Introduction

[TomP]

Just a quick intro.  I am Tom and live in Aurora, Colorado.  I have been keeping bees for 12 seasons in top bar hives.  I have found top bar hives to be very friendly to beekeeping in urban/suburban settings.  One of the advantages I have seen is that people don't immediately recognize a TBH as a beehive.  Since they don't recognize it, it doesn't bother them the way conventional hives might.

In 2003 I was instrumental in getting a very favorable beekeeping ordinance passed in Aurora.  A copy of the ordinance with it's declaration can be found here: (Link pending insertion by moderator?)

The primary factor in getting this ordinance passed by our City Council was public support.  The public support came through using the newspaper, internet and word of mouth to get people to write letters to the Mayor.  (The letters to the editor of the Aurora Sentinel were also helpful.) Aurora came very close to having beekeeping totally banned within the city but it was by direction of Mayor Paul Tauer that the ordinance was drafted and passed.  

The 2003 passage of the Aurora beekeeping ordinance is about the only truly politically active time in my life.  In addition to beekeeping I am a chiropractor, acupuncturist,  with an eclectic diversified natural health direction in my practice, a husband and father, and an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).

[WPG]

Welcome Tom,

Looks like you have a lot to offer the site, with all that spare time you have.


We'll expect a book on long-term survival of TBH's in a cold climate.

Another one on combating big brother doo-gooders.

[AllenF]

Sounds like a golden place to keep bees.

[TomP]

My wife will be thrilled to hear about me having more things to do now that I have 2 books to write!  Thanks for the encouragement WPG.  Just don't hold your breath waiting for either book.

Tom

[TomP]

Now that my posts are up to 10 I thought I would see if I could post the link I referenced in my intro:
http://www.beesource.com/resources/elements-of-beekeeping/laws-related-to-bees-and-beekeeping/aurora-colorado-beekeeping-ordinance/

[beemaster]

We have many choices when it comes to when a member may post links. We can make it as easy as X numbers of day or hours, but also by how many words - let's say I require you to have at least 300 words on a post before it is counted AS a post. Many options.

One is a lotto game and you may come in posting, in others it may be a 3 week punishment. These are just a few of the many. But hope you feel better speaking out on your theory on how we allow people to post links, if you'd like I could put you back out there and we'll try a different game

Thought about it, we can even set it up to allow a person's membership "activate or end" WHEN OIL PRICES hit a certain number value. Or how about only allowing membership when Stephan King writes a novel with the word "Pencil" somewhere in the title. That's when they can post photos... Silly.

You might say thanks for photo and links privilege - too many people take that too lightly, it is our first wall with in the forum environment that helps the members find trouble makers.

MANY PEOPLE have done it sooner than you - FYI. 10 is a pretty good number, but I know people who have done it in 3 posts. You're pretty average actually, may be that is why you see patterns which aren't there Wasn't "A Beautiful Mind" a great movie

[TomP]

e have many choices when it comes to when a member may post links. We can make it as easy as X numbers of day or hours, but also by how many words - let's say I require you to have at least 300 words on a post before it is counted AS a post. Many options.

One is a lotto game and you may come in posting, in others it may be a 3 week punishment. These are just a few of the many. But hope you feel better speaking out on your theory on how we allow people to post links, if you'd like I could put you back out there and we'll try a different game Smiley

Thought about it, we can even set it up to allow a person's membership "activate or end" WHEN OIL PRICES hit a certain number value. Or how about only allowing membership when Stephan King writes a novel with the word "Pencil" somewhere in the title. That's when they can post photos... Silly.

You might say thanks for photo and links privilege - too many people take that too lightly, it is our first wall with in the forum environment that helps the members find trouble makers.

MANY PEOPLE have done it sooner than you - FYI. 10 is a pretty good number, but I know people who have done it in 3 posts. You're pretty average actually, may be that is why you see patterns which aren't there 

Ah, like so many other times in life, and in beekeeping, I think I see one thing when actually there is much more to there than what I am seeing.  Still I am happy to be able to be a part of a really cool forum and hope I am able to make so valuable contributions, or at least a smile or 2, if not a laugh.

Tom

[kathyp]

please don't do it by the word.  i prefer not to read more than is necessary for the point to be made! 

[kathyp]

and, welcome tomp 

[specialkayme]

Welcome to the site!