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Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy's Proclaimation of February 2006 as Honeybee Awareness Month
WHEREAS, many know our official State Bird is the cardinal, but few realize North Carolina also honors a State Insect – the Honeybee. Sadly, the honeybee is in trouble – not just in our great State, but across the entire country. Recently imported pests and diseases have devastated a population that has evolved no defense. Wild bees have largely disappeared, and farmers are growing more dependent on the managed hives of beekeepers to successfully pollinate their crops; and
WHEREAS, unfortunately, beekeepers are also losing hives. It is estimated there are nearly 50% fewer colonies in North Carolina today, than existed in 1982 - alarming, in that the economic importance of honeybees to the state agriculture is over 100 million dollars annually. Miticides, which were temporarily successful in combating the invasion, are growing ineffective; and
WHEREAS, there is no "quick-fix". Geneticists, entomologists, chemists, and biologists will be required to solve this problem. Farmers will increasingly cooperate with beekeepers, and there will be an ongoing need to train more beekeepers; and
WHEREAS, an important community event is now taking place: Western North Carolina extension agents and beekeepers have joined the SILSA program at Asheville High School to promote the WNC Bee School. This ground-breaking partnership is exposing students to some of the challenges facing their environment and their future. The School will, over the course of the next few weeks, be providing a basic introduction to beekeeping. Some of the most influential honeybee experts from across the country will be arriving in Asheville to speak at these sessions.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, TERRY M. BELLAMY, MAYOR of the City of Asheville, do hereby proclaim February 2006, as
"Honeybee Awareness Month" in the City of Asheville.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Asheville, North Carolina, to be affixed this 2nd day of February 2006.
_____________________________
TERRY M. BELLAMY
MAYOR
Janet Shisler gives away a door prize. Photo from digital video by Rick Messer
Greg Rogers giving his presentation to beginners in the Asheville High student center
Photo taken from digital video by Calvin Robinson
Edd Buchanan speaks to beginners in the Asheville High student center about the
finer points of pollenation and making honey. Photo from digital video by Robinson
Over 100 beginners wait for Calvin Robinson to kick off the first night of beginners
bee school in the Asheville High student center. Photo from digital video by Messer
Calvin Robinson kicks off the first night of beginner bee school with history and an
overview including the importance of honeybees. Photo from digital video by Messer
Dave Cowart has a full house for his hands on demonstration to beginners in the
Asheville High student center. Photo by Sebren
Relaxed "off the record" conversations were enjoyed by workers in the bee school during
"pot luck" receptions for the advanced speakers at "Cloud 9"
Photo from "off the record" video by Robinson
The luck was always good at the "pot luck" receptions
Carl Chesick was a major contributor to the success of the 2006 bee school. He got
the wonderful speaker lineup together, did much of the behind the scenes leg work,
chipped in for sponsorship, and is seen here participating in a question and answer
time at the end of Dennis Murrell's presentation
Asheville High Associate Principal, Greg Townsend speaks to the audience about
the SILSA program at Asheville High School. SILSA co-sponsored the school.
Photo from digital video by Robinson
Dennis Murrell is a former commercial beekeeper from Wyoming. He is now happy
as a hobbiest and bee researcher in small cell and top bar hives. Dennis' presentation
was enjoyed by a large audience of advanced track bee school students in the AHS
auditorium. Photo from digital video by Robinson
The beginner class had great interest and was attended by as many as 120 people,
with a couple of "off" nights of around 90 participants.
Michael Bush is a beekeeper from Nebraska and his advanced topic on natural comb,
and small cell regression proved to be very popular. With help from the article in ABJ
by Chuck Norton, Michael's presentation brought students from east Tennessee.
Photo from digital video by Metts
The raffle hive donated by Brushy Mountain complete with bees from Revis Russian
Apiaries was a popular attraction at the school. An Asheville High teacher, who is a
beekeeper, happened by the hive as we were setting up and bought 6 chances for
herself. Photo from digital video by Robinson
Looks like Tom Rinderer has "hit the jackpot" or at least the honey pot during his
examination of a self-service honey vending booth at Greg Rogers' house.
The 80 plus seats which were set up in advance did not hold all the participants in the
first night of beginner school in the AHS student center, as participants exceeded pre-registration. Greg Townsend of AHS quickly jumped to the rescue by bringing in extra chairs, with the help of BCBC members, while Calvin Robinson was being introduced by Diane Almond. Photo from digital video by Messer
Proclamation of Honeybee Awareness Month for February 2006 by Mayor Terry
Bellamy Photo by Larry Sebren
Tom Rinderer from the U.S. Honeybee research lab in Baton Rouge Louisiana, talks
to advanced beekeepers in the Asheville High auditorium.
Photo by the Sebren
Walt Wright from Huntsville Alabama teaches the advanced beekeepers about his "Checkerboard" technique for honey production and swarm control.
Photo taken from digital video by Rick Messer
Janet Shisler and Carl Chesick with Sue Cobey in the Asheville High auditorium.
Photo by Sebren
Bob Binnie presented to the advanced beekeepers. He was 2003 beekeeper of the
year in Georgia and a former state bee inspector for Oregon as well as serving for several years on Oregon's state advisory board. He now keeps about 300 hives and has served several stints as president of the Northeast Georgia Mountain Beekeepers.
Photo taken from digital video by Bill Metts
Several expert panels were held to speak to beekeeper questions.
Photo by Sebren
Dave Cowart has a full house for his hands on demonstration to beginners in the
Asheville High student center. Photo by Sebren
Sue Cobey, Queen breeder and researcher from Ohio State University, answers
questions for BCBC club leaders and organizers of the 2006 bee school after her pot
luck dinner at Cloud 9 Photo by Larry Sebren
Bee School organizers and instructors hear from Diana Sammataro on various
honeybee issues after a pot luck dinner at Cloud 9. Diana is a world renowned bee researcher on Varroa mite issues and the author of "The Beekeepers Handbook"
Photo by Larry Sebren
Chuck Norton, from Reidsville NC, kicked off the advanced bee school with the first presentation. He then followed up with a wonderful article in ABJ. Chuck is so dedicated to this type of education and he is a member of BCBC. Because we have been unable to take photos from digital video shot by Mark Poff until we solve the format difference, there is no photo of him.
