At 02:58 PM 4/1/98 -0500, you wrote:
 
>I know as a fact that the NHB does not even try to enforce these provisions.
>The money collected would not be worth their efforts, and a lot of ill will
>would be generated.  They are well aware of both factors.
 
Hi Lloyd,
 
I would like to present for your and others consideration another point of
view about spending honey money and the NHB.
 
I am not sure if we know the whole story or not but some of the efforts by
the NHB to collect very small sums of money from small producer-packers
compare to what you would expect from a totalitarian state but not
unexpected as the NHB grows richer, at least from stories told this
reporter. More times then not the NHB has been nothing more then a bank for
honey producers money waiting for an embezzler to come in with a fancy
proposal to relive them of what was our honey money.
 
>On the other hand, in my experience the NHB personnel are VERY, VERY helpful
>to any beekeeper, large or small, dues paying or not, who calls with
>inquiries.  If they have information, they are quick to share it.  If they
>don't have the information requested they are very willing to provide
>helpful references.
 
I can believe this for a fact as that's their job and they can afford it
the information, service, and products they produce are for public
consumption and we all are part of that group. I can tell you that some of
us whom they believe may be able to influence others have in the past been
treated to some very special favors, but that is another story.
 
>have.  He was also very helpful.  While I've never paid the NHB a cent, this
>year I will gladly send them around $50, which will be my one cent a pound.
 
Each to his own and for sure if I was a manufacture who depended on the
good will of my customers I would have a little different prospective on my
public politics then what I now have.
 
I would say for the $50 you are going to donate you could buy a small add
in your local shopper magazine and increase your own presence in the market
actually increasing sales or you could make/buy hand outs or container ties
for the honey you now sell if you don't need additional sales. You for sure
can enhance the product you sell by returning capital to upgrade the
labels, jars, and in hundreds of other ways putting yourself out front of
the competition or just making it a more happy day for your honey
customers, not all that bad of an idea even if novel by most standards.
 
For a fact the NHB does many wonderful and useful things, but for the money
it costs us they should be dong just that and a lot more. We all should be
able to measure some difference and yet all that can be measured is the
number of dollars they have spent, no problem has been solved and in fact
the NHB biggest problem is finding ways to spend our money as it does not
look good to have it piling up in the bank. I believe these things would be
far better if done by individual packers in the industry. Some in the
industry do just that, some of which has as great or grater value then what
the NHB does and these firms are penalized by having to pay for what they
do for themselves and watch as their efforts are duplicated at much
inflated costs with money they are forced by law to donate to the NHB. I am
sure in this declining honey producer market it will not be hard to figure
out who really is going to pay these extra costs.
 
The real story is that a lot more would/could be done by individual packers
good or bad but like all things when the government gets into the act it
soon becomes "leave it up to big brother" as most know they can not compete
with the government. Few believe the government can do it cheaper or better
but allow them to hide behind a label such as NHB and most forget who they
really are.. " I am from the government and here to help you." long
recognized as one of the great lies has been replaced by "I am funded
because of the government and I am here to help you."  In both cases there
is never any consideration of the fact that we as individuals may be better
able to identify and solve our own problems if left alone and allowed to do
it.
 
If the collective efforts ran by the NHB worked so well we would not be
forever digging into our pockets to funding so many so called emergency
programs such as the funds gathered by state, and national organizations to
fight adulteration, unfair foreign competition, just two of many efforts
that come to mind.
 
It is interesting to know that now that the NHB has solved all problems in
the marketing of honey for the honey industry they are going to take on the
beekeeping research problems for us, using honey industry money. I can only
guess how that will turn out and bet it won't be one of those sweet dreams.
Would not surprise me to see the NHB expand their taxing base by a per
colony tax as queen breeders, some pollinators and other that do not
produce much honey need to pay their fair share. Then soon there will be a
discovery that those who produce and sell equipment are not paying their
fair share and so on...
 
In any case I commend all for any donation they make to the NHB or any
other charity.
 
ttul, the OLd Drone
 
http://209.76.50.54
or you can duke it out first at:
http://209.76.50.54/game/dragdrop.htm
 
 
 
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