We belong to two or three area associations. Dues range from $3-5/year. None of them offer a lot of activites, and the dues basically cover the cost of newslettters. Our State asociation hosts an annual convention which is well done- good speakers, and i think they get a pretty good turnout.
Because the closest local association is almost 1 1/2 hurs from where we live, we are starting up a new association closer to home. Our first meeting is this month. Dues will be -
$5 student (1 vote)
$10 adult (1 vote)
$15 family (2 votes)
Membership benefits will include-
Subscription to newletters- hopefully electronic;
Access to the association library which currently consists of 80+ books, around 8 videos,
and almost 100 years' worth of Gleanings and American Bee Journal magazines;
Use of extracting equipment, ranging from a 3-frame manual extractor to a small honey
house with Cowan uncapper, sump tank, and two 32 frame radial extractors;
Discount on subscription prices to ABJ and Bee Culture;
Discounts through group purchases on equipment, package bees, queens, jars, etc.;
Eight regular meetings per year, with a program/workshop and/or guest speaker at each
meeting;
Association apiary with demonstration hives. These will be used for educational purposes,
and in addition, the honey from these hives will be sold and the profits used to fund
association activities. We will also be adding some "alternative" hives for
demonstration, such as KTBH, Long Hive, etc.
Use of portable observation hive;
Access to the association website, which will include free classified advertising for
members;
Opportunity to sell members' honey at one of two county fairs which currently do not have
honey shows or beekeeping exhibits. We will also be sponsoring a honey/beekeeping
competition at both fairs, which will be open to non-members as well as
members. Eventually we will have booths at other events as well, such as the annual
Wildlife and Conservation Expo, etc. where members can also sell their honey.
Student members will have the opportunity to compete for a Youth Beekeeping Scolarship.
And, of course, mentoring by experienced beekeepers, and hopefully some fun socializing!
That is all we have planned at the moment, though I expect we will evolve as the group grows and we see where the members' interest lies and what our needs/interests are.
Hopefully, we will have enough to offer to justify the higher dues.