This is a work in progress and at this point we’re not sure if we can do it. Please consider everything below as a statement of principle rather than a commitment at this point. If you sign up as interested in any committee below we will contact you as we know more.

In 2024 The Guild is considering a new approach to committees. We have found it challenging to get consistent involvement from non-board members. This structure described here is intended to provide a compensation structure based on cooperative principles to make participation in committee work more rewarding. Of course any committee member may decline compensation and make their contribution on a purely voluntary basis.

Committee members are Guild members who have committed to support the mission of the committee by devoting a minimum of 6 hours to the committee each month. This may vary by committee. Any Guild member may serve on a committee. Committee lead(s) will sit on the board. In return for this commitment members are eligible for a share of committee net revenue based on their contribution. Each committee would determine its distribution rules by consensus and consultation with the board.

There could be committee specific revenue sharing rules. The Education, Apiary, and Events committees generate revenue. The Board mostly spends money. A general revenue sharing approach would compensate committee members based on a share of net revenue generated by the committee. The board or general fund would be funded by the committees, membership dues, and other direct funding. A share of overall net revenues could go to a long term capital fund.

The committees described below are based on current Guild activities. New committees could be formed as needed.

Events Committee

Mandate – Schedule and staff events of all kinds. Honey Fest is the primary event of the year accounting for about 40% of sales. There is a lot of potential to develop new events, improve current offerings, and create new types of events and merchandise for sale.

Revenue – Will come from commissions on honey sales for members, sales of Guild of merchandise, raffles, event admissions, and fees charged for special events.

Education Committee

Mandate – Schedule and staff classes and workshops and outreach to schools and other organizations to offer classes and workshops.

Revenue – Fees paid for classes, workshops, events organized by the committee on its own or in partnership with other organizations as well as donations, grants, other forms of external support.

Apiary Committee 

Mandate – Maintain Guild and partner apiaries and develop new partnerships. Read about Guild Beekeeping and partner apiaries here.

Revenue – Fees paid for apiary management. Donations, grants, other forms of external support. Sales of anything derived from apiary operations including group sales, equipment, and hive products not covered by partner agreements.

Board

Mandate – The executive committee attends to Guild business including contracts, fund raising, managing membership issues, maintaining the Guild’s online presence, managing finances, and developing grant applications and donations.

Revenue – Whether the board should be compensated is up for discussion. It might be wiser to carve out a salary for a director. The board has been known to do a pretty large share of the work of running the Guild. It can be a lot.