> On Aug 19, 2015, at 7:17 PM, Jerry Bromenshenk <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> 

>  One of the issues to emerge over past year - who really represents the CO beekeepers and who are the CO beekeepers?  Is it the large numbers of small scale and relatively new beekeepers that belong to the group that is hosting the CO meeting?  Is it the commercial beekeepers, most of whom clearly aren't part of the group that is putting on the State Meeting?



This thorny issue was at the root of a major rift in NYS beekeeping. There were some in the state association who thought voting should be tied to number of hives. By those lights, one commercial beekeeper could outvote every small holder in the state. It’s the same thing we see on a national scale where the 1% with most of the money control the destiny of the country. I am proud to be one of the 99% who have 50 hives or less, but I never thought such a distinction needed to be made. If I were to be forced to choose between allegiance to small holders, commercials, or bee researchers, I would do as I have done: abstain.



Pete





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