Every year PCOC puts on a Leadership Academy. The event is designed to train future leaders in our industry and is an invaluable opportunity to develop skills that transcend involvement in PCOC. In fact, I believe, it is one of the most important things that we do as an association. This year it will be held June 3–4 at the Silverado Resort in Napa. Each district sends its Chairman and Vice Chairman for the upcoming year. Attendees come away with abilities and ideas that they can use for the rest of their life. Here are some of the topics that we cover:

• History of PCOC and its structure, bylaws and decision making process.
• District Bylaws.
• Preparing and conducting a district meeting.
• Finding Good Speakers.
• Officers Duties and Responsibilities.
• Roberts Rules of Order.
• Public Speaking.
• Benefits of Membership in PCOC.
• The Legislative Process.
• District Growth.
• Finding Good speakers.
• Your Transition Meeting.

We should all be proud of this significant event, put together by YOUR association...I know I am honored to be a small part of it. The other faculty members are Lee Whitmore, our Leadership Academy Chair, Curtis Good, Joe Gatto, Bob Rosenberg, and Bill Gaither.

 

 

"As to Disney photos, logos, and properties: ©Disney"

JOIN US AT THE DISNEYLAND® RESORT FOR

PCOC'S 68^TH ANNUAL CONVENTION & TRADESHOW

You can book your rooms and purchase tickets for the theme parks now. Just click on the appropriate link below:

Room Reservations: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/pestcontrol2011

Theme Park Tickets: http://www.disneyconventionear.com/GDPF11A

Exhibitor Registration

Attendee Registration

Please note: These special theme park ticket prices are not available once you arrive at the resort. Our ticket store closes at 9 p.m. PST on 6/19/2011 so don't delay.

 

 

May 2

Bed Bug Symposium

San Ramon Marriott

San Ramon, CA

Registration

 

May 4 
Bed Bug Symposium 

Doubletree Hotel Santa Ana
Orange County, CA 
Registration

May 5 
Bed Bug Symposium

Hilton San Diego Del Mar

San Diego, CA

Registration

 

MEMBERSHIP CONTEST

Tamara Tibbett-Arendt of American Pest Control Company is still in the lead with five (5) new members. In second place are Baron McDonald of Clark Pest Control-Lodi and Janet Thrasher of Thrasher Termite & Pest Control with two (2) new members each. The contest runs through May 31, 2011. $1000.00 will be awarded to the winner and there will be an additional drawing for another $1000.00. Click here for contest rules.

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2011 PCOC FUMIGATION BANNER BONANZA CONTEST

Dow AgroSciences is again sponsoring the 2011 Fumigation Banner Contest. The rules are the same as last year and we have provided a link to view the complete set of rules here. This contest will also end on May 31, 2011. The will be four (4) winners again this year. I have only received three (3) contest submissions at this time. Please mail all submissions to:

Electronic submissions may be made at: billgaither@pcoc.org

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NPMA/PCOC BED BUG SYMPOSIUMS

The resurgence of bed bugs has created significant concern among anyone responsible for providing housing to the general public. In response, NPMA has partnered with PCOC, the National Apartment Association, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association to deliver a workshop series designed to educate these audiences in effectively responding to the threat of bed bugs. This is a not-to-miss opportunity to interact with potential customers from the hotel and lodging, apartment, property management, and university housing markets.

On May 2, 2011 in San Francisco, May 4^th in Orange County and on May 5^th in San Diego PCOC and NPMA will be hosting all day seminars on bed bugs. Our target audience will be the Hotel Industry, Apartment Managers Association and Property Managers and other related Associations. These seminars will include presentations on bed bug facts and will include a panel of PCO's to answer questions. At each location will be an exhibit hall where PCOC member companies will be able to sponsor a booth and be available to interact with the Seminar Participants. More information and registration will be made available in the near future.

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DISTRICT ELECTIONS

Now is the time to start consideration for the election of new District Officers and Directors. Districts need to complete their elections no later than April 30, 2011 and submit the results to the PCOC office no later than later than May 1, 2011. By following this timeline it allows PCOC staff the necessary time to prepare for the annual Leadership Academy.

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PCOC ANNUAL ELECTIONS

At the Annual Meeting during the Convention this year the following positions are up for election.

Executive Committee All positions

PCOC CARES Trustees Two positions

PAPCO Trustees Two positions

Scholarship Trustees Two positioins

All nominations must be submitted in writing to Lee Whitmore by May 15th in order to appear on the preprinted ballot.

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MORE BED BUG NEWS

NPMA has come out in support of HR 967, the Bed Bug Management, Prevention and Research Act of 2011, introduced by Representative Jean Schmidt R-OH. The measure was introduced in response to the dramatic resurgence of bed bugs in the United States in recent years and aims to find ways to help Americans cope with this pest.

Specifically, the bill authorizes a federal bed bug research funding program to resume research that has been neglected for 50 years; requires efficacy testing for minimum risk pesticides to protect consumers from products that don't effectively manage bed bug infestations; adds criteria the EPA must consider for the registration of a public health pesticide so as to help provide professionals and consumers more safe, affordable and effective tools; establishes a Bed Bug Prevention and Mitigation Pilot Program to provide subsidized treatments for those on fixed and lower incomes.

According to the NPMA, 95% of pest control professionals reported treating bed bugs over the past year, up from 25% of professionals in 2000. Moreover, bed bugs have been identified as the single most difficult pest to treat by the pest control industry.

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AFRICANIZED HONEYBEE RENEWAL CERTIFICATION

Attention: All PCO's Certified To Control Africanized Honeybees

The Board of Directors of the Pest Control Operators of California has approved a program for the renewal of the Africanized Honeybee Certification program/course.

Effective immediately all persons who have previously completed the AHB course must comply with the following conditions:

(1) All certified licensees must perform a check in with PCOC to update their status, ie: Employer, mailing address and license status with either or both the SPCB and DPR. This check in process will be done through the PCOC website online and will begin May 1, 2010 and must be completed by June 30, 2011. Anyone who does not complete the check in process will be dropped from the AHB database maintained by PCOC. Staff will have the flexibility to accommodate licensees who fail to check in during this time period because of extenuating circumstances such as active duty overseas or other similar situations.

(2) After the initial check in, certified licensees will be sent an email annually to the email address they have established in the system (the licensee will be able to go online at any time and update their profile and contact information, including their email address) reminding them to check in to confirm their contact information and status as an active (or inactive) certified licensee.

(3) Thereafter every six (6) years certified licensees would be required to retake the full certification course.

(4) Thereafter every three (3) years (in between the six year renewal) every certified licensee will be required to take an one (1) hour online class on the PCOC website. The AHB subcommittee will create and post a 1-hour class annually, which will be available to all AHB certified Licensees to take each year. Some classes will focus on updates on a particular nuance of AHB management; other classes may focus on updates on the AHB movement, stinging incidents, new technologies and other timely issues.

(5) AHB Licensees who last took the full AHB Certification course prior to 2009 will have to take the full AHB Certification class by the end of 2014. This allows a full four years to accommodate these licensees to get into the system of retaking the full AHB Certification course every six (6) years.

(6) AHB Certified Licensees who last took the full AHB Certification course in 2009 or later will have to take the full AHB Certification class with six (6) years of when they last completed the class.

CURRENT CHALLENGES WHICH NECESSITATE THE NEED FOR RENEWALS

• Lack of compliance with standards. Hopefully this is due to length of time since some have taken the course rather than a desire to purposefully violate the standards.
• Desire to maintain highest levels of integrity and professionalism within this industry/statutory certification.
• No system by which to maintain an up-to-date database of certified licensees. Counties, State Agencies and the public have all complained that our database is all but useless because it contains licensees who are no longer in the industry, or who are certified, but longer desire to control honeybees.

CHECK IN PROCEDURE

All AHB Licensees (PCOC members and all non-members) must contact PCOC staff for login and password information. The AHB licensee then must go to the PCOC website; http://www.pcoc.org/. Click on the Find/Hire a Pest Control Company button, then click on the add/update your listing line. Click on the update your listing box.

ALL AHB LICENSEES MUST UPDATE THEIR LISTING TO INCLUDE CURRENT EMPLOYER, ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFORMATION.

The update will be automatically forwarded to the PCOC staff.

It is the responsibility of the AHB Licensee to complete the update before June 30, 2011 or you will be dropped from the AHB database.

 

IN MEMORIAM

Most of you are aware of the passing of Chris Morris last Wednesday April 6^th due to complications with the heart surgery he had recently undergone. Chris was very involved in the growth of the PCOC Ventura District and had a great passion for our industry.

 

 

OBESITY INCREASES CLAIM COSTS 

"Work-related injuries are far more costly if the injured worker is obese," reported the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) in December 2010. "The dramatically higher medical costs suggest that...injuries sustained by obese workers, especially the 'morbidly obese,' are more likely to result in permanent disabilities."

With two-thirds of American adults now overweight or obese, weight is likely affecting your workers' compensation costs in several ways.

First, the obese file more claims. A 2007 study by Duke University Medical Center found that morbidly obese workers (those whose weights are 100 percent or more above normal for their height) filed 45 percent more claims than workers of normal weight.

Their claims also incurred 5.4 times the medical costs and nearly 8 times the indemnity claim costs as claims from workers of normal weight. A study by the American Medical Association concurred that obese workers have higher claim costs, finding that obese workers with workers' comp claims have five times more lost days and their medical costs are more than twice as high as people of recommended weight.

WHY WEIGHT MATTERS

The NCCI study determined that for claims involving the same injury type, medical treatment costs and claim duration were generally greater for obese claimants. It also found that injuries are more likely to create permanent disabilities when an injured worker is obese.

Why does weight make such a difference? Obesity makes surgery more difficult and wound complications more likely. It also leads to other conditions that can make complications more likely, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Extra weight can also make it more difficult to recuperate from injuries such as sprains, strains and fractures, particularly in the lower limbs, because of the extra weight placed on them. Research also indicates that fat cells can produce substances that are similar to ones that cause inflammatory joint disease. The extra collection of fat cells in obese people may cause additional joint destruction due to "cumulative hormonal effects."

WELLNESS PROGRAMS 

Now that many workers' compensation managers recognize the workers' comp costs associated with obesity, they are teaming up with HR to develop wellness programs. If you are considering offering financial incentives for participation, nondiscrimination rules under HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act, will apply. Wellness programs offering financial incentives must meet five requirements. These are:

1. The total reward for all wellness programs that require satisfaction of a health-related standard generally must not exceed 20 percent of the cost of employee-only coverage under the plan.

2. The program must be reasonably designed to promote health and prevent disease.

3. The program must give individuals eligible to participate the opportunity to qualify for the reward at least once per year.

4. The reward must be available to all similarly situated individuals. The program must also allow a reasonable alternative (or waiver) to any individual who finds it medically inadvisable or whose medical condition makes it unreasonably difficult to satisfy the initial standard.

5. The plan must disclose the availability of a reasonable alternative standard or waiver in all materials describing the program.

For more suggestions on controlling workers' compensation costs please call the PCOC Insurance Program department at Jenkins Insurance Services at (800) 234-6363.

 

NAME COMPANY DISTRICT	MEMBER TYPE	REFERRED BY
Carl Massicott	A
Advanced K9 Detectives
BAYAREA
Mr. Christopher J. Crane	R
Caden Pest Control of California, Inc
PALMSPNGS
Mr. James Harmon	R	Robert Morales
California Pest Management, Inc
SANGABRIEL
Mr. Israel C. Salazar	R
Element Pest Control
ORANGE
Mr. Edward A. Castenada	R	Jenkins Ins
Elect Termite & Construction
SANBERND
Ms. Maria Ceja	R
JC Fumigation, Inc
LA/SOBAY
Mr. Earl Boyll	R	Janet Thrasher
San Diego Pest Solutions
SANDIEGO

 

TEMPORARY NPMA LOGIN FOR JOINT MEMBERSHIP

LOGIN: 313501

PASSWORD: PCOC

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PCOC Web site password for 2010–2011: "termite"

Please remember, the password changes every July 1!

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Department of Fish & Game
www.dfg.ca.gov

Department of Food & Agriculture
www.cdfa.ca.gov

Department of Pesticide Regulation
www.cdpr.ca.gov

Find Your Legislator
www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

Healthy Schools Act
www.schoolipm.info

Structural Pest Control Board
www.pestboard.ca.gov

 

For an additional charge, you may access a 24-hour hotline providing consultation by qualified medical doctors on pesticide-related medical emergencies. This service is provided free of charge to Peacock Group insureds.

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