Guest Speaker Series
About the Bees
On July 17th our guest speaker was Danielle Quant, Golden Wings Apiary discussing Honeybees. Danielle has owned her business for five years and her services include treatment free beekeeping, bees, bee removal, package bees, queens, queen cells, honey, beeswax, and bee advice.
The Honeybee has six legs, double wings on each side, and a fuzzy yellow and black striped body. They are sweet pollinators.
Nectar is extracted from sunflowers, corn, soybean, blueberry, canola, sabal palms and Brazilian pepper trees. In California almond producers need bees to keep their big industry going. Bees are trucked in and distributors will follow the seasons around the country. California has 1.75 billion colonies and is #1 on the world for producing almonds.
Honeybee hives have a division of labor; the Queen, female workers, and male drones. They are hard workers and can travel up to 3 miles from the hive to get food. They can carry ½ their body weight in nectar. One bee can sip nectar from 225 flowers per day. The hives are delicate and cannot be disturbed and must be kept safe from the weather. Other challenges include pests (mites) and use of pesticides in hives, mosquito control sprays, and herbicides.
In closing, Danielle said she does not believe in purchasing imported honey. Fructose is added and hives are treated using methods banned in the US. We should buy local and know where honey comes from. To become a beekeeper you must study, research and use common sense and respect. For more information contact Danielle at daniellequant1@gmail.com.
Danielle Quant with Paul Williamson
Space Coast Midget Racing
On July 24th our guest speakers were Jenny Davidson and her son Travis age 13 from Space Coast Quarter Midget Racing Association. Jenny and her family became interested in this racing for kids and established this 501C (3) organization just two years ago for kids ages 5-16.
The race cars involved are ¼ the size of a midget car and race on a 1/20-mile track. There are classes based on engine size and age. Racers perform at club, regional and national (held in Indianapolis each year) races. SCQMRA is the second club in Florida (the other is in New Smyrna). Clubs are sanctioned and cars are certified each year. The kids wear the same safety gear as higher level racers – fire suits, gloves, safety belts, neck braces, and helmets. They are taught safe driving habits by a trained director. There are three classes based on age and speed capacity of the cars. A summer series is offered.
Members and family benefit alike by forming lifelong friendships, learning sportsmanship and teamwork, managing emotions, strengthening relationships and gaining self-reliance and an introduction to future racing.
SCQMRA is located at the Valkaria Airport and has recently resurfaced the racetrack. Current needs include wall painting, fencing, storage, hot chute shade, bleachers and a PA system. SCQMRA can be seen of facebook and Jenny hopes to reach out to the community to form partnerships and have fundraising events to help build the facility out. For more information contact scqmra.com or info@scqmra.com.
In closing Mr. Woolfork added a story with the moral “life has many scoops of dirt that must be shaken off to be successful.”
For more information about GYAC contact www.gyac.net.
Margie Duffell
2019-2020 Officers for the Sebastian Exchange Club
President – Michael Natale
President Elect – Phil Barnes
Secretary – Karen McElveen
Treasurer – Diana Best
Foundation Treasurer – Kathy Burns
Newsletter Editor – Margie Duffell
Division Director (District 7) – Rene Van deVoorde
District President – Gerson Rodriguez
Treasurer – Steve Rawlins
Secretary – Kathy Duchow
President Elect – Chuck Walker
Immediate Past President – Kim Prado