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EVP NOTES
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 was one of the most important things that we do as an association. This year it will be held May 31June 1 at the Silverado Resort in Napa. Each district sends its Chairman and Vice Chairman for the upcoming year. Other individuals are most welcome to attend. 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:
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 this year are Lee Whitmore, our Leadership Academy Chair, Curtis Good, Joe Gatto and Scott Howell. STRATEGY By Lloyd Merritt Smigel
Keynote Speaker at the PCOC Expo 2012
Korn Ferry and Columbia University surveyed thousands of CEO's worldwide and asked what are the ten most important functions of your positions. #1 was Strategy #2 was HRD (People Skills) #3 was Sales and Marketing Ironically, most of my work with companies involves strategy. Many companies don't spend any time creating a strategy for their employees and company. "What is your plan? Where do you want to be in five years?" are easy to answer. Getting there, step by step, with time allocations, is another story. Interestingly enough, before I can even get to work on a strategy within many companies, we have to first begin in damage control and then stabilization. If you are not organized and you are reactive to day to day situations and little emergencies that come up daily you can't worry too much about the future or strategy. The old saying "you can't think about draining the swamp when you are up to your butt in alligators" rings true here. So first we have to work on getting rid of the alligators. In many cases, in this industry, some of those alligators are relatives, but that's another story. The point is that companies with strategies and vision keep moving forward. They are innovative and take control of their fate they are rarely reactive to things after the fact. They constantly adjust and readjust to keep on course. They do not keep that staff member that everyone knows in a troublemaker and just screws up everything. They do not put up with the nay-sayers and instigators. Weeding out the bad eggs helps you stay on course and not having to stop to put out fires that could have been avoided and/or that are started by the same people all of the time. We are in the PEOPLE business. Our people will help us progress or regress. It is what I will be discussing at our June meeting in San Diego. See you then. PCOC EXPO 2012 INCREASED VALUE! MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES You won't want to miss our all new and improved PCOC Expo 2012, June 2123 at the Catamaran Resort in beautiful San Diego. A full day of CE opportunities and a chance to network in the Exhibit Hall. Our Keynote Speaker is Lloyd Smigel. Also on the program is Bill Douglas, Interim Director of the Structural Pest Control Board. 9 breakout sessions! For more complete details, and to register for the Expo, click here. To make your hotel reservations: click here ACT NOW. SPACE IS LMITED! ROOMS AT THE RESORT ARE GOING FAST. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
IN THE NEWS
FROM PCOC'S NEW DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
I have been in the pest industry for over 15 years, working for Clark Pest Control in Rancho Cordova and Sacramento. I have branch 2 and 3 field representative licenses and have performed termite treatments, construction, and WDO inspections. I ran a pest control route as a combination technician doing both branch 2 and 3 work simultaneously. I've also worked in the remodel industry, including working for the DIY Network's television show Turf Wars. As I transition into this new position with PCOC, my major goal, apart from learning the job, is to assess the current membership program and see where improvements can be made. Even before I accepted the position, I was looking at the benefits for members. One of my many goals is to try to increase the benefits members get, including programs that save money. I believe creating and increasing the value of membership is a necessity in order to attract new members and bolster retention of existing members. I look forward to meeting PCOC members throughout California. CERTIFIED AS A BED BUG EXPERT
by Gail Getty
Being recognized as an expert in the field of bed bug management is critical for you and your company's ongoing success. And now you can be certified in the Pest Management industry. PCOC is proud to support Domus Institute, developed by Gail Getty, an independent scientific organization. Domus Institute's Professional Certification Program is a program designed to educate and train individuals in bed bug identification and eradication using industry standards and best practices. For more information on this certification program, click here. Domus Institute is holding a one-day training program for certification in Southern California on June 5th. Domus Institute is partnering with experts in research entomology, pathology, statistical algorithms and consumer insights and behaviors. Speakers include Gail Getty and Sylvia Kenmuir. Cost of the program is $445 for PCOC members and $545 for non-PCOC members. Space is limited. For more information and a brochure please contact Gail at: gmg@DomusInstitute.com.
2012 PCOC FUMIGATION BANNER BONANZA Contest runs from March 1May 31, 2012. Click here for the banner contest rules. UPCOMING EVENTS
BED BUG FORUM EARLY BIRD SPECIAL DEADLINE EXTENDED! Now is the time to register for our important Bed Bug Forum sponsored by PCOC and NPMA. This critical event in the Pest Control calendar for this year features the top leaders in the field. The early bird special registration pricing has been extended until Friday April 27. The Forum will be held May 24 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Anaheim. MAKE SURE TO SIGN UP TODAY! Click here to Register. 2012
April 24-25
Leg Day 2012
Hyatt Regency Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
May 2-4 May 9
Big Valley Golf Tournament
June 1-2
Leadership Academy
Silverado Resort
Napa, CA
June 21-23 PCOC Expo 2012
Catamaran Resort
San Diego, CA
Sept. 28-29
Board of Directors Meeting
Hyatt Regency
Monterey, CA
Dec. 7-8
Board of Directors Meeting
Hilton Palm Springs
Palm Springs, CA
MEMBER VALUE PROGRAM
PCOC MONTHLY INSURANCE/SAFETY TIP
Getting Backs on Track Occupational back injuries are seldom, if ever, fatal, but they account for nearly 20 percent of all workplace injuries and illnesses and cost the nation an estimated $20 billion to $50 billion per year. Preventing Back Injuries Step 1: Know which jobs pose more risk. You should have job descriptions for every position in your organization if lifting or moving heavy materials is required, determine how much weight a person must be able to lift easily to perform the job safely. Step 2: Ensure applicants are fit for the job. Any worker can suffer a back injury, but material handlers and others whose jobs require lifting have a higher than average chance of job-related back injury. Step 3: A prior injury adds to the risk. Can employers legally screen out workers who have had a previous injury? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and amendments prohibit employers from asking disability-related questions and conducting medical examinations until after it makes a conditional job offer to the applicant. You also cannot discriminate against an employee on the basis of workers' compensation claims filed. Although employers may not ask disability-related questions or require medical examinations at the pre-offer stage, they can take these steps to evaluate whether an applicant is qualified for the job: a. Asking whether an applicant can perform specific job functions, for example, lifting a certain amount of weight. b. Asking about an applicant's non-medical qualifications and skills, such as education, work history and required certifications and licenses. c. Asking applicants to describe or demonstrate how they would perform job tasks. Once you make a conditional job offer, you may ask disability-related questions and require medical examinations as long as the company requires exams for all employees entering that job category. If you reject the applicant after a disability-related question or medical examination, have justifiable reasons and document your decision. If the applicant files a discrimination complaint, EEOC investigators will closely scrutinize whether the rejection was based on the results of that question or examination. Step 4: Look at trends. Examine past claims for patterns are there particular tasks that lead to back injuries? Do claims involve similar conditions such as slippery or unstable footing, unusually large loads? And finally, look at the claimants themselves do they share any characteristics? NEW MEMBERS
FREQUENTLY REQUESTED INFORMATION
TEMPORARY NPMA LOGIN FOR JOINT MEMBERSHIP LOGIN: 313501 PASSWORD: PCOC PCOC website password for 20112012 effective July 1, 2011:"npma" Department of Fish & Game Department of Food & Agriculture Department of Pesticide Regulation Find Your Legislator Healthy Schools Act Structural Pest Control Board |
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