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    • 3 Apr 2023
    • 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
    • 4-H Center 1015 Bridge Road, Collegeville, PA 19426
    • 22
    Register

    Dr Vince Aloyo with Mark Antunes  present:

    SWARM management

    (and how it ties closely with SPRING Management)

    • Swarming is the method by which a honey bee colony reproduces.  A new queen is required.
    • Swarming results in the loss of 60% of the colony's bees resulting in a greatly reduced honey crop
    • Will discuss colony manipulations that prevent crowding in the brood nest and thereby reduce (but not eliminate) swarming.
    • More involved colony manipulations will be described once your colony has begun swarm preparations.

    If you attended the Spring Management class, you won't want to miss this, as it can tie together. 

    If you missed the Spring Management class, you wont be behind.

    To get the member price you must be logged into the website as an MCBA member. 


    • 4 Apr 2023
    • 6:00 PM
    • Montgomery County 4-H Center

    Class #3 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

      • Hive inspection - observations during inspections
      • Swarming
      • Observing bee behaviors
      • Pheromones - honeybee communication
      • Roles and responsibilities of the colony


        • 11 Apr 2023
        • 7:00 PM
        • Zoom Meeting
        Register

        MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

        Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

        • 13 Apr 2023
        • 7:00 PM
        • 29 Apr 2023
        • 9:00 PM
        • Montgomery County 4H Center
        • 7
        Register

        Queen Rearing and Cell Grafting Class 2023


        Thank you for your interest in MCBA’s Queen Rearing and Cell Grafting Class.  You are eligible to sign up if you meet and agree to the following requirements and criteria:

        1.     Queen Cell Grafting requires manual dexterity, depth perception, a very steady hand, and visual acuity (good eyesight or purchased magnification)
        2.     A knowledge of basic bee husbandry and ability to evaluate strong, extremely well populated hives
        3.     A history of keeping colonies alive over several seasons
        4.     Successful in making splits
        5.     Able to sacrifice one, preferable two, overwintered production hives for the class and a portion of, or all of the production year
        6.     A recent mite count, and if count exceeded 2% threshold, treatment completed before class start date
        7.     Able to find queens, whether marked or unmarked
        8.     An understanding that to continue Queen Rearing and Cell Grafting Class, additional costs may be incurred for items to continue grafting

          Class size will be limited to 12 participants.  Must attend both Theory classes in order to participate in Hands-on class.

        Two-Week Theory Class taught by Scott Famous by Zoom invitation:

        Thursday, April 13  from 7 – 9 PM AND

        Thursday, April 20 from 7 – 9 PM 

        Hands-On Class taught by Dr. Vincent Aloyo at his residence:

        Participants from the Theory class will be split into one of the two sessions:

        Saturday, April 29 from 9 – 11:30 AM or

        Saturday, April 29 from 1 – 3:30 PM 

        Rain / cold weather date is May 6th.

        Costs:

        • Theory Class: $70  
        • Hands-On Class: $125– includes cell bar, Chinese grafting tools, and cell cupsRegistration link will be made available to Theory class participants .
        Only payment for the Theory class will be required when registering.
        • 27 Apr 2023
        • 7:00 PM
        • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

         All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

        Main Topic:

        Title:  Pheromones and Cooperation and Conflict in Bees

        Bio:  Christina Grozinger, cmgrozinger@psu.edu

        Penn State University, Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research

        Christina Grozinger is the Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology and the Director for the Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State.  She is a Fellow of the Entomological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and received the 2021 NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences.  She received her bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology at McGill University, and her master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard University.  Grozinger uses an integrative approach – from genomics to ecology – to study health and social behavior in bees.


        • 2 May 2023
        • 6:00 PM
        • Montgomery County 4-H Center

        Class #4 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

          • Adding boxes
          • Bee brood diseases
          • Adult bee diseases
          • When to add a honey super
          • Bee parasites
          • IPM - Integrated Pest Management
          • Pests in the hive
          • Pest outside the hive


            • 9 May 2023
            • 7:00 PM
            • Zoom Meeting
            Registration is closed

            MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

            Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

            • 18 May 2023
            • 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
            • 4-H Center 1015 Bridge Road, Collegeville, PA 19426
            • 34
            Register

            Michael Awkland presents: 

            All About Nucs

            -What is a nuc?

            -Why do you need one?

            -How do you make and use them


            Registration for members is currently open. To get the member price you must be logged into the website as a member. 


            Registration for non-members will be open in a few weeks.

            • 25 May 2023
            • 7:00 PM
            • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

             All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

            Mini Presentation:


            Main Topic:



            • 6 Jun 2023
            • 6:00 PM
            • Montgomery County 4-H Center

            Class #5 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

              • Queen issues
              • Pesticide exposure to bees
              • Honey production and extraction
              • What is a nectar dearth
              • Robbing behavior in honeybees


                • 13 Jun 2023
                • 7:00 PM
                • Zoom Meeting
                Registration is closed

                MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

                Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

                • 20 Jun 2023
                • 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
                • 4-H Center 1015 Bridge Road, Collegeville, PA 19426
                • 32
                Register

                Michael Awkland presents: 

                Queen Basics / rearing (not queen grafting)

                Spring management and how it ties closely with Swarm Management

                -Different ways to raise them.

                -Tools used for raising queens.

                -How to raise them, without skill.

                Registration for members is currently open. To get the member price you must be logged into the website as a member. 


                Registration for non-members will be open in a few weeks.

                • 22 Jun 2023
                • 7:00 PM
                • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

                 All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

                Mini Presentation:


                Main Topic:



                • 11 Jul 2023
                • 7:00 PM
                • Zoom Meeting
                Registration is closed

                MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

                Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

                • 18 Jul 2023
                • 6:00 PM
                • Montgomery County 4-H Center

                Class #6 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

                Please note the change in date due to the holiday for this month

                • Honey extraction - hands on extracting from our club apiary



                    • 1 Aug 2023
                    • 6:00 PM
                    • Montgomery County 4-H Center

                    Class #7 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

                      • Yellow jacket and wasp invading the hives
                      • Winter bees
                      • Varroa mites and winter bees
                      • Weak or failing queen
                      • Merging weak hives before winter
                      • Supplemental feeding



                        • 8 Aug 2023
                        • 7:00 PM
                        • Zoom Meeting
                        Registration is closed

                        MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

                        Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

                        • 24 Aug 2023
                        • 7:00 PM
                        • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

                         All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

                        Mini Presentation:


                        Main Topic:



                        • 5 Sep 2023
                        • 6:00 PM
                        • Montgomery County 4-H Center

                        Class #8 - Weather permitting we'll spend the first hour in the apiary

                        • Winter prep
                        • Feeding bees in winter
                        • The winter cluster
                        • Dead bees in winter
                        • Mite counts and treatments
                        • Getting ready for spring



                            • 12 Sep 2023
                            • 7:00 PM
                            • Zoom Meeting
                            Registration is closed

                            MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

                            Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

                            • 28 Sep 2023
                            • 7:00 PM
                            • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

                             All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

                            Mini Presentation:


                            Main Topic:



                            • 10 Oct 2023
                            • 7:00 PM
                            • Zoom Meeting
                            Registration is closed

                            MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

                            Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

                            • 26 Oct 2023
                            • 7:00 PM
                            • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

                             All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

                            Mini Presentation:


                            Main Topic:



                            • 14 Nov 2023
                            • 7:00 PM
                            • Zoom Meeting
                            Registration is closed

                            MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

                            Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

                            • 12 Dec 2023
                            • 7:00 PM
                            • Zoom Meeting
                            Registration is closed

                            MCBA members are invited to join our Board Meetings. Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the meeting and closes 2 days prior.

                            Once registered you will get an email 2 days prior with the link to the zoom meeting. 

                            • 25 Jan 2024
                            • 7:00 PM
                            • Montgomery County 4H club and Zoom

                             All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. NO MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED . No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself.

                            Mini Presentation:


                            Main Topic:



                          Past events

                          23 Mar 2023 General Meeting
                          14 Mar 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          11 Mar 2023 MCBA General Members Wax Dipping
                          7 Mar 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #2
                          2 Mar 2023 SPRING management (and how it ties closely with SWARM Management)
                          23 Feb 2023 General Meeting
                          13 Feb 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          7 Feb 2023 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #1
                          26 Jan 2023 General Meeting
                          10 Jan 2023 MCBA Board Meeting
                          13 Dec 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          12 Nov 2022 MCBA 2022 Fall Banquet
                          8 Nov 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          27 Oct 2022 General Meeting
                          11 Oct 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          8 Oct 2022 MCBA Members Wax Dipping
                          28 Sep 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #8
                          22 Sep 2022 General Meeting
                          20 Sep 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #8
                          13 Sep 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          25 Aug 2022 General Meeting
                          24 Aug 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #7
                          16 Aug 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #7
                          9 Aug 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          30 Jul 2022 Annual Picnic
                          27 Jul 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #6
                          19 Jul 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #6
                          12 Jul 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          23 Jun 2022 General Meeting
                          22 Jun 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #5
                          21 Jun 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #5
                          14 Jun 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          26 May 2022 General Meeting
                          25 May 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #4
                          17 May 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #4
                          10 May 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          28 Apr 2022 General Meeting
                          27 Apr 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #3
                          19 Apr 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #3
                          14 Apr 2022 Queen Rearing and cell grafting class
                          12 Apr 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          2 Apr 2022 MCBA Members Wax Dipping
                          26 Mar 2022 MCBA Beginer Class Wax Dipping
                          24 Mar 2022 General Meeting
                          23 Mar 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #2
                          22 Mar 2022 Gamma Irradiation Program
                          15 Mar 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #2
                          8 Mar 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          24 Feb 2022 General Meeting
                          23 Feb 2022 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #1
                          15 Feb 2022 Beginner Beekeepers' Class #1
                          8 Feb 2022 MCBA Board Meeting
                          27 Jan 2022 General Meeting
                          14 Dec 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          13 Nov 2021 MCBA 2021 Fall Banquet
                          9 Nov 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          28 Oct 2021 General Meeting
                          16 Oct 2021 Wax Dipping Event
                          12 Oct 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          23 Sep 2021 General Meeting
                          22 Sep 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #8
                          21 Sep 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #8
                          14 Sep 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          26 Aug 2021 General Meeting
                          25 Aug 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #7
                          17 Aug 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #7
                          10 Aug 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          28 Jul 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #6
                          20 Jul 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #6
                          13 Jul 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          24 Jun 2021 General Meeting
                          23 Jun 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #5
                          22 Jun 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #5 - rescheduled to following week (6/22)
                          8 Jun 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          27 May 2021 General Meeting
                          26 May 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #4
                          18 May 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #4
                          11 May 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          1 May 2021 Package Pickup at Worcester Honey Farms
                          28 Apr 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #3
                          22 Apr 2021 General Meeting
                          20 Apr 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #3
                          13 Apr 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          3 Apr 2021 Package Pickup at Worcester Honey Farms
                          3 Apr 2021 Making Hives and Splits
                          27 Mar 2021 1st yr Class Wax Dipping
                          25 Mar 2021 General Meeting
                          24 Mar 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #2
                          20 Mar 2021 Wax Dipping Event
                          16 Mar 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #2
                          9 Mar 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          25 Feb 2021 General Meeting
                          24 Feb 2021 Intermediate Beekeeping Class #1
                          16 Feb 2021 New Beekeepers' Class #1
                          9 Feb 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          28 Jan 2021 General Meeting
                          12 Jan 2021 MCBA Board Meeting
                          8 Dec 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          10 Nov 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          22 Oct 2020 General Meeting
                          13 Oct 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          24 Sep 2020 General Meeting
                          23 Sep 2020 Intermediate Beekeeping Class
                          15 Sep 2020 New Beekeepers' Class
                          27 Aug 2020 General Meeting
                          26 Aug 2020 Intermediate Beekeeping Class
                          22 Aug 2020 Saturday Morning Bee Conversation
                          18 Aug 2020 New Beekeepers' Class
                          11 Aug 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          22 Jul 2020 Intermediate Beekeeping Class
                          21 Jul 2020 New Beekeepers' Class
                          14 Jul 2020 MCBA Board Meeting
                          12 May 2020 MCBA Board Meeting

                          About MCBAPA

                          Serving Montgomery, Bucks and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, the MCBAPA is an association of hobbyist and professional beekeepers. Our mission is to provide education, hands-on training, support and fellowship in all aspects of beekeeping. Both experienced beekeepers and novices participate in our monthly meetings, field trips and social events.

                          Our meetings are held at:

                          Montgomery County 4-H Center
                          1015 Bridge Road (Route 113)
                          Skippack, PA 19426

                          General membership meetings are usually held the 4th Thursday of the month at 7 pm, but please check our calendar.

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