Topics for association talks

[drex]

The new committee has charged with me with coming up with a timetable for bee talks ( or related) , once a month over next 2 years.

I would like your help. What talks have you been to that you found useful/lively/interesting? What topics would you like covered by your association? The talks are to be of interest across the board, so replies from all levels of experience would be welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Neils]

We tend to do a series of "how to" talks during the spring and summer months in line with what's relevant at the time. We tend to do these in the mornings of an apiary day with the afternoon session for those wanting to get hands on. So we have talks on Managing Swarming, making up Nucs, preparing for the Basic Assessment and so on but these are all based around practical beekeeping

We run a spring days school once a year for the whole county where we get in a number of different speakers on different subjects. Last year we had Dr James Cresswell come to speak on neonicotinoids and Ron Hoskins talking about his "Swindon Bee" programme for example.

Over the winter months we try to run one talk a month. Last month's was around pests and diseases, this month we had the BBKA come and talk about their role and these tend not be around any set agenda but depends on what people are interested in and who we can persuade to come talk to us.

 

[moor141]

Ours cover all ranges of topics from swarm control using different methods. Wax recovery. candle making, various ingenious inventions from within the association. You name it someone will trying it. Most people are only to glad to talk about what they are doing. A time limit is set for each person 10 minutes I think.
One draw back seems to be people wanting to use power point. Its good if you can handle the technoligy but seems few people can, which can make the evening drag as various 'experts' get involved. Still can be a good entertaining evening and you may even come away having learnt something.

 

[REDWOOD]

Being proactive is a good one that new beekeepers forget or don't know about especially swarm season

 

[itma]

Ours cover all ranges of topics from swarm control using different methods. Wax recovery. candle making, various ingenious inventions from within the association. You name it someone will trying it. Most people are only to glad to talk about what they are doing. A time limit is set for each person 10 minutes I think.

That sort of thing sounds excellent to fill-in, for example should a speaker cancel at short notice.

One draw back seems to be people wanting to use power point. Its good if you can handle the technoligy but seems few people can, which can make the evening drag as various 'experts' get involved.

Three small suggestions --

1 - tell people in advance the screen resolution to be used
2 - also specify to people in advance the only typefaces they may use
3 - ask the presenters to show up early enough to check their presentation - just a slide by slide run-through on the machine being used - a couple of minutes maximum per presentation -- only show one slide on the projector though! Any problems means you go last and try and fix the problems off-line rather than in public.

 

[itma]

... What talks have you been to that you found useful/lively/interesting? What topics would you like covered by your association?

There's quite a lot on this in the "Association News" section - http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=53

 

[moor141]

That sort of thing sounds excellent to fill-in, for example should a speaker cancel at short notice.

Three small suggestions --

1 - tell people in advance the screen resolution to be used
2 - also specify to people in advance the only typefaces they may use
3 - ask the presenters to show up early enough to check their presentation - just a slide by slide run-through on the machine being used - a couple of minutes maximum per presentation -- only show one slide on the projector though! Any problems means you go last and try and fix the problems off-line rather than in public.

To be fair the hall was double booked so no time to set up power point properly.

 

[peterbees]

"How/why I started beekeeping" Go round the room and everyone has a few minutes to talk.
"Getting the best from your bees". We had a talk on this topic last year from our seasonal bee inspector. We had a great turnout and plenty of questions.

 

[beebreeder]

And couple of subjects that we do most years but I do not get involved with are. 1 beekeepers question time with a group of experienced as the board and answer any questions from the floor. 2 members meeting where anyone is free to show any kit/ gadgets that have been made during winter.3 get your SBI in to do a talk.

 

[Tom Bick]

Foundationless beekeeping an alternative to the hobby beekeeper. A nice and simple subject.

 

[Cazza]

Clive De Bruyn came to our little bee group last year. He talks well and I thinkg lives near you??
Cazza

 

[Ivor Kemp]

Here's our contribution:

http://www.edbka.org.uk/about-us.php

 

[Rich0909]

Couple of interesting ones recently were Andrew Bourke from UEA talking about their bumblebee research and John Everett who had been to Africa with Bees Abroad. Robin Dartington of Dartington Hive fame is a good speaker.

Rich.

 

[Chris B]

Queen Rearing always comes top of requests. Other ideas...

Taking bees to the heather

Swarm Control without the "artificial swarm" method.

Commercial Beekeeping

Preparing exhibits for a honey show

Making your own hives

You also find a number of specialists willing to give talks. For example Will Messenger in Gloucestershire talks about historic hives. I believe Nicola Bradbear will talk about beekeeping in developing countries. Robin Dartington has already been mentioned. Another good speaker is David Heaf who is a Warre pioneer although he does live off the beaten track a bit. There is also a good list of speakers by region in the BBKA Yearbook.

 

[itma]

...
Taking bees to the heather

Do they do that in Essex?



Being in Essex, you might look "south of the river" to Bob Smith from Medway. Also, Terry Clare of BIBBA hails from somewhere round Sevenoaks, not far off the M25.




Canterbury have a bit of a coup coming up, with a talk by Dr Margaret Couvillon, from Professor Ratniek's team at LASI, University of Sussex.
Now, if they could just decide on an appropriate hall ...

 

[Chris B]

Do they do that in Essex?

They can if they have cars.