The Board of Directors take your health and safety seriously and have carefully considered the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for prevention and treatment of coronavirus. Many of our members are classified as at greater risk for contracting the virus because of underlying health conditions or being over the age of 60. The Board has discussed the various meetings, classes and events and at the current time has elected to follow the Chesterfield County closing schedule for Rockwood Park.
If the park closes, there will be no events, classes or meetings. If the park is open, we will make the call for each event before the event is held. For now, the Board of Directors has decided the April meeting is cancelled. We feel this will allow more social distance and keep those at risk from the possibility of infection at a club meeting.
The Beginners Beekeeping Class will be held as scheduled, as long as Rockwood Park Nature Center is open. However, if you are at greater risk (underlying health condition, over the age of 60, pregnant, exposure to someone with COVID-19 or are sick) please do not attend. We will have future opportunities to help you learn what you need to keep bees. The Board is discussing various ways to do this. They are concerned if we cancel the class there will not be enough make up time before the season begins and that could put your beekeeping plans back another year. We are doing what we can to prevent that and practice good prevention.
The Study Groups for the Master Beekeeper program are smaller meetings. Stan and Carla feel comfortable continuing these meetings on the first and third Monday of the month, for now. The same restrictions apply – if you are sick or at risk, please do not attend.
The Board of Directors will be meeting via video conferencing. These meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month.
We all hope this situation clears soon as Spring comes into full bloom and we get to work our bees. Until then, the Board of Directors is committed to continuing the mission of the association. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Don Osborne
Communications
Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers 