Bob Maurer – Chairman of Surrey Beekeepers Association
Tel: 07740 707500 Email: bob@maurer.uk.com
AGM – 3rd December 2011
Chairman’s Report
It seems like yesterday when you elected me chairman of Surrey Beekeepers Association but here we are at the end of my first year. Have we achieved anything? I think we have! Your council has been working on a number of administrative issues that may not sound very exciting but are essential to the smooth running of our organisation. We now have an information pack for potential trustees. Our constitution requires us to have ‘rule books’ for each division. This is not a ‘big brother’ exercise. It is just to make sure that each division has proper procedures in place. A one size fits all set of rules is not appropriate for us as each division works in a different way. I believe it is vital that each division retains its individuality. Divisional committees have produced drafts appropriate to their operations and these are currently being signed off by the trustees. Rest assured nothing will be imposed unwillingly on divisions on my watch.
In 2011 we held a number of successful events under the SBKA banner. Our February ‘opener’ was the sell out 6th Surrey Bee Day with excellent speakers organised by Tim Lovett and Sandra Rickwood. In June we held a well received husbandry training day at Claygate with Regional Bee Inspector Alan Byham and his team of seasonal beekeepers and in October, again at Claygate, we held an informative day to explore opportunities to improve our skills ‘after the basic’. The many different BBKA exams and assessments were described but the emphasis was on training and development, not just passing exams. 82 people attended this event. Every division was represented and we welcomed visitors from Hampshire and Twickenham BKA’s. This level of interest in further education bodes well for the future.
Surrey members manned a stand at the National Honey Show in October following up the education theme. I want to thank Serena Fraser for her excellent administration of these events. The Surrey County Show was yet another triumph. Regulars will know that the success of this show rests with the superb organisational skills of Anne Buckingham. I am sure I speak for everyone when I say how delighted I was to see Anne receive an MBE in the New Years Honours list. However, this year there was another accolade relating to the county show. The show stewards (that includes all of you who help in the bee tent) received the Queens Award for voluntary Service. Congratulations to you all.
Increased membership has again put a strain on our trainers but my impression is that every division has managed to keep up with demand and several divisions are moving to a point where they are able to offer more advanced training. This is new territory for us all and I’m grateful to our more experienced members who are generous enough to commit considerable amounts of their time to develop courses. I think the Surrey BKA role here is probably one of collating and disseminating information about what’s going on within the divisions. So far, several experienced members have developed courses on General Husbandry and the first 2 modules. Naturally they have used the infrastructure of their local associations and it is encouraging that they have welcomed members from other divisions. I think this is fantastic. It’s encouraging enthusiastic beekeepers to get together. It’s also an excellent revenue stream for any division prepared to put in the effort.
Having been ‘robbed’ of our rightful victory in 2009, we won the Surrey Shield (the BBKA Exam Board Shield for Notable Achievement in ‘basic’ passes) for the second time in 2010. It was presented to Surrey BKA at the 2011 ADM in January. We are the only county to have won it twice. In 2011 we helped over 60 members through their basic exams. That’s a fantastic achievement and a credit to the candidates and the many hard working trainers. A number of our members have had success with module exams and two Surrey members have achieved the title of Master Beekeeper, bringing our total to four. Congratulations to all our successful candidates and grateful thanks to all our trainers.
2012 will see the retirement of our long standing County Examination Secretary Audrey Gill. Audrey was presented with an honorary life membership of Surrey BKA at the 2010 Surrey AGM in recognition of her outstanding efforts in so many areas of beekeeping. That wasn’t all.
During the past year, at the Reigate and Banstead Mayors Community Awards Ceremony, Audrey received the major award of the evening – the Outstanding Achievement Award for Dedication and Commitment to Voluntary Service in the Local Community. I’m happy to report that Audrey will continue to be closely involved with beekeeping around the county – thank you Audrey for all you have done and continue to do for us. From 1st April 2012 our new Examination Secretary will be Celia Perry. Don’t forget, if you are putting candidates forward for the basic, you need to provide suitable hives and help Celia by contacting potential examiners. The County Exam Secretary’s job is to liaise with the BBKA Exam Board – not to organise the exam itself.
During 2011, Surrey BKA was delighted to receive a legacy of £1,000 from the estate of William Talbot Clegg, a Croydon BKA member. Your council decided to use this money as the basis for an education fund which will be known as the Talbot Clegg Fund.
Ownership of Reigate Division’s Henfold Lane apiary has now been transferred to the Charity Commission Official Custodian. The apiary has been in use since last year but was officially opened in June at a splendid event with special guests including BBC’s Bill Turnbull, BBKA President Martin Smith, Sir Peter Beresford MP and local councillors. Congratulations to Reigate Division for this superb achievement.
I would like to thank the Trustees and divisional representatives for the time and effort they put into Surrey Beekeepers Association and our new President Tim Lovett for his lively contributions to Council debates. My particular thanks go to Sandra Rickwood and David Humphreys, both for the enormous amount of work they do on our behalf and for helping me settle into my role.
I’m told we are now the 4th largest association in the BBKA and the biggest in terms of turnover. We are not far short of 1,000 members. I’m also very conscious that the lion’s share of work at divisional and county level is carried out by a relatively small number of members. If you would like to take a more active role in your division then speak to one of your committee members – they will be delighted! If you have ideas for county level projects then please tell your divisional representative who will present them to the next council meeting. Have a wonderful Christmas (don’t forget to drop big hints to your loved ones about the books and equipment you really ‘need’) and come back full of new ideas to try in 2012. I look forward to an exciting new season and seeing all of us in Surrey BKA go from strength to strength.
November 2011