Welcome to Bianca Giggins, our Varroa Coordinator.  Bianca has been busy learning AHBIC processes and systems and is now heavily involved in the varroa response.  You can thank Bianca for this update.  Bianca is a welcome addition to the AHBIC team.

As you can see from the CEO update AHBIC has been very busy.  Thanks to DAFF for the Varroa Coordinator grant, because of this our CEO has been able to attend to matters whilst continuing to be involved in the varroa incursion.

We have been reviewing AHBIC’s budget – income and expenditure.  The average loss for AHBIC over the last three years has been approximately $27,000 which is clearly not sustainable.  With that in mind AHBIC cannot afford to send three people (CEO, Chair and Varroa Coordinator) to all state conferences.  While state associations give AHBIC representatives free registration to the conference, AHBIC is still liable for travel and accommodation costs.  To be responsible with Friends of AHBIC monies, only one or two AHBIC personnel will be attending each state conference to give AHBIC updates other than the VAA conference where the AHBIC AGM is immediately after their conference.

AHBIC has not actioned some of the motions from last year’s AGM.  I make no apologies for this.  The varroa response has been our number one priority.  Now we have a Varroa Coordinator we are able to progress some of those action items and attend to other pressing matters.

Stephen Targett
Chair