All the buzz...
The "buzz" at the start of today's meeting was the changing weather. Chris Warden said the snow is coming-are we all ready? He and David Bardwick then had a short conversation about the website weather.com, but we got back on track.
David Bardwick had trivia questions for us-several relating to the Northeastern US. Interesting questions and answers, and no one was stumped!
Mark O'Neill brought returning guest Derek Smith (who was a winner-see below). Bob Brown also brought a guest, a young man who is a student from China.
There were several announcements:
Steve Patrick (who is co-chairing with Donielle Engebretson) announced that the highway cleanup is scheduled for this Saturday, October 11, from 7am until no later than 11am. Meet at the Press Box and wear work clothes and bring work gloves. Nine people have thus far signed up. If you haven't yet done so, please consider volunteering as at least 3 or 4 more are needed!
Keeping in the theme, Chris Warden announced that Saturday is "super volunteer day" as additional volunteers are needed to help with the staining/sealing of the shelters at Silver Park at 8:30. Chris has commitments from a few people, but if you're interested let him know. Or, please consider helping with the highway cleanup!
Jim Clark announced that the Jefferson playground project should be ready for completion someone next week. Jim will get details out soon.
Jim also announced that the tutoring program will continue and expand this year. Volunteers are needed for a commitment of at least one day per week afterschool at Lowell, Hawthorne and Franklin schools. Additionally, help is needed with a noon homework club from 11:45 to 12:45 at Lowell. A sign up sheet was sent around, and more details will follow on this project.
Arnie Didier announced that the programs committee was meeting following the regular meeting. He shared information on some upcoming programs to watch for: the Thanksgiving breakfast at the College of Technology will be November 19th; the gift program (holiday gift ideas) will be November 26th; the Youth Homes Christmas program will be December 10th; and the Christmas music program will be December 17th.
Krista Frederikson announced that the pumpkin carving with the Youth Homes kids from the Francetich and Gallagher homes will be October 26th from 2pm to 4pm at the Francetich house.
Carol Gaub announced that the dictionary project is moving forward. Dictionaries and labels have been located and an organizational meeting will be held next Wednesday following our regular meeting.
Darko Butorac announced that the Missoula Symphony season will open this weekend with concerts Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. The concerts will include the Elgar Cello Concerto and Brahms' First Symphony, and will feature Canadian cellist Denise Djokic. Darko generously donated four tickets to Sunday's concert, and awarded them (in keeping with David Bardwick's Northeastern US theme) to the first person to answer the question of who envisioned/invented the system used to harness energy at Niagara Falls. The correct answer, Nikola Tesla, was provided by our visitor Derek Smith. Congratulations, Derek!
Gordie Campbell reminded us that the Noon's club poker tournament (a fundraiser for the joint project at Silver Park) will be held Friday, October 24th. You can turn $100 into $1000!
Lynda Frost announced that the organizational meeting for the 7th annual Money Train will be held next Thursday, October 23rd. The "sweetheart train" is scheduled for February 14th. Notice of next week's meeting will be sent to all those who have previously signed up to help with this event-let Lynda know if you'd like to be added. Watch for the announcement of this year's Money Train recipient on October 29th!
Chris Warden reminded us that the District Assembly will be held October 24th and 25th in Butte. He will email details out to all and we need to be represented at the Assembly!
Jim Clark and Mark O'Neill received "updated" blue badges, and Dave Bell returned his red badge and received his blue badge. Congratulations, Dave!
Our Rotary Minute was provided by Donielle Engebretson. Donielle told us that October is Vocational Service Month and she shared examples of small businesses who have found creative ways to incorporate vocational service (which is one of Rotary's four Avenues of Service). A quilt shop owner in Washington sells quilt kits to customers whose completed quilts are then donated to hospice and a domestic violence shelter. A small 35-member retail business in Missouri gives its employees paid time off to do volunteer work in their community. A small accounting firm in Ohio has clients and employees donate food and funds for America's Second Harvest, and employees can 'pay' to wear jeans on Fridays with the proceeds going to Second Harvest. Excellent examples!
Our exciting and entertaining program was provided by Scott Debnam. Anne Guest introduced Scott, a senior field tech doing bee research at UM. Scott has 75 bee hives he maintains, including his "portable" bee hive that he brought to the meeting. Scott enthusiastically shared information with us about his honeybees that he affectionately calls "his girls."
Scott first wanted to dispel the notion that bees are just flying, stinging creatures. He said they are "hairy pollinators" that we should thank for every third bite we take. He explained that the last thing a bee wants to do is sting you. It first will want to fly away and will then use its body to hit you by flying into your face. Last, it will sting, and by doing so will die within 20 minutes. The honeybee females' stingers have a barb which means the stinger is left in your skin, and when the bee pulls away it is eviscerated (when the stinger is pulled from her body it pulls her intestines out!) And did you ever wonder why it's so hard to "swat" a bee? Bees have a much higher "flicker-fusion frequency" (humans see at 20 frames/second, bees at more than 100 frames/second). That means when we are flailing about to swat at a bee, it thinks we're moving in slooooooooooooooow motion and can easily get away from us!
Scott explained that honeybees will typically have over 60,000 bees in a hive in the summer months, of which only 400-500 are males. The males (drones) essentially do nothing, other than look for a queen to mate with and once the males mate, they are eviscerated and die. Each hive has just one queen who lays all the eggs. She has a larger abdomen than the other females and she has fully developed and functioning ovaries. She can lay up to 3,000 eggs per day in the summer. The queen will leave the hive to mate one time-though with 8-13 different males. She can store all the sperm and then has all she needs to produce eggs for life. The remaining worker bees, "the girls," change jobs a lot, but they do all the work! Each fall the "sisters" kick all the males out of the hive (it takes about 6 females to kick a larger male out of the hive).
Scott shared that it takes 2 million flowers and about 55,000 miles flown by a bee to make one pound of honey! Bees make honey for their survival in the winter months. Honey is about 20% water and about 80% carbohydrates/sugar, and bacteria (except botulism) can't live in honey.
Scott explained a little about CCD, Colony Collapse Disorder. This phenomenon is where bees simply vanish and do not return to their hive. Much research is being done on causes ranging from pesticides to global warming to viruses. The cause/s are uncertain at this time. Research has been done on the honey left in CCD hives and it has been found to be "good."
In response to a question, Scott explained a bit about the differences between bees and wasps. Honeybees are not native to the area (they are from Europe). They are herbivores (eating only plants), while wasps are omnivores (eating both plants and animals). Wasp stingers don't have a barb, so they can sting repeatedly. Because honeybees make honey, they are viable year round. Honeybee hives must be in something enclosed to survive the winter. Wasp colonies, however, are outside, and begin dissolving in the fall, which is why we find they near many heat sources.
Scott was asked about African bees and their aggressive nature. He explained that they are aggressive due to evolution. In Africa they live in savannahs, on the ground, and have many enemies, unlike Europe where they can live in trees. As a result, African bees are more aggressive, and testing has shown them to be stronger.
Scott explained some about bee keepers, who charge a "per hive" fee. They are migratory and follow a typical season of working the almond orchards in February, moving to cucumbers in March, then to Washington apples and ultimately to places like Montana for cherries.
A question was asked whether it is truth or myth that for those with allergies eating honey will help. Scott said that this is true: eating a tablespoon of honey each day will help those with pollen allergies. The key, however, is that the honey must be local!
If you have more questions about bees, considering attending the St. Patrick House Table Talk fundraiser this Friday evening at the Doubletree as Scott will be a table host. And, if you have music questions, Darko Burotac is also hosting a table!
We closed our lively meeting with a recitation of the Four Way Test.