Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: lazy shooter on June 11, 2014, 06:21:57 pm
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Tec, the head beekeeper for the entomology department at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas was the guest speaker at our monthly meeting last evening. I've only been a member of any bee club for the past eight or nine months, but Tec gave the best lecture on beekeeping that I heard to date. And he was better by a wide margin.
He spoke of why the bee population in the US is down, but world wide the bee population is way up, he told of why there are less commercial beekeepers in the US, but more and more hobbyist and sideliners, he spoke of the bee population peaking in 1945 and dwindling down since then, and he spoke of the many, many native pollinators, the impact of foreign honey on our markets, and pollination contracts, and why there is more nectar is the spring blooms in Texas than is the summer blooms, and yada, yada, yada……………….
He spoke of all of this and much more, and he did it in a down to earth manner that all of us could understand. (remember all of us are not bio science people) Lborou is our club president and he was able to procure Tec for our guest speaker. I at least feel indebted to Lborou for this.
For me, it was a perfect evening. That was also the feedback from the other members. I wish all of you could have been in attendance. At one point, he commented on his "virtual friend in North Carolina being a knowledgeable beekeeper." This beekeeper was also a Viet Nam vet. Can you say "Iddee."
Yes, I am speaking of the Tec that posts on this forum.
Lazy
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I would have loved to be there, and yes, Tec and I have been virtual friends for a number of years. He is a great and knowledgeable beek and a fantastic guy.
Thanks for the post, LS. Appreciate it.
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Wow! an amazing opportunity there. I would have enjoyed that no doubt.
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wish I'd been there
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wish I'd been there
Gypsi: You should come to the Dino Bee Club meetings. They are the second Tuesday of each month, and Lborou has a good speaker every meeting. He also runs a good program. As they say, "come on down."
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Might do that some time. We have a really big group but the meetings start so early I miss the first half because I'm not in from work yet. What time does the Dino club start?
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Might do that some time. We have a really big group but the meetings start so early I miss the first half because I'm not in from work yet. What time does the Dino club start?
Dino meeting start at 7:30 p.m. Again, come on down. I would guess there were 75 people in attendance last evening.
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As a fellow listener last night I have to agree with Lazy about the presentation. tec's good wife is a pleasure to meet as well. He doesn't think like most of us. He thinks somewhere up in the stratosphere. His recall is remarkable on just about anything. An encyclopedic memory coupled with a humble and kind spirit make him a valued member in the corporate memory of mortal beekeepers. Lots of history available for the asking.
But, unlike our Club members, I had him captive in the car for 3.5 hours today as I drove him back to College Station........A talented and gracious man.
Thanks tec 8)
All the info about our Club is here. (http://dino-bee.com/content.php)
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I am envious. That would have been a fantastic opportunity.
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What a treat getting to give him a ride home!
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I would have loved to been there. We may have to make the trip up sometime. That is our SCUBA club meeting night and Jill is on the board, but that doesn't mean we can't skip one or two meetings. :)
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Your visits would be welcome :)
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the folks up at Dino are very very gracious and wonderful host. I have met Lee before here at my house and it was a real honor for him to ask me to do a presentation. it was a plus to meet face to face with straight shooter and seeing the club's collective interest in bees is quite an inspiration to me. I got to spend the next morning with several of the club's members and look into some of their hives and was quite amazed at how far along some new member had come in a very short period of time. I suspect Lee gets a good bit of credit for that.
and again thanks for the ride back Lee... with good folks and good conversation the ride is always too short.
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Lazy shooter is a name I earned. I trained shooting skills to basic trainees in the US Army. Later on I trained more advanced riflemen. After my discharge, the local sheriff's department asked me to shoot on their rifle team. When in the process of asking, one of the deputies said, "we only practice twice a week." To which I replied, "practice?" Another deputy said, "what are you, a lazy shooter." The name stuck in shooting circles and spread to the oil patch. Most rig crews call me lazy shooter, or just plain lazy. Since I not particularly fond of work, I have no great argument on my side. :)
Straight shooter implies something else and may be questionable. :)
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Lazy, I'm sure tec was using the 'straight shooter' monicker in the best possible light :)
I'm glad you started this thread though Lazy, we were proud to host Gene and his wife. His talk met our high expectations and more. He shared quite a few pearls along the way, sometimes pointing out things we need to change or reconsider, (like, buying bees from the almond flow and expecting smooth sailing). Not everyone brings a PhD person to change slides, so you knew this dog and pony show is the one new beekeepers needed to hear. ;)
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sorry I typed you moniker incorrectly lazy shooter. the road and the last couple of days of catching up have certainly made me a bit weary. even with the mental slippage it was fun meetin' up with you, lee and the folks at Dino bee club.
I have sometimes been accused of being a straight shooter... perhaps a bit too direct at times which does seem to offend some folks sensibilities.
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Tec, I can't imagine how you are Lborou could possible offend me. I do know what you mean about being a straight shooter. Several of my clients over the years have not wanted to hear the truth. When you tell oil companies that their pre drilling research was correct and they have drilled a gusher, you are a smart guy. When you tell them the opposite, many times you become a dunce. I would wager it is the same with bees.
I look forward to visiting with both of you, but as we say in Texas, "it will be a spell," as I am going to have knee replacement surgery on my right knee on June 23rd.
Thanks again for the lecture,
Lazy
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On a lesser scale, tell the people the $10,000 pond in their back yard was built with the wrong stone and will be a problem child forever doesn't exactly win popularity contests...
Fortunately most I can seal the stone on and lessen the problem.
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Tec, I can't imagine how you are Lborou could possible offend me. I do know what you mean about being a straight shooter. Several of my clients over the years have not wanted to hear the truth. When you tell oil companies that their pre drilling research was correct and they have drilled a gusher, you are a smart guy. When you tell them the opposite, many times you become a dunce. I would wager it is the same with bees.
I look forward to visiting with both of you, but as we say in Texas, "it will be a spell," as I am going to have knee replacement surgery on my right knee on June 23rd.
Thanks again for the lecture,
Lazy
Dang Shooter.. I hope it goes well, I'm pullin for you from here!
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"as we say in Texas, "it will be a spell," as I am going to have knee replacement surgery on my right knee on June 23rd. "
well wishes to you lazy! i know you had the other done last year? keep us posted! also, wanted to thank you for your story about how you came about the name 'lazy shooter'.......always wondered.
tec, wish i could hear you speak and meet you in person. i know you are busy, but sure do miss your presence on the forum.