2-3 members give reports on intersting articles from the bee journals. I have made my personal bee book library available to members for review before they buy their own copies. We will have field days where we build equipment, open hives, extract, etc. for those who have not done it before. We also plan to have a workshop with local EMT's to demonstrate how to give epinephrine shots and other first aid for stings, heat prostration, etc. Oue state association is raising money to build a permanent display at the NC Zoo at Asheboro.

For Craig: I imagine the Weavers are too busy to spend much time doing a lot of PR work at the local level.

[Focus on Bees]

beegee will have to get in touch with you, I'm a little short on time right now