SBKA President's Report

In this, my first year as SBKA President, I must first of all say how pleased I am to be given the opportunity to once again play a role in the day to day organisation of the Association. It does not of course match the deep involvement of the Secretary or Chairman, but there is, I feel, an active role for the President to play, providing a link between Divisions and the County. To this end, I would urge any Divisions, or indeed individual members, who have an input to make, be it a suggestion, a recommendation, or even a criticism, to let me know, and I will endeavour to ensure that it reaches the right quarter.

I am very conscious of the fact, that I am following in the footsteps of one of our most active Presidents in living memory. During her three years in the post, Mary Barnes-Gorell spent a huge amount of time, not just visiting Divisions, but actively helping out at their events, and her regular attendance at our Centenary events helped to make it the success that it was. Her smiling face and jovial personality are recognised and loved by every beekeeper in the county.

I take over the Presidency at a time when the Association has never been in better shape. Thanks to the knowledge, and continuing efforts of Ken Edwards, with the able assistance of Caroline Butter, our finances have never been stronger. Equally important, we appear to have turned the corner in terms of membership. Following many years of decline in beekeeping, membership is once again showing a slight upward trend. This is almost entirely due to the amount of work being carried out in Promotion, Publicity, and Education across the county. Promotion, supported by Publicity, at events now being attended by many Divisions, is resulting in fully subscribed Introductory Courses, with many attendees going on to become beekeepers. What a difference to a few years ago, when there was little publicity, and practically no active promotion of the craft.

The opening of our twelfth Division has increased our service base substantially. Thanks again to Ken Edwards, who had the vision to recognise the potential, and the enthusiasm to make it happen, the new Quantock Division has taken off like a rocket from its inception. In its first year, it attracted sixty members, and with Introductory Courses, and other planned activities, this is set to increase in the coming years.

I look forward to a year of sustained growth across the county, but more importantly, an ongoing enjoyment of the craft.

Gerald Fisher.