BOOTHBAY — Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers club is hosting its Annual Meeting and Potluck Barbecue on Saturday, June 18. The topic of this meeting is "Mid-Summer Buildup," and it begins at 10 a.m. Officers for the coming year will be elected and chapter activities for the coming year will be discussed.

Frank and Linda Redman in Boothbay are the hosts for this meeting. They have kept bees at their home for several years. The Redman’s gardens are a perfect place for bees and other pollinators. They are located at 898 Wiscasset Road (Route 27).

The speaker will be Bill Truesdell, of Bath, who started beekeeping more than 20 years ago. Truesdell served as secretary and treasurer for his local Chapter of Maine State Beekeepers Association and has served on the MSBA Board as a director and secretary. He was editor of Maine Bee Line, the MSBA’s newsletter, and was named the MSBA Beekeeper of the Year for 2000.

Truesdale’s topic presentation includes “stuff you probably haven’t heard,” beekeeping for the old and feeble, walk-away splits and George Imrie’s honey management. He will also share his experience with Oxalic Acid vaporization. There will be a hive opening to check mid-summer build up, looking for evidence of queen activity, varroa mites and signs of viruses. At that time, Truesdale will also demonstrate the Imrie honey management technique.

After the hive is closed up, the barbecue meal begins. There will be a Q&A time over lunch to talk bees and to get any and all bee questions answered. Bring a veil (bee or insect), barbecue meat or veggies to grill and a potluck dish to share with others. Burgers and dogs will also be available.

This meeting is free and open to the public and anyone interested in beekeeping.

For more information, call Jean Vose at 563-7564 or visit the KLCB website at klcbee.com for details.

Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers is a chapter of the Maine State Beekeepers Association. The goal of the chapter is to encourage, support and promote education in matters related to bees and amateur/hobbyist beekeeping and to promote successful beekeeping in Knox and Lincoln counties.