[II-List] Islip Map IINGRIDD		"A-Z" INDEX &   SEARCH Notice BIIG and it's website are no longer in existence. This page will be retained for historical purposes only. Names and contact details have been retained, but it is not advisable to contact them unless you know they are still with us. BIIG... Newsletter No. 3 (March 2005)

			Bee Instrumental Insemination Group.

• My apologies for this delay between newsletters, but as I said in the last one, no news to me means no news to you. Plus, I was taken ill and could not make the last practical meeting so could not even report on that.
  
  
• Your committee had a meeting last Sunday, the first I have been able to attend since my recovery. We obviously discussed many things over the 5 hours, five items of which are important for me to tell you about.
  
  
• The FIRST is that Susan Cobey is coming to the UK in April 2006. She will be giving two talks at the BBKA Spring Convention on the Saturday where you may or may not be able to get in for the expected rush, though seats are usually pre-bookable. However, and more importantly, she will be speaking at the BIBBA AGM (held in BBKA HQ building) the following day, Sunday, and BIIG members are invited. This should be a very much "improved" talk as she will be addressing a reasonably I.I. literate audience and question time could become very informative. Will you please advise Stephen Loughborough (the Group's Secretary) if you intend coming along and he can give BIBBA advanced notice of numbers. I'm sure there will be standing room only.
  
  

• SECONDLY, and equally important to BIIG, our next practical day will be a day with a difference. For your diary it will be on June 4th 2005 in the Village Hall, Islip, 10am to 4pm. It will still be a practical day with lots of queens, lots of drones and lots of insemination, the only difference on this occasion is that we are publicising it with adverts in Bee Journals etc. aimed at getting the "beekeeping public" to come along and see for themselves "how it is done". There will be a small charge on the door of £2 for non-members. A raffle will be held, the prizes being donated by your committee. Your presence would be very nice, your help even better, as the few committee members will find difficulty manning the door, explaining the rudiments of I.I., selling raffle tickets, making coffee and performing under a microscope, all at the same time. If you have queens and/or drones, bring them along too.

  Islip is a small village, with one very tiny shop that may, or may not be open, though there is a pub nearby that does meals. Bring your lunch pack just in case. Tea & coffee we will provide, and there is another plus, you will be re-united with like-minded colleagues, and old friends.

  You will find Islip about one mile off the A34 north of Oxford and just north of the M40/A34 junction. If coming north off the M40 take the second left off the A34 and follow the signs. Easy.

• THIRDLY, another item for you to note down is that this very week we have launched our very own web site...

  www.BIIG.co.uk

  Which is being 'web-mastered' by Chris Perkins. Here again, as with a newsletter, a web page is only as good as the material input. It will fall out of favour if not continuously given new material by its members, hint, hint.

• Fourth. We have a stand booked at the Welsh Convention on the 19th of this month, March. Short notice I know, but if you wish to attend contact John Perkins for details, PerkinsJhnRich@aol.com I [Ron] shall be unable to attend as I am speaking at Gloucester AGM that day.
  
  
• FIFTH. As with last year, we will be showing again at the Spring Convention having booked a stand in the Granary Hall - See you there?? I will be at that one, (to collect your subs if you haven't already paid).
  
  
• Sorry to talk about it again, but may I remind those of you that have not yet paid their subscription, £10 for 2005, please send me a cheque payable to the Instrumental Insemination Group. I have just deleted several names from our membership list, as I've had no response from them for two years. If I get no response from you this time this may be the last contact you will receive!
  
  
• In one of my earlier letters you were asked if you would like to submit a Logo design for our group. I can now tell you that the adopted logo, may now be requested from Dave Cushman. We may wish to make a lapel badge like the logo, if we can find out who offers such a service, (Cheaply). Do you know who can make such badges?

See you all at the shows...

Ron