{"id":73,"date":"2019-02-27T19:55:20","date_gmt":"2019-02-28T01:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/?page_id=73"},"modified":"2026-01-12T21:09:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T03:09:27","slug":"about-meetings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/about-meetings\/","title":{"rendered":"Events"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

About Meetings, Bees and Brews, Field Trips and 101 Courses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Meetings:<\/strong> Educational topics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

November<\/strong>\/December<\/strong> Meeting: 12\/2\/25 7-9 pm In person and Zoom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Topic: BroodMinder \u2013 Rich Morris with Broodminder. What is it?  How to use it.  What is the benefit?  How can technology help you care and measure what is happening in your beehive?  Come and find out<\/p>\n\n\n\n

January<\/strong> 2026 Meeting: 1\/27\/26 James Shiver Decker and Eric Walgren, New mite treatment, Narroa, new approach to controlling mites<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meetings in person at U of I McLean Co. Extension office, 1615 Commerce Pkwy., Bloomington and ONLINE using Zoom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We typically meet 4th Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the U of I Extension office at 1615 Commerce Parkway, Bloomington, IL 61704 They are open to everyone member or not. There is no cost to attend – Currently in-person and on Zoom <\/p>\n\n\n\n

http:\/\/Join Zoom Meeting https:\/\/us02web.zoom.us\/j\/86301143450… Meeting ID: 863 0114 3450 Passcode: 034918<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bees and Brews<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come hang out and talk bees and all the things associated with beekeeping! This is a social event to trade tales. Come as a member or wannabee or someone just wanting to learn about bees or someone wanting to hang with good people. We can BEE friendly. (Let Tom Pankonen or PK know of recommendations for locations)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically the 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6-8 pm. Location is different each month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Bees and Brews<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

January <\/strong>1\/14\/26 Wednesday 6-8 pm. Crawford’s Corner Pub, 610 W. Chestnut, Bloomington<\/p>\n\n\n\n

February<\/strong> 2\/11\/26 Wednesday 6-8 pm Location: TBD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mentorship\/Field Trip CIBA Hives<\/em><\/strong> –<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspections, hive work and mentorship on the club hives, weather permitting. Wannabies, newbies and old hands are all welcome.  I ask that you let me know if you are coming in case of weather or conflicts.  I have a few extra suits.  Bring yours if you have one.  I will rotate between Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays.  If these don\u2019t work for you, let me know and we can arrange alternatives.  We will do inspections, hang swarm traps, maybe maintenance. If you are new or interested in bees, this is an opportunity to have hands on inspection. Contact me if planning to come for inspections or work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time:<\/strong> 11-2 pm. Location<\/strong>: 6424 Alexander Road, Heyworth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspection<\/strong> Dates<\/strong>: On pause for winter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hands on Workshop:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 Beekeeping 101 Class, January 31th, 202<\/strong>6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 BK 101 Registration Form<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuc and Swarm Trap Build Workshop: March 14th Saturday noon-4 Location: PK’s 6424 Alexander Road, Heyworth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous Meeting Topics<\/mark><\/em><\/strong> or Events<\/mark><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10\/28\/25 Topic: Mead Making and Sampling <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9\/23\/25. Topic: <\/strong>Valerie Ross and My Mother\u2019s Community Garden; The rewards and challenges of working with non profit.  Working hives with partners at other locations.  What to expect, what needs to be clear on roles and expectation, equipment, working, ownership, maintenance, who pays for what, how is the rewards\/ honey distributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rewards and challenges of working with non profit.  Working hives with partners at other locations.  What to expect, what needs to be clear on roles and expectation, equipment, , ownership, maintenance, who pays for what, how is the rewards\/ honey distributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8\/26\/25 Topic: Getting Ready for Winter<\/strong>: It may be hot but, Yes, the girls are getting ready for the cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7\/26\/25 Special Hands on Extraction Event<\/strong>, Demonstration of various uncapping methods, use of extractors, refractor available to measure moisture level. Light snacks and MEAD sampling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bring frames to extract, let me know if you plan to bring frames, PK pjkorand@gmail.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6\/28\/25 Meet the State Inspector, Jim Wellwood<\/strong> starting at 2 pm.  He will demonstrate what the state inspector does.  At the club hives at PK\u2019s (weather permitting) 6424 Alexander Road, Heyworth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3\/1\/25 Building Event Saturday 12-4 pm March 1st 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

November Meeting (Dec. 3rd) – Planting for your Bees, Jaci Dixon, Master Gardener<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10\/22\/24 \u2013 Nosema Testing, Tom Pankonen and Arthur Parks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9\/24\/24 7-9 pm Bottling and Marketing, Rob Preston, Tippy Creek<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9\/14\/24 Mead Making Event-Demonstration of the art of mead making<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8\/27\/24 August Meeting Winter Prep Luke Harvey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extraction 7\/27\/24 Event-Demonstration of methods of uncapping, use of various equipment, and honey harvesting tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7\/23\/24 July Meeting Pulling Frames Getting Ready to Harvest -Panel discussion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6\/25\/24 June Meeting State Inspector<\/strong> Jim Wellwood- Inspections<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5\/28\/24 May Meeting Pest Control<\/strong> – Arthur Parks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4\/23\/24 April Meeting Spliting Hive and Swarm Prevention =- Tom Pankonen, Honey Pimp Apiary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3\/26\/24 March Meeting Cornell Master Beekeeping Program – Master Beekeeper, Steve (Mac) McNair Salem 4 Youth, Flanagan, Il<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2\/27\/24 7-9 pm February Meeting Queen Rearing – Tom Pankonen, Honey Pimp Apiary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuc and Frame building 2\/17\/24 Event – Demonstration of building nucs, boxes or frames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\/23\/24 7-9 pm January Meeting Genetics – Cory Stevens<\/strong>, Stevens Bee Co., Past president of Missouri St. Beekeepers Assoc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11\/28\/23 7-9 pm Patti Koranda<\/strong> Planting for your bees and Winterizing your Hives, Board Elections<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10\/24\/23 7-9 pm Sharon Seng, <\/strong>Products from the Hive and Ways We can Use them, Board nominations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9\/26\/23 7-9 pm Izzy Harms <\/strong>-Making Mead and sample varieties around the campfire. This event will take place at PK’s, 6424 Alexander Road, Heyworth. Bring a lawn chair. Plan for outside will move inside if weather dictates that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8\/25\/23 7-9 pm Extraction Event<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Hillco Beekeeping Equipment, 447 Oak, Minonk, IL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demonstration of uncapping methods, use of various extractor and exploring harvesting tools, maybe some mead sampling.  This will be at Hillco Beekeeping Equipment, 447 Oak St, Minonk, IL 61760.  Let me (PK) know if you will be bringing frames for extraction. Come if you have frames or not.  Great time to socialize and learn and talk bees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8\/22\/23 7-9 pm David Burns, Master Beekeeper, Long Lane Bees <\/strong>– Level Up – a Guide on how the beekeeper can become a true Citizen Scientist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7\/25\/23 7-9 pm The Honey Harvest<\/strong>-Panel talks about When and How to pull honey frames, frame storage, reserving and expectations of using equipment, containers, labeling, costs.  An extraction hands on event planned in August 25, 6-8:30 pm at Hillco Bees<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6\/27\/23 7-9 pm Pest Control – Mike Lavazza<\/strong> Talks about how to mitigate pests in your hives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5\/23\/23 7-9 pm<\/strong> Preventing Swarms by Supering, Splitting, Understanding Honey Bound – Panel Discussion. Talks about how to understand why bees swarm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4\/25\/23 7-9 pm<\/strong> Swarm Management: Tom Pankonen, Honey Pimp Apiary, What to look for, How to prevent swarming, How to split a hive <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3\/28\/23 7-9 pm<\/strong> Mushrooms: Dr. Naeger, Research of Extracts of Polypore mushroom mycelis to reduce viruses in honey bees. Gabe Anderson, Totally Normal Fungus, How bees wax is used for Mushroom Grow Logs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2\/28\/23 7-9 pm<\/strong> John O’Brien, youth scholarship recipient, recaps Hive Life Conference, Discusses the health important of cycling out brood comb <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\/24\/23 7-9 pm<\/strong> Getting Our Girls to Spring: Discussion panel on strategies to care for the bees in the hive to make it to spring. Patti Koranda, James Shiverdecker, Valerie Ross<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous 2022 Meeting Topics:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No December monthly meeting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11\/29\/22 7-9 pm \u2013 Recapping the year and CIBA Board Elections<\/strong> at U of I Extension McLean Co.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10\/25\/22 7-9 pm -What to do to get Equipment and Bees ready for Winter and Spring – Nomination for Board Elections <\/strong>at U of I Extension McLean Co.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9\/27\/22 September meeting moved to Saturday 10\/1\/22 12\/noon at Sugar Grove Nature Center \u2013 Use of Oxaclic Acid \u2013 Demonstration of the use of the clubs OA Kits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8\/23\/22 August Monthly Meeting 7-9 pm Topic: Winterizing, James Shiverdeck<\/strong>er<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8\/13\/22 Extraction Event<\/strong> 2-6 pm at Hillco Bees – 710 Lincoln St., Minonk, IL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7\/26\/22 July monthly meeting 7-9 pm Topic: Mites and Pest Management, Arthur Parks and James Shiverdecke<\/strong>r<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6\/28\/22 June Monthly Meeting 7-9 pm Topic: Cottage Food Laws, Kelly Lay, McLean County Extension staff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5\/24\/22 May monthly meeting 7-9 pm Topic: Swarm Prevention and Splitting Hives, Tom Pankonen<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4\/26\/22 April monthly meeting Topic: Inspecting Your Hive, What is in the box? What to look for when checking on your bees.<\/strong>
Presented by Jim Wellwood, State Bee Inspector<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3\/22\/22 March monthly meeting Topic: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly<\/strong>: A panel discussion with Newbees and Old Bees<\/strong>–Perspectives of new and old beeks with Topics of what went well, thing to do now, things to think about, ask your questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2\/22\/22 February monthly meeting Topic: Dead Outs, What do I do Now?, Patti Koranda<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\/25\/22 January monthly meeting Topic: Products of the hives, lip balm, salves and lotions,<\/strong> Presenter: Sharon Seng and TomPankonen,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Bees and Brews: 12\/14\/22 Wednesday 7-9 pm, Location- TBD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hands on Workshop at Sugar Grove Nature Center<\/strong>, 4532 N. 725 East Road, McLean, IL<\/p>\n\n\n\n