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 May 2015

 

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 PPMA OFFICERS

  

Ed Van Istendal

President

Ensystex

Coatesville, PA

 

Paul Kutney 

President Elect

Orkin

Ashley, PA


 

 

Keith Hamilton

Vice President

J.C. Ehrlich Co.

State College, PA

 

David M. Hyres

Past President

David M. Hyres Pest Control

Douglassville, PA 

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Central Division

Gary Lesher

Governor

Perry Pest Control

Landisburg, PA

  

Keith Hamilton

J.C. Ehrlich

Pleasant Gap, PA

 

Keith Jones

Archer Pest Control

Camp Hill, PA

 

Eastern Division

 

Jim Daly

Governor

Daly Termite & Pest Mgmnt

Ardmore, PA

 

 

Ed Van Istendal

1st Vice Governor

Coatesville, PA

 

Mike Snyder

Township Pest Control

Warrington, PA

 

Jim Nase

Moyer Indoor/Outdoor

Souderton,

  


 

Northeast Division

Paul Kutney

                   Orkin

Ashley, PA

 

Diane Lown

Ajax Environmental Solutions

Dalton, PA

 

Jeff King

The Pest Rangers

Hanover Twp., PA

 

Western Division

John Morrison

Governor

D-Bug, Inc.

Latrobe, PA

 

Adam Witt

Witt Pest Management

Pittsburgh, PA

 

Eric Herrington

Terminix

Bridgeville, PA

 

John Besic

Besic Pest Control

Transfer, PA

 

Technical Advisor

 

Chad Gore

Rentokil North America

Carnegie, PA

 

AWDII Chairman

 

Ed Van Istendal

Coatesville, PA

 

Legislative Chairman

 

Keith Hamilton

J.C. Ehrlich

 State College, PA

 

Bed Bug Taskforce Chairman

 

Marty Overline

Aardvark Pest Management

Philadelphia, PA

 

Salino Scholarship Chair 

Dana Lown

Ajax Environmental Solutions

Dalton, PA

 

Industry Liaison

 

Brian Smith

Univar

Sharon Hill, PA

 

Executive Director

Versant Strategies

Harrisburg, PA

 

  

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Dear Friends:


PPMA's Eastern Division had a busy weekend at Delaware Valley University's A-Days Celebration at the end of April.  New to the exhibit this year was a butterfly house with a butterfly mascot as well! Lori Lewis donned a butterfly outfit and flitted about the DVU grounds drawing children and adults to the exhibit area where insects on loan from The Insectarium were displayed.  Kids were fascinated as usual with Rosie the Tarantula and Maddie the Hissing Cockroach from Madagascar. Thanks to all who made this event another successful PPMA endeavor.


 


The Northeast Division hosted its spring conference again this year at the PNC ball field in Moosic with a training program and a ballgame in the evening.  PPMA's President-elect Paul Kutney got some one-on-one time with Champ, the Rail Riders mascot. The meeting agenda focused on dealing with flies, rodents, and bed bugs.  Oh my!


  
 

It's time to renew your annual PPMA dues.  If you have not received a renewal notice for July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, please contact the PPMA office at 1-800-842-9090.


 

Team Versant

  

News from NPMA  

 

EPA's Pollinator Protection Policy and White House Pollinator Task Force Report

Despite much speculation about an Earth Day announcement, the White House and EPA still have not released their much anticipated pollinator protection strategies. So to recap, here's what we do know to date:

  • EPA has stated publicly that the Task Force Report has been submitted and will become available for public comment in the first part of the 2015 (Interpretation: before June 30th).
  • The EPA updated policy utilize a dual approach: a) label changes for pesticides to protect managed pollinators at or near the application site, and b) state-developed pollinator protection plans intended to help mitigate potential exposure to managed pollinators visiting the treated areas from hives housed away from the application site.
  • EPA is encouraging states to develop managed pollinator protection plans that are specific to conditions in their state/region.  EPA has indicated that they will not review/approve these plans, but will provide support/input if needed. 
  • NPMA has developed Best Management Practices for Pollinator Protection that can serve as model language for state managed pollinator protection plans with regard to the structural pest control industry. Stakeholder involvement is a key principle in the development of state plans and PMPs are encouraged to engage through their state associations.
  • NPMA has championed the industry's position that structural pest control applications typically pose no threat to pollinators. In fact, in some situations, otherwise beneficial pollinators may become pests, and must be controlled.

 

NPMA has developed pollinator focused resources for both the public and industry.  Consumer-focused designed to be shared with clients can be accessed at: www.pollinatorhealth.org

 

Industry-focused resources, including the NPMA Best Management Practices for Pollinator Protection, information about getting involved in the development of your state's pollinator protection plan, and guidance for fighting local pesticide bans disguised as pollinator protection efforts, visit: www.pollinatorfacts.org 
 

 

Upcoming Meetings        

   

The Eastern Division continues to hold its monthly meetings with varying topics of discussion on the second Thursday of every month at the Crowne Plaze in Trevose.  For more information on monthly topics and speakers, contact Sue at (215) 331-1121.
  
Mark your calendars now for PPMA's 2015 Annual Conference on November 9 & 10 at the Eden Resort in Lancaster.
  
2015 Salino Scholarship Awards
 

Paige E. Miller of Halifax, PA is awarded $700.00. She was sponsored by Hillcrest Critter & Pest Control. She is presently attending Harrisburg Area Community College. Throughout her high school career she has been in Student Council and the National Honor Society.
Paige plans for a career in Biology or Zoology. Her GPA is 98.27 and her class rank 9 out of 72.

Elizabeth Lee Knaub of Dover, PA is awarded $700.00. She was sponsored by Rentokil/Ehrlich. Elizabeth has been admitted to Shenandoah University and will major in music performance on the viola. She aspires to play the viola in a professional orchestra.
She has participated in York Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Dover Area High School Symphonic Band & Choir. She is a two year member of the National Honor Society.
She recently won the York Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, and will be performing her concerto with the orchestra at the May concert. Elizabeth attained a 94.58 GPA and her class rank is 28 out of 217.

Kristen M. Applegate of Springfield, PA is awarded $700.00.  She was sponsored by Jones Termite & Pest Control. Kristen has been granted admission to Temple University's Division of Theater, Film and Media Arts. She would like to work in the film or television industry.
She is a member of Covenant UMC Appalachia Service Project, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and many others. Kristen received the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award. She attained a 3.6 GPA and is in the top 15% of her class.

The Salino Scholarships are awarded annually by the Pennsylvania Pest Management Association to high school students who are residents of Pennsylvania and who have been accepted as full time students at an accredited 4 year college or university or enrolled in a  2 year associate degree program leading to an Associate or Bachelor's degree.  Applicants must be sponsored by a Pennsylvania Certified/Registered Applicator and/or an owner or employee of a pest control company which has maintained active membership in the PPMA for a minimum of 4 years and is currently an active member in good standing. Applicants must also meet two of the following requirements: "B" high school grade average or GED equivalent; minimum of 900 combined SAT score (reading & math only); is now attending college, minimum of 2.8 cumulative college GPA.  Documentation & other application information are required.

We congratulate this year's winners and wish them great success in their future endeavors!

 

Legislative Update

 

The information below represents legislative activity (including bill introductions) that has occurred since the last newsletter.  For a full listing of legislation that Versant is tracking for PPMA, please contact us at (717) 635-2320 or [email protected].  Activity marked HCO or SCO indicates a co-sponsorship memo which precedes the actual introduction of legislation and is designed to secure the support of other legislators prior to introduction as a bill.

  

Legislation introduced since last month's newsletter:

 

HB 243 sponsored by Rep. Anthony DeLuca

Amends Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law further providing for private actions.

4-20-15 Meeting of House Consumer Affairs Committee scheduled

 

HR 188 sponsored by Rep. Robert Godshall

Resolution recognizing the month of April 2015 as "Pennsylvania 8-1-1 Safe Digging Month"

4-13-15 H Adopted

 

SB 155 sponsored by Sen. Rob Teplitz

Act establishing the Veteran's Entrepreneurial Training and Support Program; imposing powers and duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development; and making an appropriation

4-22-15 Discussed in roundtable discussion...Senate Democratic Policy Committee

 

SB 737 sponsored by Sen. Scott Hutchinson

Amends Title 34 (Game), in hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods.

4-16-15 Filed; introduced and referred to Sen. Game & Fisheries Committee

 

SR 69 sponsored by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf

Resolution designating the month of May 2015 as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" in PA.

4-20-15 Filed; introduced & adopted


 

REMINDER from NPMA

Increase Your Business Opportunities; Update your Find a Pro Listing Today

 

Take advantage of the significant marketing opportunity provided to you as an NPMA member and update your Find a Pro listing for NPMA's consumer site, www.pestworld.org, today. Visit www.npmapestworld.org

  1. On the membership dropdown, choose Update Find-a-Pro Listing
  2. Click UPDATE YOUR LISTING TODAY
  3. Login using your NPMA member ID and password
  4. Click Edit next to the location you would like to update
  5. Follow the on screen instructions

Articles of Interest 

     

05-06-2015

Listening to buzz on bees
A precipitous decline in honeybee populations raised public awareness of the importance of the bees and other pollinators in maintaining the nation's food production. And research into the causes of the bees' demise has produced other invaluable insights upon which regulators should... - Pottsville Republican and Evening Herald

 

05-05-2015

Stinging report on pesticides
A precipitous decline in honeybee populations raised public awareness of the importance of the bees and other pollinators in maintaining the nation's food production. And research into the causes of the bees' demise has produced other invaluable insights upon which regulators should... - Hazleton Standard-Speaker

 

05-04-2015

Listening to buzz on bees
A precipitous decline in honeybee populations raised public awareness of the importance of the bees and other pollinators in maintaining the nation's food production. And research into the causes of the bees' demise has produced other invaluable insights upon which regulators should... - Scranton Times

 

05-04-2015

Warmer weather means more rodents, feral cats
It happens every spring. When the weather warms up, Throop zoning and code enforcement officer Bob Lokuta's office phone lights up with folks complaining about feral cats and other nuisance animals. "It seems like the cat problem gets worse every year," the borough's zoning and code enforcement officer said.... - Scranton Times

 

05-01-2015

Pa. senator calls for more money to prevent Lyme disease
Pennsylvania, known for its mountains, historic battlefields and standout linebackers, can add another claim to fame - the nation's highest incidence of Lyme disease.  That's been the case for the past five years. In fact, in 2013, nearly one out of five cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. occurred in... - Pocono Record

 

04-28-2015

Doctors advise against long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease
Impassioned debate, replete with criticisms and name-calling, rages over the cause of and treatment for lingering Lyme disease symptoms - a topic of local importance considering the infection is now found in every Pennsylvania county. The spirochete bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, causes Lyme disease, with... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

04-23-2015

New initiative highlights veterans in pest industry
  (Press Release)

 

04-23-2015

Research Suggests Pesticide Is Alluring and Harmful to Bees
Research by European scientists raised fresh questions on Wednesday about the impact on bees of neonicotinoids, a ubiquitous and controversial class of pesticides whose future use was restricted this month by the Environmental Protection Agency. In a study published in the journal Nature, Swedish researchers reported... - New York Times

 

04-17-2015

EPA: Pesticide that sickened Delaware family also used improperly in Puerto Rico
The federal investigation into the improper use of a pesticide that apparently poisoned a Delaware family vacationing in the U.S. Virgin Islands has expanded west to another Caribbean island, Puerto Rico. The Environmental Protection Agency reported Thursday that there was... - Philadelphia Inquirer

 

04-17-2015

River otter legal for Pennsylvania trappers for first time in more than 60 years
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners has voted to open a trapping season for otters in Pennsylvania for the first time since 1952. For the first time in 64 years, in a very limited season - Feb. 21-23, 2016 - and only in the northeastern corner of the state, trappers will be... - Harrisburg Patriot-News