If you have been in beekeeping for very long you will find that much of it is redundant: wash, rinse repeat.  You then look for little hints, tips, and tricks to look at your bees in new ways.  Join us at the October meeting where our guest speaker (Alexander Zomchek, Miami University) will take a quick glance over our seasonal shoulders; square the here and now; and make suggestions for the next 30-45 days that will help to fortify your bees as well as prepping hives for fall into winter.

This is the last seasonal hurrah and you want to take advantage of it.  Continuing with his Monitoring Approach (originator of the Apiary Diagnostic Kit-ADK) Alex will also introduce some gadgetry as well as demo his new "hive smock" to aide in thorough and enlightening bee inspections.

Alex Zomchek: Bee-Bio
Beekeeping is a lifelong passion for Alex with him building his own hives at the age of 10. He began his professional career bringing his interests in mathematics/computer modeling interests to medical research helping him to invent the field of teleradiography (digital body imaging and transmission).

With the introduction of varroa mites Alex turned his attention to honey bee research which he conducts out of Miami University’s Ecology Research Center located in Oxford, OH (home of Larenzo Langstroth – inventor of the modern beehive). He currently divides his time between developing tools and techniques to improve honey bee stock. Current research ranges from better open mating models to closed systems models using instrumental insemination and cryogenic germplasm.

He is equally interested in creating monitoring materials and educating beekeepers (e.g. he is the originator of the Apiary Diagnostic Kit used by the Ohio State Beekeepers Association). He runs a string of “latitude” beelabs from Florida to northern Wisconsin to accelerate honeybee lines. Alex is a national speaker bringing his love of science and bees to the public leaving most audience members wanting to become citizen scientists as he will freeze or burn something in a presentation given half a chance and fire codes permitting.

He is currently the President of the Butler County Beekeepers Association and is a Director for the Ohio State Beekeepers Association which has awarded him the title Master Beekeeper - Instructor. He also just received the North America’s Develbiss Award for outstanding contributions to honey bee education and research.

Find out more about Alex here.