I'm sorry guys, I took this all wrong. When I wrote that I had just finished a 12 hour shift at work driving a double fuel tanker in the rain to four of the worst gas stations we deliver to. I was tired and just a little sensitive.
However, I feel that this program will be a lot of fun and will help me get really involved with the community in beekeeping. As for experience, I can't even START the Master level until I have at least 5 successful years of keeping bees under my belt. Most of the program involves hands on stuff, things I wanted to do down the road anyway. This program not only gives me a pathway of acheaving my beekeeping goals, but I get a certificate too when I'm finished. I just think some of you are stuck on the "Master" word. It's just a title of the course and doesn't make you an Instant Master of all beekeepers! lol. They probably should have come up with a better word for the top level. Oh well.
Just so you guys understand what's involved here and don't think I'm just gunna take a short class and I'm going to instantly think I'm a "Master"
Here's the Journeyman and Master programs broken down:
Journeyman:
- the applicant to be a member of a local and/or state beekeepers association
- and a minimum of two years experience
- A field test at the applicant's apiary
- Knowledge of colony management, public relations, state and federal laws, honey judging, sanitation, economics
- obtaining 30 public service points
- Students are expected to acquire information from beekeeping books and journals and other sources.
- A series of exams are required covering each section of the course.
Master
- five years of accumulated experience
- thirty additional public service points
- laboratory experience, or other efforts appropriate to the course of study and approved by the MBC.
- A workbook containing notes, photos, sketches and references of the student’s work will be graded to certify completion of the course
For both, the public service points are the tuff ones and are broken down like this:
A. Presentations on beekeeping and related topics to non-beekeeping groups.
B. Programs on beekeeping and related topics to school groups.
C. Presentation of WSBA or WA State approved programs to beekeeping groups.
D. Publication of beekeeping and related topic articles in journals, newsletters, etc.
E. Serving as an officer/director/trustee of a local beekeeping organization.
F. Working at a beekeeping exhibit open to the public.
G. Assisting 4-H or FFA members, and other youths with beekeeping projects.
H. Serving as an officer/board member/regional representative of the WSBA.
I. Programs/lectures/demonstrations on specific beekeeping topics to beekeeping groups.
J. Judging honey and/or beekeeping products at fairs and other competitions.
K. Conducting courses for advanced beekeepers.
L. Provide one to one instruction to beginning beekeepers.
M. Give courses to beginning beekeepers.
N. Perform special programs, work, courses, exhibits, or other efforts approved by the WSBA MBC.
The following general rules apply:
- A maximum of 50% of accumulated units may be obtained in one category.
- 1 unit equals 1 hour, with a maximum of 3 units per presentation in categories A, B, C, I, K and M.
- 1 unit equals 2 hours with a maximum of 3 units per recipient in categories G and L.
- 5 units for an article published in a national magazine or publishing one state or local association newsletter. 2 units for an article published in a local or state newsletter as specified in category D.
- 15 units for serving as an elected officer for one year, and 5 units for serving as a trustee/executive board member for one year as specified in categories E & H.
- 1 unit equals 2 hours in category F.
- 1 unit equals 1 hour in category J.
- A passing grade of 75 percent on examinations is required.
So there you have it. I'm gunna do it whether you old timers think it's a waste of time or not. :-) Plus, it's not like I'm going to try and become a professional at this. I'm a truck driver and keep bees as a hobby. I just want to further my knowledge of these cute painful bugs.
Thanks guys and sorry again for coming off a little harsh,
Sean Kelly