First and foremost, our thoughts are with all those impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are not immune to the impacts and your PAB Executive aims to continue to communicate with and assist members throughout this difficult time. The health and safety of you, our valued members is paramount. To ensure PAB remains socially responsible, we will be adjusting our activities and social events immediately to ensure social separation over the coming months. We believe we must help to protect ourselves and the vulnerable in the community. To do this the Executive have made the following decisions:

• The Flower Power event, which was scheduled for 28/29 March 2020, has been cancelled. On behalf of members, the PAB Executive would like to thank all members who had volunteered to work at this event. The Flower Power honey and honey products judging event has also been cancelled. We will re-schedule both events as and when it is deemed safe to do so.

• The Beginning in Bees training scheduled for 18/19 April 2020 has been cancelled. Participants, who have booked and paid, have been informed and will be refunded 100% of their payments. A replacement training course will be re-scheduled when it is deemed safe to do so. The Eventbrite advertisement has been suspended.

• We will advise in due course whether the 2020 St Ives Show will go ahead. In saying that, it is likely that we will not participate.

• The 8 April 2020 PAB AGM has been cancelled and will be re-scheduled in due course.

Other general decisions of note include:

• Face to face Executive Meetings (3rd Wednesday of the month) have been cancelled for the time being however your Executive will continue to work for you and will continue to work together electronically.

• Monthly club events (2nd Wednesday of the month) have been cancelled and will be rescheduled in due course. Hopefully this action will minimise the potential for infections for both school staff and students as well as our members. The school have been advised. A sign will be placed on the Baker Street gate, however if you are chatting to members at any time, remind them to refer to their emails to check on the status of monthly club events.

• Guest speakers will be informed and cancelled on an as needs basis.

• The Executive will continue to work through and close out Agenda items of which outcomes will continue to be reported in monthly Newsletters.

• Routine maintenance of the apiary will continue when JRAHS students and staff are absent and will not involve rooms used by students. The school have been advised.

• The ABA AGM has been cancelled however the Col Pulling competition will go ahead with limited numbers. PAB’s entries have been submitted - wish us luck! The quiz section of the Col Pulling competition will be conducted on the day and held remotely. Col Pulling Quiz contacts have been advised and are organising their team and log-ins for this team.

• The ABA May Conference at Hawkesbury has been cancelled.

• The club shop is closed (at the moment) however the executive will investigate options to enable members to purchase and receive items from the shop. Look out for CV Communication #2 for shop sale details.

• Refer to PAB communications such as this, your monthly Newsletter and the PAB section of the ABA web page for updates on club activities.

• During the COVID-19 crisis, we encourage you to stay in touch and email your beekeeping questions, concerns and or queries to, Steve, our membership officer on parramatta.membership@beekeepers.asn.au . Steve will forward your email to the most appropriate Executive member who will respond direct to you via email. Questions and responses will be collated and incorporated into a Fact Sheet and included in an update such as this for the information of all. Names and personal details will not be included unless requested.

• To our elderly, frail and/or vulnerable members of the PAB community, who may need help at this time, not necessarily limited to beekeeping, please do not hesitate to contact one of your Executive and ask for assistance. Your Executive and their email contacts are listed below:

  • Dave Wilson, Relieving President – parramatta.vp@beekeepers.asn.au

  • Robyn Alderton, Secretary – parramatta.secretary@beekeepers.asn.au

  • Andrew Bardsley, Treasurer – parramatta.treasurer@beekeepers.asn.au

  • Sandy Harrison, Events Coordinator – parramatta.events@beekeepers.asn.au

  • Steve Alderton, Membership Officer – parramatta.membership@beekeepers.asn.au

  • Peter Clark, Procurement Officer – peterandjanclarke1@bigpond.com

  • Lod Porretta, Stores Officer – parramatta.stores@beekeepers.asn.au

  • Arthur Garske, Education Officer – awgarske@gmail.com

  • Bill Dick, Colony Distribution Officer - parramatta.swarms@beekeepers.asn.au

Alternatively, call me (Robyn Alderton) confidentially, on 0419 442 701 and I will do my best to put you in contact with an Executive member close to you.

You can even, message or make contact through the Parramatta Amateur Beekeepers FaceBook page on: www.facebook.com/groups/parramattabeekeepers

We understand that this is a difficult time for all. We will continue to support and represent our members throughout this period. Parramatta Amateur Beekeepers remains open for business albeit in a socially responsible way.

Stay safe, healthy and in touch
Robyn

Robyn Alderton, Secretary of the Parramatta Amateur Beekeepers
and on behalf of your entire PAB Executive