Attending were: Eleanor Tessier, Doug Atkins, Laura Joiner, Idria Knecht, Rick Knecht, Jean Miller, Tameeka Chang, and Vanessa Preston.

Treasurer’s Report

• Rick shared the financial report, starting with a balance of $34,750 and mentioning expenditures for Wix renewal and dues.

• The membership count has increased from 215 to 218, with gains in primary and secondary memberships.

Short Course Preparations and Venue Check

• Jean shared the list of 13 people signed up for the short course, with one person yet to pay.

• Jean and Rick plan to visit the venue on Friday to check out the space and ensure no additional tech equipment is needed.

New Business and Volunteer Opportunities

• Doug volunteers to speak at the Kingwood Feed and Supply event.

• The group discusses the importance of having a representative from the local bee club at such events.

• The group discusses the importance of mentoring and the positive impact of the January meeting.

Surveys

• Idria presents the survey forms for selling nucs, queens, and honey, with plans to distribute them at fairs.

• The group discusses the importance of having a database of sellers by the fair date.

• Idria and Jean discuss the survey to understand why members attend meetings and what obstacles they face.

• The group agrees to send out the member survey separately from the Sunday email to ensure it gets proper attention.

Hive Mind Venue Selection and Logistics

• Eleanor discusses the potential venues for Hive Mind, including North Hunterdon High School and Clinton Township Middle School.

• Tameeka and Vanessa plan to visit North Hunterdon to check the layout and clarify the cost and janitorial services.

• Eleanor emphasizes the need to finalize the venue and logistics to ensure a successful event.

• The group discussed advertising in Bee Culture and ABJ and tracking attendance using a free ticketing system.

• Jean reviewed the beekeepers she has met that could be potential speakers and agreed to inquire about their interest in speaking.