A few weeks ago I attended the Structural Pest Control Meeting in Sothern California and found many PCOC members in attendance that day. The reason for the turnout was concern over the applicator exam and how we can better understand the pass/failure rate. There has been significant concern about some of the questions on the test and whether they are appropriate for this entry level exam. The good news is that SPCB has heard us loud and clear and they will be talking with Office of Professional Exam Services (OPES) at the Department of Consumer Affairs about the make up of the exam. We also are currently talking with the leadership of the Board to determine how our membership can assist them when there are opportunities for us to participate in this process in a meaningful way. Again, thank you all for your help and we will keep you updated on this important matter!

Chris Reardon
PCOC Executive Vice President

September BOD Golf Tournament – September 20, 2018
San Juan Hills Golf Club, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Golfer/Sponsor Registration Form

PWPM 5K Walk at Board of Directors - September 21, 2018
Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa, Dana Point, California
Please join the Professional Woman in Pest Management Committee for a 5K walk. There is a $10 donation that benefits the PWPM Scholarship. If you are interested, please meet in the hotel lobby at 7:45 am on the morning of September 21 for a beautiful coastal view walk!! Everyone is invited to join!! Donations will be accepted the morning of the walk.

Board of Directors Meeting – September 21-22, 2018
Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa, Dana Point, California
Please call (949) 661-5000 or (800) 228-9290 to make your room reservations. Our room rate is $239/night. REGISTRATION CUTOFF IS AUGUST 27.
We will collect items to donate to Operation Gratitude for assembly of care packages for our troops and first responders. Click here for the wish list items. If you would like to donate money in lieu of items, we will also have a collection container for you as well. 

Committee Schedule
Announcement

Fall Pest Ed - Southern California, October 30, 2018
Double Tree by Hilton, Ontario Airport, Ontario, California
Fall Pest Ed - Northern California, November 15, 2018
Crowne Plaza Sacramento Northeast, Sacramento, California
Exhibitor Registration Form
Attendees Registration Form to follow

Board of Directors Meeting – December 6-8, 2018
Hilton Palm Springs Resort, Palm Springs, California
Information to Follow

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the Structural Pest Control Board's (SPCB) testing and licensing process.  There are certain aspects of this process that Industry are responsible for and parts that the SPCB are responsible for. 

Industry has the ability influence the time in which a new employee is licensed.  One way of decreasing this time is by registering with PSI as soon as the employee is eligible for the test.  This will give the candidate the opportunity to pick the time and place to take the test.  If you wait until the candidate has studied and is “ready” for the RA test, then you may need to wait longer to find an available seat. 

Recently, the SPCB ran a report looking at some of the time frames associated with various steps in the licensing process.  In a random selection of RA candidates, it took Industry an average of almost 17 days to register for a test with PSI.  It then took another almost 11 days to get a seat.  PSI is contractually required to get us a seat within 5 days (doesn't need to be our top choice but close).  So if Industry is taking a seat that long out, then it is our choice.  But if PSI is not offering a seat within that time frame, then please let me know and we can address that with them.

Another aspect that Industry controls is the application information.  One of the comments from PSI and the SPCB is the handwriting on the applications is not able to be read.  This impacts the ability for PSI to email the handbook and the candidate not receiving it in time. 

There is a common misunderstanding about when a newly licensed technician can work on their own.  A technician can work on their own once their license number is posted on the SPCB website.  The Department of Consumer Affairs is under contract to mail license numbers out within 8 business days.  Again, if this is not happening, please let me know.  However, it is not needed to wait for the paper license to arrive.  Print out the webpage that has the license information and carry that around until the pocket license arrives.

While industry has their aspects, the SPCB has theirs, DCA has theirs, and PSI has theirs.  We all have room for improvement in our parts and we are working on them.  Please let me know if there are specific questions you have about the process.

Here is the link to SPCB's License Lookup

Darren Van Steenwyk, M.S., BCE
Structural Pest Control Board, President
LEED Green Associate & Technical Director, Clark Pest Control
darrenv@clarkpest.com

We will be collecting "wish list" items to donate to Operation Gratitude, the 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer-based organization that sends care packages to our military and first responders. We will have a container at our board of directors meeting in September in which you can drop off your donated items. If you are interested in donating, please contact Sarah at sarah@pcoc.org.

Here is a list of items that Operation Gratitude is in need of: 

• All-purpose wipes (single & 30-ct. packs or less)
• Batteries (AA and/or AAA)
• Deodorant (travel size, non-aerosol)
• Drink mix (Individual serving packets)
• Gum
• Hand warmers
• Jerky (individual bags)
• Lip balm
• Pencils (mechanical preferred)
• Playing cards
• Powder (travel size)
• Puzzle books (7" x 10" preferred size)
• Sewing kits (travel size)
• Socks (black, crew length)
• Sunscreen (travel size, non-aerosol)
• Handmade "With Love" items
  • Cool ties
  • Knit or crocheted hats
  • Scarves
  • Paracord survival bracelets

If you wish to purchase wish list items online, here is the link to the Amazon Wish List.  

*Please remember to enclose a personal letter of appreciation for the receiver of the care package. 

In addition, the cost to ship one care package is typically around $15. At our September board of directors meeting, we will have a container where you can drop your pocket change to be sent to Operation Graditude to help cover the cost of shipping the care packages. 

Hot Weather Alert

Employers are responsible for providing workplaces that are safe from excessive heat. Yet every year, thousands of workers become sick from exposure to heat, and some even die. Heat illnesses and deaths are preventable.

The risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths increases during warm summer months; humidity increases the risk. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: body temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include: 

• Extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness

How can heat illness be prevented?

Employers should establish a complete heat illness prevention program to prevent heat illness. This includes: provide workers with water, rest and shade; gradually increase workloads and allow more frequent breaks for new workers or workers who have been away for a week or more to build a tolerance for working in the heat (acclimatization); modify work schedules as necessary; plan for emergencies and train workers about the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and their prevention; and monitor workers for signs of illness. Workers new to the heat or those who have been away from work and are returning can be most vulnerable to heat stress and they must be acclimatized.

To prevent heat-related illness and fatalities:

• Drink water every 15 minutes, even if you are not thirsty.
• Rest in the shade to cool down.
• Wear a hat and light-colored clothing.
• Learn the signs of heat illness and what to do in an emergency.
• Keep an eye on fellow workers
• “Easy does it” on your first days of work in the heat. You need to get used to it.

If workers are new to working in the heat or returning from more than a week off, and for all workers on the first day of a sudden heat wave, implement a work schedule to allow them to get used to the heat gradually. Working in full sunlight can increase heat index values by 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep this in mind and plan additional precautions for working in these conditions.

Remember these three simple words: Water, Rest, Shade. Taking these precautions can mean the difference between life and death. For further help, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program professionals of EPIC at (877) 860-7378 or email us at ProPest@epicbrokers.com.  Also, check out our website at www.pcocinsurance.com.

Paul Lindsay
Senior Vice President 
EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

August 

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY DISTRICT 
August 21 – Social Hour starts at 5:30 p.m., Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Tarry Howard – Hydrex
tarry_h@hotmail.com • (818) 437-6584
El Sombrero, 3550 Santa Anita Ave, El Monte

SAN GABRIEL DISTRICT
August 21 – Social Hour starts at 5:30 p.m., Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Gilbert Alvidrez – Downtown Pest Control
downtownpestcontrol@gmail.com • (909) 802-0052
El Sombrero, 3550 Santa Anita Ave, El Monte

LOS ANGELES / SOUTH BAY HARBOR DISTRICT
August 21 – Social Hour starts at 5:30 p.m., Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Greg Bausch – American City Pest & Termite, Inc.
greg@americancitypest.com •  (310) 542-8622
El Sombrero, 3550 Santa Anita Ave, El Monte

DIABLO VALLEY DISTRICT – August 28 @ 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Gordie Zilke – Valley View Termite Control
valleyviewtc@yahoo.com • (925) 787-2118
Zio Fraedo's, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill

September

SAN BERNARDINO / RIVERSIDE DISTRICT
September 5 – Social hour starts @ 5:30 p.m., meeting starts @ 6:00 p.m.
CHAIR: John Burnard – Compass Pest Management
jpburnard1@msn.com  •  (951) 688-8066
La Casa Ortega, 1690 Spruce St, Riverside

VINTAGE COASTAL DISTRICT – September 5 @ 7:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Tyler Merritt – Hitmen Termite & Pest Control
tmerritt@hitmenpest.com • (707) 526-6055 
Contact district chair for meeting location

SHASTA DISTRICT – September 11 @ 12:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Shawn McFarland – Trinity Termite & Pest Control
trinitytermite@yahoo.com • (530) 222-6990
Vittles Restaurant, 2385 North St., Anderson

MID CAL DISTRICT
September 11 – Class starts @ 4:00 p.m., dinner is @ 5:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Brad Delk – Delk Pest Control
bdelk@delkpestcontrol.com • (209) 465-5656 
Contact district chair for meeting location

SAN DIEGO DISTRICT – September 11 @ 5:30 p.m.
CHAIR: David Hinrichs – Llyod Pest Control
david.hinrichs@lloydpest.com • (619) 668-1953
Country Inn & Suites, 5975 Lusk Blvd., San Diego

BAY AREA DISTRICT
September 12 – Social hour starts @ 5:30 p.m., dinner is @ 6:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Allan Kanady – Omega Termite & Pest Control
allenrobert@omegapest.com • (510) 544-5913 
El Portal Restaurant, 2028 Lewelling Rd., San Leandro

CENTRAL VALLEY DISTRICT – September 13 @ 4:00 p.m.
CHAIR: John Painter – Dustin Pest Control
john@dustinpestcontrol.com • (559) 275-2253
Contact district chair for meeting location

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT – September 13 @ 6:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Heidi Aguilar-Alvarez – Your Way Fumigation
heidi@ywfumigation.com  • (951) 232-2388
Dave & Busters, Irvine Spectrum, Irvine

SOUTHERN VALLEY DISTRICT – September 13 @ 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Patrick Clark – Clark Pest Control
pclarkzapbugs@aol.com •  (661) 635-3535
Chalet Basque, 200 Oak St., Bakerfield

SANTA CLARA DISTRICT – September 18 @ 6:30 p.m. (TBD due to September BOD)
CHAIR: Janet Thrasher – Thrasher Termite & Pest Control
jthrasher@thrashertermite.com • (408) 354-9944
Drying Shed, 402 Toyon Ave, San Jose

VENTURA DISTRICT – September 18 @ 7:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Rudy Ayala – Spearhead Pest Control
rudy@spearheadpestcontrol.com • (805) 746-4547
Marriott Hotel, 600 East Esplanade Dr., Oxnard

CENTRAL COAST DISTRICT (Formerly known as SANTA BARBARA DISTRICT)
September 19 @ 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Dave Watkins – O’Connor Pest Control
Dwatkins@oconnorpest.com • (805) 482-2782
F. McLintocks, 750 Mattie Rd., Pismo Beach

October

MONTEREY DISTRICT – October 16 @ 6:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Michael Reid – Cardiff Pest Control
cardiff@cruzio.com • (831) 475-4214
El Palomar, 1336 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

BIG VALLEY DISTRICT – October 17 @ 7:00 a.m.
CHAIR: Sean Bradley – Neighborly Pest Management
sean@neighborlypest.com • (916) 782-3767
Stones Event Center, 6510 Antelope Road, Citrus Heights

 
Every year, NPMA gathers thousands of pest management professionals from across the globe to offer opportunities for information sharing, provide access to the latest products, services, and technologies in the 100,000 square foot exhibit hall, and generate critical thinking in world-class educational sessions.

Join us as we celebrate this year’s PestWorld in Orlando!

WHO ATTENDS PESTWORLD?

• Owners and managers of pest management companies
• Pest management technicians and sales representatives
• Product manufacturers and distributors
• Industry researchers, educators and students

WHO EXHIBITS AT PESTWORLD?

• Manufacturers and Distributors of Products and Equipment for Pest Control, Rodent Control,
• Termite Control, Mosquito Control, Bed Bug Control, Nuisance Bird and Wildlife Control, and Lawn Care
• Mold Remediation Suppliers
• Companies that Provide General Services and Products for Small Businesses such as Cell Phones, Credit Cards, Insurance, Legal, and Security Video Systems
• Vehicle Equipment and Accessory Suppliers
• Computer Systems Technology Vendors
• Human Resource Consultants

Get Connected

Follow NPMA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SnapChat to keep in touch with us before, during, and after the conference.

Joining us in Orlando? Be sure to use the official hashtag #PestWorld2018 and let us know you're coming!

Thank You Sponsors

For more information, please visit NPMA's PestWorld's website

*NEW* NPMA Login for Joint Membership

LOGIN: Email or Personal ID

PASSWORD: npma

Frequently Asked-For Websites

Department of Fish & Game
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/

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

California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)
www.cdpr.ca.gov

DPR on Facebook
www.facebook.com/capesticideregulation

DPR on YouTube (see "playlists" for videos pertaining to new surface water regulations)
www.youtube.com/user/californiapesticides

DPR on Twitter
twitter.com/ca_pesticides

DPR LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/company/california-department-of-pesticide-regulation

Healthy Schools Act
http://apps.cdpr.ca.gov/schoolipm/

Structural Pest Control Board
www.pestboard.ca.gov

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

NPMA's QualityPro Accrediation Application
www.npmaqualitypro.org/apply

Claiming and verifying your business on Google… It’s typically Step 1 of any local search marketing strategy. And then unfortunately, it tends to be neglected by businesses happy to just “check the box.” I know what you’re thinking: “Okay Alain, why so dramatic about this topic?”

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already claimed and verified your business on Google, (if not, we need to talk). But your listing – now referred to as Google My Business (GMB) – may be missing some very important pieces. GMB is a top priority for Google and should be for you, too.

Plus, there are plenty of new features being rolled out for GMB, including business descriptions, feature lists, and custom posts for events and offers.

These new features are becoming increasingly relevant to pest control businesses like yours this year, simply because ranking high in the Maps section has become an even greater centerpiece to your marketing.

Here are 7 simple steps to optimizing your GMB listing:

1. (a) Search for your business on Google
   1. (b) Ensure that it is verified -- if not, request verification
      [Hint: If you don’t know how to do these first two steps, feel free to give me a call or email me, and my team will let you know. They can even walk you through the verification process – for free.]
2. Take a good nap! You deserve it. Okay seriously. What I mean to say is, confirm that your listing has an accurate “NAP” (Name, Address and Phone number)
3. List your hours of operation
4. Choose a relevant business category
5. Upload relevant images of your business/staff/equipment
6. Build reviews (Hint: This should be a company-wide function)
7. Publish a general post about your business, and monitor for any new Q&A submissions

Checking these off shouldn’t take long. It’s a small investment that could pay off this year, especially as Google brings more emphasis to their GMB section. Keep in mind that like many Web Marketing strategies, this should be ongoing. It is not something you can “set and forget.”

Feel free to reach out if you have questions about this process, and my team and I would be happy to help at websites@markethardware.com if you’d like my opinion.

Alain Parcan, director of marketing for Market Hardware, Inc., contributed this article. Alain brings nearly 10 years of experience in educating businesses so they can market themselves more effectively. Market Hardware helps small businesses compete on the web and offers special discounts for PCOC members. You can reach Alain’s team at (888) 381-6925.