Member Meeting: April 7, 2026 (Dee Olekas)
Tue, Apr 07
|Platt Springs United Methodist Church
Dee plans to promote the Master Beekeeping Program as well as discuss the biology & lifecycle of a honeybee. You don't want to miss this!
Time & Location
Apr 07, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Platt Springs United Methodist Church, 3215 Platt Springs Rd, West Columbia, SC 29170
About the event
Dee Olekas' Bio:
Director, SCBA Master Beekeeping Program
Dee Olekas is a South Carolina Master Beekeeper who has been working with the Master Beekeeping Committee for the past two years focusing on Journeyman testing.
She is currently working with Ben Powell as the Apiculture Assistant to the Clemson Apiculture and Pollinator Program. The Program was awarded an AFRI grant to analyze honey bee and larval samples collected in North and South Carolina post-Helene for Vairimorpha (Nosema) loads. Additionally, the project is testing for European Foulbrood and American Foulbrood as well as processing Varroa samples for Amitraz resistance.
Her interest in beekeeping started by wanting pollinators for her garden. This quickly became more than just a hobby, leading to now managing 45+ colonies. She has a passion for honey bee anatomy and managing seasonal colony life, which she finds increasingly fascinating and addictive.