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

  • Retrospective on the past year
    • What went well?
      • Successful Spring apprenticeship class, well-attended even with increased tuition fee
      • Bee Faire was well-attended
      • Thurston County Fair was covered on all shifts
      • Sold out of honey at the farmers market
      • Good speakers at meetings throughout the year
      • Beeline newsletter shared regularly throughout the year
      • Website content clean-up and refresh (ongoing)
    • What could we stop doing, or do better?
      • Have people sign in to meetings so we can see who they are and if they are members
      • More people than just David manning the booths
      • Need a to-go kit set up for outreach and a training for those volunteers
      • Steve is wonderful at doing outreach, but needs support as the coordinator
      • Use our money better! Maybe apply for a grant.
      • Include info about catching swarms in the Bee Faire meeting
      • Attract volunteers
      • Discuss new business in meetings
      • Advertise our meetings better, not consistent in how we do it
      • Not using FB page much for networking and mentoring
  • Discussion about Association meetings (#1 priority from the survey was “Speakers, Q&A, and networking opportunities during our monthly meetings”)
    • Consider changing the time
    • Consider recording meetings and offering to members via website login
    • Provide educational and timely content and speakers at each meeting
      • Survey request – “At our meetings, I’d also like to have a time where we openly discuss one beekeeping task, customary practices, and feedback from members. If appropriate, a demonstration.”
    • Consider adding a raffle to each monthly meeting – $1 per ticket to win a $20 beekeeping item (at first) – people could bring things and when your number is chosen you get to pick something
    • Wondering who is attending meetings and decided to reintroduce the sign up sheet
  • Discussion about education classes (#2 priority from the survey was “Beginner, apprentice, and journeyman beekeeping classes”)
    • Spring Apprenticeship class in person at Swantown in March (Sundays for 6 weeks)
      • Nathan and Bryan will help teach it
    • Offer a 1-day Intro to Beekeeping class to allow new beekeepers to understand the equipment and methods that best meet their goals as beekeepers before they invest
      • Doesn’t have to be free
      • Hold it 2 weeks before the apprenticeship class (mid-February?)
    • Offer a journeyman class in the fall (October?)
  • Discussion about website and beeline (#3 priority from the survey)
    • Update board position descriptions
    • Add mentor/mentee sign up forms
    • Send the Beeline monthly and update the design
  • Discussion about outreach gaps
    • Who will keep a list of outreach events and volunteers and match them?
    • Idea to offer a training class for volunteers (maybe during an association meeting??)
  • 2024 Bee vendor list – Roy has heard back from half the vendors
    • Consider including the source of each vendor’s bees, if available
    • Consider including fellow beekeepers in the list of where you can get bees
  • Q2 Board meeting will be Thursday, April 18th. Tentative dates for remaining board meetings:
    • Q3 – Thursday, July 25th
    • Q4 – Thursday, October 24th