Florida State Beekeepers Association 90th Annual Convention & Business Meeting
Pre-Register was an option using the Registration Form Below for the Best Convention Pricing
 

Thanks to those who participated in the nomination of officers for the FSBA and for the various AWARDS which were presented at this year's convention: 

Volunteer of the Year:  Chappie McChesney
Beekeeper of the Year:  Gary Ranker
Woman of the Year:  Caryl Kelley (Bert's wife)
Pioneer Award:  Frank Robinson

Florida Honey Queen:  Jayla Gillaspie
Press Release and Larger Photo of Jayla

FT. MYERS, FL -- For the first time since 1997, the Florida State Beekeepers Association has crowned a Florida Honey Queen.

The Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida (BASF) crowned Jayla Gillaspie, 17, as their Honey Queen for 2010. At the 90th Annual Convention for Florida State Beekeepers Association (FSBA), she was crowned Florida Honey Queen for the year 2011.

The Honey Queen Program, begun in the 1930's, is an ambassadorship of sorts. Traditionally, young ladies are crowned by local beekeeper associations and hold their post for one year. At the end of that time period, they compete at the annual convention of the FSBA for the State Honey Queen position. After one year as the State Honey Queen, she attends the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) conference and competes with other states Queens.

The Honey Queen program is a knowledge contest, not a beauty contest. These young ladies, ranging in age from 17 to 24, are usually beekeepers or have grown up on an apiary, assisting their parents or other relatives with the bees. In the case of the Florida Honey Queen, Jayla, she is a beekeeper who maintains her own hives and even sells her honey locally. Jayla has been a beekeeper for more than five years.

Queen Jayla will travel throughout the State of Florida over the next year lecturing and giving cooking demonstrations using honey recipes. She is available to schools, scout groups, religious groups and other local bee associations. Queen Jayla will be available for media interviews as well.

To arrange for a visit by Queen Jayla or for more information please contact Beth Fox at (407) 702-2853 or via email at FlaHQP@aol.com.
 

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Florida State Beekeepers Association 90th Annual Convention & Business Meeting
Hosted by Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida
Estero Community Park, Estero Florida
October 28, 29, & 30, 2010

 
Click to launch the full Brochure in a new window
The Convention Program

The Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida (BASF) was pleased to announce the 2010 Florida State Beekeepers Association Annual Convention which will be held in Southwest Florida on October 28, 29 & 30, 2010. 

The Convention, Annual Business Meeting, BBQ/Cookout, Convention Seminars, and the Awards Banquet were member only events.  You had to be a member of the Florida State Beekeepers Association (FSBA) to attend these events.  Note: If you are a member of our local association (BASF), then you are also a member of the FSBA.

The GENERAL PUBLIC was invited to Saturday's "A Day in the Bee Yard" for a walk-in admission price of $15.00

The Pre-Registration ADMISSION Price  for the Convention was $40.00 and was open for members only.  

The event began with the Annual Business Meeting & BBQ/Cookout for Members on the evening of Thursday 28 October 2010.  Location of the Business Meeting and BBQ/Cookout was at Keith and Melissa's.  The BBQ/Cookout was INCLUDED in the Pre-Registration ADMISSION Price for members.

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

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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

• "Sting Therapy" and "Hive Products (hand creams, propolis, etc.)" ~ Don Downs

• "Top Bar Hives" ~ Sam Comfort of Anarchy Apiaries

• "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" ~  Katie Buckley

• "Wine (Mead) Making" ~ Sandy Zahorchack (Owner of "Time to make Wine")

• And many more:  SEE PROGRAM SCHEDULE
   

A Day in the Bee Yard: A LIVE BEE YARD will also be on the Park grounds for training on Saturday, October 30, 2010  (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). 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 for first member of household and $10 for each additional member of the same household.  8:00 to 4:30 p.m.  EVENTS INCLUDE:

• Hive Assembly (Both Standard and Top Bar Types)

• Lighting of Smokers and Proper Fuels to Use

• Queen Production and Identification ~ Ted Miksa

• Honey Extracting & Bottling ~ Bert Kelley

• Honeybee Diseases and Parasites

• Honey Products ~ David Webb

• Honey Production

• Wax Reclamation, Refining, and Processing ~ John Adams

• Candle Making~ "no show"

• Bee Production ~ David Mendes

• Sting Therapy ~ Don Downs

• Bee Beard (Live Bees on Face to form Beard) Demonstration ~ Laurence Cutts (also possibly Keith Councell)

• Bee Products Medicinal (hand creams, propolis, etc.) ~ Don Downs

• Indoor exhibits demonstration/classes, outdoor live bee hive exhibits, and more:  SEE PROGRAM SCHEDULE  If you have your own veils and protective gear, please bring.  If you don't own a protective gear, then we will have loaners.

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

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

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BANQUET:  The banquet was held at The Holiday Inn (see below). It's a really nice new hotel with a restaurant, fitness center, and was 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 were made with hotel close to the park for attendees.  The Hotel was approximately 7 miles (only 11 minutes) from the Convention.  We encouraged everybody to REGISTER EARLY and stay at the Holiday Inn which was also where the Banquet was held and VERY CLOSE to the Convention and the same Hotel where the Banquet will be.

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

CONVENTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS LIST ( pdf) | Convention Planning PROGRESS File (pdf)

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Fall 2010 Master Beekeeper Program

Will be held Thursday, October 28, 2010 in Estero, FL preceding the Florida State Beekeepers Association meeting.

October 2010 Master Beekeeper Registration Flyer Available Online!

Click here to view the October 2010 Master Beekeeper flyer including schedules and a printable registration form.

Convention Planning Committee Meeting
Will Meet Again on Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
at the Estero Community Park, Estero Florida

All club members were INVITED, especially those who wished to help out with the final preparations, or who were interested in knowing more about what the park and community center had to offer (check out the amenities, grounds, recreation center, etc.)

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

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