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As per the title, really - following the warm December weather, I've found additional wasp queens tucked up under hive roofs. Currently running at about 1:8 for queens found : hives checked, or 1-2 per apiary. The record so far was four in 23 hives. I have been removing and destroying them...

The Charity Commission are spineless. From the same page above: Whilst there are Trustees in place, the CC will do nothing, however deceitful those Trustees might be, or however inept their management. In my own case I could show that I had tried all constitutional mechanisms - including an...

I see the point that £20k / 2% of the budget is not an insignificant figure, but from the further explanation it seems the point was that the £20k was a venture that was unsuccessful and written off. Step aside from the perhaps poor wording and look at the context: So in amongst the 70-ish...

Agreed. It is a symptom of the problems. I think we are also agreed that greater transparency will help move things forwards. Changing the 'systemic' problems - structure, representation, voting, apathy - is a big and messy task. As a general point and not aimed at you in particular, what...

I understand and accept that comment. Even in this thread we've heard "get stuck in and make it change then". Years ago, my father resigned from the BBKA in disgust at the pesticides sponsorship when it was exposed. He grumbled from the outside, and refused to have anything to do with them...

I could give a number of documented examples of how Trustees have either misled the other Trustees in meetings, or withheld key information from their peers, each of which has resulted in BBKA operational or strategic decisions being made on the basis of deceptions. For instance, in the court...

... and who does the majority of the admin for this? Local Associations, who as well as processing all the membership forms, reminders, and of course the recruitment of new members in the first place, send updated membership lists to the BBKA. The BBKA, already automatically getting £19 a year...

As I read over this thread again and consider the responses, it reinforces to me that it is not the voting that should be fixed first, but the transparency. Both are broken, but every member voting in the absence of information is IMHO worse than where we are now. Not only is OMOV prone to...

It has been unedifying, by all accounts. There were some odd events around 2015 - the SDM that nobody actually wanted that was called for July, and at it the proposal from the Executive to change the ADM date to July - defeated. The summer SDM date showed how difficult it was for associations to...

I seem to recall reading that Br. Adam disagreed publicly with Colin Butler regarding the presence and effects of queen substance. Queen substance (and its contribution to 'colony odour') is generally accepted now.

Is this the sort of thing? 'Dana ...' is usually a Swienty model name. More for maintaining a temperature rather than for liquefying, judging by the rating of 260W. Useful bit of kit for what it does, stick it on with adhesive aluminium tape. With good insulation added around the tank and...

That's crystallised my thoughts about the failings of OMOV, thanks. Your last point has hit the nail on the head - giving everyone a direct vote is not the same as ensuring transparency and accountability. OMOV will only work reliably if transparency & accountability are already in place...

Agree fully. How to stop the monthly BBKA News which goes to every member being used to reinforce the status quo? Or, more kindly, how does a minority viewpoint, candidate, or proposition become publicised to the wider membership, particularly if contrary to the current direction of the...

As an aside - and not to detract from the valid points you made from this - did you know that that members survey was not done with the awareness or agreement of the Trustees? Doug Brown (then chairman) wrote the questions, sent the survey, processed the responses and presented the findings to...

Care to expand on why?

The BBKA needs to change. An idea the gets kicked around from time to time is 'One member, one vote'. The current system is that the BBKA is an association of associations (counties, usually). Each county nominates a representative (Delegate) who goes to the January Annual Delegate Meeting...

Talk to Jerry at Northern Bee Books - he's probably got a 2nd hand copy somewhere (if he hasn't, nobody has!) and I doubt it'll be more than a few quid posted. http://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/contact/

Thanks GJ, yes I was referring only to the BBKA sc.., er, scheme, rather than any other by a similar name.

I notice that the online/archive version of BBKA News does not include the additional pages relating to the court case. Presumably so that it can all slip quietly from view and out of the archives... Frank's letter being particularly troubling to the status quo.

I understand and respect your decision. Thanks for letting it run as long as it did.