If you are a member of TBA, I'd like ask that you consider me when voting for TBA officers. I am running for Regional Vice President - Upper East TN. Would also like to remind you that ballots are due in by the 30th of this month. Thanks. -James Wagner
Good Luck James.
You might want to put a little of your beekeeping background and any management background also on this thread also.
Jim
Thanks, Jim. Good idea. I'll do that. I have an open letter and a short "biography" I did for a flyer I passed out at a couple of bee clubs in the area. I'll post those. -james
Open letter to beekeepers in Upper East Tennessee:
Dear Fellow Beekeeper-
I consider myself to be a student of beekeeping. I try to learn something daily about beekeeping. While I don't know that is possible to ever become an ?expert? at our great hobby and business, we should all strive to become as knowledgeable and skilled as possible. I enjoy passing this knowledge on to others, whether as a beekeeping mentor or providing public demonstrations and presentations about beekeeping, hive products, or related subjects. We should all try to encourage as many as we can to continually learn. That is why I am a proponent of the beekeeping associations and their education function. Whether local, regional, state, or national, our beekeeping organizations provide a structure for becoming better beekeepers and better ambassadors to the general public.
For these reasons, I am asking you to attend the Tennessee Beekeepers Association Conference in Cookeville, Tennessee on 9-10 October 2015 and support me to be the next Regional Vice President of the Upper East Tennessee Region of the TBA. You may also vote by completing the ballot included in the TBA newsletter and mailing it in.
The Upper East Region is currently the smallest region of TBA with only 3 active clubs despite the fact there are 12 counties in our region. I believe every county should have a club to encourage more beekeeper participation and to encourage more people to become beekeepers. I'd like to encourage the clubs in the region to work together and set a goal of increasing the number of counties in our region that have active beekeeper associations.
Also, I believe a primary function of local clubs is the education of beekeepers and the general public in basic beekeeping skills. The local club is the primary place where anyone interested may attend a basic beekeeping course. It should be a goal of every club to offer such a course annually with the assistance of other clubs and state association.
Thank you for your vote for James Wagner for Upper East Tennessee Regional Vice President ? Tennessee Beekeepers Association.
Short "biography" (resume' style):
James M. Wagner
589 Poor Hollow Road
Kingsport, Tenn. 37664
email:
[email protected]phone: 865.332.0603
Beekeeper since 2010
Currently have around 20 colonies in 3 apiaries in Sullivan County
Member: Tennessee Beekeepers Association
Washington County Beekeepers Association
Alabama Beekeepers Association
Beekeeping businesses: Poor Hollow Bee Farm, Sullivan County, TN
www.poorhollowbeefarm.com
Facebook: Poor Hollow Bee Farm
Honeybee Rescue
www.honeybeerescue.us
Facebook: Honeybee Rescue
Completed Tennessee Master Beekeepers Course ? Hobbyist Level and recently took Advanced Level Course.
Serving as a Tennessee Local Apiary Inspector
Serving as mentor to 8 individuals and couples and unofficial mentor for several others.
Speaker at public events on beekeeping and related subjects.
Chairman of Bylaws Revision Committee and the Fall Beginning Beekeeping School Committee for Washington County Beekeepers Association.
Washington County Beekeepers Association 2014 Beekeeper of the Year.
Personal:
AA degree in Business/Military Science, BS degree in Political Science/Pre-law
Armor Officer (O3/Captain) in US Army Reserves ? Honorably discharged
Emergency Medical Technician since 1985, currently an EMT with Mercy Ambulance Service in Lebanon VA.
Father of two girls and two boys, grandfather of two.
Way to go James. Originally I would not have voted for you just because you requested it. Now that I know your background I would because I think you have the background to be able to do a good job.
Again, Good luck.
Jim
My son's a paramedic with the fire dept (can't say name). He's assigned to the low/no rent side of town. He has probably seen more shootings/stabbings/beatings/suicides, ect., than a great many paramedics with a lot more years than him.
A friend of mine who works with the PD at the same town told me that the average cop there with 5 years has tons more experience than those in more decent places with 30 years. A lot of these guys are recruited out because of their experience.
Anyway, good luck. Regardless of the outcome keep helping folks.
Thanks for the support. When I was in sales, I learned that you're not likely to make a sale unless you ask for the business of your prospective customer. When I became heavily involved in politics (in Alabama) learned those same principles apply to getting votes. I think the same is pretty much true with organizations. Sure, you'll get a certain percentage of votes by just getting your name on the ballot. However, to make a difference, you have to win. To win, you have to ask for the votes.
GSF, will I be seeing you next week at the AL convention?
-js
Probably not, one of my hives will be there though. I went last year and it was pretty good.