Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida

HOME PAGE

Tom's Website | Tom's Art | More About Tom | Obituary

Thomas J. Allen, 69, died Monday, Aug. 9, 2010. He will be missed and remembered by us all. He was a wonderful, generous person.

Tom was many things to many people. Besides our beekeeping friend, he was a nationally recognized wildlife artist (painting, sculpting, carving), a gifted photographer, wildlife biologist, butterfly expert, an avid native plant gardener, fossil hunter and collector. He was a dedicated conservationist who loved to share his knowledge, speaking to diverse groups in many venues. He truly loved all forms of wildlife.

Tom spearheaded education and outreach efforts for the Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida, and was a successful backyard beekeeper and honey producer. He helped other novice beekeepers with his advice and time and was a generous resource for all in the organization.

Memorial Service: was held on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 2:30 p.m., in the chapel of Coral Ridge Funeral Home, 1630 S.W. Pine Island Rd., Cape Coral.

Contributions in Tom's memory may be made to Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, P.O. Box 152761, Cape Coral, FL 33915, or to Hope Hospice of Cape Coral.

Convention Planning Committee Meeting
Met on Sunday, July 18, 2010
at the Estero Community Park, Estero Florida

All club members were INVITED. If you missed the meeting and walk thru, then you can still visit the park on your own... and check out the amenities, grounds, recreation center, etc.

CLICK HERE and enter your address for driving directions from your place to the Park

Our regular 2010 meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month unless otherwise noted.

Our Next Regular Meeting will be
September 8, 2010, 6:30 PM
Meeting Q&A Topic will be "Beekeeping FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)"

Click here for MAP of our Regular meeting facility
Lee County Extension, 3406 Palm Beach Blvd, Ft. Myers, FL 33916-3736

The Florida Beekeeper ~ July 2010 ~ Online Version

Click to launch the full edition in a new window

View our advertisements in The Florida Beekeeper
Half-Page Ad with Convention Info | Standard Quarter-Page Ad

Yes!, Florida has a Honey Standard ~ Only PURE HONEY will do on Florida Retail Shelves
No unfair competition from foreign honey blends, diluted honey, or honey cut with syrups.

Standard of Identity - Honey: One objective is control of the pervasive, illegal practice of blending or diluting pure honey with low-cost syrups (i.e., sugar, cane, corn, etc.) thereby committing an economic fraud on both the permanent and transient residents of Florida.

This rule addresses comprehensive prohibitions against the deliberate addition of any food ingredient or food additives other than honey, sets maximum moisture content for honey, sets parameters for sugar constituents in honey and establish honey labeling guidelines. This rule provides a mechanism for the Department to enforce instances of adulteration and misbranding of honey being offered for sale at retail in Florida.

DOWNLOAD or VIEW the Standard of Identity - Honey for Florida (pdf)

Florida State Beekeepers Association 90th Annual Convention & Business Meeting
Estero Community Park, Estero Florida

October 28, 29, & 30, 2010

The Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida is pleased to announce 2010 Florida State Beekeepers Association Annual Convention will be held in Southwest Florida on October 28, 29 & 30, 2010.

The convention will begin with the Annual Business Meeting on the evening of Thursday 28 October 2010.

Location of the Business Meeting has not been set.

The Convention will be held at the Estero Community Park, Estero, FL on Friday & Saturday October 29 & 30, 2010. Seminars and Vendors will be in the Park Recreation Center and on the Park Grounds.

Friday's Topics & Speakers:

Treatment-Free Beekeeping ~ Dean Stiglitz and Laurie (aka Ramona) Herboldsheimer authors of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beekeeping" About Dean & Laurie
"Effects of pesticides on developing honey bees" ~ Jamie Ellis
"Honey Bee extension resources offered through the University of Florida" ~ Catherine Nalen
"Adventures and Bee Research in South Africa" ~ Anthony Vaudo
"Native Bee Research and Operation Pollinator" ~ Akers Pence

A Day in the Bee Yard: A live bee yard will also be on the Park grounds for training on Saturday, October 30, 2010. This portion of the convention will be the only portion open to the general public on a walk-in basis. Admission has been set at $15.

Estero Community Park Map ~ Proposal Estero Community Park ~ Convention Press Release ~ Map/Directions

CLICK HERE and enter your address for driving directions from your place to the Park

BANQUET: The banquet will be held at The Holiday Inn (see below). It's a really nice new hotel with a restaurant, fitness center, and is close by a large shopping center for browsing/shopping if you have any free time. Banquet Menu: Chicken Italian, Pasta Primavera, Green Beans Almandine, Garlic Bread, Antipasto, Chef’s choice Dessert, Coffee/Tea

HOTELS: Arrangements have been made with hotels close to the park for attendees. Reservations can be made when ever you are ready to make them.

The Holiday Inn Fort Myers $89.00 includes full breakfast *BANQUET SITE*
Airport @ Town Center
9931 Interstate Commerce Dr.
Fort Myers, FL 33913
239-561-1550

If you are a BOD or a speaker for the conference, rooms at the Holiday will be upgraded for you at the $89.00 price.

Hilton Garden Inn $89.00 includes cont. breakfast
Fort Myers Airport/FGCU
239 210-7303

Courtyard by Marriott $89.00 includes $5.00 breakfast coupon
10050 Gulf Center Drive
239 332-4747

Day's Inn Resort Estero $69.00 includes cont. breakfast
18051 S. Tamiami Trail
239 332-4747 Day's Inn is a small older hotel. There are only 49 rooms.

Currently not all details are available as the convention is still in early planning stages. Please check back from time-to-time for additional news and updates regarding this year's convention. We will provide additional information as it is made available to us through our own progress or the efforts of the Florida State Beekeepers Association.

CONVENTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS LIST (view or download pdf file)

Keith & Melissa talk about BACKYARD BEEKEEPING on WGCU National Public Radio
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST

Reminder to registered beekeepers from Freddie Howard, local apiary inspector:
If you have not already done so, please call Freddie and schedule your yearly inspection

| Find your Legislators | Write to your Representative | Locate your Senator |

Help boy scout, Christopher Stowell to bring back the Beekeeping Merit badge
which was discontinued in 1995.

Christopher says, “I believe that now more than ever before the survival of the honey bee is important to all. If other boys are not encouraged to learn how to become beekeepers, the honey bee will surely die out. Not only do I feel this way, but beekeepers all across America believe in the importance of teaching the younger generations the importance of the honey bee." READ CHRISTOPHER'S REQUEST at the Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream website.

Support the Reinstatement of the Merit Badge... SEND THE LETTER for Christopher using the form on the Haagen-Dazs website. ADD YOUR NAME to the list of those supporting this cause using the simple online petition form.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Question):

QUESTION: Where can I get package bees, queens, and equipment?
ANSWER: Click HERE or on LINKS in menu above.


Our Event Calendar Our Local Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida Calendar. Primarily Local BEEKEEPING Events and BEEKEEPING Activities. Events with some State (Florida) Events.	Global Event Calendar FSBA Calendar includes all Beekeeping Events (Local, Florida, and other locations). We are often incorrectly listed as Southwest Beekeepers on this calendar.

Free Bee Removal?
BEES ON MY PROPERTY!... What Should I do? CLICK HERE before doing anything!

Annual UF Bee College and Master Beekeeper Program
Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience - Marineland, FL (St. Augustine)
Click logos below for more information!

CLICK HERE for more information

Click here to join riggsfriends
Click to join our Yahoo Group FREE (swfbees)

You are visitor No. Hit Counter since 1/09/08

Not a beekeeper, but wish to support our efforts and show your support for our cause, then please consider donating. You may use the convenient "Donate" button to donate online (securely and safely) using your credit card... or you may mail your donations to our treasurer.

Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida can use your help. Please DONATE to support our group's efforts.
We are NOT a charity and your donations are NOT tax deductible:

Notice: You do NOT have to be a member of PayPal (or sign up) to use your credit card to donate, simply look during the donation process for the section "Don't have a PayPal account? and click continue.

How do I join Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida (BASF)? Attend one of our meetings and pay applicable dues to our Treasurer, or you can DOWNLOAD an application for membership, and mail it to our treasurer along with applicable dues. Currently $10 for current year if you are already a member of the Florida State Beekeepers Association (FSBA). If you are not a member of FSBA then we can collect membership dues for FSBA as well, in which case the total amount would be $25 ($10 BASF + $15 FSBA).