Dear Beesource Forums Member,

Beesource generally does not contact its membership by email.  However, I have learned about a situation that justifies making an exception. 

I want you to consider helping Christopher Stowell, a young Boy Scout and beekeeper, in his efforts to persuade Boy Scouts of America to reinstate the Beekeeping Merit Badge. There is not enough youth involvement in beekeeping.  Both the involved scouts and the beekeeping community would benefit greatly if BSA will reinstate the merit bage.

BSA discontinued that merit badge about 15 years ago. I don’t think it is a coincidence that, around that time, many beekeepers quit due to difficulties caused by varroa mites.  With the development of the internet, we now have a way to pair up scouts with mentors.  Beekeepers support for this effort will be critical to its success.

Here is what I ask you to do:

1.  Please go to this website and sign Christopher Stowell’s online Petition:  http://www.experienceproject.com/beepetition

2.  Please spread the word about the online Petition by asking your friends and contacts to sign it.  For example, you can send an email to your contacts or send a message to your friends on Facebook giving them a link to the Petition and asking for support.  You will find that most people, even non-beekeepers, are happy to support a 13 year old who is on a mission to accomplish something positive. 

3.  If you are actually willing to be a mentor, please pledge to BSA that you would be willing to act as a beekeping mentor for scouts in your area.  There are two ways that you can make this known.  The easiest way is to go to the “Pledge To Be A BSA Beekeeping Mentor” thread on Beesource, which is located here: http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?p=521453#post521453

If you do not want to do a public post, you can print, sign and mail this form letter to Christopher Stowell: http://www.beesource.com/files/bsabe...letter.bsa.pdf .

4.  Finally, if you are a member of a beekeeping club, please ask your club to pass this resolution:
http://www.beesource.com/files/bsacl...lution.bsa.pdf

Christopher's goal is to present to the BSA on July 15, 2010. So please keep this in mind and make sure you take action as soon as possible. 

Thanks for your help,

Barry Birkey
Beesource.com