Donnie Blake, OPC, Louisville, KY

Spring has been very elusive this year which has certainly impacted the termite swarming season. It seems we have a couple of nice warm days when termite swarm calls increase and then slow as the weather cools again. Let us hope for a warmer May!
Remember to mark your calendars for the KPMA Summer and Annual Meeting in Louisville on Tuesday, July 30th and Wednesday, July 31st. The Summer Meeting begins with golf on Tuesday and the KPMA Annual meeting Tuesday evening. We are planning on having special invited guests at the Annual meeting along with good food and entertainment. Every KPMA member is invited and encouraged to attend the KPMA Annual meeting on Tuesday evening. There is no charge for two people from each member company. There is a small charge, which includes dinner and entertainment, for additional attendees. The training meeting will be on Wednesday with informative educational sessions and recertification credits. Additionally, there is a KPMA training meeting on Thursday, May 30th at the Greenbo Lake State Resort Park in Greenup, Kentucky. Both of these meetings will be an excellent opportunity to receive valuable training and obtain recertification credits.
There have been discussions with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture regarding some revisions to our state statute and regulations. There seems to be a consensus within the pest management industry that some adjustments and clarifications are needed. Your KPMA Board will keep everyone informed as the process progresses.
On April 25th Dr. Mike Potter was honored as a recipient of the University of Kentucky Provost's Distinguished Service Professor Award. There is not a more deserving person! The entire pest management industry has long recognized Mike's significant contributions to our industry and this honor is a much deserved recognition of Mike's dedication and service to the pest management industry. I make these comments as a recipient of Mike's hard work and for a person I consider a dear friend. Congratulations to Mike!
Everyone who is a NPMA member should have received their NPMA Election Ballot. Kevin Pass, who is a KPMA Board member, is the current NPMA President-Elect and is slated to become NPMA President this coming year. We thank Kevin for his service to the pest management industry and congratulate Kevin on becoming NPMA President.
If anyone has any interesting news regarding their company for submission in the KPMA newsletter, please forward the information to me at donnieblake@opcpest.com and I will forward the information to NPMA for inclusion in the next newsletter.
Thanks again for allowing me to serve as President of KPMA.
Sincerely,
Donnie Blake
KPMA President