Attendees: Nathan, David, Kristina, Camy, Bryan, Gail

  • Q2 Budget update
    • Club has plenty of money, David will send latest balances to Camy for posting, just got quarterly payment from InspireOlympia grant
    • 2 charges off the grant account as internet transfer – Nathan to share spreadsheet of details with David so he can reconcile
    • No one has really stepped up yet to take over the Treasurer position – chat it up at the picnic!
    • Proposal to set up a Venmo account for receiving funds for the club (like when selling honey)
      • David will investigate
      • Need to get it set up before the Fair
    • Long-term, think we should move banks to something local, like Oly Fed
  • Apprenticeship class
    • Went really well, about 30 finished, a couple did it online, one got a refund and backed out after the first day because it was too chaotic
    • Notification about changes to the apprenticeship class test questions? Some people who downloaded it from the internet got a 2025 version that was updated and different then the paper ones we had provided. We never got any notification that it had been updated.
    • Once Nathan and Bryan graduate this summer, we will officially switch to the WASBA class curriculum 
    • Discussed how we can teach the class in 2 weeks total if we stay on topic and people do pre-reading, can have more discussions – host one third class at the apiary
    • 4/25 Friday afternoon/evening – Planning in-person class at apiary – Open to all members who have completed an OBA apprenticeship class – installing 2 nucs and a package – sign up for the discussions group for the latest updates
      • ADD TO THE BEELINE!
  • Apiary update
    • Have a shipping container for storage plus a small shed
    • Built hive stands
    • Had 2 signs made for the apiary and cameras purchased to monitor
    • Have cleared 2 acres of blackberries
    • Applied for building the greenhouse dome in the next round of the InspireOlympia grant, will share it with the Freedom Farmers, will be space for meetings and classes
    • Picnic will be there in June
    • Lots of members asking to volunteer
    • Potentially make swarm traps
  • Be Swarmed platform for reporting swarms – beeswarmed.org
    • Nathan used InspireOlympia funds to back the kickstarter, costs $250 – gives us and our members lifetime membership (they sign up using our code)
    • Any bees within the range of what the person says they’re willing to do and they get an text practically automatically
    • Nathan will share with a demo in the meeting tonight
    • Nathan proposing yard signs around town (10) to get people to visit the website to report swarms
    • Change to Gail’s process – take the call to report the swarm and fill it out on the website now instead of calling people
    • Needs members to sign up on the website before we start promoting it on the Report a Swarm page
      • ADD TO THE BEELINE!
  • Partnerships are developing
    • Freedom Farmers
    • Evergreen College
    • School districts
  • Idea to have a member event in Yelm because there are so many members out there – meetup social event, get a Yelm member to provide the location, OBA provide BBQ food
    • Maybe do two picnics this summer?
  • Bee Booth/TCF
    • Last couple years we sold 40-45 jars, thinking we need a lot more this year – estimate we could sell 200 1-lb jars if we have them
    • Can the board pre-authorize a stock of honey to purchase in case we don’t get enough from members to sell? 
    • Nathan will get pricing for the bulk jar order for the club this year
    • Nathan will need help jarring/processing it all
    • Labels must be better – Washington legal – see RCW
    • Have a TCF planning meeting
      • Fair is Thursday July 31- Sunday August 3
      • Planning during July board meeting