PLEASE NOTE;

This is not the usual monthly meeting newsletter; watch for that next Monday September 16 which will cover the fair wrapup and the drawing for prizes into which fair volunteers were automatically entered.

Instead, this email is one of a set of weekly emails SnoKing will be sending out on diverse topics because this September is unusually busy. Today’s email focuses on 2 topics: our club application for 2024 Beekeeping Club of the Year and Beginner and Journeyman classes starting next week. Both need immediate attention, so we are sending out this extra email.

First, Classes! We are calling for last-minute registration for Journeyman starting 9/16 only a week from today and Beginner starting 9/17, only a week from tomorrow. For more information see CLASSES below.

CLUB OF THE YEAR

Second, Help! The most time-critical issue is that we are applying for the $1000 2024 Beekeeping Club of the Year award. We need SnoKing members to help asap in 2 ways:

A. We need each member to think back over the past 11 months (Oct. 10, 2023 to Sept. 10, 2024) to what outreach presentations on beekeeping/pollinators s/he did for youth groups, schools, non-bee club groups, gardening/environmental clubs/groups, community events, farmers markets, etc. Don’t forget 4H, boy/girl scouts, boys/girls clubs, FAA, church groups, etc. Then please send the date, time, place and a contact person to eliochel@snokingbka.org or call/text Eli at 206-859-7392. Membership in a another bee club is not a block to sending this information for SnoKing’s application. No worries! Should your club be one of the few applying for this award, they can also report the event on their application.

B. We need 10 members to send in one honey recipe each, with member name so that credit could be given if published, to Becky Glaze, sewprecise@gmail.com, 903-931-1834.

Thanks in advance for doing this as soon as possible; we only became aware of the contest rules a couple weeks ago and we still don’t know the date the application is due. It may be tomorrow Sept. 10th, but together, we can do it!

CLASSES

JOURNEYMAN Class for WASBA certification starts 6:30PM Monday September 17 and continues on 9 more consecutive Mondays (except October 14) through November 25, the Monday before Thanksgiving.Timing this class to end before the major holidays is on purpose! Beekeepers do have lives outside beekeeping. For that reason, classes are recorded for later viewing but not the Q&A and discussion following each week’s presentation. The course will cover the material for the academic test portion of Journeyman certification. The WASBA Journeyman complete certification requirements can be found at www.wasba.org. WASBA stands for Washington State Beekeepers Association.

    We welcome all WASBA-certified Apprentices in 3rd year or more of beekeeping into the class, however, SnoKing's emphasis is on beekeeping west of the Cascades. So, beekeepers from other areas are welcome to join us, although -- Warning! -- we may talk a lot about rain! We use that rainy season as the closest thing to “downtime” that beekeepers get, so come join us as it is starting now. More class info & registration can be found at www.snokingbeekeepers.org/journeymanapplication. If the information there does not tell you whether Journeyman is right for you, contact Eli 206-859-7392 eliochel@snokingbka.org before registering to make sure it is.

Cost: $65 for class + $30 for SnoKing dues through 8/31/2025, total of $95 which includes manual, and later the patch and certificate when you complete all the Journeyman requirements. You pay after submitting the application and the easiest way is to click on the Donate button at the top of www.snokingbka.org . Although it says it is paypal, it takes all sorts of payment methods.

CALENDAR of UPCOMING EVENTS: 

9/17 Beginner Class starts

10/3 Apprentice Class starts

9/16 Journeyman starts

9/28 Saturday - Return of the Salmon booth, Sultan, WA

10/4-10/6 WASBA Conference, Lynnwood, WA

DISCUSSION GROUPS

9/4 6:30PM – 8PM Trophallaxis first Wednesday meeting for Journeyman, Masters, and those who have taken or are taking the academic portion of Journeyman. To join the discussion, email Eli eliochel@snokingbka.org for Zoom link.

Master Beekeeper Certificate at Cornell University

    Cornell is still offering 33 1/3% discount for SnoKing members. Ask Eli Ocheltree for the discount code.

Apiary Managers:

Granite Falls - Ron - dizzybeeapiary@gmail.com 206-719-3604

Maltby - Eli - eliochel@snokingbka.org  206-859-7392

Policy Statement: There will be one essential rule at Trophallaxis and at any meeting or activity hosted by SnoKing Beekeepers. Ron Robinson stated it best for our Facebook discussion group, when he said:

"SKBA prides itself on the fact we are not like other groups on Facebook. We have become known as a safe group for keepers of all levels to comfortably ask questions and opinions without being blasted or publicly humiliated for asking what may seem like a very basic question to others. Any harassing, bullying, demeaning behavior, or such will not be tolerated. We have a zero tolerance policy and such behavior will result in immediate removal from club and all club activities."

We look forward to talking bees with you at 3rd Wednesday monthly meetings, which are open to the public. Zoom link for each meeting can be found in these newsletters or contact us.

The mission of the SKBA, a 501c3 member club of WASBA, is to provide educational opportunities, networking and support to beekeepers and people interested in honey bees, particularly those involved in small-scale beekeeping in Washington State west of the Cascades.

"We talk bees!" at SnoKing Beekeepers Association.