Conference feedback
- Thread starter frazzledfozzle
- Start date
NBA conferences were quite different in the 'old' days. It wasn't until the beekeeping advisors started more regularly organising a day or more of seminar presentations that it really became more informative. Ironically, NBA conferences of 100 years before were dominated by the delivery of papers on practical beekeeping topics.
Here's something I wrote for the journal back in 1983.
Here's something I wrote for the journal back in 1983.
So why are you commenting on a topic specifically asking for conference feedback. Other than to intentionally stir things up? You got the reaction you deserved, if you don't like it don't stir the pot.
If your newspaper reporter did a bit of research he/she would find you can still book comfortable accommodation, with a bit of homework at a v reasonable price.
I think we just saved a bit of money for you Stephen - not sure you even have to be a member to attend. Just tick the 'non-member' in the registration.
Failing that, there's also the honeybee research symposium on the day before (same venue) - for $30 the whole day ! Link has been posted elsewhere
lol. the moonshine competition, i think we might have come runner up a few years ago. The next day no one was really sure who’d won.
Yes I have. Queenstown conference, I think 2000 and would have to be the best conference I ever attended! The photo of the mirkin was passed around the dinner tables, much hilarity. The dinner was fantastic up at the gondola. Great food, absolutely fantastic band. John, I think I might have sat at the same table as you with Richard Bensemann. Richard took me ice skating at Queenstown. He had to hold onto my hand cos I was so scared of falling over. I also remember adjourning to the Casino after the dinner event. An absolutely memorable conference in terms of fun & what was discussed & topics available. The AGM in those days was what the conference was about. There was a phenomenal attendance. The next year at Auckland (even though I didn't like the conference) there were hundreds attending the AGM. At both conversation amicable and and analytical. I remember at the Auckland conference, food & safety & compliance and how it was against the NZ way of life!
There was one conference, and I can't remember whether it was the Queenstown or the Auckland conference and there was a teams' debate one night on I think bee genetics. It was hilarious. In opposing teams it included David Yanke & Russell Berry (who was listed as the biggest beekeeper in NZ - haha)
I have to be honest the one conference (and before my time) that beekeepers said was the best ever, was the one in Rarotonga! Sounds fab.
Sometimes at conferences, there are presentations that stick out as memorable. The presentation at the Queenstown conference for me, was the PowerPoint presentation on soil sampling in Southland. Apparently every few metres of soil in Southland (and of course I may have this incorrect) was sampled. This sampling determined what the land should be used for. i.e. should the sheep be got rid of and eucalyptus be planted, should whatever pasture be got rid of and paeonies planted. I found this v interesting.
It's easy to see the link between soil sampling & bees. What sort of conference was it ?
It was the national beekeeping conference held in Queenstown. wHILST i UNDERSTAND QUEENSTOWN IS IN OTAGO, IT PROBABLY MORE IDENTIFIES WITH SOUTHLAND. BEFORE YOU TELL ME OFF FOR USIN CAPITALS, I AM IN A HURRY TO EAT MY TEA
Inappropriate behavior
Ok, the conference in 2001 if you are correct was 2001, so what if I am a year out. It would appear that I am correct that the Auckland conference was the next year.
No wonder, there is so much conflict in this industry. And no wonder there are so beekeepers in NZ that watch this forum, but are not game to raise there heads over the parapet
I am hopeless at remembering dates but I do remember some pretty fun time conferences. Stuart Ecroyd was behind a lot of them and Richard Bensemann a few more. Bill Floyd was also a good lot of fun . I remember they had a debate once and my brother described Dr Mark Goodwin as Harry Potter's younger brother but the best quote of the night for me was when Paul Bolger looked out into the audience and said , is that John Berry out there or a rat looking through a toilet brush.
He told me later that his father the honourable Jim Bolger had always wanted to use that line in parliament but hadn't quite been brave enough..
He told me later that his father the honourable Jim Bolger had always wanted to use that line in parliament but hadn't quite been brave enough..
Yes, Stuart always had input into conferences, along with Richard Bensemann. And I do remember Bill Flloyd's presentation at Queenstown being good, and I think he was probably the forerunner to Maureen Conqueror. Interestingly they were always good conferences attended by grass roots beekeepers, but in those days everyone in the beekeeping industry knew where everyone else fitted in throughout NZ.