Rolla Bee Club planning members plan and hold yearly beginning beekeeping classes (here January 21, 2023) then support those students as they pursue beekeeping through free club meetings and a nearby open teaching apiary. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)
Rolla Bee Club is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit corporation under the State of Missouri managed by volunteers.
Missouri Charter N000709064.
Rolla Bee Club Volunteer Planning Committee
The volunteer planning committee sets club policies and organizes upcoming club programs and activities. If you have a suggestion and/or want to volunteer, please contact one of the committee members.
Robert Catron, Facilities
David Draker, Class Registration
Crystal Elliott, Honey Contest
Christine Richards, Treasurer
Charlotte Ekker Wiggins, Past President and Teaching Apiary Manager
Club History
Club founders David Draker and Charlotte Ekker Wiggins started the club February 2014 at the request of students from one of Charlotte's basic beekeeping classes. Charlotte agreed to start the club as long as everyone agreed to pitch in and David volunteered.
Since then, a number of beekeepers have volunteered to help from bringing items to share at monthly club meetings as well as being practicing beekeepers, mentors and bee buddies supporting beginning beekeepers.
Donations, class proceeds and item sales fund the club's costs.
Rolla Bee Club Beginning Beekeeping Classes are certified by Great Plains Master Beekeeping program, certifying that the class information is scientifically-based best best management practices.
Rolla Bee Club is also an approved Phelps County Master Gardener project for community volunteer hours and approved for continuing education hours with Meramec Hills Master Naturalists.
Rolla Bee Club Meetings
We meet at Doolittle Community Hall, 380 Eisenhower, Rolla (on GPS) for monthly meetings. The teaching apiary is open from noon-1:45 p.m. on nearby private property usually April-October by appointment.
Email List for Rolla Bee Club Meeting Notices
If you are not on our email list, please sign up/subscribe for upcoming meeting notices monthly newsletter. We use your email only for meeting notice newsletters and will not provide it to anyone else. For more information, call (573) 578-0561 and email rollabees at gmail.com.
Other Missouri Bee Clubs
To find a beekeeping club closer to where you live, check Missouri State Beekeepers Association club list. Attending club meetings close to where you live will give you pertinent information to your local beekeeping conditions and help you meet beekeepers in your area.
About Rolla Bee Club Founder
Charlotte Ekker Wiggins is retired after 21 years of military service and 30 years of government service, where for many years she was a public affairs officer and management/public affairs instructor for a 20-state area university. She is the master gardener representative on Missouri's Master Pollinator Steward Program Steering Committee and a contributing author; the program launched spring 2019. Fall of 2018, she was selected as an April 11, 2019 TEDx speaker at Missouri S&T on “why bugs matter.”
In addition to teaching Rolla Bee Club classes and mentoring new beekeepers, Charlotte is author of several beekeeping-related books and lectures on how to plant for pollinators as well tips on running a bee club. She is a Great Plains Master Beekeeping Certified Master Beekeeper and Master Gardener Emeritus. More info at www.charlottekkerwiggins.com.
Missouri Charter N000709064.
Rolla Bee Club Volunteer Planning Committee
The volunteer planning committee sets club policies and organizes upcoming club programs and activities. If you have a suggestion and/or want to volunteer, please contact one of the committee members.
Robert Catron, Facilities
David Draker, Class Registration
Crystal Elliott, Honey Contest
Christine Richards, Treasurer
Charlotte Ekker Wiggins, Past President and Teaching Apiary Manager
Club History
Club founders David Draker and Charlotte Ekker Wiggins started the club February 2014 at the request of students from one of Charlotte's basic beekeeping classes. Charlotte agreed to start the club as long as everyone agreed to pitch in and David volunteered.
Since then, a number of beekeepers have volunteered to help from bringing items to share at monthly club meetings as well as being practicing beekeepers, mentors and bee buddies supporting beginning beekeepers.
Donations, class proceeds and item sales fund the club's costs.
Rolla Bee Club Beginning Beekeeping Classes are certified by Great Plains Master Beekeeping program, certifying that the class information is scientifically-based best best management practices.
Rolla Bee Club is also an approved Phelps County Master Gardener project for community volunteer hours and approved for continuing education hours with Meramec Hills Master Naturalists.
Rolla Bee Club Meetings
We meet at Doolittle Community Hall, 380 Eisenhower, Rolla (on GPS) for monthly meetings. The teaching apiary is open from noon-1:45 p.m. on nearby private property usually April-October by appointment.
Email List for Rolla Bee Club Meeting Notices
If you are not on our email list, please sign up/subscribe for upcoming meeting notices monthly newsletter. We use your email only for meeting notice newsletters and will not provide it to anyone else. For more information, call (573) 578-0561 and email rollabees at gmail.com.
Other Missouri Bee Clubs
To find a beekeeping club closer to where you live, check Missouri State Beekeepers Association club list. Attending club meetings close to where you live will give you pertinent information to your local beekeeping conditions and help you meet beekeepers in your area.
About Rolla Bee Club Founder
Charlotte Ekker Wiggins is retired after 21 years of military service and 30 years of government service, where for many years she was a public affairs officer and management/public affairs instructor for a 20-state area university. She is the master gardener representative on Missouri's Master Pollinator Steward Program Steering Committee and a contributing author; the program launched spring 2019. Fall of 2018, she was selected as an April 11, 2019 TEDx speaker at Missouri S&T on “why bugs matter.”
In addition to teaching Rolla Bee Club classes and mentoring new beekeepers, Charlotte is author of several beekeeping-related books and lectures on how to plant for pollinators as well tips on running a bee club. She is a Great Plains Master Beekeeping Certified Master Beekeeper and Master Gardener Emeritus. More info at www.charlottekkerwiggins.com.