SCBA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING -Virtual OCTOBER 2, 2020
Attendees:
Chuck Marion – Lakeland
Rosalind Severt – Midstate Director
Glenn Severt – Interim President-Elect
Jim Strohm – Charleston; acting as proxy for Nancy Simpson – CABA
Wendy Gray – Treasurer
Danny Canon – President
David MacFawn – Program Committee
David Yannello – Pee Dee
John Williams – York
John Gardner – York
Karry Edmonds – Spartanburg
Susan Jones – MBP Director
Ben Powell – Clemson Apiculturist
Wes Bommer – Prison (joined at very end; thought meeting was at noon)
Mark Foster – Midstate
Ramon Frans – Sumter
Welcome – Danny Canon opened meeting 10 am
Bylaws Revision – Committee Chair: Rosalind Update
Bylaws Committee consists of members from last meeting. Of those who attended last Executive Committee meeting, only 7-8 members have responded with comments.
Next step, Danny needs to review, then present to Executive Committee for approval.
Question from Jim S about definition of quorum – being everyone present
Question from Wendy about clarifying duties of the past president – currently bylaws do not specify job, but does designate as an officer
Danny – job descriptions are basically handed down or taken from bylaws. No operating procedures document exists – but is desperately needed; would someone want to tackle this? (no one volunteered)
Rosalind – adding a parliamentarian position could resolve this issue
Wendy/Rosalind – expressed need for permanent address
Ben – possible for it to be his office
Glenn – need to check into PO box
Rosalind – bylaws requires physical address
Danny – use Farm Bureau, Columbia?
Many chimed in that their clubs use a PO box as 501c3
DECISION: Danny – to set up permanent PO box with ability to forward; in West Columbia; will set it up with Wendy next Monday; we are a 501c4
Media – Danny – Bryan sending other events to him to make aware; should we share to our members?
Ben – statewide social media should be used for statewide information; State association should be for statewide audience; avoid limited local info sent to entire state; keep audience in mind when posting
Spring Conference Update – Danny: no real update; considering list of venues
Glenn – all locations have February dates open, but none will commit due to Covid restrictions; GA already committed to virtual the weekend prior to us
David M – agrees that we should seriously consider virtual; many speakers will not commit to in person meeting; running out of time
Ben – exploring a variety of platforms; Microsoft Teams platform is great; he is learning the system and willing to reach out to FL IT for assistance in getting it running for us
Rosalind – a decision to go virtual would allow us to pre-record breakout sessions
David – really appreciated GA virtual meeting
Glenn – participants can go back and listen to sessions you couldn’t participate in live; described the organization and execution of the GA meeting; used Zoom platform
Ben – concerned that attendance would drop for a virtual meeting; registrants may stay same, but participation drops; Clemson has not indicated that he will be allowed to participate in person
Rosalind – plan 2 days of virtual activity with a hybrid possible in-person option
Susan – expressed need for in person for MBP
Danny – plan for in-person with contingency plan; “not about speakers…it’s about the beekeepers”, “beekeepers want in-person”
Wendy – concerned about the cost; we would not have the income from the venders
Rosalind – we do have a demographic that won’t go out even if restrictions are lifted
Danny – ages at recent Midstate event was 30 up to Wes B & David M
Ben – don’t limit plans to accommodate the Clemson restriction
Glenn – GA honey show was done in advance; national black jar event; participants 260+; 26 states represented; all had to join GBA; listed options for our meeting locations – Will need to get list from him – no one want to commit due to Covid restrictions
Danny – let’s give it another month or so; continue planning program; continue checking locations
Wendy – go ahead and lock down speakers
David – Jeff Harris and David Tarpy both committed via Zoom; will go ahead and lock in local speakers; will send to Glenn/Danny to consider
Danny – would like us to plan some breakout sessions
Ben – will work on digital contingency
Donation to Bee Cause for video presentation – Danny
Danny – concerned about setting guidelines for donations; thoughts?
Jim – provide funds, but matching funds or support in other ways like providing location, etc.; thinks we should donate to programs that benefit ALL SC beekeepers
Ben – have a limited amount specified per year for donations
Danny – need to have boundaries set to be fiscally responsible
David Y – agrees with setting up a grant program with application; set aside yearly funds;
Ben – what is our current financial picture?
Wendy – Operating balance $50,000;
Danny – we have yearly grants, but with no meetings to generate income – we won’t have the funds to cover the grants, EAS rep expenses, IT updates, operating expenses;
DECISION: Wendy to set up a committee to propose meeting budget to give us a framework;
David/Glenn – willing to work with Wendy on that
Wendy – if reps have someone that would be willing to serve on Budget committee with Wendy, please contact her with that person’s info
Susan – budget committee to get figures to support/or not past proposal to raise membership fees
Rosalind – proposal for donation grant committee?
David Y – do research for the financials prior to establishing a permanent donation/grant committee
Ben – guidelines are important to avoid problems; for Bee Cause request….respond that we are not ready at this time due to uncertainties at this time
Susan – should I respond?
Danny – still need to set boundaries
Jim – if Bee Cause virtual only is provided for one school, then he doesn’t support it
Danny – we already have a grant program in place;
Wendy – 2 grants: research and youth; a local association could apply in her behalf
Jim – coordinates the youth grant; explained the youth parameters; on the website
Ben – would Charleston clubs support Bee Cause through their youth grant funds?
Jim – local clubs should be the ones to support it; local clubs currently not using funds for youth; only supports it IF the videos would be available for entire state youth
Wendy – the grant money is set aside in separate accounts
DECISION: Danny – Jim S to craft email by Wednesday – forward to Danny/Susan PRIOR to sending it to Bee Cause
MBP Update – Susan: Online Journeyman Prep Course begins Tuesday, October 6; Registration closes Sunday, October 4 at 9pm; 51 registered to date; Still working to confirm November MBP Testing sites in each region; Hope to have Testing Registration available soon
Still actively working to confirm testing locations
Ben Update – working towards Bee College training for next year….hands on – field day; not sure of timing
Clemson gradually opening extension
CU has opened and he is teaching some in-person classes; exploring options for Bee Campus participation to get Clemson students involved
Farm Bureau Apiculture Committee is meeting next week – Zoom; David Y is rep for now
Floor Open for other Updates: no other responses
Adjournment – Danny proposed; Unanimous agreement; ended just before noon
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes – Aug 7, 2020