Perhaps this post will bring a few 'out of the woodwork'? Some would, perhaps, best keep quiet or it may scuttle any chance that you might join them! As some have said, look outside the box as well as in it - there are alternatives.
RAB
Dunno about coming out, but the BBKA is the only recognized national organisation representing amateur beekeepers. Like any large organization it suffers with too much politics and internal power-plays. But then I've rarely come across any organization that didn't suffer from these problems.
It tries hard to promote beekeeping in the UK and puts forward a lot of national initiatives to encourage and educate people into bee-keeping. It's very important that this continues as it something no local independent club of mates is going to tackle
It's not perfect, but what is?
But there are many damn fine beekeepers who are members of it, and for the paltry membership fees that include your liability insurance worth every penny.
But of course it's easier to knock it and reckon it's so primitive they still encourage matchstick use.
Of course there are the usual dorks, but then there are enough dorks on here who aren't members of the BBKA as well. Seems it goes with bee keeping.
As for their forum there are several forum members , like myself, who post on both.
I'll tell you about one little recent topic you may all want to think about. If you sell honey from home it invalidates your home insurance, unless you have declared you are running a business from home. That is how the insurance companies look at it.
Don't believe me?
Ring your insurance company and ask them. You'll get quite a shock.
There was at least a happy outcome for the original BBKA member who brought this issue to peoples attention.
